My Town FSO – Country Roads
Once again this week I am in Houston, Texas and this week I am wishing I was in Nova Friburgo. There the country roads a small, winding, often dirt roads with small narrow bridges – here a country road looks very much like a city road. Often straight, wider than the narrow I am now used to, with two lanes marked with dividing and edging lines. Even the FM (farm to market) roads can be two side lanes with an extra turn lane, plus a nice flat emergency lane. When I was out exploring this last week, they didn’t feel ‘country’ to me. Houston has gotten to be so large a city that its country side is being absorbed into urban. I was a good 30 miles outside the city limits and still seeing large subdivisions with the corner KROGER (supermarket), and Bed Bath & Beyond super stores, four corners with a gas station on each, and strip centers with ‘dunk-n-donuts’ and hair salons – where are the mom & pop country stores?
So I finally turned off onto what is called a county road to see what I could see – this one was CO 52. In the USA there are interstate highways – State roads – Farm to Market roads and then finally county roads…. which in south Texas are straight, narrow, in good repair, with a drainage ditch along each side, followed with barbed wire fences, cattle grazing, small houses in need of repair, and from time to time with wild flowers growing with abandon.
Once again this week I am in Houston, Texas and this week I am wishing I was in Nova Friburgo. There the country roads a small, winding, often dirt roads with small narrow bridges – here a country road looks very much like a city road. Often straight, wider than the narrow I am now used to, with two lanes marked with dividing and edging lines. Even the FM (farm to market) roads can be two side lanes with an extra turn lane, plus a nice flat emergency lane. When I was out exploring this last week, they didn’t feel ‘country’ to me. Houston has gotten to be so large a city that its country side is being absorbed into urban. I was a good 30 miles outside the city limits and still seeing large subdivisions with the corner KROGER (supermarket), and Bed Bath & Beyond super stores, four corners with a gas station on each, and strip centers with ‘dunk-n-donuts’ and hair salons – where are the mom & pop country stores?
So I finally turned off onto what is called a county road to see what I could see – this one was CO 52. In the USA there are interstate highways – State roads – Farm to Market roads and then finally county roads…. which in south Texas are straight, narrow, in good repair, with a drainage ditch along each side, followed with barbed wire fences, cattle grazing, small houses in need of repair, and from time to time with wild flowers growing with abandon.
Wow, this is not the Houston I remember from the days when I worked at NASA. "My" Houston was tall buildings and bumper-to-bumper traffic. I like your Houston better. It looks like you were able to get a little out of town and find some peaceful areas.
ReplyDeleteStraight roads!
ReplyDeleteMy gosh, those were the days. Roads around here you can go straight about 30 feet. Now I'm getting all nostalgic for American driving. Big roads, flat (-ish, depending on where you are), lots of shoulder, cheap cheap gas, decent tunes to be found on the radio.
Love the cattle.
These are lovely Ginger. My neighbors are leaving Saturday to travel through Texas to see the wildflowers. I'll have to show her your photos!
ReplyDeleteShabby girl - we are seeing small clusters of blue bonnets here in Houston, this next week or so they should be wonderful up in the hill country (san antonio / austin area) I think Houston is a little warm for them - If you ever get to see the hillside covered in purple blooms interspaced with Indian paint brush - it is a site long remembered.
ReplyDeleteThe first time I went to Austin to visit my son I said "I want to see the wildflowers." Well I did see them. Beautiful. You make the Houston area look like my kind of country. In fact up in Austin in the Hill Country, it looks just like Ky. country, except for the Cedar Trees.
ReplyDeleteMy son says they have Cedar Fever instead of Hay Fever. Great post.
QMM
Vermont has very few straight roads - they're bumpy and curvy and, well, much like me :)
ReplyDeleteYou've captured some beautiful scenes here, GingerV!
Those country roads look better than some of our main roads. lol
ReplyDeleteLovely to see all the wild flowers starting to grow now.
Spring appears to be late this year. I would have expect the trees to be out more. But then, weather patterns are changing.
ReplyDeleteExpatBrazil
Hi Ginger! I heard of the mud slides in Rio today at work. you are the first person I thought of. wondering if you were ok. good thing you were in Houston.
ReplyDeletelove the last shot of the cattle and horses in the pasture.
Ginger, you really do paint a scene. I loved your country sights. Always love old sheds, so your second last shot is my favourite.
ReplyDeleteI like the wild flowers your found along the road. Sounds like where I live...country roads are pretty much gone.
ReplyDeleteWell, sounds like you had to work at it to find these pastoral country scenes, but find them you did. I like those buttercups, and the nice old wooden fence posts, but the old shed with the rusting roof is probably my favorite.
ReplyDeleteGinger, thank you for the great post. Texas has long, long country roads. Very nice! I loved the color and rust, both.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your dedication through everything.
Gordon
Nice country roads! definitely not something very similar to our roads here, nothing county about it at all!
ReplyDeletei like the flowers in the side of the country road. i can smell the fresh air through your photos.
ReplyDeleteSome lovely shots, Ginger - I love the old barn.
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty and I like the last 4 photos. Happy weekend!
ReplyDeleteCountry Roads
Interesting Ginger. As a dwelling I would certainly say that house needs fixing up (if not torn down and started over), but as a photograph with all its rich colours and textures, its has just come into its own! I wish it was warm enough around here to just lay outside and enjoy the fresh spring air, as those cows are doing.
ReplyDeleteYes, Ginger and Nanu, friends in Austin say they are glorious right now- the wildflowers!
ReplyDeleteOh You are making me miss Texas and I will not get to return this year!
Love the photos, I may have to borrow some for my poetry, so if you take any certain ones just for me, email me!
Hugs girl!
What wonderful pictures!! THAT'S country to me. :)
ReplyDeleteLoved the photos, especially the old building and the one of the side of the road... my husband is always afraid I'm going to get run over when I take shots like that one!
ReplyDeleteGinger,
ReplyDeleteLove the flowers growing in abandon...oh that we would all grow like that!
Love your shots! I especially like those flowers--very pretty.
ReplyDeleteGinger, I thought these were beautiful photos and good representation of the countryside. Oh, how I wish I could be travelling down one of these roads right now.
ReplyDelete