Even More of Texas! (Texas #5, Sun., June 23, 2013)

After our Most Excellent Visit with our dear friend, Dorothy, Peggy and I were ready to head back to Kentucky and home! Our packing routine in the car has become an easy habit.  We know where everything fits and can be on the road in 10 minutes.  Another sweet round of good-bye hugs, invitations to come visit, and we're on our way.

Dorothy's Lovely Texas Home

Entering Texas last Wednesday on Interstate-10, we were used to the reliable comforts of interstate roads through the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana.  From the reasonably spaced, clean rest stops and official state "Welcome Centers" to the almost generic roadside scenery of trees, wildflowers, and grass, we had come to expect these conveniences.

It was not to continue in Texas: we went 'back to the past' and lack of nearly all conveniences. God Bless Texas and God Bless McDonalds, our new unofficial Rest Stops! In Texas' defense, we can only imagine the thousands of miles of roads to be maintained, more than many states together.

From Victoria to Houston, a familiar road, and we continued through the immense metropolis of Houston.  Peggy counted seven layers of highways at one point.

We chose the follow the AAA TripTik choice of routes, U.S.-59 North.  A 'U.S.' highway, we find, is much different than an Interstate highway.  It may be mostly 4-lane, divided, but there the resemblance ends.  There is NO limited access to the road from businesses, homes, etc.  At first, it was unnerving to watch folks back out of their driveways onto OUR highway. After driving for a few hours, we were used to the change of speed limits and adjusting of cruise control for each and every small community.

What we experienced in return for our petty grumbling was more than worth it: a large slice of the REAL AMERICA!  What we saw exhibited everywhere is PRIDE in America.  I'd estimate there were maybe four pieces of trash along U.S.-59.  Wow!  There is order everywhere.  There are well-kept homes, communities, churches, shopping areas, schools and parks.  To be sure, there are homes of rich folks, poor folks and everything in between.  There were a few unpainted, boarded-up, abandoned buildings but they did not stand out or dominate the landscape. Especially awesome were the varied landscaping, on purpose, and the native trees along the highway.  We marveled at the groves of flowering pink mimosa trees everywhere.  Our attempts to photograph the pink groves resulted in blurred photos.  But we'll remember!

Gradually the flat, parched, oil fields-type land in Texas changed to greener, slightly hilly country in the north.  To reach Texarkana, Texas/Arkansas was our goal for the day but we tired out at and stopped in Marshall, Texas.  Our trip remained happily on schedule and we could rest.