The paper backpacker

Roads and trees ~ Dec 2023

Continuing on the theme of exploring locally, I went on a small trip to the outskirts of Huntsville. The trip was more of a whim. Something that had been discussed in theory but never on the grounds of reality. But after so many days of running on the squeaky wheel of the rat race, a day out in the country sounded nice. And actually necessary.

Like most road trips, the drive is an attraction itself. It sort of is the main feature of the trip. Whether you stop or not, it’s nice to appreciate what’s there. Even if it’s not much. My personal favorites are the very southern billboards that talk about one of the most divisive political issues or the ads for erotic stores. Which I’m realizing is ironic now that I’m typing it. If I dictated my life based on these billboards, what would it look like?

One of our stops was in Trinity, TX. A town I had never heard of. This sculpture will greet you on the way in coming from Houston btw. It reminds me of a horror movie but is also comforting?

Anyhow, Trinity somehow had the best of small-town feels. It was mostly closed on Sunday but super friendly. Usually, when my partner and I go anywhere together, we tend to stick out a bit. Maybe we’re an odd couple or we look unique but either way we find ourselves looking at each other after even the smallest of interactions or finding certain looks thrown our way. It was a relief that even here, in one of the most southern of places, we were welcome and shown hospitality.

When we reached where we would be settling in for the night, we got to just unplug. There’s a niceness to clean air and chosen isolation. I caught up on reading and the night was filled with tacos and VHS tapes. The choices were Ace Ventura, Jurassic Park (which I’d never seen before), and Wayne’s World. All faves from our childhoods. I’d missed fat TVs so much.

The next day we wandered through Huntsville parks. We also stopped at the Sam Houston grave site and hung around the area. Despite its emptiness, it didn’t feel lonely or sad. It had a good feel. We read a lot of the Texas Historical Commission plaques throughout the cemetery and admired the trees.

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