Into Dallas... (Day 12)

Not sure if you can read this (click to enlarge), but the sign says something like "If you die tonight - heaven or hell?" All along the interstate to Dallas there are scores of these Christian signs. Texas is unofficially the western-most state of so-called 'Bible Belt', a large section of America known for its devout Christianity.

I've not got a great deal to write about today. We woke up in Midland and then started driving east towards Dallas.

I figured if we got to Dallas by the end of today then we could have a whole day in the city before having to fly home. This would mean Nicole would not have to do any more driving. Remembering back to San Francisco, neither of us really relish the idea of driving into Dallas - so I figure the sooner we get it over and done with, the better.

This made us laugh

We stop at Abilene about halfway through the trip and check out the Abilene Zoo. People love hearing our accents, and we strike up conversations everywhere. One hot topic is the switch that Americans are making tomorrow to credit cards with a chip, and this means that - for once - us Australians are technologically ahead of the Americans, so we get to tell them what its going to be like.  Amazing!

The Abilene Zoo doesn't look like much from outside, but its a nice joint once you're inside.

The zoo is pretty cool, it has much more of an international vibe than the two previous animal parks we've visited, and highlights include the reptile house and a Caribbean section. I see a few animals I've never had the chance to see before, such as a Prehensile Tailed Porcupine, some Tayras (a tropical kind of weasel) and the bizarre Secretary Bird.

The Secretary Bird is a relative of the eagle but prefers to run rather than fly. Unlike other birds of prey, it kicks its victims to death with its long legs rather than attack with the beak.

Alligator Snapping Turtle. This photo doesn't really do it justice... this thing was incredibly huge.

Its head is about the size of a basketball.

It seemed very curious, and tapped its beak against the glass a few times when we walked past.

Beaded Lizards - the other venomous lizard, and about twice the size of the Gila Monster.

After this we drive two more hours and reach Dallas. 

The roads into Dallas are very intense!

The endless array of interstate freeways and merging lanes and overhead highways are too much for us. All I'll say is that we got as close to the airport as we could manage and then set up camp at a La Quinta Hotel, where the desk clerk Jazmine quickly earned the crown of Most Helpful and Friendly Hotel Clerk in America.

Some Americans call these insane interstate interchanges 'mix masters'.

What's that? Too much traffic? Don't worry, we'll just build even more highways over the top of it. Up! Up! Up!

I take the shuttlebus out to get Subway for dinner and the Sri Lankan guy behind the counter asks where I'm from after hearing me speak. When I tell him I'm Australian his eyes light up, "I have been in America for two years. Do you watch cricket?!"

I laugh and tell him that everyone is cricket-mad back home and he looks like he could cry with happiness, "No one knows what it is over here. I miss it so much!"

I wish him well and slide back into the night, the arms of Dallas coaxing me up to the fourth floor of La Quinta where a soft bed awaits me. This is our final stop, tomorrow our final day. It's been a great journey.