Texas Heartbreakers :: Chapter 2 :: Lubbock Texas

Our first stop! Lubbock, Texas! It wasn't dark out yet, but it was getting late when pulled up to the "free camp area" we had mapped in Lubbock. The "camp area" was a small grassy spot next to a parking lot right off the busy road across from a gas station. No one was there, but it looked legit enough. Our tent went up quickly, and we cooked dinner over a little propane grill we brought. We'd go to downtown Lubbock tomorrow and do a little exploring. We brushed our teeth. Time to sleep. Our first night away from home. We both forgot to bring a pillow. We were comfortable enough though.

Lubbock is a small college town in Texas. The home of Lubbock Christian University, Texas Tech University, and Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center is bound to have some cool kids! Buddy Holly was born here too, so this town MUST like live music! He played all around this small town with his band back in the 50's. We decided to take a little tour around town on the city bus before hittin' the streets to sing.

Money was tight, so we had to be careful what we spent it on or we'd end up heading back to Austin before we even got to the west coast. So we set aside enough money for gas to get back home and penny-pinched our way around. The bus was $1 each, and I put in a $5. First time on a city bus, I guess. You don't get change. Don't argue with the bus driver. Luckily the waiter at the resteraunt we had lunch at didn't charge for our drinks. He must have known, when all we ordered was a taco each, ate 2 baskets of chips, and asked for refills to-go!

There was a small strip of bars downtown going around one tiny block that boasted a huge mural of Buddy Holly. We saw plenty of opportunity there, and went back with the guitar when the sun went down. 

We played in a bunch of different spots, feeling like a rival team at an away game. A few people stopped to talk, but mostly, we just didn't fit in. They weren't used to it, didn't know what we were doing, or what to do. They looked at us like street peddlers, or looked away rather.

It was a discouraging start to our street performing tour. I hoped it wasn't a glimpse of what was to come. We went back to our "campsite" across from the gas station that night feeling low. There wasn't a bathroom, but the gas station was still open. We got ready for bed, packed the jeep to leave in the morning, and went to sleep with the hum of an 18-wheeler nearby. 

I didn't like Lubbock, but we were still having a great time. Anything that replaced the memory of my broken heart was fine by me. And in the morning, we could keep running. Wherever we wanted to go; however fast or slow. I felt so at home on the road.