I don’t like goodbyes. I’m really not that good at them. When it comes time to part ways from those whom we’ve gotten to know, it’s this awkward exchange of handshakes and hugs (for those that are the huggy type) and then standing around and looking at each other, each expecting the other to say the last goodbye and then not knowing how to respond. At some point you just have to walk off, get in your rig, and drive away and think Well, I’m glad that’s over.
But this group did it right. While some of the awkwardness and standing around was still there, we received a sendoff by prayer. Most of the group braved the near-freezing temperatures and the brisk wind to stand in a circle, hold hands, and offer up prayers of thankfulness and intercession on our behalf. With that, we got in our rig, drove away, and thought That was a great project.
We left just before noon. It took us most of the morning to pull the duffel bags we had packed in totes on the back rack, and repack them with clothing and items for the cruise. There seems to be a million details, hopefully we won’t forget anything. From confirming our parking location to making sure all our travel documents and paperwork were in order to counting socks to making sure all our devices could be charged, it takes a surprising amount of time. And then it was just five miles down the road that we stopped at the Giddings Library to print out some luggage tags.
But we finally were underway, back in the travel mode after three weeks in one spot.
We stopped in Brenham to walk around a bit and view some of the city murals that Brenham is famous for. There are also lots of antique stores in this area and we browsed a couple, appreciating the artful placement of the pieces and also appreciating that we don’t have to pay for those pieces. We can’t afford them and can’t fit them either.
The armadillo ones were cool. We saw several armadillos at the camp, something you don’t see in Michigan.
It’s too bad that the Blue Bell store was closed today. Ice cream would have added nicely to this stop. Ice cream adds nicely to any stop.
Our route took us directly through downtown Houston. This is my first time driving through Houston. Hopefully it will be the last time. My impression of Houston, from my vantage in the cab of an RV on State Highway 290 and Interstate 10, is one super long freeway interchange that spans at least 30 miles and winds among many other roads in a fashion that resembles concrete shaghetti. Houston is just one big bowl of it.
My sidekick and navigator is always looking for something to do along the way, some stop to make things a bit more interesting. Last night, some of the possibilities were the Prairie Chicken National Wildlife Refuge and the National Museum of Funerals. Someday we ought to take a trip and just visit all these oddball places just to say we’ve been there. And I’ve read that you actually have a small chance of seeing a prairie chicken at the Refuge. And I’m just dying to see the Museum of Funerals (sorry, couldn’t help it).
Instead, Deb found a tiny city park just off of I-45 that had a lot of mosaic sculpture. Smither Park, barely larger than a few city residential lots and in the midst of the Houston concrete spaghetti, contains some fantastic pieces of mosaic created out of just about anything imaginable. We strolled around here for a bit, grateful to be off the Houston freeways, and glad to stretch the legs.
Leaving here, we drove the remaining 30 miles to Santa Fe, to a field where we are parked for the night. Tomorrow it’s on to Galveston, hopefully meeting up with another SOWER couple for breakfast, and then boarding the ship for our cruise.
Again, we may go dark for most if not all of the next seven days. Stay tuned, however, all will be posted when we get back.
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