Hot Tubs of Water

I’ve been to Hot Springs before but being in Texas we’ve noticed how things are much less regulated. So there were no hours of operation on when we could use the community kitchen, any specific place to put our tent or the best part any strict hours regulating hot spring use. Thus, at around 9pm Rey and I already partially freezing, stripped in 35 degree weather (SO COLD) and went into one of the springs. The water was lovely and warm. I can’t remember the last time I saw so many stars, they were clustered and felt alive. I couldn’t stop thinking of the scene from Lion King when Mufasa discusses all the stars being great Kings from years past to Simba…even in Texas I’m still five years old at heart. It was one of the most romantic places I’ve ever been. After soaking we slept in our lovely tent (Ennis, named in honor of Heath Ledger’s character in Broke Back Mountain) and froze and froze and froze… next time we’ll bring sleeping bags. 

I can absolutely build a tent, No Problem.

We explored the spring area and met a bunch of people our age camping along the springs as well. Then came time to build the $20 tent (real classy I know) … Rey and I had never made a tent before but we were totally up for the challenge. It took a bit of work but we made it all by ourselves! (well, almost this guy helped but only for the last 2 minutes). Afterward being the only non-Texan residents on the grounds we received a lot of “You don’t camp much in NY, do you?” but it was all in jest and we were beyond proud of ourselves and took a 3-hour celebration nap inside my new totally great tent (Seriously all we kept saying was how awesome this tent was for 20 bucks, target ya’ll do it.). 

Chinati Hot Springs

We are both from NY yes this is true…but why does that give everyone the impression we cannot camp?  I found these hot springs a couple days earlier via google and we both loved the idea of spending a night here. We finally arrive to the springs LITERALLY in the middle of nowhere with absolutely no expectations (which is something I want to practice more in life). The springs are owned by an older married couple, we met the husband and his wife was in town. He had a hardy laugh at us when we asked if there was a grocery store near by.... apparently you’re supposed to bring food when going to camp in the middle of nowhere, who would have thought? We decided we would rather starve before driving another 2 hours down the dirt road to town, but luckily since his wife was already in town we gave her a call and she picked up some food goodies for us, mission accomplished! 

110mph

Today literally felt like the first real day of the entire road trip although it was actually our 9^th day on the road. Driving at 110 mph on empty roads, having a flawless backdrop and a sleeping girl in the passenger seat made for the physical visual to my illusions of what road trips were all about.  Texas is beyond beautiful; I’ve never felt so secure and so isolated all at the same time. When you step out of your car you hear the most wonderful sound of stillness... absolute stillness,  I’ve never heard that before. 

Everything is Bigger in Texas

Our second day in Austin we really learned the meaning of the statement above. From oversized jewelry to huge water glasses to gigantic cars... Texas was only filled with big and bigger items. Today we explored many thrift shops, ate true southern food, saw King's Speech at the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema (If you're ever in Austin you need to go) and ventured to bars on 6th street.
(Hallie was an excellent tour guide but unfortunately my camera battery died mid-morning so not many photos were taken OH and Hallie got a ton of shit in high school for her bumper stickers!)

my girl & her septum (things our mothers shouldn't know about)

Hallie took us to 6th street in Austin tonight... I knew I'd love it here.
Rey and I decided to get our septums pierced... that is until I found out it was 80 dollars... since I'm super indecisive (and would probably take it out in a week) and more importantly super broke I opted not to do the piercing, Rey on the other hand went for it with the super god of piercing (seriously he knew everything single element about piercing.).

Blink 182 will always make me feel 14

LOTS and LOTS of driving, I've realized I've driven 18 hours in the past two days, I bet my butt is permanently molded into the driver's seat. oy vey. Texas is beautiful. It sounds totally crazy but the horizon line feels lower here, we haven't moved up in altitude but the sky feels lower and the clouds feel bigger and the sun brighter. Maybe we're just exhausted? Lots of music and talking consumed the drive. I'm a bit disappointed that I haven't heard nearly as many southern accents as I assumed there would be.
(At breakfast this morning Rey decided that I needed to get more acquainted with soaps for my internship)