11.10.07
Posted in Travel Journals, Terrell at 7:11 am by Terrell
Greetings from Texas! It’s been quite a couple of weeks down here with flat tires, a broken washing machine, meeting writing deadlines and preparing for a concert with my choir. Thankfully, it’s all over now so to celebrate, Monday morning I got in the car and pointed it out of town. I had a vague notion of heading south but no firm plans. The map showed me that Inwood Road is one of the ways to get across the Trinity River so that’s where I started. North Dallas and South Dallas are one of those twains that rarely meet, so once I got south of the river it was mostly new territory for me. Everybody in North Dallas thinks of everything south of the river as scary ghetto land but everything I saw looked very nice with some big, fancy houses and churches about every ten feet.
Eventually my road ended and I turned east into Red Oak and then south to Waxahachie where there’s a very photogenic courthouse. After photographing the main square, I asked the gentleman at the historical museum for directions to the oldest cemetery and went to find my great great grandfather’s grave. It was a beautiful day although with temperatures in the 80s I had a hard time believing it was November.
I started south from Waxahachie but soon got sidetracked to the east by a sign for Italy. Really, who can resist a trip to Italy? And then there was a sign for Ennis that made me think about kolaches so I wound up circling back almost to the north. 
Passing through Avalon, I stopped for some photos of the Eagles’ football stadium perched on the horizon. I believe they play six-man in this unincorporated area but it looks like the whole town turns out to support them. After lunch in Ennis I took 14 south through Corsicana (invaded by corporate soullessness, I’m afraid), flicked through Mexia where my grandmother was born and was on my way to Hearne when the perfect sunlight on the colorful historic buildings of Calvert waylaid me. I did make a quick stop in Hearne but the light was going by then and I wanted to find a hotel by dark so I continued on to Bryan/College Station.
I took a piece of my own travel advice at this point. I had chec
ked into a motel with a reasonable rate not far from campus when I realized that the half-dark, empty lobby and the almost completely empty motel were making me feel nervous. I had already paid for the night but I decided that I didn’t feel safe enough to stay. Fortunately, the young woman at the desk was symphathetic and readily refunded my money but I would have left even if it meant they charged me. I believe strongly that you should trust your instincts in a situation like this. Better safe than sorry is a good rule here. I moved on to the supremely corporate Holiday Inn Express down the road where I’m happy to report they have instituted an improvement in the bedding. Instead of blankets and bedspreads, they’ve started using washable duvet covers and cotton throws. SOOOooo much more sanitary and comfortable. They also had a much better than average breakfast spread with real bacon and something that resembled cheese omelettes, fresh fruit and a wide array of beverage choices.
Tuesday morning I woke up to rain and cooler temperatures. The windshield wipers on the car were frie
d so I had to replace them before leaving College Station. The good thing about being in the middle of corporate America was that I was able to look at the Old Navy, the Target and the Outback Steakhouse and say, “hmmm, the Firestone Auto Repair should be located right about there,” which it was. I did a quick drive through Texas A&M University and then headed southwest out of town on my way to the Hill Country. The drive along the old Camino Real took me past–but not through–one of my favorite town names, Dime Box. I had an nice little plate of Mexican food from Anita’s in Bastrop’s historical district for lunch. It’s good to see that they’ve managed to keep real businesses in so many of their old buildings and avoid the museum or, even worse, derelict feel.
I skirted the south edge of Austin and headed into the Hill Country in the afternoon. Between the 
leaden skies and the amount of wine country development, I found this the least attractive part of the trip. I got to Fredericksburg about three, checked into an unchained motel called Sunday House Inn which was fine although not fancy. It was located right in town so I didn’t have to bother with the car (yeah!) Fredericksburg itself was OK. A little too slick for my taste and too much junk for sale except for one antique store with wonderful wrought iron gates. More entertaining for people who really like to shop, I think. Or WWII history buffs with the Nimitz museum. There were quite a few shops and restaurants closed on Tuesday and Wednesday, if you’re planning a midweek trip.
Wednesday, I needed to be back in Dallas by mid-afternoon so I took off fairly early. As soon as I left town headed north on 16, I found the Hill Country I had been hoping for. It was still cloudy but the l
andscape was beautiful with low hills, scrub trees and graceful tall red grasses. This is still ranch country with lots of cattle and goats visible from the highway. I took a little detour to see Enchanted Rock State Natural Area (better for rock climbers or on a sunny day, I think) and then stopped in Llano. I much preferred this town to Fredericksburg. The courthouse is beautiful, the antique shops sell stuff on the funky side instead of the fancy side, and the bar was advertising a TGI hunting season brewha hooha. Next Hill Country trip, I’ll stay here instead.
North from Llano, the land leveled out some but it was still pretty. I had to pull over and take a picture of these emus. 
I drove through San Saba, Cherokee and Comanche and then turned northeast to head back to the metroplex. I had hoped for a stop in Stephenville but it was getting late so I settled for a couple of photos in Granbury and then plunged into the traffic snarls outside Ft. Worth. A few miles of knuckle clenching on the interstates (I hate interstates–especially city loops) and I was home by four o’clock. Short but fun!
Lots more pictures here if you’re interested.
Bye ya’ll,
Terrell
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07.03.07
Posted in Travel Journals, Terrell at 5:36 am by Terrell
Hey guys! Just wanted to let you know that I have updated my website to include my journal from the May Seattle to Dallas drive. It includes some of the stuff from my blog but is more in depth and cohesive (I hope) and has pictures. I’m working on a reading list to go with it that should be finished by the end of the week. Cheers, Terrell
my favorite picture from Arches National Park
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07.02.07
Posted in Store News, Terrell at 9:44 pm by Administrator
It’s been almost exactly a month since I left Seattle and, believe me, there are plenty of things I miss about the Emerald City (Oh, for a Bartell’s nearby!). It occurred to me that a list of some of the things I miss most might be helpful to some of you still living there. We all know that every Seattleite is required to host several out of town guests each summer, and this list might help you think of things for them to see once you’re finished with the Pike Place Market. Or maybe it will just you remind why you like living there so much.
I miss being able to look down the street and see a mountain or water. My current home, along with much of the rest of America, is flat. Really flat. 
No mountains, no hills, no views. I really miss all those great viewpoints scattered around Seattle. Take your guests to see Kerry Park, the Magnolia Bluff Loop, the Space Needle, Alki Point, and all the other wonderful spots where you can see for miles. My favorite little-known viewpoint is the Lenora Street Pedestrian Elevator just north of the Pike Place Market. From Western Avenue head west on Lenora across the bridge to nowhere—it once led to the upper level of a now-dismantled warehouse—and you’ll find yourself on a viewing platform that has a spectacular vista of Elliott Bay, the Bell Street Pier, the public boat dock, and the guest rooms of the waterfront Marriott. I like to pick up lunch at the Market (Turkish Delight is my favorite take-out spot) and then spend a sunny summer hour eating and watching the container ships heading south to Tacoma. Take the glass elevator down to the waterfront for more touristy fun when you’re done.
I miss old buildings. Thankfully, Seattle has managed to escape our national compulsion to tear down every building that is more than thirty years old. Out-of-towners may be amazed to see the terracotta facades of Seattle’s downtown (the chiefs on the Cobb Building, the walruses of the Arctic Building), the Art Deco decoration of the Egyptian Theater on Capitol Hill and all the great buildings in Pioneer Square. It may be hokey, but the Underground Tour still gets raves from all the tourists I know. While you’re in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, be sure to wow them with Seattle’s impressive array of galleries like Foster/White 
and Northwest Fine Woodworking. Get takeout lunch from Mario Batali’s dad at Salumi and eat it in the Waterfall Garden, the site of UPS’s original location. And I would end the visit by walking up the waterfront to Ye Olde Curiosity Shop for a little vintage weirdness. If the steam organ is functioning, be sure to feed it a couple of quarters for me but watch out for the blast of sound.
I miss parks with no sidewalks. I’m currently living in a place where people rarely walk and when they do, they only walk on concrete. Take your house guests to some of Seattle’s great parks where you can walk on muddy trails, sandy paths, and grassy fields. Getting semi-lost in Discovery Park’s woods, climbing the hill to the top of the waterfall in Kubota Gardens or wandering under the giant rhododendrons in the Arboretum is something I truly miss. The Arboretum even connects with one of Seattle’s great treasures, the elaborate ring of parks planned by the Olmsteds that include Volunteer and Seward Parks. Find your way over to Lake Washington and enjoy the beautiful stretch along the lake with stone balustrades and steps enhancing the views across the water. And all for free!
Baseball. Dallas pretends to have a major league baseball team but if you check the standings, you’ll see it isn’t true. Your sports-minded guests who live in smaller cities will really enjoy Safeco Field and a chance to go to “the show.”
Food. Of course the out-of-towners have food where they come from. It may even be great food. But there are few places that can boast the confluence of natural resources, diverse ethnic traditions and culinary talent that one finds in the Pacific Northwest. From steamed pork hombows at Mee Sum’s in the Market to one of Tom Douglas’ restaurants, from a loaf of limpa bread from Ballard’s Scandinavian Bakery to The Herbfarm’s over-the-top nine-course meals, Seattle has it all. If I could transport myself back to Seattle for the weekend, my fantasy food itinerary would include dim sum at The House of Hong, a stop at Uwajimaya’s flagship store, tapas at The Harvest Vine in Madison Park, brunch at Macrina’s in Belltown, and a dinner of wild boar at Volterra. And that wouldn’t even be scratching the surface. Especially if your guests are paying.
Live Music. If there’s one thing that beats the food in Seattle, it’s the music. Every weekend, in fact every evening, there’s an incredible selection of musical genres and styles available for your listening pleasure. Benaroya Hall has a few events in the summer and the opera is performing The Flying Dutchman in August. Catch an incredible lineup of jazz at Dimitriou’s Jazz Alley. Roots music has a home at the Tractor Tavern and the under-thirty crowd will not want to miss the shows at the Crocodile Cafe.
Boats. Did you know that there’s not a single natural lake in all of Texas? Did you know that many people who live in the United States have to drive for days to get to a coast? 
Take your guests out on the water, they’ll love it. Even if you don’t own a boat, there are plenty of easy ways to do it. Rent a canoe from the Waterfront Activities Center at the University of Washington, take out a sailboat from the Center for Wooden Boats , or just hop the ferry to Bainbridge Island. Believe me, us landlocked types think it’s a real treat. If they’re afraid of the water, they can just watch at the Hiram Chittenden Locks or go for a stroll through Fishermen’s Terminal.
Is this a complete list of the things I miss about Seattle? Of course not. I haven’t even mentioned watching the kids play in the International Fountain at Seattle Center or the fact that I didn’t get a chance to see the renovated Seattle Art Museum or anything about Seafair’s summer schedule. And don’t get me started on bookstores. Or travel stores. Sigh.
Don’t have time to play with the visitors? Hand them the new Seattle Insight City Guide ($16.95) due out this month, a copy of Eat.Shop.Seattle ($14.95), Nature in the City: Seattle ($15.95), GM Johnson’s Seattle Mapbook ($11.95) and, of course, a printout of this article and send them off on their own. They’ll still thank you!
(images courtesy of the businesses to which they link)
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06.19.07
Posted in Terrell at 2:01 pm by Terrell
How cool is it that you can watch TV from outer space on your computer? Hope you all are following space shuttle Atlantis on NASA TV!
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05.21.07
Posted in Store News, Travel Journals, Terrell at 5:00 pm by Terrell
Well, I made it. I got to Dallas about 8:00 last night after a 12 hour drive from Taos. Let’s see, the last time we spoke I was just leaving Moab so…
Saturday’s drive took me southeast past more magnificent canyon country and then east up into the foothills of the San Juans in Colorado. It was a nice drive until I turned south from Pagosa Springs to head into New Mexico. Then it got really beautiful with high green meadows, wildflowers, Palomino ranches on both sides of the road (those horses are even prettier on green grass) and purple storm clouds shooting lightning at distant snow-capped peaks. I turned east on 64 to make my way towards Taos twisiting up a nearly deserted two-lane highway through the Carson National Forest. Maybe I should have paid more attention to that big gate that lets them close this road on a regular basis. I could see that the thunderstorm had dropped a lot of water here and then, as I drove higher, I began to notice white patches. Snow? Yes, indeed. Not just by the road, on the road! Fortunately, it was very slushy and didn’t last long.
I caught up with that thunderstorm right about on the outskirts of Taos and decided to not attempt the next driving segment in the rainy dark which proved to be a good decision in the morning. That evening I took a quick wander through historic Taos plaza which is still pretty but filled with kitsch.
Sunday morning I left early, anticipating the longest drive of the trip. The first part was fantastic with the road re-entering the Carson National Forest and twisting up into the mountains to Eagle’s Nest where I actually drove through clouds! So pretty and soooo glad I didn’t try it in the rain. The descent from the mountains took me into Cimarron Canyon State Park which was incredibly lovely. I saw seven deer! After the mountains, I hit flat, brown cattle country which I drove through as fast as possible. Made it to Dallas about 8 in the evening and managed to wake up in time to get the rental car back on time this morning. Great drive! Can’t wait to get the pictures back. I promise I’ll post a link to my Flickr account as soon as I get them uploaded.
Ciao, Terrell
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05.19.07
Posted in Store News, Travel Journals, Terrell at 1:45 pm by Terrell
Hi guys. It’s me again (Terrell). I’m just finishing my coffee in Moab before I head out for the day’s long drive. I spent yesterday afternoon at Arches National Park which, if you haven’t seen it, has lots of big red rocks. No, no, it’s really amazing. I shot about a roll of film. Hopefully some of the pictures will come out. It was pretty hot–around 90 degrees–and I’m not really used to the sun anymore so I stuck to short, easy hikes. No, I did not climb all the way up to Delicate Arch although I did make it to the upper viewpoint.
Evening in Moab was interesting. I went to find Ron’s diner but got the directions confused (two streets in this town and I got the directions confused) so I ate somewhere else before I found it. The whole town was a teeming mass of testosterone. I have never seen so many jeeps or such gnarly mountain bikes. The big exception was the colorful, single-file line of Miatas buzzing around town. This gang of car enthusiasts looked like those miniature cars Shriners drive in parades.
I’ve got two more days on the road with a lot of miles between here and Dallas, almost all on two-lane highways so I better pack up and get a move on.
Cheers, Terrell
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05.17.07
Posted in Store News, Travel Journals, Terrell at 4:24 am by Terrell
Hey guys! I’m in Salt Lake City with a decent wireless network so I thought I’d check in and let you know how the trip is going. I got a late start on Monday but had a nice drive down 7 close to Rainier. It’s a terrific driving road. Maybe Dimitri will lend me his Porche next time I try it. I had a nice visit with my nephew and his family at their new(ish) house in Portland. Tuesday was a long driving day but it was a great drive. I took 26 east through Gresham and Sandy (buttermilk doughnuts from Joe’s Doughnuts in Sandy, don’t miss ‘em) and up past Mt. Hood which was looking quite spectacular. The road through the Ochoco Forest was fabulous and almost deserted. I stopped at one point to get some pictures of the magnificent rock formations and all I could hear were birds and the bubbling roadside stream. The afternoon took me past the snowcapped peaks of the Aldrich Mountains on the way to a night spent in Ontario. Today I drove the incredibly boring interstate through southern Idaho as fast as possible although I did stop at this cool little gorge that ran right under the highway. I arrived in SLC about four and immediately set out to explore on foot. I located the library where I’m planning to go do some genealogy research tomorrow and then took a look in at the Tabernacle and took some pictures of the Temple. The gardens were lovely. I walked up the street and ran across the Catholic Cathedral which has a really magnificent painted interior.
So that’s the trip so far. Tomorrow I’m doing research and going to take a look at the lake as well as attending a rehearsal of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and then Friday I’m off to Moab and Arches National Park. See ya!
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02.13.07
Posted in Travel Journals, Terrell at 3:32 am by Terrell
If you’d like to read about the rest of the trip that I started talking about in this blog lo, these many months ago, you can check out my new website at http://terrelltravels.com/journals/Turkey2006.htm
And if you’re thinking about doing the Western Turkey thing you can read my journal from the trip I took in 2004 at http://terrelltravels.com/journals/Turkey2004.htm
Terrell
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07.28.06
Posted in Terrell at 4:15 pm by Terrell
Since my last post I’ve trained, driven, flown, and trained. Here are a few details…
I took the train from London to Edinburgh where my brother and nephew met me at the station. They had been in Holland barging before renting a car and taking a fast ferry over to England where they spent a few days in the Lake district before driving to Scotland. The three of us walked from the station to our B&B in New Town. Very posh and a lovely couple who run it. (For their address, see my postcard in the August newsletter). From Edinburgh, we drove first to Rosslyn Chapel (well-known to you Da Vinci Code fans) then to the Falkirk wheel, which is kind of a ferris wheel for boats connecting two canals at very different heights, then on to Sterling Castle, which was fascinating, especially the tapestry workshop where they are making a copy of the famous tapestries that hang at the Cloisters in New York using traditional methods, and finally on to Braemar, the village closest to the Queen’s home in Scotland, Balmoral. The Highlands where gorgious with the heather in bloom. It was just the way I pictured it from all those historical novels. We stayed at a backpacker’s cabin that suited us very well and was not hideously expensive. The next day we did a short hike before driving to Aviemore to put me on the train for Glasgow. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to explore the city since I had to leave the next morning for Bologna.
The flight down was easy with a transfer at Gatwick. Coming out of the Bologna airport I caught the bus into town, then decided to walk the mile to my hotel so I could get some sense of the city. I stayed at a brand new business style hotel, which, besides a good price, promised airconditioning. Extremely welcome in the 100 degree heat. In the morning, after a lovely continental breakfast, I caught the city bus to the train station, bought my ticket from a machine, and then took train for Cortona. A quick change in Florence and a walk from the train station brought me to my niece’s apartment where I got to meet my new great niece Giulia. She is very cute and sleeps a lot. Today we had a lovely lunch up in Cortona with cousins from Texas who happened to be visiting Tuscany. It’s a small world, after all.
I leave for Venice and then Turkey on Sunday.
Ciao!
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07.20.06
Posted in Terrell at 6:59 am by Terrell
Hi, everybody. It’s Thursday morning in London. Yesterday it was 95 here, the hottest day ever recorded in July. Since it was so beastly hot I spent most of my day in the museums (the British, the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery). Thank goodness paintings need airconditioning. Today is supposed to be cooler (we earnestly hope). The hostel is nice but–I suppose it goes without saying–hot. I’m sharing a room with a girl from Bristol, a girl from Sweden and a woman from Tasmania.
Pray for rain,
Terrell
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