Just like The Race of the Pharaohs’
June 27^th 2009
Austin Texas
I stood there, in front of my beautiful cobra at 9 am and thought “What should I do”
What the heck, I got into my car and drove to 620 and 2222 to meet up with the Texas RXs car club of Austin.
I did not know them, I was advised that they drove fast, and I knew it was going to be over 100 degrees. I rationalized that I could always turn back if I couldn’t keep up and they probably would pick a quick route with the heat being what it was. Yeah.
I met up with the group. They crowded around my car with glee – wow- Betty looked fabulous. Here’s a map and a walkie talkie… no passing and no tailgating. We were off.
Cute guys waved hi and things were going well. Into the back roads, the car drove well. They did not go too fast – the roads were fun. I handled the car well. Boy I am glad that I did this….
What, we have been driving over 50 miles through the back roads.. hmm we should be there soon. Passing Liberty hill, passing German sounding towns – Golly we must be close. 70 miles along. It’s hot, Cant find the water bottle, Found the water bottle, Cant open the water bottle. Please God make them stop the cars. Okay if they don’t stop by 85 miles I am stopping. I don’t care.
If you think the Pharaohs’ like Cobras – well Jesus loves them too, as my prayers were answered. We finally stop at a gas station. I am looking extremely overheated. Are we here? Are you kidding? Aren’t you hot? With 2 convertibles and 4 hard tops – I then realize I was odd man out. One fellow says “pour the water over your neck “– It’s too hot - feel it! I announce. Oh my – It sure is. “Take my microfiber towel and wet it” It is a godsend and I enjoy pouring store bought water on my head and body. Thank goodness I was wearing a very stylish tank top that absorbed water without divulging what’s underneath – the other drivers looked expectantly and were casually disappointed. Voting for the shorter ride (they had mercy on me), we made it to the restaurant after a total of over 100 miles.
The restaurant in Walburg !!!! was cool and fun – After 1.5 hours, they even gave us food!
Taking IH 35, I knew it would be less challenging but it was also 2:30pm. I needed a strategy. As I drove, it somehow became hard to breath. I was making the carbon footprint (not my car) at this point. My bracelet reflected the heat and I believe it created brush fires along the road. I had to get to the overpass for Downtown to avoid burning down the city. The road was strewn with blown out tires. Would mine explode too? Steady on the gas. As I arrived at the 290 west turnoff, I felt joy. I realized that I was going to make it. I knew that I had been prepared for such an event in 2007 when I was radiated by cancer treatments equivalent to Hiroshima and then forced into Menopause in the summer. Nothing can be worse than that.
I took the short cut to mo pac at Monterrey Blvd and finally stopped to pour the last liter of water over my head and under my stylish straw cap from Napa, California. My body was literally shaking from the heat and the vibration. I got back in the car and continued to drive. During that entire ride I had not hit one red light. My car’s water temperature never went over 90,
oil at 50.
I drove into my garage, walked into my home – air conditioning set at 78 – real feel 60
Stripped down as I walked through the kitchen, called for my dog and staggered into Silano springs (my pool)
Ahhh! What a great 180 mile drive. Gee, I really love my car
the race of the pharoahs is a long race in Egypt on the sands circling the pryamids and Spinx