DAY 20: Heading across Texas

Well, it was bound to happen. I mean after all, I had driven about three thousand miles. And the way that I drive. So it was really no surprise to me when I looked up into my rear view mirror and saw the flashing lights of the police car. I had just entered Texas  on what was to be a straight shot across it to my next destination in New Mexico. My mind a bit preoccupied with the GPS and figuring out my route. I eased my way over to the side of the road making sure I got well out of the traffic. The Texas state trooper came up to my passenger side window and stuck his head in and looked around. "License and Registration, Sir", he said, and as I handed them to him he looked me over and looked all around the inside of my packed up jeep. 'Lt. Victor' was written on his chest. A man about my age, he looked down at the license then back up at me. "How do you pronounce your name, Sir?" he inquired. "Fur-dee" I said trying to make it as phonetically easy as possible. "I'd a been a long time figuring that one out" he replied and I immediately realized that this guy was a good guy. "Yea, I get that a lot. It can be a hard one to figure out." He proceeded to ask me some questions about where I was heading and what I did and looking at my packed jeep asked me if I had left anything at home,  and then said, "The reason that I pulled you over is you were drifting out of your lane. Best be careful. We want to get you back home to Pittsburgh safe and sound, you hear." ...and with a "thank you officer" and a firm handshake he retreated back from my vehicle to his. I got the feeling that Lt Victor and I would be good friends.

When I planned this trip I knew that I was going to have to make a straight shot across Texas which frankly I didn't mind in the least. I like Texas. I like the people. Their independent spirit. Their rugged individualism. A local saying here is 'If you want to get something done, tell a Texan that he can't do it' and I think that there is a lot of truth to that. But this trip across Texas was going to be fun. From Beaumont to Pecos was going to be about 700 miles and how fun it was. The topography changes so drastically. The green and wetlands of Beaumont along the gulf to the hilly area around San Antonio  that looks like something out of a cowboy western movie to the flat arid and desert region of west Texas.

Of course, there is one thing that makes all of this driving a lot easier and a bit more fun......................

When talking with a Texan about the 80 mile per hour speed limit he replied, "Well, we like to

think of it as more of a suggestion than a real limit."

I'm not quite sure that Lt. Victor would agree with that :)