Day 4...a Gramps again

The Trip…Day 4 (6/13/14)

Pretty Little Lady...

 Today I became “Gramps” once again.  I went to my son’s house and watched my granddaughter, Pepper, while Colin worked and Ellen prepared for their upcoming trip to Tahoka and thence to the west coast.  Pepper isn’t very vocal with me yet, but she is as cute as can be.  She sat at the table and ate pancakes for breakfast (and some of Gramps’ bacon) and was a poster child for young decorum.

At home she was content to sit in my lap, or pet the dog, or simply sit and read her book by herself.  Never mind it was upside down…she was looking at it and turning pages all by herself.  She is also VERY good at puzzles.  I’m sure I’m not being prejudiced when I say she’s a very exceptional young lady.

Colin awoke this morning to find a tree down in his front yard following a terrific storm (the same one that had me scurrying for the garage).  There was no wind damage to the house or neighbors, so Colin figured it was a lightning strike…but I couldn’t find any obvious lightning marks.  Also, just a block over there were two trees down (one by the roots, the other split like Colin’s) and lots of broken limbs…so I’m figuring a microburst or some sort of cyclonic event…but I don’t know for sure.

 

 

Colin is blessed with a beautiful wife and a terrific daughter and I feel lucky to be a part of that mix.  I would like to spend more time with little Pepper.

When all was done, Gramps had kissed the girl enough, and a meal eaten, it was time to go. 

I set out about 7PM heading for Houston and the home of childhood friend Mark Flippin who actually lives in League City…which is further than I thought.  I was driving towards a towering cumulus thundercloud and was beginning to worry…but it dissipated before I drove under it. 

I got caught in a horrible traffic jam caused by a highway closure that made me nearly 45 minutes late…sigh…Houston traffic.  For three quarters of an hour I breathed exhaust from the cars and trucks around me and baked in the sweltering heat and humidity that only Houston, in the summer, can produce.  We advanced at a walking pace (the sign said the next exit was in 1.5 miles) just slow enough that I couldn’t keep upright with my feet on the pegs.  It was clutch in and stop…clutch out and idle forward…clutch in and brake…clutch out and idle.  All the while keeping my feet ready to go down and stabilize the slow bike.   You get the idea. We went from 4 lanes to 3, then to two, then to a single lane that had to exit onto an access road and go for ANOTHER mile before we could get back on the highway.   90+ degrees, no wind, 90% humidity.  It was as un-fun as anything I’ve done on a motorcycle lately.

THEN I got caught on the most heinous of things…a toll road.  $8 later and aggravated at being nickeled and dimed for 30 miles I found my way to Mark’s house…and a wonderful bed!