U.S. Road Trip Day 19: Destination Florida

So, we walked out to my car this morning and lo and behold, it is pouring rain. I commented to the fiancé that luckily we parked the car closer to the building, not knowing what we were going to encounter as we passed through the exit doors. All my windows were down and the sunroof was also opened! Turned out last night the fiancé was supposed to open the trunk, but he held down the unlock button which automatically draws down the windows. Neither of us noticed it last night and so we came out to an exposed car. I rushed to my car and closed up all the windows, then ran over to the truck where I had left a new roll of paper towels. I pulled sheets after sheets and piled them on the car seats. The fiancé started to wipe down the interior starting with the walls and dashboard. After soaking most of the water from the seats I grabbed a blanket and towel from the trunk and placed it over the car seats and layered the top with two small mats that are spill proof. We headed back in to the hotel to grab the complimentary breakfast and wait for the seats to dry a little. After breakfast we got into the watered down car and continued on with the A/C blasting.

Along the way, I noticed a small city to the right and wanted to stop in. The fiancé’s butt was going numb from the layers so he agreed.  We were in Mobile, Alabama. It was a tiny city with a couple of skyscrapers, and plenty of small boutiques and small eateries. We parked the car along a one-way street next to a park. I removed the blankets and towels to dry in the back while the fiancé and I go exploring.

I first notice the narrow streets and narrow sidewalks. The city was waking up to sun and the trees that lined the streets were shaking off their leaves. As the sun peered through the leaves in the park, a few city residents stroll out of their homes and greeted us. It was a bit humid out, but with the morning ambiance, it didn't bother me.

Though the streets were quiet, it wasn't a creepy quiet. It was a small town quiet that makes this small city seem quaint and charming. As the fiancé and I strolled down the street, holding hands, I start to wonder how old these streets must be, the city must have seen different fashion from the different decades, the history the walls can tell you, and the same air someone historical must have breathed. I really enjoyed the quiet, it is only then a mind can take in the area and give you a feeling of peace.

We didn’t find much, just a few historical monuments, so we headed back the car and continued on. 

We arrived in Florida at 9 AM and stopped into the welcome center for another break. Not more than 30 minutes into the drive it starts to pour. Then lightning and thunder joined. We decided to avoid tolls and take the eastern route where we can go slow and avoid all the tourist traffic. Finally the weather cleared and we arrived to our home at 6 PM. I called my mom to tell her I have made it home safe. I empty my trunk and looked at my new apartment. This is now our new life.

Square green sign reads "Welcome to Florida Home of the 1997 World Series Champions"

Clouds Forming 

Huge down pour

U.S. Road Trip Day 18: Destination Mississippi

So a few things happened today. First, the fiancé was restless and wanted to leave early (he doesn’t believe that we will make it to Florida by July 4), so we ended up leaving before sunrise. Then while on the road, I began to experience sharp pains on my right abdomen area.  The pain was excruciating and I opt to go to the hospital. So at 5 AM, I was admitted to Baptist Beaumont Hospital in Beaumont, TX. My pain on a scale of 1 to 10 was a 9 at the time of admittance. A few hours later the ER couldn’t find anything wrong so they injected some morphine and released me. I had painkillers left over from before so I popped those for the rest of the road trip. I pretty much passed out for a few hours and left the poor fiancé to drive by himself. He was actually entertained the first few minutes I was on painkillers because I was talking like I was high. I don’t remember anything he said I did, so we will leave it at that. 

We hit Louisiana soon after leaving the small town of Beaumont. I woke up in time to take a picture of Lake Charles in Louisiana and spent the next few hours talking with the fiancé. By this time I was fully recovered from whatever I had this morning.

Bridge above Lake Charles, Lousiana

By 1 PM we crossed into Mississippi and stopped into their welcome center. We both decided to take a rest here since we were doing really great on time. Again, thank you fiancé for doing most of the driving! I found a Marriott in Gulf Port on my map and we drove in to get a room. With our family discount form we were able to get a room for a fraction of the price. 

After a quick shower and rest we headed out. I wanted to check out the outlet stores near the freeway. The outlet was small with a handful of stores. Since my appetite was finally back I craved sushi so we headed downtown. We stopped into TA Sushi Bar on 27^th Avenue. There were several seafood and oyster joints, but I was in the mood for sushi. The bar was a block from the port and nested between several lively bars. The waiter was sweet and served us promptly. The sushi was creative, but nothing too noteworthy. The evening was nice; not too hot and not too cold. There was a bit of activity downtown and it seems like a small fair was getting set up on the port. It might be for July 4^th. The fiancé and I took a walk around the block after dinner and took in the fresh air. We then headed back to the hotel, watched a movie, and called it a night.

So far, this road trip has been nothing but easy going. I enjoyed the trip and enjoyed taking in the Southern scenery. The train trip up north was beautiful, but the scenery here is beautiful in its own rights. I am sorry I couldn’t give you better scenic pictures. The cameras we used captured more blurry images than I liked, but then again I was never a great photographer to begin with. We will be in Florida by afternoon tomorrow.

U.S. Road Trip Day 17: Destination Austin, TX

It is about 5 AM. We are only an hour from Pflugerville – a town next to Round Rock and a few minutes from Austin – this is where Efrain and Krysta lives and where we will be spending the night. I texted Efrain last night to give him an estimated time of arrival just in case something happens to us. Oh, I almost forgot to mention the creepy gas station!

Even though I planned the route and made sure we had hotels on standby, I left gas stations out of the route and relied on old fashion signs. We also kept the tank at least half a tank full at all times.

We were in the middle of nowhere between El Paso and Austin when we noticed the tank getting low. I saw a Chevron and a Valero gas station in the distance and we decided to go with Chevron because of the cleaner restrooms. The fiancé hopped out of the car, started to pump gas and ran off to the restroom. I stayed in the car and the first thing I noticed was the empty stations and compared it to the Valero – full of cars – across the street. Then I heard tiny taps against my car. I looked out my window and saw small winged bugs fly straight into the car window. I looked out the front windshield and saw more bugs flying straight onto the surface of the car. I then looked around the gas station and noticed bugs crawling and flying all over the gas pumps and all over the floor. They were small, ant-like, and winged. There were also a few moths present. I then see my fiancé walk back to the car. He took out the gas pump and climbed in. I asked him if he noticed all the bugs flying around, he said yes and then told me what he found inside is just as creepy. There was no attendant inside and that though the shop and restroom was clean, it was spooky an eerie. He then drove us across the street to the Valero gas station and ran inside to use the restroom. It was strange how the Valero was full of cars and people walking about. No bugs in sight.  

We continued on the road and arrived at Efrain’s house a little before 6 AM. The back roads leading to Pflugerville were isolated and covered with hollowing trees that leaned over the road, blocking out the moonlight. The fiancé was a trooper and have been driving for 24 hours so by the time we reached Efrain’s house he shook Efrain’s hands and passed out on the guest bed.

The next morning Efrain texted us that he would be home about 12 PM to take us out to lunch and give us a tour of the Capitol. We were well rested and hungry for Texas BBQ so Efrain took us to Rudy’s Country Store and BBQ in Round Rock, TX. Here we got a rundown on how things are ordered in Texas. At Rudy’s you order meat by the pound. I was told that a majority of Texas BBQ joints order by the pound. We ordered a whole sausage, 1 pound of moist brisket, 1 pound of Pork Spare Ribs, and 1 pound of Pork Loin. I ate the whole sausage link by myself and stuffed by face with a side of New Potatoes (boiled red potatoes, drained and marinated with a stick of butter). Everything was delicious!

After stuffing our bellies, we headed out to Downtown Austin. I was in Austin about 4 years ago to officiate Efrain and Krysta’s wedding. I stayed at the Radisson Hotel by the River and it was the best place to stay in regards to location and scenery. I remember several of the bars that we visited during the stay and as I mentioned, this was a college town… GOOOOOOOO LONGHORNS!

While driving into town I noticed the large amount of cars on the road and pedestrians in orange “Longhorn” gear. I asked Efrain if there was a game or some college event going on. Efrain shrugged his shoulders and said that it could be Freshmen orientation or summer camp of some sort. Because of the high amount of vehicles we decided to park in the parking garage. It wasn’t until we got out of the car that we noticed large signs and banners that people were carrying. Efrain then hit his forehead and said, “Oh, the abortion thing.” Turned out last Friday a proposal on abortion law was presented to the state House. A filibuster from democrats and raucous protests derailed the Republicans to pass the law Friday then led to some sort of controversy when the office stated that the law was passed before the filibuster – don’t quote me on that, this is from what Efrain said – if passed, the law would make Texas one of the nation’s toughest places to get an abortion. Today’s protest brought together college students, female activists, families, and of course a few religious groups. We made our way to the footsteps of the Capitol and stopped when we found lines wrapping around the building. The protestors were trying to gain access into the Capitol to hear the abortion decision and I knew there was no way I can enjoy a tour of the building with protestors yelling in my ears. So I admired the building from outside, took a picture and left to grab some beer with my host.

It is about 3 PM when our host took us to a non-college block of bars. As we approached the first bar, we noticed the arid aura that exuberated from the front door, then we noticed the operating hours: 4 PM – 1 AM. Darn, we were 1 hour early. So we went to the next bar, and the next, and the next. Turns out none of the bars downtown were opened. WHAT? A college town like Austin has no bars opened 24 hours? Efrain then took us back to Round Rock where we went to Flix Brewhouse – where they serve movies and beer. Since the fiancé enjoys beer more than food, he was happy to see the large selection of beers on tap. He goes by the look of the knob rather than name so he ordered accordingly.

After the boys threw back a few beers, we then headed back to Efrain’s house to wait for Krysta. I was tired and so was the fiancé so we headed back to the guest room for a quick nap. The nap lasted for 1 hour. I heard Krysta calling our names so I ran downstairs to greet her. I was excited to receive her hug. Krysta and Efrain are one of the cutest couples out there. I officiated their wedding a few years back and it is the most important role I have ever had. I was honored and overwhelmed with emotions that day and I have no doubt that they have and will continue to have the most beautiful relationship.

We headed to The Salt Licks for dinner - also in Round Rock. The restaurant was large and sat next to a baseball field. They cook all their meat on a stone fire pit that is open for everyone to watch. The smell of bbq can be detected from the parking lot. Upon entry the aroma charged upward my nose and awoke my other senses. I start to drool as I looked over at the pit. The hostess seated us by the window on one of the many picnic benches. They have a family meal and is also known as all-you-can-eat. I didn’t want to upset my stomach so I stuck with a sausage and brisket mix. I didn’t like Salt Licks as much as Rudy’s, but the bbq was still good.

After dinner, we headed back to Efrain’s house and lounged on the couch watching movies. Our bellies were hanging out and our bodies just wanted to stay still to let our stomachs digest. The fiancé and I will be leaving early tomorrow morning so we called it a night.