GO WEST, OLD FOLKS, GO WEST

One of the first things we did, or Larry did, while at Lake Conroe was get his hair cut. He had promised that he was going to let it grow until we got home. I don't think he really knew what hair feels like on one's neck. It's a feeling I don't like either, thus the short hair. So here he is before he visited Alley Cuts. Sorry I don't have an after picture, but he sure felt better when he got home. The hair was gone from his neck or either those ladies were giving more than cuts in the alley. Just kidding, honey.

 

We visited the Sam Houston Museum in Huntsville, Texas. I found it interesting that he was born in  Virginia, grew up in Tennessee (Maryville to be exact), lived in Texas and Oklahoma, and met his wife in New Orleans.The story of early settlers is often filled with wanderlust. I wonder if that is what keeps some people moving today.  But then there are those who are content to never travel outside their own neighborhood. Different strokes, I guess.

This is statue is 67 feet tall and faces the interstate. Did I say Texans are proud of Mr. Houston? I know sometimes our heroes are made to be larger than life, but really? Ok, don’t say it. Everything is bigger in Texas. 

But I have no problem with their pride in Mr. Houston. He was governor of Tennessee, but resigned after his bride left him and divorced him. No public explanation was ever given. He loved the Native American culture having lived with them in Tennessee and married one in Oklahoma. He led the army that finally defeated Santa Anna when Santa Anna was intent on keeping Texas a part of Mexico. He was removed from the governorship of Texas when he opposed joining the confederacy. Before this gets to be too big a history lesson, I’ll just say, he was a character with character.

 

But you have to see this. At the museum which included an excellent history in pictures, words, artifacts and displays, there was also Houston's home and office and several outbuildings. Also there was a small picnic area which proved very handy since we had brought wraps and drinks. But in the picnic area were flocks of chickens and ducks. They were very docile, thank goodness. Roosters sometimes scare me. They did even before I met Larry. Anyway...

 

 

On Tuesday, October 9 we gassed up at Sam’s and headed out of Conroe, Texas.  It seems to be a typical little town, although I think I saw two Jaquars within two miles of each other. Oil money, maybe?  We met a man at the gas station who appeared to be about 75 and was working the gas pumps. He had lost his retirement savings in the recession. Now he is working 32 hours a week. I guess we saw both ends of the spectrum within five miles of each other. He was upset to hear we are hoping NC goes for Obama. I found that puzzling. 

This next little part was written as we on the road to Colorado River Thousand Trails.

We just passed Montgomery High School which has a gigantic football stadium, bigger than some college stadiums. Wonder who went to high school there. There had to be some big football great.

Now we are beginning to get into Texas flatland a little. It is still rolling country. EWww, a huge cattle ranch.  Oh, look, a For Sale sign. No thanks.  Now if I saw an oil well for sale that would be different. I feel like we are making a down payment on one every time we fill up.

Just passed the entrance to Bernhardt Winery. I’ll be that’s some awful stuff. Private joke.

Now we are in Plantersville and have been welcomed by the 4-H Club. The sign said so. For those who may be considering a trip here we are traveling on Texas 105. It is a two-lane road with very wide paved shoulders.  Lots of farm country, but a few industries.  OOO an old dirt road and I see the red clay is gone. Just dusty white.

Just passed something that looked a gas well. And then horses, lots of beautiful horses.

 

10/15/2012

As you no doubt can see there was an abrupt halt to the play-by-play. I wasn’t watching the road closely enough, and we took a wrong turn. Navigating is a boring, full-time job.  And it pisses the hell out of Larry when I mess up. Oh well.

So anyway, we got to Thousand Trails at Colorado River near Columbus, TX. It was a very quiet park with deer that were practically tame and lots of pecan trees. I picked up several pounds, and Larry cracked the first bunch. They are much bigger than Georgia pecans (or pea-cans, if you’re Paula Deen). I guess everything is bigger in Texas.  Pea-can pie for you, Mr. Carswell.

This park had something we had not seen before, tame, or nearly so, deer. They were everywhere. But the deer weren’t bigger than those in NC. Actually they were smaller. There was some information from somewhere that said they were inbred and diseased.

This little buck was  outside our RV each morning. We were warned not to feed the deer, and  we didn’t. Larry says living with me is like living with the game warden and the sheriff . (He especially says that when we are driving. He’s nicknamed me Barney, but I don’t even get one bullet. Good thing for him, I guess. Larry, not the deer.)