Comanche, TX

By ten-thirty, nine o'clock's concrete skies had burned off to clear blue. Ah well, at least I had an hour and a half driving with the top down before it got too hot and I had to put it up and turn the air-conditioning on (the temperatures get up to 95'F (35'C) around this time of year).

So why go to Comanche? If you don't mind my saying, that's a bit of a negative attitude. If the pioneers had all sat round the camp-fire saying things like "Look, Darryl, we're not sure about all this going west stuff ... why don't we just stay here ... I mean, it's nice, and the people are friendly ...", then America would never have become the country it is today. So I prefer the much more positive: why NOT go to Comanche? After all, the Texas lottery is now up to $145m, so I should buy a ticket. It's not that there aren't places I could buy a ticket that are less than 120 miles away; it just wouldn't be so much fun.

Roadside store

And it's not completely accidental that Glen Rose is on the way, so I can visit the two grannies I only just missed last week. So I hit the "Chisholm Trail" again, and stopped on the way to pick up a cold drink (top still down at this point, and it was getting warm). The inside of the roadside store was no less disappointing than the outside - ramshackle enough that I was worried that, if I touched anything, the whole place would collapse around me. They sold, under one roof: beer, liquor, guns, ammo, fishing gear (including live bait) and guitars, in addition to all the usual convenience store stuff. Now, I've always thought that guns and liquor were the perfect combination, and I'm surprised we don't see more stores like this. I can just see all the locals on a Saturday night: "I need a fifth of bourbon and a box of ammo". I know we don't do guns in England, but maybe off-licences could branch out and also sell, say, martial arts gear?

"The Two Grannies"

Next stop, Glen Rose. After parking the car and pointing out to the local museum that they'd hung their huge "OPEN" banner upside down, I headed to the "Two Grannies Down Home Cookin'" restaurant. Both grannies insisted on giving me a hug, as they did everyone who came in. The food was excellent - all "home-style", which is to say, fresh salad, bread, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, soup, a variety of vegetables and desserts ... and this was all home-cooked. I'm almost certain there isn't a microwave on the premises, and that, even if there was, they wouldn't have a clue how to use it. The sign over the buffet counter said "Take all you want, but be a dear, and eat all you take". I don't eat much at lunchtime, so they did alright from me - but $7.50 for all you can eat of good home-cooked food is one of the best deals you'll come across.

So on to Comanche. I have to say that this is the prettiest part of Texas I've seen: mile after mile of groves of pecans, horse, cattle and goat ranches, still lush from the rain we've had recently. I passed though Dublin, famous because it's the home of the first Dr Pepper bottling plant. I bought a can, and it does taste different - like going to the other Dublin for Guinness.

Comanche has nothing really special to commend it, other than the fact that I bought what will hopefully turn out to be the winning lottery ticket there. But it's a nice town, with nice people, as well as the usual Dairy Queen, Sonic Burger, Whataburger, Subway ...

Seeing the pecan groves reminded me that I picked up some delicious "fresh-crop" pecans in Mineral Wells last year. A bit out of my way, but why not? They're just as good this year.

Y'all come back and see us again? Absolutely.