Markemmanuel

Danielle planned on attending graduate school outside of the Chicago area and wanted to visit the areas her target universities are in, Austin being one of them. I thought, “why not?” Texas was not on the top of my list of places to visit. I want to tell you everything but here’s a highlight of my four day weekend in Austin.  The road trip to Austin is the best non-solo road trips sans my brothers I’ve been on.

Austin started to change my views of Texas. The light car traffic made driving enjoyable. Austin abounds with parking. Buses flowed freely from bus stop to bus stop. It’s a very bike friendly and walkable city. It’s a beautiful blend of active and sedentary transportation. This is transportation heaven. I wish I had my bike. I would have walked, ran, rode, and drove. Part of me wished the Chicago area was much like this.

The Texas Capital

The Texas State Capitol building grounds was interesting.  I learned a lot about Texas history in their visitor center and on the free tour there.  We walked campus of University of Texas at Austin. It’s a beautiful campus just north of the Texas State Capitol building. Danielle and I casually walked through campus locating attempting to identify the purpose of each building. I found a trailer that advocated bike transportation and it gave me a big smile. We noticed the university transforming roadside landscape along the road into xeriscaped gardens. It warmed my nature friendly heart. I can see myself spending a part of my academic career here.  Like the University of Illinois campus, this one hit me in the heart.  The difference is that  The aroma of cows does not waft in the air at the University of Texas.

Outdoor Recreation

Austin built a dam to create a reservoir to provide ample drinking water for the city. Lady Bird Lake (AKA Town Lake) provides a great source of recreation for the city. Every day I saw people boating on its waters. I became envious of the paddlers on their kayaks as I ran down the trail around Town Lake. I wondered what the anglers caught. I waited patiently with other watchers for the Congress Bridge bats to emerge and fill the sky as one cloudy unit.

Another body of water people gravitate to is Barton Springs Pool.  It’s a pool naturally fed by a creek and a couple of springs nearby.  We arrived there early Monday morning.  As the day wore on, more people came to swim in its waters.

SoCo and Other ‘Hoods

South Congress is the home to a number of eclectic business and people. Like many ‘hip’ neighborhoods, it started as a shady part of town where artists lived and thrived. (Most likely due to low rents.) Its low income roots are still seen scattered throughout the neighborhood that’s being built up to cater to the trend sheep who ‘discovered’ this neighborhood’s charm. Gentrification? Perhaps. It feels like SoCo posesses a healthy mix of economic diversity to keep the neighborhood unique, vibrant, and eclectic without that gentrification vibe to it.

We ditched the car yet again to walk around the area near our hotel. We discovered a curious neighborhood of new construction and old housing stock. Skyscraper condos sit right next to middle class single family homes. Within the concentration of single family homes, we found a newly minted neighborhood bar built within a former house and a couple of restaurants with seating in the front yard of a home. I wanted to explore more and taste the flavors in this neighborhood but our time in Austin is short. Yet another excuse to return to Austin.

Feelin’ Austin Music

We experienced a taste of Austin’s famed music scene. We didn’t go down to Sixth Street that weekend. We didn’t visit Stubb’s. We chose to do something more laid back, something that I would do. We visited the Cactus Cafe to see David Garza perform. It was a free Monday show, well almost free. We loved him so much that we tossed some cash in the tip jar reserved for the performer/band/group.

Good Eats Highlights

There were a lot of good eats in Austin. Torchy’s Tacos is one of those places. It’s so good that we visited there multiple times. The only time we didn’t eat there was when we dined at Iron works for some barbeque, and when we decided to try another Tex-Mex joint. I blame my coworker Brad for my addiction. He recommended that I try their breakfast Taco. I tried their tacos and LOVED IT! They also had Mexican Coke. If you’re a Coca-Cola aficionado, you know why that makes my taste buds grin. Next to Torchy’s Tacos’ food trailer at the trailer park is Holy Cacao. Try their cakeball and a Frozen Hot Chocolate. Yum. It’s a chocolate addict’s heaven. That trailer park was a slice of heaven for me. Tree, an REI employee at the downtown Austin store, recommended that we visit Iron Works BBQ for some Texas barbecue. It was good barbecue that wouldn’t offend a person. That’s the impression I got after talking to Tree and I think it’s because Texas barbecue hasn’t been codified yet like a Chicago Deep Dish Pizza or a Philly Cheesesteak.  Let me tell you, it is some damn good barbecue. I wanted to go back before we left town but the time table didn’t allow us to do so. I left Austin pining for more Torchy’s Tacos, barbecue, and chocolaty delights from Holy Cacao.

Austin changed my opinion of Texas. It’s not as weird as they claim to be. Perhaps I found it normal because I’m one of the weirdos that should be living in Austin. It’s one of the few times where I felt at ease and normal. Maybe I should consider transferring to University of Texas at Austin? A part of me wants to move down there.  Austin definitely deserves, at the very least, another visit. Who wants to drive to Austin with me?

I’ve played with the idea of spending time on America’s Main Street, the Lincoln Highway and Historic Route 66 for some time now.  I never committed to a plan.  Lately,  The itch has become unbearable.  I need to hit the open road.

School. Work. Money. Girlfriend.  There was always an excuse or reason for not going on the road trip.  The excuses need to end.  Before I know it, I’ll be 85 years old and still putting it off.  The excuses ARE ending.  No girlfriend giving me guilt trips about going on a road trip.  Money is lean but I can work hard before leaving and maybe a few angels can help me realize my dream.  I’m on extended hiatus from school.

I plan to spend a month exploring the United States.  I want to drift in a general direction.  After the day after the half marathon, I leave for New York City to be begin my drive down America’s Main Street, The Lincoln Highway.  I head down the Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara to hook up with Route 66.  The Mother Road will lead me back home to Chicago.  There are definite must see and must do things on my list like Valley Forge, and Yosemite.  I hope to explore and find something interesting, something exciting, and something fun in between.  We’ll see.

I’ll have a couple of months to plan my trip.  There’s a lot of things to consider like my new ride to replace poor Justine, travel buddies, financing, and duration.  Is anyone else planning a road trip or have any helpful advice for an extended trip like this?