I usually try to make it back to Texas once a year to see the family, and if all things work out I try to make it to my home town the 3rd weekend in April. Luck was on my side this year and I was able to attend the dates I wanted and take a training trip out of the deal as well so I did not have to use any leave to boot! I think I have invited most of my close friends to travel back with me for this trip and it's usually a good time. The town is small in size but big on life during this time of year. The bluebonnets are blooming, motorcycles are abundant and the weather tends to cooperate most of the time.
I flew in to Austin on Friday the 19th and took a shuttle to the hotel (Hyatt Regency on Barton Springs Road) website overlooking town lake adjacent to downtown Austin. The good thing here is they do have a government rate and it's quite a discount off the regular price. I arrived around lunch and Ryan drove up from Houston and met me at the hotel. We strolled across the 1st Street bridge to get a happy hour drink and snack before coming back and catching a nap for the nights festivities. We looked in the W and to our surprise it just didn't have the feel of a typical W. We attempted East 6th but the crowd was a little young for us and we wanted something a little more laid back. We strolled down 6th through the Driskill Hotel and just headed down towards J Blacks and Star Bar on West 6th near Lamar.
Saturday we headed West out of Austin and into the Texas Hill Country. Ryan recently traded in his other car for a Porsche 911s Turbo convertible and that machine makes any drive a hell of a lot better. The quality and comfort were amazing and the power was incredible! I am not a car guy but I could see how people fall in love with a Porsche after riding the 70 miles or so in that through the winding hill country roads.
Upon our arrival we checked in with the family and then headed out to Castell for a little BBQ and a cold beverage on a beautiful Texas afternoon. The weather reminded me of Southern CA and we could not have asked for anything better. Mom road out in the Porsche with the top down and my brother road back in similar fashion. Both were grinning from ear to ear after the nice ride top down on a great Texas afternoon. Ryan and I headed over to check in with our extended family The Robinson's and met Jro and RoRo out for a drink at the Badu website before calling it a day.
Ryan had to leave early on Sunday to get back to Houston and I spend the day with the family. My brother is an amazing cook and he made some great steaks on the grill and it allowed us to all catch up on old times and new times and life in general. Monday I headed out to visit with my Uncle and my grandparents who all seem to be doing well considering they are in their 80's.
It's ironic because I came to Texas for this one specific weekend when the town was full of life and there were so many festivities at the local park and I did not make it to any of them. Instead I spent my time with people I wanted to see and needed to see and it meant more to me than any festival I could have attended. It's funny how we start in one direction for one thing and don't realize how things evolve and change over time. The things that were so important to me before don't seem to matter as much and the things I was always so "busy" for in the past seem to matter more. Needless to say I am not sure I will need to be so stringent on my timing for my visit in the future...as long as I am able to get there that is what is most important....
I flew in to Austin on Friday the 19th and took a shuttle to the hotel (Hyatt Regency on Barton Springs Road) website overlooking town lake adjacent to downtown Austin. The good thing here is they do have a government rate and it's quite a discount off the regular price. I arrived around lunch and Ryan drove up from Houston and met me at the hotel. We strolled across the 1st Street bridge to get a happy hour drink and snack before coming back and catching a nap for the nights festivities. We looked in the W and to our surprise it just didn't have the feel of a typical W. We attempted East 6th but the crowd was a little young for us and we wanted something a little more laid back. We strolled down 6th through the Driskill Hotel and just headed down towards J Blacks and Star Bar on West 6th near Lamar.
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| Ryan and I at the Hyatt Regency |
Saturday we headed West out of Austin and into the Texas Hill Country. Ryan recently traded in his other car for a Porsche 911s Turbo convertible and that machine makes any drive a hell of a lot better. The quality and comfort were amazing and the power was incredible! I am not a car guy but I could see how people fall in love with a Porsche after riding the 70 miles or so in that through the winding hill country roads.
Upon our arrival we checked in with the family and then headed out to Castell for a little BBQ and a cold beverage on a beautiful Texas afternoon. The weather reminded me of Southern CA and we could not have asked for anything better. Mom road out in the Porsche with the top down and my brother road back in similar fashion. Both were grinning from ear to ear after the nice ride top down on a great Texas afternoon. Ryan and I headed over to check in with our extended family The Robinson's and met Jro and RoRo out for a drink at the Badu website before calling it a day.
Ryan had to leave early on Sunday to get back to Houston and I spend the day with the family. My brother is an amazing cook and he made some great steaks on the grill and it allowed us to all catch up on old times and new times and life in general. Monday I headed out to visit with my Uncle and my grandparents who all seem to be doing well considering they are in their 80's.
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| 3 Amigos |
It's ironic because I came to Texas for this one specific weekend when the town was full of life and there were so many festivities at the local park and I did not make it to any of them. Instead I spent my time with people I wanted to see and needed to see and it meant more to me than any festival I could have attended. It's funny how we start in one direction for one thing and don't realize how things evolve and change over time. The things that were so important to me before don't seem to matter as much and the things I was always so "busy" for in the past seem to matter more. Needless to say I am not sure I will need to be so stringent on my timing for my visit in the future...as long as I am able to get there that is what is most important....
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