On the Road Again, Part 2

Driving for golf, sun, and just the holy helluvit in Middle America

- 5/13/05  (Read:  Part 1  Part 2)

Part 2: East Texas Driveby and Rebound

Having arrived at the starting gate intact with my baby (Audi), and the latest edition of Texas' DeLorme's(1), I rise and shine from my Tyler digs, pack up, and head for the hotel restaurant for a large multicolored breakfast.  Delicious.

The bugs were many and varied that found their way upon my car's leading surfaces, totally unacceptable to engage the spring roadcourse without a proper cleaning.  Fortunately, a first rate local-yokel car wash lies along I-69 in the direction I'm going close to the hotel.  It's cheap by Yankee standards, and the do-rag guy gives me quality time on all the smudges.

I'm not sure what the latest Emily Post recommendation is, but I always tip the last person to touch my car $2.  (By the way, I also leave between $2 to $4 in singles and change for hotel maids; a lot of people probably don't tip maids, but, IMHO, for the labor they perform they deserve as much or more than most other service providers.)

Here's the route for those of you willing to make the journey.

Referencing the DeLorme, starting from the bottom-right corner of Page 47, south down US 69 to pick up FM 346, westbound, which jogs over in Flint, TX, to FM 2868 westbound.  Now I'm on page 59 of the DeLorme, for the fullest, most interesting part of the trip.

At this point, at the start, I have to comment on a disturbing event I encounter as I'm heading SW on 155:

Two state cop cars with gumballs flashing parked behind a truck, on the others side, the NE-bound shoulder.  The popos are out around in front of the truck and they have a man, presumably the truck driver, subdued.  It appears his hands are cuffed behind him—I can't quite see—and he's slowly lying face down in the grass.  Then, for certain, one of the cops, a chubby middle-aged one, has his gun drawn and pointed at the man's head.

"You can't park here!"

Seems to be an excessive use of force.  I hope the police don't shoot the guy, because he is clearly helpless.  I slowed, but frankly, seeing that gun drawn and pointed made me nervous.  Then I thought later, I should have phoned the excessive-force observation into someone.  Like to whom?  The police?  Good time to have a CB.

Note  -  If this was a case of police brutality, and anyone needs a witness, contact the author through this website.  The incident occurred on NE-bound side of Texas 155, near the town of Frankston, south of Lake Palestine, approximately 1:00 p.m., April 14, 2005.  —Ed.

Just a mile south of Frankston, I take FM 837 SW to Brush Creek, where I pick up FM 315 south.  Only stay on 315 about six miles, then westbound on FM 321 into a little town NE of Palestine, named Tennessee Colony.  Turn left (S) on FM 645 into Tucker on US 79/84.  From FM 2868, pick up Texas 155, at this point coincident with the Texas Forest Trail, heading southwest across Lake Palestine.

Note  -  FM = Farm to Market, a system of roads set up in Texas to provide paved highway access for farmers to the cities.  This a popular government program started in the 1940s, to "get the farmers out of the mud."  The FM roads are generally rural and winding, matching the contours of the land, perfect enthusiast material.

In Oakwood, TX, I hang a right trying for FM 831, but it's closed due to construction, so instead onto FM 542 southbound, a relatively straight stretch of road through East Texas ranch country, hooks up with a cutover heading west again, FM 3178 through Nineveh, then south for a mile on FM 1511.  This picks up state highway 7 westbound.  Construction again, so I avoid with FM 811 heading south, which is one of the better winding roads so far.

FM 811 south deadends into FM 1119, which also heads south.  About another mile I pick up FM 597, take it south to the Texas Brazos Trail (TBT) again—this appears to be a continuation of another FM road, but labeled as King's Highway on the map.  TBT is a long stretch, but soon after crossing under Interstate 45 and resting a spell at the concession/gas station there, I hit a 15-minute construction wait.  Bummer.

Over to DeLorme page 70.  The remainder of TBT southwest until it bottoms out at Texas 21, is often beat up, uninteresting today.  Along 21, I stop for grub in Caldwell, make a call to my destination, and head southwest a bit farther to pick up one more attempt at a winding back road.  FM 696—which I manage to follow westward all the way above Swift Military Reservation—gets me to Butler, where I pick up 290 briefly back eastward.

FM 2336 south, Texas 95 south, 71/21 west toward Austin.  The tour part of the drive is now a dead dog.  On a rating scale of five, I give it a 3.5, mainly seriously downgraded because of construction interference.  The first roads around Tennessee Colony that get me past Palestine are the best, some into the 4.8 rating range.  I feel I could have done better, but it's been a beautiful spring day of automotive freedom and I ain't complainin'.

The wildflowers are exquisite on this beautiful spring day in Texas.  Orange, blue, purple, red ones, pink, light pink, white, laying all over.

A lot of people don't realize this, but highways take a lot of people to build and maintain.  I put the state operations down incessantly, but I really have respect for the technology and the innumerable hardworking people who are trying to make the roads the best they can be.  I also want to put in a rationale for my particular variety of favorite road.

Consider this:

We want to make good time, but for us now this is measured with emphasis on 'good' rather than 'time,' and when you make that shift in emphasis the whole approach changes.  Twisting hilly roads are long in terms of seconds but are much more enjoyable…, where you bank into turns and don't get swung from side to side in any compartment.  Roads with little traffic are more enjoyable, as well as safer...

— Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

Some trip notes:

Table 1: Road-Warrior Trip Notes, Texas Driveby

Gem #	What it is
1	My driver self image: something between Hank Rearden in the train scene in Atlas Shrugged and Kowalski, the driver of the Challenger in the classic road movie Vanishing Point.  The former glories in the lust of Dagny and heavy-metal technology, the latter defies The Man with speed (both the point-A to point-B type of speed, and the chemical type of speed).
2	Power and Praise Tabernacle, Faith Temple, The Miracle, Pilgrim Quest, Victory Baptist Church, Blessed Savior Hootenanny, still a church per square block in every town all the way to Austin.  Hey, whatever happened to Reverend Ike?  Many of these shrines become Texas historical markers.
3	I'm in the middle of nowhere, along FM wxyz, not even a ranch nearby but a beatup old house by the side of the road miles from the nearest town and no apparent neighbors, I see a sign posted for "The Total Tan."  I wonder if this is one of those businesses supposed to lose money for tax purposes.
4	A few billboards advertise, "Hey, use this space because it's great for business."  But if it's so good for business, why didn't someone else buy the space?  Well, that's understandable, I suppose, but the sign might as well just say available and give a phone number.  Most potential buyers will research.
5	A lot of construction going on.  The whole idea of the back roads is you don't wait, you don't do construction.  (Last time was in the autumn I came through.  This is the OSR road, so-called Old San Antonio Road.  The Texas Brazos Trail has also been identified and I follow it for some of the way.  Other Texas trails include Independence and Forest.  Texas Monthly is a good source of roadly info.
6	Last good road of the day, stuck behind a cement mixer for ten miles.  Rats.
7	The Subway in Bastrop (I've always called the city Bra Strap) restroom has a flyer posted forward of the wiz zone saying "Prevent Rape," seemingly from some men's organization.  Also, behind me a couple of other flyers show pictures of women, telling their stories of abuse.  Isn't this out of place?
8	Bra Strap has a federal correctional facility.  Here near Austin, Travis County has a correctional complex.  I notice a billboard with handcuffs advertising defense attorney services.  Seems wherever you go, there's a jail or someone wanting to put you in one.  It really has become a police state.
9	Heading into Austin, another vasectomy reversal billboard.  Also this large red on black, electronic scrolling billboard advertises pecans.  It's rather hypnotic.  Finally, I see a billboard announcing a national day of prayer, May 5.  (If you're reading this, I'm afraid you missed it.)  But take heart, the Web is crawling with national days of prayer, and you'll certainly be able to take part in another one.

The Current Experience of Austin, Texas

There are a lot of reasons for coming to the capital of Texas, but Austin-area traffic, with its neverending, often poorly timed traffic-light stops, isn't one of them.  Well, it is rush hour.  Soon enough I arrive at my destination, combination host and business partner, and we head for some stylish burger and suds joint near the campus.

{For those who are unaware of it, Austin is home to the University of Texas.}

One of the more charming aspects of life around here is many bistros have gotten out front of the "waitstaff-downsizing" curve by having customers order everything at a counter.  You point out your beverage and gruel, side orders, grab a water glass and a little table-stand with a number, then head off wherever you please.  The foodbringers get the privilege of playing hide and seek for you, and you don't have to tip them, or anyone else.

This may be one of the reasons why Hispanics, I'm told, now outnumber Gringos in the Lone Star state—though a lot of the foodbringers are poor student European-American types as well.  To a sensitive tourist passing thru, this new custom announces, "Welcome to Austin, home of hundreds of stylishly cheap SOBs."  It is creative, however, and Austin still ranks #1 in ranks of Creative Class cities.

In my youth, for a few months, I wanted to attend the great University of Texas, back when its football team, the Longhorns, was known to beat Oklahoma once in a while.  (Remembering the great coach Darrell Royal.)  Those were the late 60s, approximately two years after the infamous boy scout Charles Whitman went "intravenous-heading-toward-Pluto" with a rifle from the tower.  Major psycho-induced tragedy.  It was the heyday of the Left and anti-(Vietnam)war movement; I was always wary of the former but became increasingly sympathetic to the latter.

Now reflecting fondly on the good old days, I nudge my business associate and say, "Hey, man, look at the rack on her!"  Just kidding.  But clearly something in the water contributes to the heavenly young pulchritudinousness of this carefree, still slightly-to-the-left, city.  It's refreshing to see the esthetic qualities of young women maintained over the years, and I promise to write a letter of appreciation to the mayor.

On the down side, Austin has recently become afflicted with a celebrated, world class group of looters who want the taxpayers to pay them to build a super-wombat toll road system, from which they, the looters, receive the tolls.  Sounds like a good idea to me… if I'm some spineless government prick on the take.

No doubt good sense will prevail: If proponents of this popular ripoff should win, surely they'll ultimately be led off in handcuffs and orange jumpsuits—to share a cell with their good friend and comrade in arms, the Criminal in Chief.

Finally, the anti-tobacco Nazis are afoot in the city, threatening to prohibit smoking in private properties open to the public.  My associate informs me these are outside troublemakers, but they have money.  And until we can universally enforce the Bill of Rights (ref. part one), I'm afraid we're going to have to live with the encroachments.

###

Our business is done in Austin, so next day we play a small municipal golf course that used to be the Austin Municipal Golf Course, established 1899.  According to the guy in the pro shop, this was the first golf course in Texas, and the famous golf teacher Harvey Penick played from here… before the back nine weren't eminent-domained for a shopping center.

Personally, I find this destruction of a golf heirloom incredibly sad.  Outrageous, even.  Especially for a city supposedly prides itself on Texas history.  On the positive side, it's a nice neighborhood community with a lot of normal foot traffic (balancing out dogs ignoring the leash laws).  And green fees are only $7.50!

Houston Leg

Not a lot more business or monkey business to attend to in the capital.  On the jaunt to Houston, where I plan to visit a friend and play River Ridge GC, I do some heavy pondering on an idea my associate and I were discussing:  Johnny Hempseed.

Given:

1. agricultural hemp has the potential to nourish and clean the planet, and
2. since the federal government stands in the way of US farmers being able to legally cultivate hemp (e.g. nonpsychoactive marijuana for the propagandized),

therefore, the humorous thought comes to mind:

3. do some freelance seed spreading, whaddya think?
   [Which would be illegal, so we officially say, "Don't do that!"   —Ed.]

My understanding is six states have made it legal to cultivate hemp, most likely pending federal approval.  Even though hemp is hip, the federales will probably remain obstinate until popular support beats them down.  A little civil disobedience may create a tipping point.  Check out the halfbakery site:

Activists can scatter hemp seeds in highly visible urban locations.  Being a tough plant requiring little water and no maintenance to grow and reproduce it will become as commonplace as the dandelion.  Anti-cannabis enforcement of all kinds will become futile.

Just an idea that a quick check of the Web shows others have had before.  Consider that the Johnny Hempseed movement works well with the Bill of Rights Enforcement movement.  The advantage of Johnny Hempseed is it works for city or farm, it informs and educates, and it really can't be stopped.  We plan to expand on the guerilla technology in an upcoming column.

Table 2: Road-Warrior Trip Notes, Texas Driveby Houston Leg

Gem #	What it is
1	Driving along Highway 71 to Houston, struck by the land look, how hot it would be, what a struggle it would be to eke out a life here.  I guess not that many generations ago, it was really tough.  I reckon the Indians were nasty in this neighborhood.  Not a lot of government help to open up a new country.
2	Texas is big.  It's more than the absolute physical size.  What makes it feel so large is all the habitable land, and the realization you're just witnessing a small fraction of it.
3	I still see Win04 stickers on the standard Houston bumper.  Diehard Bush supporters who proudly advertise their intention to choke happily on the exhaust fumes of their SUVs at the end of oil.
4	Radio station in Houston, Monday, culling calls, limiting the call-in people to kneejerk Republicans in general.  They were talking about Bill Maher's HBO program, Real Time, every single caller slammed Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks who had made some mild criticism of the president.
5	Texas is big for putting up rest locations on the highway, but no way to take a wiz.  Peaceful drive down 71, off the road at Schulenburg, home of Oma's Own Beef Jerky.  Big power plant nearby.  La Grange, TX, having an MS bicycle event.  Why do people put cowcatchers on the front of their SUVs?
6	Now the prisons are getting closer to the highway.  My God, it's a high school!  This was near Sealy or Katy, west of Houston on I-10.  What does that tell us about the government schools?
7	My buddy lives in Pearland, south of the big city.  Pearland is unbelievably developed now, like there's a suburban sprawl macro residing in a big mainframe computer spitting out strip malls.  A year and a half ago it was only the homes, and 10 miles south of Houston wasn't developed at all.  I guess they figured out the civil engineering problem for this flat land.
8	My buddy's friend is a Marine helicopter medivac guy, a major I recall.  A young 30-something.  And he's going back to Iraq when he doesn't really have to.  I admire him, at the same time cursing the evil that put all these soldiers in a meat grinder for no good reason.  But I leave the politics out of it, and enjoy my buddy's fabulous homebrews.

Time to get back.  I first head back up 71 to Austin, stopping at one of my favorite golf courses, Colovista.  Played it well, with rain on my heels, afterward having this nice chat with the concession girl who ran the stand at the turn.  Hardly anyone left on the course, so we had this quiet conversation about multiple matters affecting life and livelihood, while I finished a couple of Dos Equis for the road.

Return Journey

Leaving from Austin, my goal is to make it to Little Rock, Arkansas, where the following day I have an appointment with Kathleen Hiserodt, owner-proprietor of Laissez Faire Books.

Table 3a: Road-Warrior Trip Notes, Texas Driveby Return Journey

Gem #	What it is
1	I notice these power guys in Austin, bigger, focused, angry (?), just sort of remind me of corporate killer-gatherers, CEOs and others climbing, Gordon Gecko.  Just thinking of the differences between this aggressor class and the creative class types.  Anger vs. love?
2	We're getting close to a Reason Fellowship.  Organize as secular church, worship reason and freedom.  That is our mission.  We'll need the creed and a methodology.
3	Just imagine how Beethoven sounded to people at the time it was first played.
4	Little act of kindness, at Arby's, an old lady had trouble opening the door to come in.  I arranged to be able to open the door for her on the way out.  Said a few kind words.  I feel sorry for old people who don't have anyone to look after them.
5	Why do judges wear robes?  They should dress normally like everyone else.  Or else clown suits.
6	Idea for a Bill of Rights pamphlet, distribute to all the schoolchildren in the country who can read.
7	Bumper sticker on a truck: "My USA supports our troops, wherever we go, whenever we go, no aid and comfort to the enemy, no way."  I say, "Support our troops.  Bring them home.  Now."
8	Thought about potential young lady friend.  Does she like classical?  Called.  Also next day.  She may have a problem with revolutionary like me.  I'd be interesting to talk to at least.  Idealists have to learn to live without.  Most women don't look at life that way.  Generally, women want a proven thing.
9	Famous quote comes to mind: Spock: "Random chance seems to have operated in our favor."  Dr. McCoy: "In other words, we've been lucky."
10	This night in AR, people who aren't getting it done.  This happens to be an Applebee's with predominantly black staff in an upscale motel-restaurant complex area.  Service unacceptable.  Everyone means well, but it isn't enough.  We have to be better.  Where's the old Jesse Jackson?

I land at the Laissez Faire Books world headquarters, which lies just off I-30 near Scott Hamilton Drive.  Kathy worked with us long ago in Michigan Libertarian politics

L-R: Kathleen Hiserodt, Ayn Rand
Ludwig Von Mises, Thomas Sowell

during the Ed Clark years and following that, back when it actually looked to some of us that a Libertarian country was close at hand… and we were all younger.  We have a great conversation; a more dedicated freedom fighter than Kathy you will never find on this planet.

Visit with her, and our common sense of life comes to mind.  She gives me the royal tour and suggests that times have been better for LFB, which she now officially owns.  There are some operations issues, but nothing that she can't get in front of.  Laissez Faire specializes in libertarian books, especially economics.  This is a plug.  Support your local libertarian bookstore.

Back to the road.

Table 3b: Road-Warrior Trip Notes, Texas Driveby Return Journey

Gem #	What it is
1	Hemp planet, hemp nation, hemp future.
2	The truck to move around in the contracting world.  Dreamcatcher, Ford Diesel F-350 XLT V8.  Coachmen Somerset trailer.  Older versions available, too.  I like diesel now because of the potential for using biodiesel, especially biodiesel from hemp.
3	Thoughts on creative class.  People too easily accept the limitations they're told they have.
4	Information system game, memes, genes, etc.  Disrupt the message of the noncreative power-killers, present our own.  People will go with us.
5	Great trip.  In terms of idea fertility, this is the best.  Threshold of release, greatness.  Any operation is affected by a superior person.  Think Roger Penske.  Compare to the Applebee's last night, or a bad farm, or a poorly run gas station.  Example of the BP in northern AR was just a mess.  With Penske, cleanliness is next to success!
6	Burger King, every woman weighed 300 # plus, this was up along I-55.  Some lady sits in her car, dumps the ashtray on the pavement, sleazy,  Then a couple in a beater who aren't really cleaned up, come up to the trash can outside and throw away their stuff.  They get the high class award.
10	Reggie Miller retiring?  18 years in the league.  Did he ever have a championship?  Seems so.
11	Purpose of the police: protect the life, liberty, and property of the people.  This is the only purpose of police.  Whenever any law becomes destructive of those ends, that law is not to be enforced.
12	Fairmont, IN, home of James Dean, shindig coming up on his birthday June 2, Martin Sheen, other notables coming to town.

I stay near Indianapolis in a Super 8, rise and shine to play the Golf Club of Indiana, northwest of Indianapolis.  Decent course, and I played from the tips for 7100+ yards.  Will write a review soon.  I leave Indianapolis area late in the day, around 1800 hours.  It's a five-hour journey to the Detroit area.

Finished off the trip with a visit to the White Castle in Jackson.  I'd forgotten how good these gut bombs taste, especially at 11:00 in the evening.  Perfect ending to another voyage of self-discovery; I'll work off the calorie load over the next 10 years.  :)  Chief discovery: The reason-liberty movement (RLM) is here, baby, hang on for a thrilling ride.

(Read:  Part 1  Part 2)

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1. DeLorme Texas Atlas and Gazetteer, Fourth Edition, 2001. back to text

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