![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dolariWhat a difference a day makes. Yesterday, I bought some stuff online at Weikel;s, and instead of paying for a huge amount of postage for it ($20!) I decided to pack up my gear and drive to La Grange myself. 50 miles there and back, although I never drive as the crow flies.
I needed that. The long drive really cheered me up, and got my thought process moving along. The clog that had stopped up the Closetspace drain is gone (and might even be able to save the piece), and I've got some tasty vittles to boot.
The trip was...
From Austin, TX East on TX 71 to Del Valle to Garfield to Bastrop.
One thing Central Texas is known for is it's love of Bar B Cue, and each major town has one or more "Meat Markets." Buy the meat here and cook it your self, or order your self some BBQ and eat it here. There was one I'd been menaing to try in Bastrop for a while, and since I had left (relatively) early, I decided I was gonna eat at a restaurant in these towns. Sadly, however, the Meat Market in Bastrop had closed down and been converted into a pricey "Fine Dining" establishment. I wasn't in my Sunday Finest, so I soldiered on...
East on TX 71 to Alum Creek to Smithville.
In Smithville, I knew of another meat market on Main Street, and stopped by for a visit...only to find they had closed up shop as well. It was only 6:30 PM on a Saturday. I knew these down rolled up the streets at 5PM on weekdays, but didn't expect it on a weekend. At least it's still there, though. It's just a matter of getting there when it's opened. :)
Northeast on FM 153 to Winchester.
Winchester is TINY, and I didn't expect to stop there at all (just passin' through). However, the Winchester VFW was open, and I've always liked VFWs so I slowed down a bit to see what the crowds looked like. The place was packed with 18 year old kids. This normally doesn't bother me...but I'm now in Rural Texas. And while the people in Rural Texas are nice, I don't think 50 18 year old country folks would like a long haired mexican transsexual in their midsts. I wisely moved along....
East on 153 to US 77, south to La Grange
All these near misses really put a damper on my want to eat at alocal restaurant. I did go to Weikels at 7PM, the object of my drive to begin with. I picked up my plate of cinnamon rolls, plate of pigs in a blanket and 2 plates of dinner rolls for Dean. Mission accomplished!
I did know of another Meat Maket in La Grange, but after a lot of driving around, I couldn't find it. By now it was 8PM, and my chances were growing dim. I decided to hit downtown and look for something, anything, for dinner (If nothing else, I had six MREs in the backseat, I could chow down on them). After passing up a Dairy Queen and a Subway, I hit the town square (all closed up for the evening), but noticed two cafes here that were still open.
One was a swanky place only called "Cafe" in a Star Trek font. I looked in, and it was snobby looking. Not in that judging small town folks kinda way but in the "we're in the middle of Rural Texas therefore, we're being pretentious to thumb our noses at the peons" kinda way. I decided if I wanted a true taste of the local flavor, this was not it. (Funny note, as I was looking at the cafe, a radio ad for another meat market I decided not to hit was very insistent on procaliming "We don't serve lattes, we don't serve cappucinos, or espressos, like some of those folks in That Big City. WE SELL COFFEE." There's a lot of digs at the Smart/Liberal Folks up in Austin in these little towns.)
The other one was across the square, called "Belleue Plate Cafe." A quick look inside, and the first thing I saw was an old old oak bar and a handwritten menu on the door. THIS was dinner. :D
I walked in, and put on my "Hi, I'm a goodnatured visitor" cap on that usually works pretty well in these parts. Even before I transitioned, people in Rural Texas would stare...but few people know that a pleasant smile will let them know "You're good people." Unless the person staring at you is 18, wearing a baseball cap with a car logo on it. Then you're fucked.
The waitress seemed rather taken with me (or at least mildly amused). I looked over theor menu and the prices were just huge. Still, this was La Grange Food and it's either this on rather unconvincing MRE Beef Teriyaki. I ordered the "surf and turf" which was a Ribeye Steak and three fried shrimp. That's when I found out why it's so expensive:
"Would you like soup or salad with that? What kind of soup? And a side? It also comes with baked potato or fries." For one meal, I got a smorgasbord. The soup, the mac and cheese, the shrimp and half the ribeye were brekfast. had the fries and the other half for lunch. :9
The cafe was really neat, too. The bar was a good solid oak bar you dont' really see anymore. While it was being used now as a cashier counter and seating, behind it was an even older oak...drink thingy (where the bartender puts the liquor when hes not using it) being used as a decoration. The walls plaster was all falling apart, the ancient table jukebox (with a mix of old timey country, and hand written "Cards" for the jukebox proudly displaying local Czech Polka bands) was still only 10 cents for a song (25 for three plays!), and the pictures were vintage.
One of the funnier things in the room was the TV set. Most small restaurants I know have TV sets now, usually small sets hanging from the cieling or propped up on a table. This one had a full TV/Radio/Turntable Console Set sitting across two oak seats. Now THAT'S a TV.
This prolly marks the first time I've actually eaten out somewhere since I transitioned, due to a nasty thing done to my food in San Antonio. I've always been wary of sitting down for a meal ANYWHERE now. The food was really really good (although the shrimp was pretty meh), I paid my bill, asked for a paper menu, didn't get one (they were out) and I left. Sadly, I don't think my waitress knew what to make of me, however, no one else in the building cared the slightest. And old man looked at me sternly once, I just smiled, and he smiled right back. So nuthin' worrying.
By now it was getting a bit late, and I wanted to head back home before it officially became Too Late to Be Out Looking Like This. That is one thing I miss. I used to bike ride at 2AM. Don't wanna be doing that now. I headed back up to Austin....
East on TX 71 to Kirtley to Smithville.
Decideing I hadn't had enough scenic routing on the way down, I decided to hit Park Road 1C north, into Buescher State Park to Bastrop State Park.
Lemme tell you, when going down a windy narrow road with trees up to the road line, a FIFTY MILE AN HOUR DRIVE WITH YOUR BRIGHTS ON is an incredibly bad idea. And no, that person was not me.
West on TX 71 to Bastrop, then North on FM 969 to Utley to Webberville to Deatsville to Dunlap to Mud City to Hornsby Bend to my PO Box in Austin, then home.
I feel refreshed. :D
I needed that. The long drive really cheered me up, and got my thought process moving along. The clog that had stopped up the Closetspace drain is gone (and might even be able to save the piece), and I've got some tasty vittles to boot.
The trip was...
From Austin, TX East on TX 71 to Del Valle to Garfield to Bastrop.
One thing Central Texas is known for is it's love of Bar B Cue, and each major town has one or more "Meat Markets." Buy the meat here and cook it your self, or order your self some BBQ and eat it here. There was one I'd been menaing to try in Bastrop for a while, and since I had left (relatively) early, I decided I was gonna eat at a restaurant in these towns. Sadly, however, the Meat Market in Bastrop had closed down and been converted into a pricey "Fine Dining" establishment. I wasn't in my Sunday Finest, so I soldiered on...
East on TX 71 to Alum Creek to Smithville.
In Smithville, I knew of another meat market on Main Street, and stopped by for a visit...only to find they had closed up shop as well. It was only 6:30 PM on a Saturday. I knew these down rolled up the streets at 5PM on weekdays, but didn't expect it on a weekend. At least it's still there, though. It's just a matter of getting there when it's opened. :)
Northeast on FM 153 to Winchester.
Winchester is TINY, and I didn't expect to stop there at all (just passin' through). However, the Winchester VFW was open, and I've always liked VFWs so I slowed down a bit to see what the crowds looked like. The place was packed with 18 year old kids. This normally doesn't bother me...but I'm now in Rural Texas. And while the people in Rural Texas are nice, I don't think 50 18 year old country folks would like a long haired mexican transsexual in their midsts. I wisely moved along....
East on 153 to US 77, south to La Grange
All these near misses really put a damper on my want to eat at alocal restaurant. I did go to Weikels at 7PM, the object of my drive to begin with. I picked up my plate of cinnamon rolls, plate of pigs in a blanket and 2 plates of dinner rolls for Dean. Mission accomplished!
I did know of another Meat Maket in La Grange, but after a lot of driving around, I couldn't find it. By now it was 8PM, and my chances were growing dim. I decided to hit downtown and look for something, anything, for dinner (If nothing else, I had six MREs in the backseat, I could chow down on them). After passing up a Dairy Queen and a Subway, I hit the town square (all closed up for the evening), but noticed two cafes here that were still open.
One was a swanky place only called "Cafe" in a Star Trek font. I looked in, and it was snobby looking. Not in that judging small town folks kinda way but in the "we're in the middle of Rural Texas therefore, we're being pretentious to thumb our noses at the peons" kinda way. I decided if I wanted a true taste of the local flavor, this was not it. (Funny note, as I was looking at the cafe, a radio ad for another meat market I decided not to hit was very insistent on procaliming "We don't serve lattes, we don't serve cappucinos, or espressos, like some of those folks in That Big City. WE SELL COFFEE." There's a lot of digs at the Smart/Liberal Folks up in Austin in these little towns.)
The other one was across the square, called "Belleue Plate Cafe." A quick look inside, and the first thing I saw was an old old oak bar and a handwritten menu on the door. THIS was dinner. :D
I walked in, and put on my "Hi, I'm a goodnatured visitor" cap on that usually works pretty well in these parts. Even before I transitioned, people in Rural Texas would stare...but few people know that a pleasant smile will let them know "You're good people." Unless the person staring at you is 18, wearing a baseball cap with a car logo on it. Then you're fucked.
The waitress seemed rather taken with me (or at least mildly amused). I looked over theor menu and the prices were just huge. Still, this was La Grange Food and it's either this on rather unconvincing MRE Beef Teriyaki. I ordered the "surf and turf" which was a Ribeye Steak and three fried shrimp. That's when I found out why it's so expensive:
"Would you like soup or salad with that? What kind of soup? And a side? It also comes with baked potato or fries." For one meal, I got a smorgasbord. The soup, the mac and cheese, the shrimp and half the ribeye were brekfast. had the fries and the other half for lunch. :9
The cafe was really neat, too. The bar was a good solid oak bar you dont' really see anymore. While it was being used now as a cashier counter and seating, behind it was an even older oak...drink thingy (where the bartender puts the liquor when hes not using it) being used as a decoration. The walls plaster was all falling apart, the ancient table jukebox (with a mix of old timey country, and hand written "Cards" for the jukebox proudly displaying local Czech Polka bands) was still only 10 cents for a song (25 for three plays!), and the pictures were vintage.
One of the funnier things in the room was the TV set. Most small restaurants I know have TV sets now, usually small sets hanging from the cieling or propped up on a table. This one had a full TV/Radio/Turntable Console Set sitting across two oak seats. Now THAT'S a TV.
This prolly marks the first time I've actually eaten out somewhere since I transitioned, due to a nasty thing done to my food in San Antonio. I've always been wary of sitting down for a meal ANYWHERE now. The food was really really good (although the shrimp was pretty meh), I paid my bill, asked for a paper menu, didn't get one (they were out) and I left. Sadly, I don't think my waitress knew what to make of me, however, no one else in the building cared the slightest. And old man looked at me sternly once, I just smiled, and he smiled right back. So nuthin' worrying.
By now it was getting a bit late, and I wanted to head back home before it officially became Too Late to Be Out Looking Like This. That is one thing I miss. I used to bike ride at 2AM. Don't wanna be doing that now. I headed back up to Austin....
East on TX 71 to Kirtley to Smithville.
Decideing I hadn't had enough scenic routing on the way down, I decided to hit Park Road 1C north, into Buescher State Park to Bastrop State Park.
Lemme tell you, when going down a windy narrow road with trees up to the road line, a FIFTY MILE AN HOUR DRIVE WITH YOUR BRIGHTS ON is an incredibly bad idea. And no, that person was not me.
West on TX 71 to Bastrop, then North on FM 969 to Utley to Webberville to Deatsville to Dunlap to Mud City to Hornsby Bend to my PO Box in Austin, then home.
I feel refreshed. :D
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2005-02-13 04:04 pm (UTC)HALLE-FUCKING-LUJAH!!!
no subject
Date: 2005-02-13 10:22 pm (UTC)with all the weird soda flavours?
and if so, are you gonna drink em?
no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 10:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-15 01:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 12:55 am (UTC)Even the ones who get the whole idea that the guy carrying the gun could be friendlier than the guy giving you directions still don't seem to understand that how he's carrying the gun doesn't matter near as much as how he's smiling.
And I usually start off the short description of Texas friendly as "a gun and a smile". :-)
no subject
Date: 2005-02-14 06:17 pm (UTC)*drools*