From The Beach To The Bayou To The Big State

Once I waited-out one of the hardest downpours I've seen in ages -- sheets of water falling straight down as I woke up this morning in Destin, I got on the road and did the stop-and-go thing for what seemed like an eternity along coastal Route 98.  By the time I crossed Pensacola Bay, I was ready for lunch.  I found Wayne's Family Diner and had a chicken pot pie.

The distances in Florida can be deceiving. Here is the scene just crossing over the East side of Pensacola Bay. It's huge. This is the only photo I shot all day.

There was much more scenery heading over the Louisiana bayous but since today was a run and gun day, I didn't pull over to capture anything. I was trying to make time after being held up by the threat of dangerous thunderstorms for the past few days that eventually skated by without incident.

By far the coolest thing today was driving over the Atchafalaya basin and the Bayou des Ourses. Interstate 10 was basically a bridge that spanned the width of it -- about 20 miles in a straight line. The moss covered trees were dark green and the water was thick and muddy looking. It was beautiful.

The soundtrack over the bayou quickly became Credence Clearwater Revival. That's all I wanted to hear.

Wish I was back on the bayou
Rollin' with some Cajun Queen



This next tune reminds me of being a guest at a private club in Greenwich, CT, where I remember chatting at the bar while enjoying a bowl of peanuts in front of me.  A guy came up to the bar, reached across me, stuffed his hand into the bowl, and pulled it in front of himself.  Two minutes later I was introduced to this jerk.  "Say hello to Brooks Johnson.   Brooks is running for the Senate."  Immediately I thought of this line:  

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,
Lord don't they help themselves . . .



Walkin' along the river road at night 
Barefoot girls dancing in the moonlight

Cruisin' on thru the junction,

I'm flyin' 'bout the speed of sound . . .

Finally crossed into Texas at the end of the day, which is like crossing into another country.  Texas has the distinct feeling of having its own specific gravity.  It immediately feels a whole world apart.  Its prosperity seems apparent right away (did not like paying 28% more for my hotel room though).  Then I saw the first road sign showing the distances through the state along I-10.

  El Paso.  857 miles. 

Ha, no way.  Not tonight, anyway.  I've been driving for days; I need a rest.  Can't wait to stay put for a week in Austin. I did find a great Mexican place and had an awesome dinner there.  Their carne guisada (beef stew) was the best!  Heard a great line from the waitress too: "How are you doing, Sweet Pea.  Everything OK?"  Love it.  So great to be back.