TEXAS
It's great
to be back in Texas. I'm in Dallas. I decided to route through this heaven-on-earth
so I could visit my friends Mike Lavallee and Phil Veletzos, who recently
got married (No, silly! Not to each other. Phil just got married to his
lovely bride, Roxanne).
I've yet to see them. What I have seen is a Denny's and a Travelodge. I asked the man at the front desk what time the bar closed and he replied, "Two months ago." It's my own fault for not being more precise with my questions. He has taught me a valuable lesson. One of many I will learn on the road.
Another lesson I learned was that when your mechanic says not to drive long distances without letting your car rest, you are supposed to listen to him. I didn't. I drove from New Orleans to Dallas with nothing more than a quick break here and there. I'll tell you more about here and there in a while.
I pulled
into a gas station to get directions to The Hard Rock Cafe, which is where Mike told me to
meet him. My car stalled and I sat there wondering what to do next. I explained
to Christy that this had happened to me last time I drove across country
and the car just needed to rest. I managed to get it started and drove it
about two more blocks and it conked out in a Denny's parking lot.
I took this as a sign from the Gods above that I was meant to eat at this Denny's. I think I saw Charlene Tilton at the Denny's. She's still beautiful.
Well those Gods must want me to continue to eat there, because my car still won't start. I grabbed my computer and walked up the street to a Travelodge. They have the best prices around. As I sit here writing this, I have discovered the secret behind why than can charge less than their competition. It is because they get their deliveries by rail. Yes a train seems to pass by every 15 minutes and sound its horns. I haven't looked out the window yet, but I'm sure I'll see that same front desk guy hanging packages on a pole to be picked up by the passing train. I've seen some old Westerns. I know that's how it all works.
Today's drive was a long
one. It is day one (and if my car doesn't get fixed - my final day). I covered
575 miles. Far too many miles for one day. We stopped in Baton Rouge at
a lovely little burger joint called "Frostop". I imagine it had
its heyday back in the fifties. I am also quite sure that's the last time
the toilet was cleaned there, too. I must say, however, that I had a delicious
Rootbeer Float. Christy had a burger and fries and was not let down.
We then continued on through
Lafayette, the heart of Cajun Country. I tell you, it is the Cajuns I will
miss most. Boy do they talk funny.
A few hours later, we stopped to refuel in Natchitoches. The gas station, for now, has my vote for the cleanest public restroom on the open roads. If my compatriot, Jack Kerouac had been here, he might have hung up his hitchin thumb and taken a job here. This gas station also had some of the best food I've ever had at a gas station (I'm talkin' homemade Hush Puppies!). One thing they didn't have was Nachos. I guess it would have been confusing what with them being in Natchitoches. Said fast, the two sound alike. I might have walked in and said, "Give me some Nachos" and the counter service person would have said, "You're already there." It would have degenerated into an Abbot and Costello routine with Southern accents
There goes the train
again
One more thing about Natchitoches. There is a town nearby called "Nacogdoches". Now, I don't know what the literacy rate is 'round those parts, but I reckon, some people have ended up at the wrong Hardee's before.
While I was driving, I heard the lovely Neil Diamond song, "I Am I Said." I got to thinking, that that song kind of applies to me. I need to change the words, but here goes: "LA's fine but it ain't home, L.A.'s home but it ain't mine no more..."
And now I must rest and ponder just what I will do about my car problem.
Sweet Dreams
Write me on this lonely road.