Devin on Walkabout

January 17, 2013

Day 14 looked like a pleasant one. A relatively short 4 hour drive meant that I could take it easy in the morning and still make it to Baton Rouge in time to see Mike the Tiger.

Since my sister moved to Houston, it’s rare that I get to spend time with her. I’ve been lucky enough to visit Houston 4 times in the last two years. It’s always hard to leave. No exception here.

Caroline got up early to go to work and we had some coffee and last minute quality time, including a photo shoot with lil Fanny Price:

After we said goodbye, I went for a quick run down to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, where Caroline works, and Rice University area. It was a beautiful day, absolutely perfect for a run.

I needed one last Mexican food hurrah and decided to go to Guadalupana, a local place Caroline likes. They make mean enchiladas verdes and their coffee has cinnamon in it. It’s pretty awesome.

My lunch:

So far so good right? Yeah, so far so good.

But, as is often the case with road trips, the unexpected happened.

Cruising down I-10 on my way out of town, I heard a loud bang and was pelted with glass. The passenger side window on my beloved black Prius with the sick rims shattered for some unknown reason. Maybe something fell off a truck. Maybe someone threw a rock at me. Maybe the cosmos just didn’t like that window.

Either way, this was the result:

I pulled off the next exit, called the Advantage number on my rental agreement and reached a guy with a solid Boston accent. He told me, “Yeah, just bring it in to Logan and we’ll switch you out.”

I could hear his head exploding when I told him I was in Houston.

“YOU’RE WHERE??? HOUSTON, TEXAS??? You’re on your own buddy.”

Sweet.

I ended up at Bush Intercontinental Airport (they fly to different continents from there, you guys) for 3+ hours while they tried to figure out what to do. Ultimately, they switched my car out and gave me a not so sweet Chevy Sonic.

Farewell glorious Prius. Hello Sonic. I’ll try to like you:

I didn’t get out of the airport until about 5. Consequently, my day was kinda shot. No Lafayette, no meandering.

I pulled in to Baton Rouge and met up with my host Lauren and a friend of hers and consoled myself with a crawfish po boy.

Things could be worse.

To come: LSU, Mike the Tiger, the natural levee and Huey Long.

States covered:

• Texas
• Louisiana

States covered total: 14