DAY 96 12/19/21

Joan and I walked a total of 9.7 miles this morning. Almost all miles were on a busy highway with a really slanted shoulder. This is the worst surface for my feet. I walked as much as I could on the actual road which was flat thank goodness.

Speaking of my feet, my heels have been much better! I think my dad is with me giving me an extra push. My planter fibroma growths act up from time to time, especially on slanted/uneven surfaces. And also after long distances and long days with many miles. The finish line is close!

We headed into Houston to do a hop on hop off bus tour. They were all booked unfortunately. Greg pulled into a parking space and we all got on our phones fervently searching for other options and things to do. I stumbled upon a self guided tour delivered via a downloaded app we could do in Greg’s car for $8 bucks per person. We all discussed how they would know how many people were in the car? Then Clarence found another version for $7 bucks per car. Now that’s the ticket!! It took at least a half hour to figure out the app, but once we (okay it was Clarence of course) did, it was really cool!!

We drove by Rice University. Famous for its astronaut training.

We drove by Emancipation Park. It moved me with its history. It is the oldest park in Houston, and the oldest in Texas. In portions of the Jim Crow period it was the sole public park in the area available to African-Americans. Juneteenth celebrations have a rich history here since 1865.

We drove by Christ Church Cathedral and once again the history stood out to me. From its founding, it served people of many religions and races; funerals for Roman Catholics, and weddings for Jews; and it had black members before and after the Civil War. We are one! A model for Unity!!

I learned that Houston gets 92% of it’s energy from wind and solar, the highest percentage of any city in the country! Who knew?!? It’s also the 4th largest city in the US. It was big!

We drove by NASA. It’s complex covers 1600 acres. Impressive. So much history has been made inside those buildings!!

We ended up at Canyon Creek Cafe in Houston. Looked like a pub you’d find anywhere in the UK. Loved the atmosphere!! Had lots of microbrews. The food was fantastic. I was in Heaven!!!

Paige and Ruben arrive tomorrow. She’ll be here for the rest of the journey and I’ll go home with her. So hard to believe, but I’m ready!! Been missing my home life so much!