ROAD TRIP PART 6: On the Road Again!

So Austin ROCKED, but there is a MUCH bigger adventure ahead of us.... the ultimate destination: New Orleans!!!! First we drive from Austin to San Antonio to check out the Alamo, but decide to drive straight through once we were there. Way too crowded, no place to park. So, on to Houston where Malia has a cousin we will stay with. Malia decides to take the back roads, looking for small town sight seeing. And we got a whole lot of that!

En Route we stop off in the small town of 'Thump'. Somewhere, Texas. It just happened to be a local holiday where the girls compete for Miss Thump and are all wearing sashes and crowns. And the theme of the town is watermelon so there is melon everywhere. Like, straight out of a movie..

A movie that I definitely would like to walk away from after an hour or so but it was cool for a bathroom break!

I love that you can see legs in the shirt... something dirty about that

We did a little shopping before hitting the road


And the locals were great!

Another bathroom break along the way....
uh doesn't look like the plumbing works... ha good thing we stole t.p. from the last hotel!

We made it to Houston and had a great night. Malia's cousin and her husband want to start a brewery and are beer experts, brew their own at home and all.

And in that extreme insane Texas heat we needed strong drink! Really, I'd take one step out of my car and immediately brake a sweat in the sizzling 100 degree temperature +humidity. My last car had no A/C. I am so lucky for METALLICAR, a really fantastic ride.

We hit up some guitar shops there.... I soon hope to stock HEAVY LEATHER NYC in Rock 'n' Robin (below photos), Evan's Music City, Fuller Vintage Guitars and Parker Music. If you live in the area, DEMAND to see the straps there! ;)

GUITAR HEAVEN.

MY STRAPS WOULD LOOK SOOOOOO RAD NEXT TO THESE GUITARS!!!!!!

The following day we hit the road again on our way to New Orleans. We downloaded this AWESOME app called Roadside America that told us there was a gas station we absolutely had to stop at (or we might end up hitchhiking to our next destination!). Called Tiger Truck Stop.

It had a live full size tiger in a giant cage just hanging out. DUDE.

Call me tiger! RAaaaWWWW!

YeesssSSS!

The highways to New Orleans were lined with all sorts of fun stuff. Check out this snake farm. A quick off road adventure. Because we are LOADED on caffeine and need to pee again. Really? We are going to 'drain the lizard' at the snake farm?!? hahahaha.

This place is SO creepy. Look at that cage? Reminds me of Pulp fiction.... the basement scene. AGh.

The minute we hit Louisiana we stopped at a lake and jumped in. Pretty much any water hole we'd stop at, it was sooo hot. The highways getting there were rad. Check out this one built above a swamp. We were on this for a while....




NEXT ROAD STORY- NEEEEEEEEEW ORLEANS! WOOO!

ROAD TRIP PART 5: MORE AUSTIN FUN

AUSTIN ROCKS!
(Yea, check out the GUNS sign above the American Apparel. Perfect.)

Almost through with Austin.... this city is AMAZING. I've got to go back. Really dig it there. Got some great shopping done, ate some serious BBQ....and now just a few last photos to finish up with...

The last day we stayed in a really rad hotel (Hotel San Hose)... a bit expensive but absolutely worth it for 1 night. Most hotels don't encourage you to chill outside your room but this one had all these outdoor areas for eating and drinking and debauchery!

The landscaping and decor was so zen. Love it.

Chillin by the hotel pool late night. Our little mirage in the lone star state... (the coconuts are SO David Lee Roth. ROCK!)

The pool.... it was so hot I for sure would have belly flopped right into it. But instead I was convinced (easily) to drown myself at the bar... a few feet away.

We cooled off the next day in this gorgeous lake... my friend Brian had a friend with a boat and we just took it easy for about 6 hours straight.

HOT STUFF!

chillin.

YEAAA! VH SUNGLASSES!

GIMME SOME SAUCE FOR THESE NOODLES!

.... so many beers and the world is our bathroom. I love nature.

Next up: Back-roading through San Antonio and on to Houston!

ROAD TRIP AUSTIN..... HONKY TONK NIGHTS!

....Getting rowdy by nightfall...

BACK at THE HONKY TONK!

Another night of partying, dancing and live music. This time at a bigger saloon- the 'Broken Spoke'. A local hangout, loads of fun.

Beer drinkers and hell raisers!

I love beer guitar signs.
Note the whammy bar.

I also love jukeboxes, bullheads, posing with my air gun, and short shorts.

This old dude offered us a dance and I accepted. He tried teaching me to 2 step... in the middle of the dance floor. Total disaster!

And then the song slowed down... real slow. So creepy! Look at his face! I'm sweating this moment hard, desperately wanting the song to end. Agh!

The bar had leather and guitars on display, country memorabilia. LOVE IT!

ahhhahahaha my friend Brian: Distress! HELP GET ME OUTTA HERE! The girls took me to the honky tonk 2 nights in a row and I'm losing my mind!!!!

.... Next stop the ROCK BARS!!!!

ROAD TRIP AUSTIN.... DAY TRIPPIN!

1st day in Austin and we hit the streets... Hard!

Mission: Vintage and leather shopping. On the lookout for all things weird. And we found a TON of stuff that will keep you guessing!

One thing I should mention: my friend Malia's goal on the trip was to find anything animal print.

She writes this blog called 'Mark of the Beast'- updating the world about all things gaudy, extravagant, glam... that has a touch of the wild. So you'll see a bunch of photos included in my blog of animal stuff I think is worthy.

Stuff your L.A. hair metal cousin and your 80 year old Jewish grandma would love. ;)

Walking down the street I made an amazing discovery.

I almost lost my head over this one! Sick!

And what goes on with these monster plants?! I WISH these grew in my backyard....If I had a backyard.
I bet the dogs don't try using this one for a toilet!

.... with your head?!?

I know in Texas they're all about no trespassing or you'll get shot, etc. etc. but this guy took it to the next level.
And is that bull a scarecrow? Beware of rabid bull inside? Look at all the cameras!
This MUST be Mel Gibson's house.

I think these guys were neighbors. Note all of the propane tanks stacked.

And they have similar taste in unusual scarecrows.
Note the beer gut.

So this guy was a favorite. Didn't speak much but his work really spoke for itself. A custom boot maker and master leather craftsman.

He had a totally rockin' shop. I hope to have such an inspiring collection of leather one day!

.... and some more shopping!

Tequila Time!

Can I remind you all to insert a margarita between each above photo!?!

....What??? We needed to stay hydrated through all of that walking and shopping!!!!

...er no this picture isn't blurry...umm can I get another?!