It was very exciting, and a little bit surreal, to arrive at Austin International Airport and to see Katie and Matt waving at us at the bottom of the escalator. We’d arrived, a little weary but ready to give Texas a go!
We were whisked away in Matt’s enormous white car, our first, but by no means last, experience of ‘huge’ things in Texas. After a short journey we arrived at 5812 a lovely, but really quite ‘huge’ house. Matt gave me the first of many lessons on how to get out of the huge white car, hang on to the handle, and put one foot on the step then the other foot on the ground. For some reason I never quite got the hang of it, forgot the step every time and just launched myself in an undignified slither from the seat to the ground. Sorry Matt, you did try.
Really gorgeous sunshine the next morning, so we had breakfast outside on the patio. However, before anyone had started eating I had already stepped in a ‘huge’ ants nest. They were called Fire ants and there was much hopping and dancing around, cold water throwing and yelping from me, a good start!
Calm and peace returned to 5812 when Rog and I discovered the upstairs balcony which runs along the front of the house, and is quite ‘huge.’ It is the most restful, peaceful place to sit and relax in the shade, out of the hot sun. The birds sing beautifully and all is right with the world!
We saw many huge things over the next 4 weeks:
- a million bats,
- a WW2 aircraft carrier that was four blocks long and the height of a 16 storey building,
- enormous portions of food,
- the biggest onions in the world and watermelons that would be impossible for the normal person to lift into their trolley.
- a ‘huge’ fight on the ice hockey pitch, clothes were ripped off and sticks flying! I was hugely shocked!
- loads of river turtles while tubing and canoeing; I love them for some reason.
- and interestingly, on the route back from a visit to the Gulf Coast there was a huge number of signs which reminded drivers that the road was a hurricane escape route and they were not to block the hard shoulder. The signs went on for miles inland; they obviously have to really keep on running if a huge hurricane hits the coast!
- lastly, unfortunately Katie and I made a huge mistake with our Martinis, a bit of a tale!
Huge hanger
Huge cake
Hockey, before the fight.
Martini, not so good.
Just to keep the ‘huge’ experience going we had a side trip to Arizona where things are also extremely massive. The roads were long and seem to go on forever. But the big daddy of them all was Grand Canyon, which is not only ‘huge’ but also is a true wonder of the world. We loved it. Go there.
We had a wonderful trip. ‘Huge’ thanks Katie and Matt for giving us such a great time. We’ll have to go back, if only to address Rog’s disappointment that he never did manage to get a really ‘Huge’ Stetson!