Time to take a break from the mundane!
Thanksgiving week offered the whole Geofamily a chance to get away from the work or school routine. Geoguy’s family in Texas was more than receptive to a visit and we also wanted to visit Rice University. This institution (among many others) expressed interest in Geoana and dangled a nice offer to boot.
Plans in place, we hit the road south during the early afternoon of the 18th. Our destination for the evening was Sherman, in north Texas, a place I have never been. Although it was tempting to take a more scenic and direct route given I like seeing new places and southeastern Oklahoma appears to be rather hilly and green, I instead chose the interstate 35-to-Gainesville-then-east-to-Sherman option. Why?
Two reasons: Time and daylight.
Since Geoana was wrapping up a 4H function on the 18th that meant we couldn’t begin the trip until her commitment was complete, which happened around one in the afternoon. Had we been able to start earlier I certainly would choose the road less traveled. And since we’re in November the sun sets just a little after 5 so we knew the latter part of this day’s drive would be in darkness. Better to stay on the familiar and four-lane routes.
Still, a bit of a shame as I would have loved to see the scenery along U.S. route 82 between Gainesville and Sherman. Would not be surprised if it was reminiscent of Texas’ Hill Country region.
Why Sherman?
Since we weren’t able to get to Houston in one day we all agreed a Monday visit to Austin College would be worth our time. It’s another school listed in the tome Colleges That Change Lives by Loren Pope and also fits the daughter’s criteria of a smaller institution with a religious focus.
As expected, we hit darkness on I-35 around the vicinity of Purcell, Oklahoma. And, as hoped, our drive was uneventful save for witnessing the recent remnants of what appeared to be a horrific accident along 35 near Blackwell.
Arrive in Sherman, make a quick stop at Wal Mart Neighborhood Market for healthy supper salads (need to counteract the KFC we ate for lunch). Then we check in a the hotel and settle down for repose.
Monday morning arrives. We finish the Austin College visit/tour in the early afternoon and begin heading south (again), this time with Houston as the destination. But before we’re out of the greater North Dallas/Plano/McKinney region we need to grab some lunch. Geogal consults her Yelp app and we agree on Tex-Mex.
Thank you Yelp! Anasofia’s Mexican Grill was a delight and we left with not only full stomachs but also enjoyed the conversation with the owner who was pleased we stopped in and mentioned we drove by no less than six Mexican restaurants between the freeway exit and his establishment.
That meal also took care of one of my personal “important three” Texas cuisines, the other two being BBQ and chicken fried steak. (Save the Asian fusion for some other destination…)
So for this trip here’s the food scorecard:
BBQ
Tex-Mex
Chicken-fried steak
I get behind the wheel again for the trek around Dallas (via 75 and 635) before intersecting I-45 and turning south toward Space City.
Before reaching Corsicana (a convenient stop to switch out drivers and also view the offerings at the Collin Street Bakery store) I have the only “yikes!” moment of the whole trip. I’m driving along, minding my own business when a pickup/fifth wheel combination encroaches into my lane with no warning or signal.
Geoana perked up when she heard me exclaim: “Aaaaahhhhh!!!” Sometimes you can’t retain something in your inner monologue.
Fortunately I had a free and open lane just to the left so no damage done. Truck-and-fifth-wheel-combination moves back to the right and I pass him. Geogal (who is riding shotgun) takes a casual look over and sees a, well, rather geriatric driver.
I choose to shake it off. We arrive at Corsicana and sadly realize that Collin Street Bakery no longer makes or sells their rum pound cake. Rats! I had my mouth all set for that gustatory delight.
A bit of history: For Christmas 1989, Geoguy, along with Geoparents and Geosister the Younger did a road trip beginning in Albuquerque, New Mexico with the destination of Houston. Our first day saw us reach Wichita Falls on a freakin’ cold (albeit clear) day. We got a good start the next day and stopped in Corsicana for a BBQ lunch (awesome!—wish I could remember the name of the place although it might not exist anymore) and then went to the downtown location of Collin Street Bakery. Both the BBQ and Collin Street Bakery were a recommendation from Geomom’s coworker who grew up in Corsicana.
We walked out the door with a fruitcake (natch) and a rum pound cake. A few days later in Houston these items were a hit, to put it mildly. Geobrother-in-law commented on the pound cake, “You could (or should) pour your morning coffee through it.”
Another memory of my youth, now gone.
The drive from Corsicana to Huntsville is routine. Geogal took over behind the wheel after we left the Collin Street Bakery store. Quick stop at Buc-ees for gas. Us and about half the world. Might not ever visit a Buc-ees again. Never even had a chance to go inside and see the offerings.
After Huntsville the traffic increases significantly on I-45. By the time we get to Conroe we wonder if we will ever see Houston. All we see right now are taillights.
I navigate Geogal through the mess of cars/trucks/etc onto the Sam Houston Tollway and we finally get to our hotel on the Katy Freeway. Which looks a lot different than the Katy Freeway I grew up with. Fortunately our hotel has a social hour which has not only libations (including Shiner Bock!!) but also appetizers which we make into a meal.
However Geogal is so stressed from the Greater Houston segment that she isn’t making casual conversation about anything related to the drive.
Next segment: Day Three—Rice University and one other institution of higher education!
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