January 22, 2003
-
I’m planning on leaving Houston tomorrow (er, later today).
Earlier tonight I drove all the way around loop 610 in counter-clockwise direction, as a way to say farewell to this awful city.
I find it hard to say the city is awful, but I also find it hard to say the city isn’t awful. I’m pretty sure I’m looking at the downsides in order to get my hippie ass back to the pacific northwest, where it belongs. (I’m also saying I have a hippie ass for the same reason.)
“Driving ’round the city rings
Staring at the shapes of things..”
–peter gabrielThe region of 610 near the ship channel always blows me away. My eyes start to sting a little bit and tear up, and my nose runs. Then I’m surrounded by chemical refineries burning constellations of halogen lights and plumes of flame. People live here; on the east side of the highway is a subdivision and a quarter mile beyond it is a huge refinery. All around here are people who have gotten used to stinging eyes.
The ship channel is a major port. The 610 loop goes up and over the channel on a huge bridge that always takes my breath away. It’s not just the off-gassing from the refineries, either. The view from the top of the bridge makes it seem that all the stars in the heavens have fallen to earth and dot the ground below you. All except along the narrow band of water drooling along under the bridge.
On the north side of the channel, about a mile beyond the corridor of refineries, is the municipal landfill. It’s mammoth. You drive next to it for a mile and a half. It towers above the east side of the highway.
Aside from the refineries and the landfill, as you journey around the loop you find shopping malls, strip centers, fast food, and c-stores. Standard issue urban landscape. The Galleria area is notable for it’s upscale sophistication and charm, but it, as well, is named after a mall: The Galleria.
The other notable portion of the drive is near what used to be called The Astrodomain. Now it’s just The Dome, Astroworld, and Reliant Stadium.
Reliant Stadium gives me the creeps. It’s huge, and dwarfs the Astrodome, which sits right next to it. And it has the Houston Texans logo on it, which is a demonic Minotaur head. And I’m convinced there’s something else, too. Something down under the football field. Some dark chamber where unspeakable rites are performed in service of the Dark One while the throngs of unsuspecting souls cheer on the football team above. Very Hammer horror kind of stuff.
Then again, I’m somewhat imaginative.
Comments (7)
Ah, GWB’s home town.
Or actually, his home town that he would like you to think. A yuppie in rustic clothing.
Yeah, this place sucks. Take me with you!!!!
Happy trails, Homer … and remember, if you get lost and end up in Michigan, drop me a line!
Well, there’s coffee and hippies waiting for you on the OTHER end.
And Seattle has it’s share of crapholes, too. We just hide them well.
heh. reminds me of a sports arena here. called “The Pit.” my imagination does fun things with that…
Follow the westward sweep of civilization, my good brother. Reach home. Kiss the ground.
(watch for slugs)
Lord, pick me up on your way through, would you? It’s COLD here. (“You can’t hide a redneck underneath that hippy hair…”, by, of course, my FAVORITE Texan).
Do you write, outside your blog? Tell me you do, all right?
Comments are closed.