A fifteen or twenty minute drive away is the LBJ Ranch, where you can find one of Johnson’s most favorite places. Here is the one-room schoolhouse that inspired him to teach – and to pass more education legislation than any other President. You’ll also pass by the family cemetery, which includes LBJ’s gravestone. The Ranch’s biggest attraction, however, is the “Texas White House:” the main residence that served as Johnson’s office for nearly 1/4 of his time in office. A $1 dollar tour allows you to see the main office room, including LBJ’s desk and many authentic pieces from his time there.

After LJB, we headed south to Corpus Christi. Driving into the city, one sees these tall lit structures, resembling a robust and lively downtown core. Once you get a bit closer, however, you realize that this isn’t a nice skyline, but is instead a collection of absurdly over lit industrial plant. And when you get even closer, you realize that you’re staring at several oil refineries. It’s just one of those things about Texas – things only look interesting and nice from a distance; once you get close, you start seeing more than just warts.

Tomorrow we hit Padre Island National Seashore and make our way south towards Brownsville and the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site.

EDIT: I failed to mention that my health seems to be – at least for now – on an upswing. I’m feeling a bit better and ate real food today without having to ensure that I was adjacent to a restroom. This is very helpful when you’re on a roadtrip – trust me. We’ll see how things progress, but it seems like I may have turned the corner. Fingers crossed.