Friday, April 5, 2013

Texas - March 2013

On March 22, 2013 I departed Asheville for my hometown of Longview, Texas.  My father's 84th birthday was on March 23 and I wanted to share it with him.  Since I am going to be in Germany for about six months beginning in July I also had a few things to drop off for safe keeping.

Texas 2013


EveryTrail - Find the best Hiking in North Carolina

To celebrated my dad's birthday we had dinner at the 5D Steakhouse in Avinger, Texas.  I had a 20 oz. T-Bone and it was delicious.  No steak sauce was needed.  This came from the grill perfect.

20 oz. T-Bone at 5D Steakhouse in Avinger, TX

Of course, steak was not all we ate during my visit.  What would a trip to Texas be without authentic Mexican food?  For Sunday dinner we had Mexican at Tele's in Gum Springs, TX.

Tex-Mex

Sunday we also had a "4 Generations" photo taken with Dad, myself, my son Arlo, and my granddaughter Lexi.

My son and granddaughter had to fly back to San Diego on Monday and we took them to Love Field in Dallas.  My sister arranged for us to have a VIP tour of Cowboys Stadium.  For those that don't know I am a hopeless Dallas Cowboy fan and have been since birth.  Texas Stadium was amazing.  We got to see "Jerry's Perch", the luxury suites, the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders dressing room (no cheerleaders unfortunately), the Cowboys dressing room and the press room.  We were not able to go down onto the field because they were setting up for some college basketball thingy called the "Sweet 16".

The Cathedral of Football, Cowboys Stadium
Laying the floor for a Sweet 16 NCAA game
The interior of Cowboys Stadium
The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders dressing room
The Cowboys dressing room
On Tuesday we went to Caddo Lake near Uncertain, TX and Jefferson, TX.  Caddo Lake is known for its trees covered in Spanish Moss.  Jefferson is a historic little town that is best know as a river port during the days of river steam ships.

 
Spanish Moss at Caddo Lake
Caddo Lake
Downtown Jefferson, TX
On Wednesday I started back for Asheville and got as far as Jackson, TN the first day.  There was a horrendous traffic jam near Hazen, AR due to bridge construction.  It was the kind of traffic jam where you turned your engine off and got out and talked with the other drivers.

Traffic jam on I-40 near Hazen, AR
I made it home to Asheville the next day.  Stay tuned!  This summer I will begin a trip to Europe and this blog is the best way to keep up with all that will be happening!