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Today started out with an emergency dash
to a pharmacist. I awoke with a bad case of
gumbo-tum (the gumbo
version of curry-tum - where the heat of the
spices can be felt more potently on their way
out than on their way in). I decided that it
would be prudent to seek a cure prior to
attempting any driving. I initially passed
through the down-town area of Corpus
Christi, but came up empty handed.
I then tried the Cross City
Freeway. This proved to be a
success. It also explained the run-down state of
the down-town area. This major thoroughfare is
lined by every American chain and franchise. So
it is likely that this area ceased much of the
traditional down-town trade.
After getting the necessary tablets for
my stomach, I headed back to the USS
Lexington. It took me a good two
hours, or so, to take the self guided tour. This
air craft carrier came into service during the
Second World War and was remained one of the US
Navie's heavy-weight work-horses until late into
the 1980s. It survived suicide air raids,
torpedo strikes and the longest sustained air
bombardment. The elevators that take the
aircraft from the hanger to the surface could
comfortably accommodate the average home. I am
quite sure that it is the largest ocean going
vessel that I have been aboard.
Across from the Lexington's position is
the a recreation of the Columbus
Fleet. They are supposed to be very
accurate and have been seen sailing in a number
of films and TV shows.
By the time that I had completed my
explorations, the sun had burned back the early
morning cloud-cover and the early afternoon
temperature was rapidly rising.
Somewhere between Corpus Christi and the
turn for Refugio, the
roadside habitat turned from sand-dunes to
wetlands. The further North-East that I traveled
the swampier this land looked. The historical
markers, placed along the side of the road,
started to tell of land farmed and maintained by
slave labor. Tree branches hung low with their
burden of spanish moss, that hang like threads
from their hosts. People's accents were changing
too, growing gradually more lilted and
sing-songy.
Route 35 was gradually growing into a
more major route . So, when I reached the
junction with the 288 I took it South to
Freeport. I was hoping
to pick up signs along some farm routes to
Galveston. I was
worried for a little while as large chemical
plants loomed up around me, but sure enough
signs for Galveston appeared and lead me off
along the coast. For the rest of my route, the
road was flanked by water and beautiful wooden
homes, on stilts. A few were even surrounded by
water. Most looked expensive and many were being
painted in preparation for the start of the
Summer Season, in May.
After a pay-toll booth at the end of a
low bridge, the homes gave way to motels and
hotels and the road followed even closer to the
beach.
The fact that I had explored my morning
away and followed a single lane route meant that
it was now already after 7pm. Time to stop for
the night.
I am now typing as I watch the last
golden edge of the sun disappear over the
horizon. I hope that my stomach will allow me to
try some of the local delights later.
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