It was nice stopping for few days in Houston. We arrived Thursday, relaxed Friday, worked on the truck Saturday, and explored some more the city on Sunday.
On Friday, we said good-bye to our French friends who were going back to Paris for vacation. They let us their apartment, so we were able to rest for few days, do some laundry, and have a shower every day (yes, even French people need a shower once in a while).
After I sent a message asking for help on a Land Cruiser message board, I quickly got an invitation from Brett and Greg, and we met at 10 a.m. at Brett’s house, in a northeast of Houston.
That was nice to really see the power of an internet community, and feel that behind all these electronic messages, there are people who are here to help out, and just enjoy spending time finding solutions. I said in the past that this trip would make me smarter. I have to add that it will also make me a better and more generous person, given all the help I already got, so early in the trip.
Brett quickly isolated the brake problem to the rear right emergency shoes, frozen by rust. Some WD-40 seemed to have settled the problem, but I will keep an eye on the issue, especially when I’ll be back in more humid climates.
It also seems that we were able to fix the engine light problem, most likely due to a carbon-covered sensor. So far, the light didn’t come back.
I can’t thank these guys enough, along with Amy, Brett’s wife, who cooked some delicious burgers and hot-dogs while we were working under the rain.
Back in the city, we tried to go back to Blancos to get some more cow-boys action, but the bar was closed. After getting a beer in an average dive bar, we went to bed, exhausted, as usual.
On Sunday, we went to see the Lakewood Church, to see the famous worship service of pastor Joel Osteen (thanks for the tip Gwen).
We got pizza, walked through the under-estimated and surprising city of Houston to see the Rothko Chapel and the Menil Collection.
A drink in the Montrose area, and we were back home. We have to be up at 4 a.m. to go to New Braunfles in Texas, close to San Antonio. Up there, at Wimberly 4×4, we will pick up some ARB equipment (more on that tomorrow).
Good night all! And thanks for the love Houston.
Glad to see that you got the issues fixed and should be on your way. Hopefully nothing else should pop up and cause anymore problems.
You have a great truck and as long as it cranks it should be fine.
Good to see you have really put all into the Lord’s hands
May I suggest that these updates are already a tad bit…banal?
Who cares that you’ve stopped for pizza, took a shower, met so-and-so that none of us ever knew, etc.?
I’d rather know what you’re learning from your adventure. What are you observing about the great lands you are traversing? What insights are you gaining? What lessons about humanity are you witnessing? What is larger than life about your encounters?
Your trip–a once in a lifetime adventure–is being reduced to postcard-style updates that say nothing. Might as well tell us how the wwather is there. A few more weeks of “then we did our laundry” and I am outta here.
Of course there is interest in how the daily administration of life is taking place while on the road, but you are not offering anything meaningful beyond this, which is a mistake. If the only stories you are gathering are about the great bars you;ve visited, you are missing out on another very important benefit from your trip.
Hope you take these observation in the spirit intended…as a request to take more time to absorb the larger meaning of your trip. That is what will make it memorable.
Continued good luck
Eddie, all, please be patient, I think t will get more interesting once i’m out of the country, and the race against the clock is over. Sometimes hard to find the balance between giving concrete information to people who want to do the same kind of travel, giving information to my family, giving touristic information, and give technical information about the truck (because some people are interested as well by that). So, accept my apologies if it takes me a bit of time to find my voice. Love you all. Nick
If you have the time and inclination, Terlingua, TX, is a place not easily forgotten. The Presidio road from Terlingua to Presidio, TX, follows the Rio Grande and it’s stunning. Also it’s an area where people from both sides of the river live happily together– along with cowboys, hippies, donkeys, songwriters, etc…
Good luck on your trip!
Hey travel boy, so TX was good and now it is time to head south to Mexico, man becareful down there. They don’t like us for some resaon. Don’t tell them you like the french because the Mexs don’t like them. Also don’t drink the water, if i was you i would go through Mexico drunk. Later
Joe from Bama
I don’t remember reading why Nick has to be in Mexico by the end of the month? Was that stated anywhere? I am enjoying reading your blog- giving me a chance to live vicariously through you! Can’t wait until you get in more exotic areas! Thanks!
hey Eddie , zip it. I care when he takes a shower. Also i care where he gets a drink, bars are very important. So Eddie shut it.Let travel boy do what he wants to do and tell it the way it wants to. So world boy tell Eddie to kiss it.
I partly agree with Eddie. I want more insights into what you’re feeling and witnessing but I also want to know about day to day activities. What ply toilet paper are you using? Did you decide to go for comfort with 2 ply or did you decide to save your money and get 1 ply? Do you have any regrets on the ply you chose? Also has there been any hanky panky between you and your riding buddy or with the families you’ve stayed with? We the public need to know every detail no matter how insignificant you think it might be. I hope all your truck trouble is over cause frankly i’m tired of hearing about it. Leave out all that from now on ok. Anyway have a great time crossing the border and give us all the details from when you pass through Tijuana!!! I want to know what diseases you started with and how many you picked up going through. Keep us posted and safe travels my brother.
Eddie: “A few more weeks of “then we did our laundry” and I am outta here.”
Hey Eddie.. Why do the rest of us have to wait a few more weeks? Why don’t you get “outta here” NOW? We were all doing fine ’til you opened your mouth. Scram loser!
I agree with Eddie, but I do like the trivial as well. Wishing you must luck and looking forward to hearing about travels in foriegn lands.
Catch Nick on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a4i8E6WMtKs
Nick, please add more pics. I understand if you don’t want to be typing on the road for the first few days on your trip. But please post some pics (a lot!!!!) Thanks.
Be safe bro!
Your doing great. Stick to your own stuff and the stuff that you can do best, forget about us. It’s about you!