Day 5: 322 miles
Texarkana, TX to Austin, TX
Day five brought us to BillyÂ’s brotherÂ’s house in Austin. The drive from Texarkana to Austin was marked by at least 20 Monarch butterflies crashing into the windshield. Kind of traumatic, driving along and hitting butterflies. I donÂ’t much like to drive as it is. I especially dislike it when it involves killing butterflies at 75 mph.
On the upside, we arrived somewhere and stayed put for a while. Family was visited with. Vegetables were eaten. It was nice to get off the road for a while.
Day 6: 0 miles.
Rest day in Austin. We made an attempt to see the million bats fly out from under the Congress Ave bridge. Alas, the bats decided to take the night off. We waited two hours on that bridge and no bat swarm. We did get to see the sunset, though.
Day 7: 67 miles X 2
Day trip to San Antonio. David met us for lunch. (Yay David! So great to see him again, and to get some quality non-Rhinebeckish visiting in.)
Billy once again tried to prove his theory that he looks good in all hats.
Thumper also looks good in all hats.
Day 8: 187 miles
Austin to Fort Worth
But first! Lunch with my beloved Anina! We met up with Anina and her husband David (different David) for lunch, and then hit the road again.
There was rain on the way, quickly followed by a huge double rainbow, so big I couldnÂ’t get both ends into the frame. I donÂ’t think IÂ’ve ever before been in a place with a big enough sky that I saw both ends of the rainbow at one time.
I also realized that my River Run sock is suffering from a mismatch of pattern and yarn. (Seems to be a recurring theme here of late.) The pattern wants either a solid yarn or a more subtly variegated yarn. These stripes arenÂ’t working for it.
On the other hand, how great are those stripes? Clearly the stripes want just a plain stockinette sock to show them off. Vesper Yarn in the algae colorway. This will be frogged and reknit in stockinette and IÂ’ll find a more suitable yarn for WendyÂ’s pattern. For now, I’ll finish up the second mama tiger sock and cast on for the Loksins.
We made it a short day, since we didnÂ’t leave until 3pm. Just a quick drive to Fort Worth, and an evening of steamed veggies from a pretty decent Chinese place. WeÂ’re gearing up for another big push, starting tomorrow. Northwest! WeÂ’re finally headed northwest!
Sorry to hear you missed the bats. It’s a very cool thing to see. But they don’t come out until it’s just after sunset. We were driving over the Congress Street Bridge just after sunset during SXSW a few years ago and happened to time it just right and I was totally paranoid we’d hit a bat.
Posted by: liz
I don’t think I have ever seen both ends of a rainbow, either – it is a beautiful picture.
Posted by: Jo
I heard from an Austinite that it’s been such a wet year that there are mosquitos everywhere, so the bats aren’t “swarming” so much this year… In other years, they have to leave the area by the bridge to find food (which they do in a big mass), but this year the bugs are coming right to them!
Glad your drive is going well! How many more days will you be in Texas?
Posted by: Sarah
Texas has sky, that’s for sure. Next, I want to see you in many hats. The boys are cute, with or without hats, but where are the Cari pictures?
Posted by: Cassie
I’m really enjoying your zigzag Odyssey. And i think the River Run in your iteration looks quite nice; have you ripped it yet?
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
Sorry to hear you missed the bats. It’s a very cool thing to see. But they don’t come out until it’s just after sunset. We were driving over the Congress Street Bridge just after sunset during SXSW a few years ago and happened to time it just right and I was totally paranoid we’d hit a bat.
Posted by: liz
I don’t think I have ever seen both ends of a rainbow, either – it is a beautiful picture.
Posted by: Jo
I heard from an Austinite that it’s been such a wet year that there are mosquitos everywhere, so the bats aren’t “swarming” so much this year… In other years, they have to leave the area by the bridge to find food (which they do in a big mass), but this year the bugs are coming right to them!
Glad your drive is going well! How many more days will you be in Texas?
Posted by: Sarah
Texas has sky, that’s for sure. Next, I want to see you in many hats. The boys are cute, with or without hats, but where are the Cari pictures?
Posted by: Cassie
I’m really enjoying your zigzag Odyssey. And i think the River Run in your iteration looks quite nice; have you ripped it yet?
Posted by: Mary K. in Rockport
You’ll be here in time for beautiful weather (it’s going to be hotter today and tomorrow but next week, lovely).
Then again, I think most of the weather we get here is beautiful (rain included).
Posted by: shannon in oregon
That rainbow shot is why super-wide-angle lenses were invented (and after which I lust).
Agreed. The Vesper striping is kick-ass, but not in that pattern.
Posted by: claudia
Sorry you missed the bats–it really is cool! And the hats look great 🙂
Posted by: Mish
I’m enjoying your travel posts very much. Hope your trip continues to be fun and safe!
Posted by: Kim
You managed to hit two of my “hometowns” in a single post–I grew up in Fort Worth and lived in Austin for 5 years. I miss the big skies of Texas. Glad you could see the double rainbow–aren’t they just amazing?
Posted by: Tracy WW
It was wonderful seeing you and your boys, Cari! Billy definitely does have strong hat mojo – and I’m sure that when Thumper is big enough so that the sombrero does not completely cover his body, he’ll have his dad’s superpowers.
Posted by: David
Glad to see everyone still has the energy for the rest of the trip! Its been so neat just reading about your experiences.
I do love that yarn & agree that a plain stockinette will really show off the stripes – I have a tendnancy to do that with striped yarn – its amazing in itself – doesnt need anything extra!
Posted by: Rebecca
while you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, make sure to go to Central Market (www.centralmarket.com). Its an amazing supermarket, with lots of organics and yummy stuff for vegetarians. There are 2 in Dallas and 1 in Fort Worth. Not sure if there are any others besides them before you leave TX.
Drive safe!
Posted by: Amy
You’ll be here in time for beautiful weather (it’s going to be hotter today and tomorrow but next week, lovely).
Then again, I think most of the weather we get here is beautiful (rain included).
Posted by: shannon in oregon
That rainbow shot is why super-wide-angle lenses were invented (and after which I lust).
Agreed. The Vesper striping is kick-ass, but not in that pattern.
Posted by: claudia
Sorry you missed the bats–it really is cool! And the hats look great 🙂
Posted by: Mish
I’m enjoying your travel posts very much. Hope your trip continues to be fun and safe!
Posted by: Kim
You managed to hit two of my “hometowns” in a single post–I grew up in Fort Worth and lived in Austin for 5 years. I miss the big skies of Texas. Glad you could see the double rainbow–aren’t they just amazing?
Posted by: Tracy WW
It was wonderful seeing you and your boys, Cari! Billy definitely does have strong hat mojo – and I’m sure that when Thumper is big enough so that the sombrero does not completely cover his body, he’ll have his dad’s superpowers.
Posted by: David
Glad to see everyone still has the energy for the rest of the trip! Its been so neat just reading about your experiences.
I do love that yarn & agree that a plain stockinette will really show off the stripes – I have a tendnancy to do that with striped yarn – its amazing in itself – doesnt need anything extra!
Posted by: Rebecca
while you are in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, make sure to go to Central Market (www.centralmarket.com). Its an amazing supermarket, with lots of organics and yummy stuff for vegetarians. There are 2 in Dallas and 1 in Fort Worth. Not sure if there are any others besides them before you leave TX.
Drive safe!
Posted by: Amy
Incidentally, there are also two Central Markets in Austin. I love the bats. They’re one of the highlights of my annual trip to Austin.
I think Thumper would look good in anything, but he, much like his dad, does have a great hat face.
Posted by: regina
I can totally relate to your sock striping mismatch pattern issue. I am having the same difficulty right now with some Vesper sock yarn I just purchased (Meteorite). I love the colors but am hating what the pattern I am knitting is doing to them. Is stockinette the way to go? Maybe I will have to give that a whirl.
Posted by: Knittripps
I love the pictures of Texas! It looks like I might not make my annual trip this year so it was great to see some pictures. -The hat pictures are cute, too. I did that with my Mom and use it as her ‘contact’ photo on my iPod. It makes me smile. 😀
Posted by: Jaime
Zany hats and giant rainbows – what more could a blogreader want?
Posted by: Lizbon
Billy and Thumper are both lookin’ good in those hats! Its true!! Maybe you’ve missed your calling, and y’all belong in Texas, being cowboys!
I’m jealous that David has seen Thumper twice and I’ve only seen him once when he couldn’t be seen yet by the human eye, and I didn’t even know it 🙂
Such pretty colors in that algae!!
I am so enjoying this vicarious road trip!
Take care! Love!!! xox -P.
Posted by: Pippy
I know you guys are probably trying to make headway, but if you’re getting anywhere near Boulder, let me know.
Posted by: Anne
i had the butterfly suicide problem on my drive up to minnesota. very distressing!
Posted by: carolyn
A twisted rib might be fun in that colorway too.
Posted by: Laurie
Incidentally, there are also two Central Markets in Austin. I love the bats. They’re one of the highlights of my annual trip to Austin.
I think Thumper would look good in anything, but he, much like his dad, does have a great hat face.
Posted by: regina
I can totally relate to your sock striping mismatch pattern issue. I am having the same difficulty right now with some Vesper sock yarn I just purchased (Meteorite). I love the colors but am hating what the pattern I am knitting is doing to them. Is stockinette the way to go? Maybe I will have to give that a whirl.
Posted by: Knittripps
I love the pictures of Texas! It looks like I might not make my annual trip this year so it was great to see some pictures. -The hat pictures are cute, too. I did that with my Mom and use it as her ‘contact’ photo on my iPod. It makes me smile. 😀
Posted by: Jaime
Zany hats and giant rainbows – what more could a blogreader want?
Posted by: Lizbon
Billy and Thumper are both lookin’ good in those hats! Its true!! Maybe you’ve missed your calling, and y’all belong in Texas, being cowboys!
I’m jealous that David has seen Thumper twice and I’ve only seen him once when he couldn’t be seen yet by the human eye, and I didn’t even know it 🙂
Such pretty colors in that algae!!
I am so enjoying this vicarious road trip!
Take care! Love!!! xox -P.
Posted by: Pippy
I know you guys are probably trying to make headway, but if you’re getting anywhere near Boulder, let me know.
Posted by: Anne
i had the butterfly suicide problem on my drive up to minnesota. very distressing!
Posted by: carolyn
A twisted rib might be fun in that colorway too.
Posted by: Laurie
Oh, and Cari, the Hold Steady is playing in Portland Nov. 5!
Posted by: Laurie
Good LORD, can that man wear a hat! You weren’t kidding about that. Glad you got to meet your friend in Austin. I love those sort of meetups.
Sorry about your sock! I’m going to frog a pair that’s 3/4 done (both of them). The pattern just sucks ass.
Posted by: Jennie
Ahhhh, it does like the stockinette. Enjoy the ripping and go north! Say goodbye to the sweet tea, but go north and enjoy the ride! p.s. Oscar is sleeping in my trashcan, does that mean he feels at home?
Posted by: melissa
That’s some big sky. And a big hat. Hey, everything IS bigger in Texas!
Posted by: alison
Sarah’s right, the bats aren’t swarming this year because of all the rain. They find all the food right around the bridge so they just kind of circle around it which is neat too. You have to stand on the bridge and look straight down and you can see them.
I love Vesper! But I think it looks best in a “plain” sock
Posted by: Kristin
Just saw your Knitty pattern. Very very cute! I like. 🙂
Posted by: Romi
Oh, and Cari, the Hold Steady is playing in Portland Nov. 5!
Posted by: Laurie
Good LORD, can that man wear a hat! You weren’t kidding about that. Glad you got to meet your friend in Austin. I love those sort of meetups.
Sorry about your sock! I’m going to frog a pair that’s 3/4 done (both of them). The pattern just sucks ass.
Posted by: Jennie
Ahhhh, it does like the stockinette. Enjoy the ripping and go north! Say goodbye to the sweet tea, but go north and enjoy the ride! p.s. Oscar is sleeping in my trashcan, does that mean he feels at home?
Posted by: melissa
That’s some big sky. And a big hat. Hey, everything IS bigger in Texas!
Posted by: alison
Sarah’s right, the bats aren’t swarming this year because of all the rain. They find all the food right around the bridge so they just kind of circle around it which is neat too. You have to stand on the bridge and look straight down and you can see them.
I love Vesper! But I think it looks best in a “plain” sock
Posted by: Kristin
Just saw your Knitty pattern. Very very cute! I like. 🙂
Posted by: Romi