Philip Robert

I was in Louisiana for awhile to visit my Mom. She had a stay in the hospital just before our big family reunion in June, and I though it would be a good idea to go home for a little while. It's hot down here in the summertime, hot, humid, and sticky. It was good to spend some time with Mom, but after a while I heard the syren song of the road calling. The far away mountains were calling out to me, "what are you doing in the swamps in Louisiana? Get back up here and get busy living, you've got a blog to write, rivers to run, love to discover"

Some people might think it foolish to chase off after the syren song of your soul's passions. I think that it is foolish to give up. I don't know if I'll ever find what I'm seeking, but I'm sure as hell going to go looking. Maybe if I stay in one place it'll find me, but I'm not going to wait around to find out. Better to search and never find than to sit at home and wait.

So now I'm traveling. Over the hills and far away searching for love, happiness, and adventure. My first stop was Houston where I spent the weekend with my friends Dan and Kimberly Bliquez. We went out to a movie (Step Brothers), barbecued in the back yard, and talked about our projects, our dreams, our hopes and our ambitions. We found encouragement and inspiration in our enthusiasm and passion. It was a great weekend for me.

Sunday I went into the heart of Texas. I'm staying with my cousin Michael Lebeau in New Braunfels, Texas for a little while. Once upon a time about twenty five years ago I came to New Braunfels to canoe the Guadalupe river, and I still remember that as one of the best floats I've ever done. I arrived just before sunset and Michael took me to Rudy's Country Store and BBQ for an excellent dinner of slow cooked bbq'd brisket, cole slaw, and ice cold Shiner Bock. Welcome to Texas! After dinner just as the sun was dipping below a scarlet sky we headed over to Gruene to the oldest dance hall in Texas. People were out on the streets, tubers were heading home from a day on the river, and the sound of sweet cajun music drifted out of the old dance hall.

Stepping inside felt like stepping back in time. This wasn't a glitzy club where people came to see and be seen. This was a dance hall where people came to listen to good music, dance, and have a few beers with their friends. Ponty Bone was center stage tickling the ivories on his accordion, and belting out a bluesy, zydeco, americana. The audience was swayin to the beat, and five or six couples were doing a Texas Swing out on the dance floor. Michael and I grabbed a bottle of the national beer of Texas, Shiner Bock, had a seat at one of the long tables fronting the stage, and watched Ponty Bone and his band finish out their set.

The band finished playing, and everyone began to get up to head home. It was 9PM. A little early, but after all, it was Sunday. Michael and I went up to meet Ponty and buy a cd. I told him that I'd never seen anyone make playing an accordion look so cool.

On the way home Michael gave me a quick tour of New Braunfels. We crossed over the Guadalupe in Gruene where I saw the little dive that had the best cheeseburgers in Texas last time I was here. The fact that I had that cheeseburger after a long day on the Guadalupe and a swim at Hueco Falls might have had something to do with how good I thought it was, but I'm sure they still make great burgers there. Driving through town we passed by Comal Springs which is the beginning of the "longest, shortest river in the world." The Comal flows about two miles through New Braunfels before joining the Guadelupe river. Later I'll go through town exploring and discovering all these places on my own. I'm glad I'll be here for a while. For long enough to get to know the place because it looks like an interesting place to live.