Day Two-Deep in the Heart of Texas (or Meet the Parents)

We got up early (before 7:00) and had the free breakfast at the hotel, then got right on the road.  Again Aryn rode with her friend and I didn’t meet up with them again until we arrived at his parents’ house outside of Austin.

I kept my speed down in the 60-65 range today and averaged 50 MPG.  I had one span of 109-miles that averaged 54.6 MPG. 

I had expected, since Texas is considering an 85 MPH speed limit, that traffic would be pretty speedy, but that wasn’t the case.  The right-most lane consistently traveled at 65, regardless of the posted speed limit.  Which probably says something about spontaneous order and the lack of need for so many rules.

Also seen shortly after entering Texas, an accident attorney’s billboard which said “We Sue Lawyers”.  You go, man.

Like flipping a switch upon entering Texas, BBQ joints everywhere.  Added to my list of trips for future years: A BBQ tour of the South.  I’ll head up to the Carolinas, then eat my way to Texas at every independent, roadside BBQ place I pass.  Mmmmm … BBQ.

Since the plan was to stay here until Sunday for her to meet his parents and get shown around his hometown, I decided to absent myself and leave them to it.  I called a couple guys in Dallas who I know from the internet and arranged to meet them for some poker.  I’ve been trash-talking describing my poker prowess to them for a couple years and they want my money badly.

So I dropped Aryn at her friend’s house and got back on the road for 3+ more hours of driving to the outskirts of Dallas.  We got dinner and played some low-limit poker – I won about $20, less the cost of the pizza I bought, so more like
$-7.00.

The game was going to be late, so I decided to get a hotel for myself, rather than show up at their door in the wee hours.  I booked it for back in Austin, so I got the drive back there out of the way at night.  That way I could get up, pick up Aryn, and be fresh for the drive to Carlsbad on Sunday.

I decided to try for a nicer hotel first, so bid $45 for a 3-star in the Austin Northwest area (#5 on the map below).

That was rejected, so I added the Austin Arboretum (#2), added the 2.5-star category (Hampton Inn, etc.), and raised my bid to $50.

That was rejected too, so I added the airport area and raised my bid to $51.  That got me the Courtyard by Marriott by the airport, which normally sells for $99 on their website and Priceline.