Texas & New Mexico
19:45 - Flagstaff - Alec
After New Orleans we decided to take a different route, travelling through Texas staying at Austin and Lubbock, and then onto Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Monday morning leaving New Orleans had high chances of being the day where Michael, Alec, and Zihao were to receive their Oxford results. Unfortunately the internet was down so we left trying not to think too much about whether or not results were out. While on our way to Austin though, Michael received a text from Elisha (a friend from Oxford) saying results were indeed out. Elisha had told us a week before that results would be out 'most likely in the next day or two', so she had been the cause of unnecessary and frantic checking of the internet for nearly a week, but finally, it was results day. Finding internet on route was not easy but we did at a random motel, and we were all thankful to have 2:1s. This allowed spirits to remain high, and not have anyone worry that the amazing life they had planned for themselves would not materialise thanks to a 2:2.
After lunch in an all you can eat of anything you could possibly dream of eating place, we drove to arrive in Austin. Thanks to Mole, who bought a whole load of new bouncy balls, we were able to have another fun game in the pool chucking bouncy balls. It was once again short lived, as Mole once again managed to lose the ball. We went back to our rooms, and after the long day of driving, chose to have a take away pizza and go to bed.
The following morning in Austin brought some unsettling news, Benji, who needed to retake an exam, was unable to do it once back in England in September, and would have to take it on the 27th of July, either back in England or in a British Consulate on that date. The 27th of July happens to be when we will be in Las Vegas. It seems that Benji will now be taking his retake from Las Vegas - at least meaning he avoids an expensive flight home.
After breakfast, Michael, Benji, Zihao and Mole all went to a fulfill a longstanding desire to shoot some guns at a range in America (where better than Texas to do this?!), while Alec stayed to do some admin. 50 rounds each with a Glock 9mm handgun and Colt AR-15 semi-automatic with AGOG sights were fired. The winners: Michael on handguns, and Zihao on rifles. There was some disappointment towards Benji's performance given his good knowledge and general chat on this subject matter!
After a good lunch chosen by Mole, we went to Barton Springs Pool, a large outside lake fed by a natural spring, apparently a popular place in Austin. There was some dragging of feet to get everyone there - Zihao was not so keen for lack of knowing whether there was going to be a paddling pool, and hence, somewhere for him not to drown given his swimming ability - but we all eventually made it there. It was a large lake with a lot of algae. Michael advised Mole not to jump in with his glasses in case he lost them. Michael, listening to his own advice carefully, chose to jump in with his glasses, losing them immediately. There was a large search party, helped by a friendly couple there on holiday, with the husband working at Microsoft. No glasses were found, but we were invitated to a party that evening. Unfortunately, we never received the email with the details, so assuming he had forgotten, we went out for dinner by ourselves.
Leaving Austin and heading to Lubbock, we chose to stop off at an large outlet shopping centre. The dodgy New Orleans hostel had come back to haunt Michael and Mole; Michael had picked up an ear infection from the pool and Mole was now plagued by bed bugs (which were contagious, so however much sympathy he had from all of us, he had become somewhat of a temporary outcast!). Nonetheless, this allowed Michael and Mole to visit a walk-in clinic and experience expensive but very efficient US private healthcare. We arrived in Lubbock where we got into our familiar routine of a swim followed by dinner.
The following morning we finally got around to putting the remaining stickers on the Subaru. Since the Nissan got broken into and we swapped it for the Subaru, we have failed to put stickers on it, which had been the cause of some restlessness by Zihao. Soon, the cars were matched up with stickers on both.
It was a scenic drive to Alburquerque through some beautiful roads. Needing a picture or two in this sort of scenery we stopped off and timed it when there wasn't too much traffic to get a picture taken in the middle of the highway and on the railtracks, despite Michael's protests! We arrived in Alberquerque and resumed our routine of a swim before dinner in a local restaurant. Michael and Mole also insisted on a short visit to the house of Walt, the protagonist from their favourite series Breaking Bad. The following day we headed off to Page, Arizona.
