What's up everybody. We woke up at the Super 8 in Fort Stockton, Texas and went for a swim in the pool. The pools at the Texas motels are actually really nice. We knew we had to make good time today in order to get to Austin by 3pm (in time to go swimming in Barton Springs), so we got on the road at 9am and planned to stop only for gas and a quick lunch.
(Jeff takes the first leg of the drive while finishing off the last remnants of his complimentary continental breakfast.)
(See that blue semi in the distance? That was the first truck to give us a couple of blasts of its horn upon request. We giggled like little girls when it happened, but we loved it.)
The speed limit was 80 mph (a new record for the trip) so we flew through West and Central Texas, past Junction (where I had originally planned to stay a night) and into Fredricksberg, a cozy little town with a stereotypical Main Street.
(Necessary? No. Awesome? Yes.)
(The sign for Junction, Texas. There was no skyline. What else would you expect from a town called Junction?)
There wasn't much to see on the drive to Fredricksberg, but here are a couple of pics:
The town was very German, so we stopped for lunch at a German diner, where I had a T-Bone for $8.95, and figured I could spend a little leftover cash on a cheeseburger. Jeff surprised no one and ordered a Chicken Caesar Salad.
(Good food cheap.)
(T-Bone steak topped with Mushrooms and Onions served with carrots, peas and mashed potatoes, Cheeseburger with the works, and Chicken Caesar Salad)
(The interior of the restaurant. Let's just say that service was attentive.)
(Believe it or not, the hug was Linda's idea. I just happened to have a camera ready.)
(A stretch of Main Street, Fredricksberg, Texas. Small town America at its finest.)
Our waiter/cashier Linda was great. The place was virtually empty and we decided to look at a few nearby shops while we waited for the food. Here's something that would only happen in a small town: We stopped in at a local cheese shop down the street for about 3 minutes, and then upon exiting, Linda was waving at us from the diner, indicating that our food was ready. She earned herself a big tip with that little stunt.
From Fredricksberg, we made good time heading into Austin and arrived at our friend Michelle's house at 2:30pm, with time to spare. We came bearing a 750ml bottle of Southern Comfort that we had picked up in El Paso, and presented it to Michelle, along with a copy of the cookbook, as a token of our gratitude.
(Folks, we are in the DEEP South.)
(Michelle's beautiful apartment. I love the open kitchen. Jeff and Michelle are posing from an awkwardly far distance.)
(The Austin skyline)
Once we dropped off our bags, we headed to Barton Springs, a natural spring in the middle of Austin that doubles as a beach/pool for local residents. It was such a vibrant, youthful scene, and I even got the chance to do a sloppy backflip off the diving board. Here's the proof:
(Didn't quite get the "spring" on the springboard. Still, the 8 year old kids were impressed. Or at least that's what I told myself.)
(The spring is natural, and the city built the "pool" around it.)
(Tons of people laying out on the grassy "beach")
After our dip in the spring, we drove by the Texas State Capital Building, the tallest capital in the country, and then headed straight for Amy's, where we sample some of Texas' finest ice cream. I ordered the White Chocolate, Michelle had the Mochachino, and Jeff splurged with a Chocolate Rasperry with Hot Fudge. It was good, and on a 100 degree day, was particularly refreshing.
(Texas State Capital. Country's tallest. Apparently it's title was challenged by another state, so they added that little lady on top to settle the argument.)
(Amy's Ice Cream. Hits the spot in triple-digit temperatures.)
We headed back to change our clothes and shower, we met Leslie, Michelle's friend and neighbor (whose internet I am stealing right now), and her dog Boo. We are heading out to happy hour in a bit, and then we're going to get some meaty ribs for dinner, and finally, we're heading out to 6th street, the main destination for UT students looking to escape the shackles of sobriety.
(Leslie the human and Boo the dog.)
(Best sign ever. Leave it to the Texan Jews to make you feel at home.)
Michelle and a few of her law school friends are going to take us to the "touristy undergrad bars" and then will be showing us the "classier grad student bars." The key takeaway here is the fact that we are going to see many, many bars. And neither Jeff nor I have had a drink since Saturday night, so we are ready to sample some local brews.
Tomorrow we are getting up at 8 in the morning in order to make the long drive to New Orleans (stopping for lunch in Houston), where we are staying with Sarah Richer, who is my good friend Gabe's little sister. I was at Mardi Gras last year and had a drink with Sarah while down there. She seems to know her way around, so I trust she will be a great host.
So that's that. Wish me luck on 6th street. I may need it.
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