Mon-Tues, Mar 3rd-4th: Junction Texas. It’s freezing outside, I’m wearing shorts, Sanuks and all my pairs of pants are packed away. Due to the weather, I decide to hold up in Junction, Texas for two days till the weather warms back up. The reason isn’t cause I don’t want to be cold but more that I’m not a huge fan of driving on ice. I’m definitely not a fan of other people driving on ice either. A few years back in Bend, Oregon, I stupidly shifted from 4WD to 2WD and did a 360 across three lanes and found myself stuck high sided on a snow bank. Some snowmobilers happened by me and joked that I couldn’t park there (…they also helped me get off the snow bank ). I got lucky then, no real reason to push it. The only notable thing I did in Junction was watch a bunch of episodes of Death Valley Days and Laramie on the Western Channel (which I enjoyed), walked Furi in the cold, got new windshield wipers and fluid, made an appointment to get the FJ serviced at a Toyota dealership the next day and I checked out Lums BBQ . The food at LUMs was excellent, I had the Brisket, Jalapeno Sausage with macaroni salad and spicy spaghetti washed down with a Mexican Coke along with some cornbread.
Tues, Mar 5th: Round Rock, Tx. I show up at my time for the FJ being serviced. I Didn’t need an oil change for another 5k but I’d still like to get Lola checked out. While I was waiting, I ended up talking to a guy who was originally from North Bergen, NJ. We mostly talked about culture shock from a New Jersey perspective and the lack of good italian food or pizza. Later that evening, I checked in at Motel 6 in Round Rock and it was a smoking room, it smelled horrible but I was too lazy to change it.
Later that evening, I met up with Jeremy and his wife Hailey along with their two kids at the Double Horn Brewery. I had the Reuben but it wasn’t smoked corned beef like on the menu but replaced with pastrami, it wasn’t bad but the keffiyehed server could have told me when I first ordered it. We spent the dinner reminiscing, laughing and talking about our futures. Good times. Lots of great memories from Station Umpqua River too.
Wed, Mar 6th: Hung out with Lori, one of my oldest friends from grade school. She had just recently moved from Oakland, CA to Austin, Texas. It was still a bit cold for some reason, we had brunch at a place called Snooze AM and we sat outside with Furi and tried to get as close to those big propane heaters. I ordered some stuffed french toast with bacon. When my order came, they dropped the bacon but then they gave it to Furi. She was happy pup. Lori and I caught up on everything and we ALWAYS revert back to Long Branch. We talk about our hometown like refugees. I can’t really knock LB for what it is but it’s just not for me. We later had coffee at Seventh Flag Coffee and walked through the neighborhood where you could see the new houses replacing the old. I like Austin but I’m not sure if it’s for me, honestly….I have no idea where I’d fit in.
Later that day, I drove to Abiline,TX. to the Royal Inn. Why did I pick Abiline? Not sure but it’s always referenced in Cowboy Movies so why not.
Here’s a tip for travelers. When you check into a hotel and the desk clerk asks if you’re sure you want to stay two days, take it as a warning. It was a shit hole, I kinda knew it would be a shit hole but I figured it might be worth the experience. It sure as fuck wasn’t. I felt like I was alert the whole time and I slept like shit. The Inn did keep me away from the “long-term residents” but it was a bad hotel. Glad I had my own towels….
Thur, Mar 7th: I ate breakfast at an old school diner called Dixie Pig which was awesome! All types of folks there. I sat at the rail and had Mexican omelette and a few cups of coffee. I then went and did laundry at a place called Wash this Way. As far laundromats go, this place was pretty nice and organized. The one downside is they have a card system and the dumbass I am, I put $10 on the card. I only really needed five. I later gave the card to a young lady with a shit ton of laundry! I played ball with Furi in the lot next to the business and watched a team of mechanics change a tire on an 18 Wheeler. I went to Whataburger for dinner and tried to avoid the Inn. I wrote a bit and I slept like shit again, go figure. I should have went to El Paso…
Fri, Mar 8th: Fuck this, I’m heading to Santa Fe, NM.
My three day stay 