Blog 20: Exploring Texas, One Buc-ee's Stop at a Time

Gogoal Falia

We all have places we wish to visit, things we hope to see, and experiences we seek to have. While deciding on my first adventure of 2023, one of the things I thought of was going on a road trip. Of course, road trips come in many shapes and forms. Nevertheless, as with most journeys, it’s the trip that matters more than, perhaps, the destination itself. Luckily for me, when I decided, spontaneously, to set out and explore this beautiful state of Texas, there was only one place that I could think of meeting all my requirements. Buc-ee's. Yes, I mean it.

For the uninitiated, Buc-ee's a quintessential Texas enterprise, something both A&M and Texas can be proud of. When I first heard of their cleanest gas-station bathrooms a couple of years ago, I was intrigued by them. While weeks passed by, I kept hearing how Buc-ee's was not just a gas station, but a place that attracts travelers from across the state and beyond, to undergo an all-encompassing experience. That was until last weekend. I finally decided to explore what the fuss was all about and made my way to this great Texas institution. To my pleasant surprise, it was a memorable experience. Even before I made it to Buc-ee's, the sight of greenery on the roadside and the across the fields was a welcome sight. Almost reminiscent of life once lived in the lush green hillocks of Ireland, it was a drive akin to a trip down memory lane. A few years had passed since my last road trip and it was the freedom to explore a land unknown that had always attracted me to such wondrous lands, and on that Saturday afternoon, it was Texas, and the road was taking me straight to arguably the best gas station in the world. While a lot can be said about the enviable neatness and availability of bathroom stalls in Buc-ee's, the quality of their freshly made products, including burgers and candies is top-notch. I have always seen and experienced gas stations as a temporary pitstop for a refill, access to the bathroom, and to grab a pack of chips for the onward trip, but coming to Buc-ee's made me think about the possibilities that a humble gas station can bring to a community.

A couple of hours passed while my friend and I explored, shopped, and of course, filled gas. I even managed to get a Buc-ee's t-shirt, a souvenir to remember this day by. While on the way back, with the setting sun on our backs, I wanted to capture this day, this moment, and this feeling of exploring something for the first time. It was a sense of calmness and fulfillment that often comes when one does have any worries. For that moment in time, as I left Buc-ee's, I had no worries. Life had given me the figment of happiness I needed and it had given me plenty. While I cannot express to you the contentment this soul felt, I can assure you that it was something I didn’t feel in months. So, thank you, Buc-ee's. And thank you, Texas.