Rev. 12/31/01
Florida Adventure - continued
12/28 - 12/31
Las Vegas, NV
to San Antonio, TX
When I left home it was pitch black outside, not even a hint of dawn. It
takes longer to check in now than it used to. But as we accelerated
down the runway on our takeoff run, the sun broke through the band of clouds
on the horizon.
It feels strange not to be going to the Shinto Temple first thing New Years
morning, as has been my routine for thirty-five year. It was thirty-five
years ago Dr. Honda asked me if I'd like to go to the Temple New Years
morning with him. He said he hadn't been since the The War. I
thought it would be interesting and said sure. That was the start of
an annual ritual -- one that I've enjoyed carrying on.
The trip from Honolulu was uneventful. Got to Las Vegas just as the
sun was setting. Made a run to the store to stock up on groceries --
ready for and early start in the morning.
12/29/01
Left before 6:00 am, it was dark. Crossing Hoover Dam, and climbing
the hill on the Arizona side, the sun tried to peak through the clouds.
Shortly afterward a coyote darted across the road. I drove across
Arizona, stopping only in Phoenix to get gas and have lunch -- and non-stop
across New Mexico -- 750 miles. After the sun set, the full moon rose
and hung there shimmering behind broken clouds.
Stopped
for the night in El Paso. Had dinner at "Chillis." I ordered
a glass of Merlot, my favorite wine. A guy in the booth across from
me said "Hey, that sounds good, I'll have one too." Few minutes
later two couples, about my contemporaries, came in and sat in the booth
in front of me. Mr. "Merlot" apparently knew them, as he got up and
came over to their table. Standing, the conversation became quite animated,
with Mr. "Merlot" waving his arms around to emphasize a point. Only
problem his hand was holding a glass of wine, some of which finally sloshed
out -- right on the bald pate of one of his seated friends -- what did I
start?
12/30/01
Next morning I left early, the sun wasn't up yet. In my rear view mirror,
a full moon, low on the horizon, seemed to be dancing behind the Freeway
overpasses and city buildings -- interesting sight.
I
stopped at Ozona, Texas for lunch. Ozona is in Crockett County, and
they had a large monument to the hero of the Alamo.
Pushed on across southern Texas, gently rolling hills. Looking at the
cuts made for the highway, you could see that this part of Texas seems to
be geologically stable, very few shifts in the horizontal strata, and all
carving and shaping of the land appears to be from water erosion -- much
different than further west where the land is contorted with violent up thrusts,
sometimes even vertical.
Got
to San Antonio an hour or so before dark, got the RT parked and met Chuck
and Alice. They were with their friends Glen and Kay, who I'd met before.
That evening we wandered along the River walk, gayly decorated for the holidays.
The colored lights, reflected in the river, made for great views.
Of course things wouldn't be normal if I didn't leave something behind --
this time it was my little palmtop computer that I always carry -- left it
in Ozona. The waitress found it on the table and called my cel-phone
number, just as I was getting ready to call them. I seem to have more
problems hanging on to my palmtop -- it's been that way for all of the dozen
years I've had it -- so I can't chalk it to to a "senior moment."
12/31/01
The next morning I had to make an early run back to Ozona to retrieve it.
New Years Eve we wandered the River Walk again. We returned early,
and then celebrated with Margaritas that evening.
Hau'oli Makahiki Hou
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