Day 2: Rest Day
Welcome
Yesterday we enjoyed a rest day in Austin, Texas.
The only chore we had to complete on this day of mostly rest was picking up our first van of the tour. Liz, Tess, and I caught a taxi to the nearby Bandago depot where a fleet of Ford Transits and Mercedes Sprinters were waiting, all looking eager for a band. Our vehicle was a Mercedes, and it felt thoroughly worn-in; covered in scratches and tiny dings but was at least far more spacious than the last few vans we had been graced with.
I tentatively drove us back to the hotel doing my best to feel comfortable on the massive Texas highways; it had been a while since I last drove on the wrong side of the road, and it usually takes a bit to get my confidence back. The next part of the day revolved around finding a breakfast so after picking up Jon and Tristan from the hotel we headed into Austin and made our way to Habanero Café, a cute Mexican restaurant that would help us to fulfil a tour-goal of eating a Migas. This classic dish involves an egg scramble with tortilla chips incorporated into the mix, and in this case was served with refried beans, fries, and hot corn tortillas so you could construct your own breakfast tacos.
After this magnificent brunch we headed to the nearby Barton Springs to obtain some relief from the afternoon heat which was thick and intense. This outdoor swimming pool was set in a serene location in Zilker Park, just west of Austin’s downtown. Four natural water springs feed the pool and contribute a liquid with an astounding freshness and a satisfying temperature. We enjoyed a refreshing swim and spent some time relaxing on the grass bank watching the continuous stream of swimmers who charged down the diving board, delivering impressive splashes when they plunged into the pool. Several members of the band also contributed splashes throughout the afternoon, and our bravery was recorded on video for the world to enjoy.
All the light and heat energy we had absorbed from an afternoon in the sun was converted into a good-sized early evening nap when we returned to the hotel. Unfortunately, we slept too long to fulfill our original dinner plans so we ended up dining at the unnamed restaurant in the atrium of the Hilton Austin Airport. While the poorly lit atrium may have had the atmosphere of a high school gym and half of the menu items were out of stock, the unnamed restaurant in the atrium did provide me with the saltiest serving of mashed potatoes I have ever experienced.
Convenience won the day, though, and my post meal elevator ride felt very satisfying and minutes after departing the mashed potatoes I was in bed enjoying the comfort of tens of hotel television channels.
A glamour shot of our van taken during golden hour.