Think it worked out better for me to include everywhere we went in Texas in one whole batch rather then diff states on this one. They say everything’s mighty dam big down here, well they wasn’t kidding whoever they are!

One thing I should of looked into for Texas before visiting was it’s size and getting some wheels to get to and from everywhere! Never the less we have arrived in Austin via grabbing a two flight journey from San Diego which for us was quickest way of getting there all round. Took around seven hours all in all but it was either that or a 32 hour bus journey, #NoThanks! Plus we were on a limited amount of time to get on our way to Houston eventually for the final destination of the U.S. so this for us both ticked all the right boxes.

Flights were on time and seemed quick which is what we like, no delays. After picking up our bags we jump in a cab to downtown Austin but we didn’t realise just how far downtown our hotel the ‘Rodeway Inn’ really is and how far away from the city itself! We have ended up in what seems to be a Motel not hotel (should of guessed via name of the place!) and it’s a good twenty minute cab ride back into the city for when we eventually make the trip back there that is! Expensive $45 cab fare to pay also to! Ouch!

Next problem we unfortunately have to encounter is checking in. We used hotels.com and the way the site works is you pay them and they are meant to inform the hotel of the stay and pass over the relevant payment. What seems to of happend though was our payment had been taken but not dispensed to the hotel accordingly! Fantastic! We now have no room either but fortunately we are in a bit of luck as there are spare rooms free and the hotel can see we are obviously a bit flustered and hacked off by what went wrong so they gave us a room and we somehow got off with what looked to be near disaster. The bed that night I have to say was up there with one of the best so far I’ve stayed in. Thank the lord for memory foam!

After a good night’s sleep we plan out the next day for what would be best to do during our short stay here and looking at tripadvisor, lonely planet book and online we both agree there’s naff all to do here that’s worth going crazy about! So we check out the pool and get some rays followed by some yet more lovely Mexican food which is located next door to our hotel. Being as we were close to highway it wasn’t best of views but the restaurant itself was obviously a favourite of all the Mexicans who either live in Texas or are travelling through the border as it was always busy, cheap and full of them!

That night we agree being as we are here we might as well go into the town to see what is going on in Austin. I book a Uber as it always works out cheaper and we realise the one night of the year we arrive it’s gay rights parade! We got there just before it was starting and hopped on one of those cycle carts to ask a local tell us all about Austin, not the wrestler Stone Cold! What there is to do here and why it wasn’t how I imagined it to look? The Cowboys sadly moved on a long time ago to which I kinda had that vibe already but I thought I’d at least see some guys with hats on and some Dixie chicks! Nothing like that at all. We sadly just missed the bats go under the bridge as that’s always something that attracts the tourists the guide told us but Austin has this powerful sort of industrial feel to it. Lots of big skylines and new buildings, gone are the horses, cowboys and saloons, how disappointing to say the very least. It’s prob decent for a good night out but no more then that. Anyways by this time the parade is getting very busy and we are both getting bit hungry so we go local supermarket and buy load of choccies and snacks, let’s have a cheap night in instead we decide! We get a cab back with our bags of sins and I took a few shots on my iPhone of Austin itself, it isn’t much but it’s at least something to look back on.

We needed to make an executive decision the following day to rescue our Texas trip me thinks! Neither of us to be honest did that much research regarding Texas so we needed an active plan to see whether there is more to Texas then big ass cars and big new skylines.

After spending majority of day deciding what to do next we come across idea of San Antonio. Something appealed about the place so much more then Austin. Maybe it was the Riverwalk or the fact it was an hour away from cowboy capital city ‘Bandera’! Let’s get this booked up pronto! The day soon turned to night and by this time it was time to pack and again and board another stinky Greyhound in the morning. It’s only a two hour trip over to the Heartbreak Kids city direct from Austin which gets us off to to a better start. I had booked us the Tropicana Hotel near the Riverwalk as it was decent on price, had big beds, swimming pool and a gym which we both used and our training methods caused quite a stir to others staying there, go hard America or just go home!

After being given a rude awakening by a sleazy Mexican trying it on with my girl while I was taking a lavvy break at the arrival bus station (no she can’t speak espanyol and no she doesn’t like your red rag you have across your chest and yes you have a raging bull if your not careful flying towards you for wearing it!) I look to get us both a Uber taxi. What on earth? Uber is banned in San Antonio as the local cabbies managed to stop them from stealing all their business a while back!? I flag a local cabbie down instead and we realise our hotel is only round the corner anyways! We are about to drive off and three old Mexican ladies wanted to gate crash our cab. In fairness the cabbie did ask us if we minded, fortunately this time round we were just round the corner and at $5 it’s cheap as chips for the fare so hey why heck not.

San Antonio definitely had that more wow appeal to it then Austin previous. The area itself oozed a bit more character and they also gotta thing for palm trees also it seemed. Will the real Texas city please stand up!?

I am still feeling fresh and decided to go out for a walk around town to get a feel of the area we are staying in. So easy to get around here it seems. I come across some remarkable war memorial statues and the beautiful Riverwalk. Great place to stop for food as there are all kinds of different food outlets to choose from. Defo worth a see if your heading that way. Pics below to verify just how nice!

After a long walk round in the Texas heat I bump into a police sheriff wearing a cowboy hat, I pluck up courage on asking where’s best place to find old school Texas and where have all the cowboys gone? I get given a distinctive smile, Bandera is the place I need to get to he confirms. If I go there I’ll get my cowboys, horses, saloons etc guaranteed! It was right then that I had realised only way we had any chance of getting to Bandera is by getting some wheels to transport us there.

After trying out the local beer I return back to the hostel to find my gf has sorted out all our laundry out which was very much welcomed! It is always good to have your clothes back to smelling decent enough to wear again! We head out for dinner shortly after and I found what I thought was a no brainer, Brazillian steak house. I sooo should of checked prices first though in first place! It’s mega pricey so might be an option to see what the Riverwalk had there instead. We found a gorgeous all you can eat Texas meat style restaurant instead which had a very tasty menu! I went for ribs! I’ve come to Texas for the big huge ribs and they had plenty in stock! My girlie got the sausage platter. Let’s just say we were both walking like penguins after we left there! It was very tasty but we had trouble fitting through the door it seemed on way out after the mammoth portions we had just encountered. Got back to hotel after and put our food baby bellies to sleep!

Next day we decided enough was enough. We had been trying our hardest to hire out a vehicle here in Texas to get around better as the cab fares were starting to add up. We finally succeeded and got some wheels. Believe it or not it’s got part of my name on the registration so maybe it was a sign that we simply had to get it. We were looking at getting to Bandera (Cowboy Capital apparently). Are we finally going to see some proper cowboys, ride horses and learn how to #Lassowhip!? I’d like to think so!

With knowing it was only a short drive of an hour and a half it certainly seemed to be not that far away at all. That night we took the car for a spin and jumped in straight at the deep end. I was nervous as hell and couldn’t concentrate whatsoever because of it. At one stage we went down a road which is only a one way street with traffic coming towards us! Luckily it wasn’t that busy and driver coming towards us slowed down acknowledging we had taken a wrong turn and let us turn back around! Next bit we had to cross over four lanes with traffic coming in from the left and make sure once we had got into the correct lane to determine that there was no traffic coming in from the right either! So yet more lanes to think about! With no traffic lights we had to bide our time before both ways were clear to screech safely across. It was the longest two minutes of our lives waiting to pull out but I could not give a dam how bad we were holding up traffic behind us, we either got this right or we were simply sitting ducks! Finally there was an opening and we both took it there as the opportunity to ride and die today or another day! We regained our composure and I guess having an automatic soothed our nerves a little bit knowing that we weren’t going to stall it mid manoeuvre, I have to say though it was almost as scary as the ‘Slotzilla’ at Vegas!

We then went for food at the Hard Rock Cafe and my girlfriend certainly surprised me on the portions she can contain! After another big meal and desert we took it upon ourselves to get one of the lovely horse and carriages that are well lit up for a romantic trip home via horse, we might as well get a feel for what’s in store tomorrow ain’t we!

We decided to set off at around 10:30 the next morning as our booking was at 12:30. Obviously with me not knowing how to drive my title in this episode turns to #navigator! My gf once again takes to the wheel on opposite side to where she normally sits back in the UK, it’s time to face the music and dance. Both of us are very nervous about this and what with our very basic knowledge of the American Highway Code we need to be 100% both certain we are ready for the fast speed highway we have on up ahead.

Texans drive fast and overtaking is deemed the norm out here. The vehicles here are as big as tanks and the trucks look like they do in the films, they are gigantic and own the highway. We carefully avoid them all at extreme costs! This Bandera trip better be worth it!

Finally we arrive. After a very nerve wrecking drive we are at Bandera in one piece. We had made it! Team effort on that note, let’s finally see the real Texas at last!

Upon arrival we sign various forms for health and safety reasons incase one of us ends up hurt (surely not after what we have had to endeavour previous). We tuck into some food at the restaurant and we are then ready to meet the Cowboys who run the place and our horses who we are set to ride for next hour or so. Mine was called ‘Bullet’ which I mounted with caution obviously due to his name and my gfs was called ‘Whiskey’. Both were extremely beautiful horses and surprisingly enough for my first ever horse ride Bullet was as good as gold although Whiskey was a bit of a handful! There was one moment he got ever so slightly anxious but my gfs previous experience from her younger childhood held on to the reigns hard enough not to come straight off! I was so chuffed with myself that I had handled riding a horse so well for my first ever time. Next up was learning the art of how to ‘Lasoo’!

Right, this took me a lot longer to get the swing of. My gf is a fast learner and picked it up right away but me it took me best part of about fifteen attempts to finally get the jist of it! I may of looked the part but I certainly didn’t act it on this exercise! Obviously with 50-60 plus years experience our Cowboy tutor Larry was doing it for fun! A slight tint of arrogance he then suggests we try to get on another horse but lay down on it which I this time had to politely refuse to do but my gf after a bit of light hearted banter tried it and surprisingly enough the horse remained calm and allowed her to have a lay down!

Next up was another horse ride and this time mine was called Goliath due to his enormous size! If I fall off here it’s gunna hurt a lot trust me! Goliath was a bit of a bugger and liked to stop start when he felt like it, eat the grass and toss and turn now and then. I had to make sure I had a hold of the big guy at all times! Even though he was rebellious I managed to stay on the horse and we were then asked to walk them back to their base and let them off into their square domain with the other horses. It was by this time I was getting ever so fond of horses that I am contemplating having one when I’m back home!

So after the second ride we are asked back to the restaurant for dinner and afterwards we will be heading out on the carraige to go feed the Bulls! Their horns were not to be messed with but our cocksure cowboy ‘Larry’ simply had to show off and grab on to one of them didn’t he! See below! Absolute loon!

After this we were then asked to join them by fire for liquor and cook marshmallows and by this time it was pitch black and as good a chance as ever to gaze up and look at the stars.

It was time for one more trip in the car back home so after saying our goodbyes to what truly was an amazing experience all round. We set off but obviously because we are so far out the way it takes a good fifteen minutes to finally pick up some signal for reception and my GPS to kick in! I was contemplating we turn back and stay the night as it was so dark and quiet on the road, had we crashed nobody would of known about it! Not to mention there was deer everywhere and hardly any road lights so we had to keep a watchful eye out for them crossing the road in front of us! Luckily we avoided all the obstacles being thrown at us got back on the highway and dropped the vehicle back off at its drop off base! Cab back to the hotel from there and another fantastic day with tons of great pictures is completed!

The next day is back to our final Greyhound bus trip (emotional times!) this time off to Houston and for what will be sadly my gfs emotional departing flight back home to England and for my trip to continue off solo into North America, Mexico City and eventually work my way down into South America.

I had booked a Ramada hotel right near George Bush Intercontinental Airport which was a good fourty minute drive from Houston City itself. I am sacrificing a place I was going to go on this trip to make sure I can see off my gf in best way possible and be somewhere close by so that I don’t miss my all important flight into Mexico. In fairness Houston looks just like a miniature New York and exactly like Austin, I’m not missing out on that much at the hotel I’m sure. I am also situated a thirty minute drive from town so no point wasting cash I could do with saving. I used this spare time to get social media up and running as I was understandably falling behind on blog posts, Facebook, Instagram etc.

With my gf leaving my side I feel a very big feeling of emptiness inside me. I am now off doing this again alone and I know I had done this before previously but I became very reliant on having her there at my side. I wouldn’t be seeing her again for best part of three months so you can only imagine how hard this is for us both. I’m an emotional wreck and anybody that truly knows me knows I struggle with my feelings and emotions, it takes a lot to make me cry but I’m not afraid in admitting I cried like an absolute bitch that day. I hate goodbyes and that goodbye hurt alot, to the point I was crying uncontrollably! We had such a blast those two weeks that letting her go like that tore me in two. I literally felt like I had lost an arm there and then. Time to dry your eyes mate, you have doubters back home to prove wrong.

Nothing motivated me more then to prove all that felt I wouldn’t last five minutes on this trip wrong. I am independent and can look after myself. What better way of achieving the credit and respect I deserve from doing this trip by taking on North, Central and South America, alone.

My stay at the hotel was dreadful though and had to change room because I found a bug in my bed and wifi was not working! I got put in an older room which wasn’t much better but wifi however did work so being as I settled for that I took heap loads of pics to fight my case and help me get a nights stay for free there during my awful two day ordeal. Tactical thinking! I paid a bit more before any of this had occurred for a comfortable couple nights stay. I didn’t want to have to endeavour a stressful unwelcoming. In fairness the girls who worked there were remarkably kind and helpful and at least made my stay a bit more better then what it was sadly turning out to be.

It’s time to finally leave the expensive U.S. at last and travel onto ‘Hostel Mundo Joven Catedral’ in Mexico City! Time for Pesos, tacos and tequila! I can’t wait to get this started!! Viva La Raza!!