Houston Texas

Well, I'm finally trying to get caught up on my blog. On our way to the Gulf Coast, we stopped off in Houston for some minor repairs to the coach. The check engine light had come on and I traced it to a bad turbo gasket. Since most of the top end of the engine has to be removed to even get to the bolts, I decided it was a job best left to a professional. We pulled into Cummins in Houston and they said they would have us out in one day. They also had a full hookup area so that made the work day even better. While they worked on the coach, we spent the day cruising Houston.

Minute Maid Park, home of the Houston Astros MLB team. Originally Houston's Union Station, it's filled with mementos from those long ago years. However, there is still a steam engine and coal car filled with oranges that transverse the left field wall whenever an Astro hits a home run or the Astros win. The engine cruises the entire length of the left field fence and returns.

We thought we'd cruise over to the Igloo factory and see where these neat little coolers are made. Upon arrival, we found this interesting guard shack. They had a store on site with lots of cool stuff at huge discounts. We bought a couple extra coolers for when friends stop by.

In the middle of a shopping center, next to a tire store, sits the Hillendale Family Cemetery. Arnold Hillendale had farmed this area for many years. His first wife died in 1854 and this area was set aside as a burial plot. It is the resting place of 19 members of the Hillendale family. Even though subdivisions and commercial development has taken place, this small family cemetery is tended to weekly by members of the Hillendale family.

This was the home of one John Milkovisch, an upholsterer for the Southern Pacific railroad. In 1968 he tired of mowing his lawn and painting his home so he decided to recycle cans from his favorite beverage, beer. Over the next 20 plus years, Mr. Milkovisch adorned his home, his yard and anything else with empty beer cans. Each of the cans was flattened or carved to suit his fancy. It is estimated there are over 50,000 beer cans placed on the home and adjacent fencing.

The house and landscape are adorned with many different types of beer that John, himself, drank (though his neighbors and his wife, Mary, were always glad to lend a hand!) Now there was a guy who enjoyed having a brew or two, or three.

The home is now owned by the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. It has been featured on Ripley's Believe It or Not.

Adjacent to the Interstate, we spotted what Houston calls it's Mount Rush Hour. Dedicated to American Statesmen, the huge heads seen here are changed on a rotating basis. Intrigued by that bit of information led to our discovery of a nearby storage facility packed with huge busts of all the presidents, as well as other famous people.

These huge busts were lined up alongside one of the industrial buildings. They are the brainstorm of a local artist, David Adickes. We weren't able to find any information about the use planned for these sculptures other than the one posted above.

One thing we did find interesting was this tribute to the Beatles. These statures were in excess of 30' tall! You'll also notice several more president's busts below the Beatles' statues.

Houston's Downtown Area

No trip to Texas would be complete without seeing an armadillo. This one had sprouted horns as well and was located in front of a country western bar b que. At night, his eyes glow red and he snorts smoke from it's nostrils.

Beautiful Buddhist Gardens near Downtown Houston