Waco

My first post was somehow lost in the great iCloud in the sky.  It was on our trip to of all places, Waco.  Yes, the land of JoJo and Chip.  Oh and Baylor university.  If those two institutions were not there, why would you stop?  To see the Dr. Pepper Museum is of course.  Most places were closed on Sunday so we ended up at the museum with the Magnolia Silos in sight (one block away).

There should be a footnote that Waco is also the site of the Branch Davidians compound of David Koresh and his standoff with Janet Reno.

Did you know that Orange Crush actually tastes better in Texas?  It has a full flavor or orange.  At the museum they do serve drinks made from syrup and carbonated water.  They make it at the fountain.  According to the expert, she prefers the bottled stuff.

Texas Driving:  Frontage roads, they run parallel to the freeway in one direction.  Similar to the Pomona freeway in Montebello.  So if you see something you want to stop at, you get off at the next exit, make a u turn at the next intersection (another mile) make your way back hopefully at the exit before the place you want to visit,

If you are approaching an intersection on a frontage road, the far left lane is the u turn lane and the signs may not agree with the arrow markings on the road.  i was told to follow the road markings.  Two lane highways, the inner lane is used for passing only.  So everyone drives in the right lane.

At times the speed limit was 75mph.  Every try driving a Yaris going 75mph with a semi truck running beside you at the same speed?  At least they are limited to the right 3 lanes.  Yes that is correct, they are only excluded from the fast lane.  You end up playing chicken on the highway at 75mph as you run over the numerous shredded tire remnants along the road.

One thing about Texas, you always know that you are in Texas.  The freeways are imbedded with either Lone Stars or the shapes of Texas.  The above is the Hotel room decoration in Waco.  I'm beginning to understand the obsession with the Dallas Cowboys.

Old age progression

Our first night in Texas was a lesson in Uber.  We have taken Uber before, but not to this extent.  Im preparing for old age fro when the boys take away my drivers license.  It was painless and pleasant.  But when we got the rental car lot, we had to pick out our car, we picked a red Toyota Yaris.  The problem was that it took us 20 minutes to figure out how to start the car.  OK, for those of you who are not familiar with us, our cars have keys and were built in the 90's.  She keeps saying she wants a car built in this century.

Lesson 1:  Keep the FOB close by, and yes there is no key.  Make sure the gear is in Park.  Press on the brake pedal.  Push the start button.  I miss my key.

Lesson 2:  The radio controls are not on screen.  They are either on the steering wheel or on the center counsel below the shift knob.  When did they move the volume knob?  At least it is still a knob.

Digital odometers do not measure in anything below full miles.  Analog odometers have a wheel for tenths of a mile.  When google tells you that the next turn is in .7 miles, you can't judge by the odometer.

Lesson 4:  I actually qualify for senior discounts!!  Hey, I save my $1.  I gladly admit I qualify to get my dollar discount.  I am more used to people holding doors open for me.  Wait, they asked me if I was a senior, does that mean I look like one?