Any Minute Now
I'm a believer in the philosophy that bad and good things happen in streaks. Well, I'm waiting for the good one. I think it started a few days ago as I headed toward Alamogordo, NM - the beginning of my next US Tour - Aliens, Presidents, Belles & Blacks. When I first arrived in town there was a wind storm blowing sand all over the place. (BAD) Apparently, quite common in SE New Mexico. Not to be deterred I quickly settled in at the luxurious Super 8 Motel, the first motel I came across. When I woke up the next day I saw that my bike cover had almost flown away in the wind (BAD). Ok, no worries. Off to the White Sands National Park. While the White Sands park is very cool, the town of Alamogordo is anything but. It's a sad looking town. Sprawled out in the desert with every US fast food chain restaurant and lodging you can imagine. Of course I was craving breadsticks at Pizza Hut. The sign says open at 11AM. It was 1130AM. But, the door was locked, so I went around the other side - an employee greeted me as I opened the door and said their manager had not arrived yet. No breadsticks today (BAD).
I took this as a sign that I should not patronize any fast food establishments, so I went to a small restaurant across the street called Taiwan Kitchen. My thinking - most Chinese restaurants have names like 'Chinese Garden' or 'Chinese Dragon' or some other common name where overly Americanized Chinese food would be served, something I didn't want. A place called Taiwan kitchen must be a find. WRONG! Needless to say the menu was anything but inviting or reflective of Taiwan (BAD). There was a total of maybe 10 different entrees. No kidding or exaggerating. That's it. Most Chinese restaurants have pages and pages. I was hungry and tolerated their beef & broccoli. I was planning on visiting the NM Museum of Space History and going on a Pistachio farm tour (Exciting stuff I'm doing!) but the town depressed me so much that I decided to leave sooner rather than later. I've definitely reached my tolerance for visiting podunk towns. A quick formula for determining which towns to avoid before traveling - go to Wal Mart's website and see where they have stores. If the town has a Wal Mart and a population less than say 15,000 you can pretty much assume the town is pathetic - I have no kinder words. The people may be friendly, but the towns themselves - pathetic. Or one could cross-reference all the locations for fast food joints and the higher the # vs population, the more pathetic the town.
Driving to Carlsbad I encountered some of the most boring scenery yet. Featureless plains. As I reached the town of Artesia, NM I also got the distinct feeling I was leaving the West and entering into a distinctly different part of America. Maybe it was seeing the oil refinery (I think that is what it is) and Halliburton trucks. More on that in an article I'll post. Even the waitress at Denny's in Carlsbad told me to "Be Careful Traveling" when I told her I was heading to Savannah, GA. Three times. An ominous sign?
My stay in Carlsbad was uneventful enough but that was the lull before the "storm" I am now in as I write this in Austin, TX. I woke up yesterday morning in Carlsbad and visited the Carlsbad Caverns. Pretty cool. Then the fun started.
I made it my goal yesterday to reach Austin, TX. I ended up driving 530 miles yesterday. Mostly on US-285, then I-10 East across Texas. A record for any of my US driving tours. The only other time I drove more was in early 1997 when I drove from San Francisco, CA at 10AM non-stop to Seattle, WA arriving at 1AM the next day. I didn't see anything on that trip. Not recommended. About Texas - I once asked someone who lived in Texas what was in the Western part of the state. He said "Nothing." I didn't quite understand him. "What do you mean nothing?" I remarked. He said "Nothing." ---- Now, I understand.
I entertained myself by yelling "Yee-Haw!" in the car and remarking (To myself) on how pathetic some of the towns I was passing through appeared to be. Although I have to respect the grit of the people who do live out here. I can see why the Rodeo was invented in Pecos, TX. One could easily become desperate for something to entertain themselves. I probably would have done the same thing if I lived out here in the late 1800s too or today. Adding insult to injury were the frequent "Drive Friendly" signs. Once on I-10, eventually I started to see various featureless plateaus. After Ozona, TX the land definitely became more green and hilly. Quite scenic actually. The town of Fredericksburg is nice, as I sped by at 60 miles/hour. And that was the last nice experience I've had.
Actually -- I was thinking of driving like a madman to make things interesting. The scenery certainly doesn't.
What follows is a sequence of aggravating (Humourous?) events in Austin, TX late last night (1030PM) and today:
1) Check in to Comfort Suites Hotel (Choice hotels franchise). Told over phone and at desk upon check in that they have high speed Internet. When I walk into the room I discover no network outlet. The desk girl didn't have a clue as to what I was asking about. She figured internet over a phone line is high speed. Only when a more enlightened employee noted that they didn't have IN-ROOM high speed internet, but only from a jack in the 1st floor business center does it become more clear. I change hotels. (BAD) Remember - it's 1030PM after 530 miles+ of driving.
2) Arrive at Clarion Inn (Top end hotel in the Choice Hotels franchise network - only $50 w/ coupon) 5 miles away. They do have in-room high speed internet. It even says so on a banner outside. I request a non-smoking room. Upon entering my room it is definitely not a non-smoking room. Strog odor. Dated furnishings and flying bugs also add to the atmosphere. (BAD) I request a different room. New room is remodeled and smokeless. I shouldn't have to do this at the top end hotel in the chain.
Today:
3) I went to bed late at 230AM but woke up early - 830AM. I try to sleep more but can't. (BAD) Paying bills and catching up with finances over the internet don't add to my happiness.
4) As I step outside I realize - holy smokes! This is hot & humid! And there's no nice waterfalls, ocean, or hot bikini-clad babes like I had in Brazil to make it tolerable. (BAD) Just cars and more cars.
5) I think to myself, a nice beer and sit down lunch will do me good. The traffic is ridiculous - at 1:30PM. They are also building bigger and better freeways in Austin. Which of course invites nothing but more and more cars. (BAD) A possible insight into the minds of 3 of our last 8 presidents is acquired.
6) So I go to a local chain / joint I eyed earlier - Taco Cabana, a colorful tex-mex place. A little too informal for what I wanted but I try it anyway. I order their Sizzling Steak Fajita platter. 10 minutes pass - my number is not called. I walk up to the counter. Whoops -- apparently they never saw the order on their computer screen. And I thought I was being patient. At least I had my beer. They hastily prepare it. Maybe they could have offered me some consolation chips. Alas - no. They weren't very "Sorry" about it. Instead of "Drive Friendly" how about "Service friendly." While walking to my table I spill some of the reddish bean sauce on my recently washed shorts and shirt that I ironed just before going out. The beans were in a flimsy bowl on the tray with a soupy sauce that splashed out. (BAD)
7) After navigating the one-way streets and inconvenient entrance to my hotel I arrive back thinking, a good streak must be right around the corner. WRONG
8) Yes - it's hot and humid. So I walk down to the vending machine to grab a soda. I decide on a Lipton Brisk ICED Tea. What comes out? BIG RED SODA. (See picture below) That's the name. This is not a Lipton Iced Tea. In fact, I've never heard of it. Talk about false advertising. And it's warm to boot! (BAD)
9) I try again - this time with the Pepsi button. Pepsi comes out - but it's warm too. (BAD) I salvage some respect by pouring it in a cup with ice from the ice machine. Clever me.
10) I finally get some sleep and wake up with an odd rash on my leg. (BAD) Something I ate at Taco Cabana? Time for dinner.
11) I decide on Chinese food delivered from the hotel restaurant. As I open the styrofoam I discover they delivered the wrong dish! (BAD) A quick call rectifies the problem but the streak continues. Does everything have to be so difficult? Maybe I should just fast and stop eating and drinking anything but water.
Any minute now my good streak will start......aiiieeee!
I took this as a sign that I should not patronize any fast food establishments, so I went to a small restaurant across the street called Taiwan Kitchen. My thinking - most Chinese restaurants have names like 'Chinese Garden' or 'Chinese Dragon' or some other common name where overly Americanized Chinese food would be served, something I didn't want. A place called Taiwan kitchen must be a find. WRONG! Needless to say the menu was anything but inviting or reflective of Taiwan (BAD). There was a total of maybe 10 different entrees. No kidding or exaggerating. That's it. Most Chinese restaurants have pages and pages. I was hungry and tolerated their beef & broccoli. I was planning on visiting the NM Museum of Space History and going on a Pistachio farm tour (Exciting stuff I'm doing!) but the town depressed me so much that I decided to leave sooner rather than later. I've definitely reached my tolerance for visiting podunk towns. A quick formula for determining which towns to avoid before traveling - go to Wal Mart's website and see where they have stores. If the town has a Wal Mart and a population less than say 15,000 you can pretty much assume the town is pathetic - I have no kinder words. The people may be friendly, but the towns themselves - pathetic. Or one could cross-reference all the locations for fast food joints and the higher the # vs population, the more pathetic the town.
Driving to Carlsbad I encountered some of the most boring scenery yet. Featureless plains. As I reached the town of Artesia, NM I also got the distinct feeling I was leaving the West and entering into a distinctly different part of America. Maybe it was seeing the oil refinery (I think that is what it is) and Halliburton trucks. More on that in an article I'll post. Even the waitress at Denny's in Carlsbad told me to "Be Careful Traveling" when I told her I was heading to Savannah, GA. Three times. An ominous sign?
My stay in Carlsbad was uneventful enough but that was the lull before the "storm" I am now in as I write this in Austin, TX. I woke up yesterday morning in Carlsbad and visited the Carlsbad Caverns. Pretty cool. Then the fun started.
I made it my goal yesterday to reach Austin, TX. I ended up driving 530 miles yesterday. Mostly on US-285, then I-10 East across Texas. A record for any of my US driving tours. The only other time I drove more was in early 1997 when I drove from San Francisco, CA at 10AM non-stop to Seattle, WA arriving at 1AM the next day. I didn't see anything on that trip. Not recommended. About Texas - I once asked someone who lived in Texas what was in the Western part of the state. He said "Nothing." I didn't quite understand him. "What do you mean nothing?" I remarked. He said "Nothing." ---- Now, I understand.
I entertained myself by yelling "Yee-Haw!" in the car and remarking (To myself) on how pathetic some of the towns I was passing through appeared to be. Although I have to respect the grit of the people who do live out here. I can see why the Rodeo was invented in Pecos, TX. One could easily become desperate for something to entertain themselves. I probably would have done the same thing if I lived out here in the late 1800s too or today. Adding insult to injury were the frequent "Drive Friendly" signs. Once on I-10, eventually I started to see various featureless plateaus. After Ozona, TX the land definitely became more green and hilly. Quite scenic actually. The town of Fredericksburg is nice, as I sped by at 60 miles/hour. And that was the last nice experience I've had.
What follows is a sequence of aggravating (Humourous?) events in Austin, TX late last night (1030PM) and today:
1) Check in to Comfort Suites Hotel (Choice hotels franchise). Told over phone and at desk upon check in that they have high speed Internet. When I walk into the room I discover no network outlet. The desk girl didn't have a clue as to what I was asking about. She figured internet over a phone line is high speed. Only when a more enlightened employee noted that they didn't have IN-ROOM high speed internet, but only from a jack in the 1st floor business center does it become more clear. I change hotels. (BAD) Remember - it's 1030PM after 530 miles+ of driving.
2) Arrive at Clarion Inn (Top end hotel in the Choice Hotels franchise network - only $50 w/ coupon) 5 miles away. They do have in-room high speed internet. It even says so on a banner outside. I request a non-smoking room. Upon entering my room it is definitely not a non-smoking room. Strog odor. Dated furnishings and flying bugs also add to the atmosphere. (BAD) I request a different room. New room is remodeled and smokeless. I shouldn't have to do this at the top end hotel in the chain.
Today:
3) I went to bed late at 230AM but woke up early - 830AM. I try to sleep more but can't. (BAD) Paying bills and catching up with finances over the internet don't add to my happiness.
4) As I step outside I realize - holy smokes! This is hot & humid! And there's no nice waterfalls, ocean, or hot bikini-clad babes like I had in Brazil to make it tolerable. (BAD) Just cars and more cars.
5) I think to myself, a nice beer and sit down lunch will do me good. The traffic is ridiculous - at 1:30PM. They are also building bigger and better freeways in Austin. Which of course invites nothing but more and more cars. (BAD) A possible insight into the minds of 3 of our last 8 presidents is acquired.
6) So I go to a local chain / joint I eyed earlier - Taco Cabana, a colorful tex-mex place. A little too informal for what I wanted but I try it anyway. I order their Sizzling Steak Fajita platter. 10 minutes pass - my number is not called. I walk up to the counter. Whoops -- apparently they never saw the order on their computer screen. And I thought I was being patient. At least I had my beer. They hastily prepare it. Maybe they could have offered me some consolation chips. Alas - no. They weren't very "Sorry" about it. Instead of "Drive Friendly" how about "Service friendly." While walking to my table I spill some of the reddish bean sauce on my recently washed shorts and shirt that I ironed just before going out. The beans were in a flimsy bowl on the tray with a soupy sauce that splashed out. (BAD)
7) After navigating the one-way streets and inconvenient entrance to my hotel I arrive back thinking, a good streak must be right around the corner. WRONG
8) Yes - it's hot and humid. So I walk down to the vending machine to grab a soda. I decide on a Lipton Brisk ICED Tea. What comes out? BIG RED SODA. (See picture below) That's the name. This is not a Lipton Iced Tea. In fact, I've never heard of it. Talk about false advertising. And it's warm to boot! (BAD)
9) I try again - this time with the Pepsi button. Pepsi comes out - but it's warm too. (BAD) I salvage some respect by pouring it in a cup with ice from the ice machine. Clever me.
10) I finally get some sleep and wake up with an odd rash on my leg. (BAD) Something I ate at Taco Cabana? Time for dinner.
11) I decide on Chinese food delivered from the hotel restaurant. As I open the styrofoam I discover they delivered the wrong dish! (BAD) A quick call rectifies the problem but the streak continues. Does everything have to be so difficult? Maybe I should just fast and stop eating and drinking anything but water.
Any minute now my good streak will start......aiiieeee!
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