Regretfully I don't have much in the way of grit to show people this time. No graffiti, no abandoned buildings, nothing like that. I can just sense the disappointment.
Nope, this time we're going somewhere different.
So we'll take a left here off Shepherd onto Westheimer...
Somewhere, an HOA would have a fit over this yard. Not here though apparently. I think it's kinda cool myself.
Now we're going to see some freakin' huge houses. Ready for this?
No, it did not rain. They had just watered the grass. That said, lawns ranged from green to crunchy throughout my trip...
Some of these people have the best security money can buy. Indeed it kept the riffraff out when I was walking through the area. I didn't even entertain any thoughts of entering.
This is all something else for somebody who grew up in a town where $50K a year is a lot of money. Yet a few of these houses actually wouldn't look out of place in the nicer neighborhoods of Texas City.
Egads, Brain! A highrise right next to a house! Where were the "STOP RIVER OAKS HIGH RISE" signs? I guess they just kind of live with it here. And live well, I might add.
The Transco/Williams Tower isn't right in these people's backyards though; it's a little further away.
It's getting a little warm and I was thinking about turning around and finding a store or something to get a drink. But nah, turning right here on Willowick. I came this far to chicken out?
(Besides, there's a Shell station at the corner of Willowick and San Felipe, if I recall correctly.)
(I think there is....)
Eureka.
This is what I came here for.
My Gatorade was lukewarm though. These River Oaks folks are underserved.
Anyway, the key to being out and about in the heat is to....
...stay hydrated, by any means necessary. Totally digging the self-timer on the camera here.
The water was hot, but this still felt good.
Anyway, after a little break, time to carry on.
Yeah, this street's really called Chevy Chase.
Some unorthodox looking houses are to be found here. Try finding this in the burbs.
As the late Rod Roddy used to say, All this can be yours if the price is right...say a million or five.
please....let me play in your sprinkler....let me water your plants....please?
FOR GOD'S SAKE LET THE BOY PLAY IN YOUR SPRINKLER! IT'S HOT OUTSIDE! AND HE'S A GOOD KID!
Remember that from SNL back in the day?
Oh yeah, one other thing I neglected to mention earlier - while MD Anderson leads the fight against cancer, it begins with you. Protect yourself.
You know what would be really good right about now? Some frozen lemonade.
Wait....what's this?
"That way?" But where?
Here?
No...
Well goshdernit I can't find it. And it's getting hot. Like, I need to get inside hot. Unfortunately I don't much know people here in River Oaks.
There was one nice couple a little way back that asked if I was doing photos for Google street view.
Despite all the wealth here, people generally seem to be well grounded here. Maybe it's old money vs. new money, who knows. These people go out about town in T-shirts and jeans just like anyone else, and you'd have little idea this is where they live.
They even coexist with public transportation. Wonder what they'd think of rail on Westheimer.
It's a long way back to Shepherd.
One thing that's important when you're out in the heat is to know your limits. This little walk showed me I have a lot to learn.
Pushing on though. That 35 Fairview bus doesn't run on the weekends.
This is a limbo stick for Yao Ming.
If Yao Ming was standing right next to me he could provide some shade. Once I turned onto San Felipe here there was no shade like back on Willowick.
I need to get some fluids in me before I end up on a missing poster.
So yeah, no zoning and stuff.
Finally got to Shepherd. Taco Bell's as good a place as any.
(Being totally serious here, the manager at this Taco Bell - Store no. 1056 at Shepherd and Vermont - was very cool and set me up with a drink and had no problem with me coming in to cool off without eating anything. Very cool. Thanks.)
After leaving Taco Bell it was a little cooler and more breezy. Can definitely go with that, because the day's not finished.
What's that Cubs logo for?
Continuing down Shepherd...
Remember Saint Anne's awhile back? We've come full circle now.
Time to chill some more because I'm not finished today...
But I'm done with this one. The other's to come shortly...
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Outside the gates: A hot afternoon in River Oaks. (photos)
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