West – to Eastland!

A slightly late start, a firecracker send-off  (a practice adopted from the Chinese, who mark significant passages through life in this way)…..

and our first stop is Eastland, TX, about 20 miles south of Breckenridge.

Although still warm, it’s much drier in Eastland than in East Texas, making for a comfortable stroll through  this pleasant town.  The Eastland Historic Hotel was a boarding house in the early days of the 20th century; restored 20+ years ago by transplants from Buffalo, NY!  

It’s right off the main square, down from the courthouse.

The courthouse is the site of a tribute to the local celebrity, Ol’ Rip.  

A clever town father consigned a living horned toad to the cornerstone of the old courthouse in 1897 (along with other memorabilia).  To everyone’s shock and surprise (no less the toad’s!), he re-animated when the cornerstone was opened 31 years later, in 1928.  Sadly, life out of the cornerstone was the undoing of Ol’ Rip, who died of pneumonia only a year later.    

Eastland is also an outdoor museum, with reproductions of almost 40 paintings displayed on walls and fences throughout the town.  What a great way to stimulate interest in traditional culture, while showcasing the skill of local artists!

Road fare will likely take its toll on our relatively pampered tummies.  We simply could not resist the lure of the best onion rings in Anson, TX…. Which came with fried catfish, fried hushpuppies, gloppy mayonnaise-y cole slaw and an appetizer of beans with large chunks of nitrite-laden hot dogs. 

“Delicious,” says Henry.