CATHEDRAL OF JUNK-LET IT REIGN

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CATHEDRAL OF JUNK

 

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Tires UPstairs

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4422 Lareina Dr, Austin, TX (512) 299-7413

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KEEPING IT WEIRD IN AUSTIN

"Keeping It Weird In Austin" is a local motto in Austin, Texas.  As a matter of fact, it's on a banner hanging over the street advertising a 5k scheduled this weekend. I am actually considering running.  Mind you, considering is one thing, participating is a completely different agenda.  Truthfully, I've been running 3-4 times per week in hopes of obtaining/retaining my girlish figure.  However, being surrounded by the amazing food trucks and restaurants, I am finding it quite difficult to show restraint in not indulging.

Last night I even enjoyed a bit of home. 1908.1 miles from RI to Austin I slurped delicious Oysters from RI at trendy little place called, Clarks Oyster Bar, located at 1200 W 6th.  The menu indicated they were shipped in from East Beaches, RI. I'm guessing from Mattunuck.  Not sure, but; perhaps, I should be thanking P for the local flavor. Quite delicious!!!!  I'm tempted to call and find out how they are shipped to insure freshness. They tasted so good as if I farmed them myself.

Sunday last, we ventured to one of the three famous ice cream parlors.  This one; in particular, LICK, is known for it's crazy, offbeat, flavor combinations.  There motto is: Live, Laugh, Lick. Yummy.  After studying the index cards [menu] of each flavor that change almost daily that are tacked to the wall and after tasting four kinds, I chose two scoops; one blackberry, basil and rose with lime and the second was dark chocolate, olive oil and sea salt. Believe it or not, but they were the best flavors I've ever tasted [from the mouth of a choc-o-holic]. I consider myself an ice cream aficionado.  I thought they would be good, but they were better than great.  Each scoop were a perfect golf ball.  Just enough to devour yet not enough to make me have a stomach ache. 
 
As a few more days are passing and filling my stomach with more food, Austin is beginning to slowly grow on me.  If you are into fantastic food flavors and constant partying then this is the place for you.  There never seems to be a lull in the venues around town 24/7.  There are lines for food every night of the week - Sunday-Saturday.  I don't have the stamina, but it's definitely a foodie haven.  [Building a photo essay of food trucks to post soon.]

LANDLOCKED IN AUSTIN OR UNLOCKED

Today I decided that I needed to find a beach with actual surf.  Landlocked in Austin for 4 weeks is already killing me in that it's detrimental to my mental health. Just after 2 days I needed Valium [just kidding] to keep me 'steady.' Knowing the beach/summer season has begun at home [RI] is making me nauseous as I strive to find a watering hole each passing weekend in Austin. 

Low and behold, the 2nd weekend I made it to the 'fabulous' Guadalupe River in Gruene Hall.  I tossed my tube into the river and floated 3 hours to the other end. Although it appears to be quite trashy, we, surprisingly, had a great time. We even passed over the little bit of 'rapids' making for some excitement. The 12 pack of Lima-rita's [plug] also helped quite a bit.  
 

Taken from the bridge overlooking the end of the 'ride.'

To back track - We arrived at the place to rent the tubes with no expectations, whatsoever.  As a matter of fact, we had absolutely no idea what to expect. Less than zero. [We are ocean people. In fact, we could be mermaids in a previous life.] Upon entering the shop to rent the tubes, we were greeted by the parking attendant who directed us where to park. Upon his sensing that we were first timers he told us not to take any valuables with us.  "Leave your rings, watches, wallets, locked in your car;" and, proceeded with, 'then, leave your keys with the girls inside the shop, for safe keeping. They will number your keys and hang them on the wall with the others.'  Safe keeping?  How is that safe???  I don't know you!!  In any event, we followed orders, paid our fare and boarded the 1960's school bus with the guide who dropped us at the river bank. 

It was still quiet as we approached the rivers edge. I dipped my toe testing the temp. The water is 50 degrees.  And, will according to the locals, stay that way since it is river water.  50 degrees is freezing!!!!  I don't go into the Atlantic until it 65 degrees!!  

The biggest surprise for me was, once safely positioned in my tube to not flip over into the freezing water, was seeing the 100s and 100s of people floating down the river along with us.  It was a sea of people in the river having one giant party.  I forgot to mention back at the shop we were given string ties to tie your tubes together as well as to tie a mesh trash bag to the tubes. The sea of people and their respective parties were all tied together as well as their coolers.  One group, who we stayed close to nearly the entire way, was the entertainment of the river.  There were 25 tubes/people, if not more, tied together.  A 2-1/2'x4' stereo system was balanced on its own tube blaring arrays of music from hip hop, rock, and, of course, country [a given].

It took three hours to float to the end.  The picture above depicts the edge of the river ending our plight where we had to get out and carry our tubes to the shop.  Next time we will bring food. The liquid lunch didn't help us much in the sun.

With all of that said, last Sunday I found another river; rather, a creek.  It was a mini escape, for a few hours, in my head only, out of desperation.  I was lucky enough to find clear water as I heard it was occasionally, murky.  Just on the outskirts of downtown Austin is the Barton Creek Greenbelt. I parked in a dirt lot neighboring an office park. It was nearing 2p.m. in the afternoon [at the end of prime tanning], so I had to hop out and begin my trek [yes] through the woods to find the creek.  

I found a path that lead directly to a small pool only to find other people.  I felt like an intruder.  Non drama-like I quickly turned down another path following along the creek. About 1/2 mile into the woods I found a very pretty area not too congested with other bodies.  Mind you, I was hiking through these woods and small cliffs wearing flaps [flip flops] and a tank dress over my bath suit. Very unprepared.  Thankfully, I ran into a nice man and his hunting dog who offered me an iced bottle of water. Thank you, very much! 



I waded through the water towards the rock situated right by the mini waterfall.  I spent the next two blissful hours alternating tanning on the rock and sitting in the water with my feet in the mini falls.  

With all of that said, I am still not satisfied. Yesterday was a very trying day at work and was feeling a bit homesick. When I am home I take morning walks on the beach for therapy.  What I do here is run along the river that flows through the city.  Very nice, but not the same thing.  And, I definitely didn't feel like running [couch to 5k] yesterday or even today for that matter.  I need ocean water.  It's 3 hours 6 minutes without traffic to Corpus Christi and 3 hours 34 minutes with traffic - or, so it indicates on mapquest.  We shall see.  I am planning this excursion this upcoming weekend.  YAY! 

CONFERATE SOUTH VS FRONTIER SOUTH?

By definition, confederate south was a government set up in 1861 by seven slave states of the lower south that had declared their secession from the U.S following the election of President Lincoln; thus, creating the 'confederacy.'  Although the intent was to become a separate county, it was never recognized as a separate country by our beloved nation. Several other states later declared their secession joining the confederacy making 11 total.  [Thank you, Wikipedia.]

The foundation behind the 'confederacy' is simply that many southern whites [ :( ] considered themselves more Southern than American and would fight for their state and region independently of their larger nation!  The cause behind the foundation is based on slavery, politics and economics. [WTH]

Frontier is basically the political and geographical areas beyond a boundary [also, from Wikipedia].  It's a transitional zone where explorers, pioneers and settlers moved to where an unlimited amount of land was available.  Basically, called the 'Great Frontier.'  [For this purpose I am writing about the Frontier South-which if you continue to read was a figment of our imagination.]

With all of that said, and being from the Northeast, who had lived in the south for 16 years, in my opinion, there are still fervent attitudes of people still living in the civil war era.  That's another blog another day and probably a more interesting/heated topic for discussion and get me into more trouble than it's worth while being here in a former confederate state. Surprise.

 This confederate south vs frontier south came up, how else, but over wine.  All of us, obviously stupid, because we did not include Texas as a confederate state because we are too busy thinking about cowboys and the vast openness of the land areas riding horseback across nothingness as done in the movies with John Wayne or "City Slickers" vs a scene from the movie, "Deliverance," the latter being the epitome of the south in our northeast heads still giving us nightmares.  Low and behold, after researching/confirmation this morning, I realized Texas was #7 on the secession list of the 11. BTW, there are actually #12 and #13, but they did not 'officially' join - LA and MS.  [Again, thank you, Wikipedia for the morning lesson and BASIC history lesson.]

The 'southern' hospitality clause that we were comparing against the other last night is a moot argument.  Wasted alcoholic energy. Good old southern hospitality vs frontier hospitality from our point of view is apparently stemming from the same beliefs [since, again, Texas was confederate state, by history] does not exist.  By comparison, there is none. Tossing on a cowboy hat and boots and the charm is an extended psychological plus. What a great debate we had.  

For all intents and purposes, we can change the discussion to not include Texas.  The next 'discussion' will be boots and bucket hats and/or big hair [oooo-Texas hair vs Cranston or Johnston hair-explanation later] vs mac and cheese ---  Ughh....Can't debate that either as that's on every menu here [Texas], too!  To more appropriately and accurately discuss the difference of the 'southern' experience the true Frontier [not south] of the US...I will need to venture just so slightly north on the map. YI-HA!

IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT SPAGHETTI AND MEATBALLS!

Early a few Sunday's ago I hopped in the car and headed to the Newport [shocking, right-NOT].  With my stomach vehemently growling we made a pit stop in Portsmouth at a local eatery.  
 
With the summer season vastly approaching I think it should be known to local RI's that all should experience the food at Cindy's.  It is absolutely delicious.  If not the best breakfast you have ever had, it's definitely close. 

I devoured a simple spinach, egg, tomato, cheese, broccoli omelet, while my friend inhaled the Portugeuse Benedict with chourico, peppers and onions on grilled sweetbread.  Of course, both dishes came with a side of hash browns.  YUMMY!

The little neighborhood diner has been open for 11 years.  They are open Monday - Saturday 6:30-2p.m. serving lunch from 11-2p.m.  It is now open for dinner Wednesday-Saturday 5-9p.m., BYOB.  I took a peak at the dinner menu.  Rest assured, I will be stopping in with my bottle in tow.  Pull up the menu on cindyscountrycafe.com.

The address is: 1324 W. Main Road, Portsmouth, RI  (SR 114)

Tina [our server left] Cindy, Mercedes

Once you are finished and are so full that you can't move except to squeeze back into your car simply head directly to one of many beautiful beaches along the RI coast and slide into your beach chair for the day until you are digested enough to start again with dinner!

Bon appetite!