Noack, TX to Lexington, TX

This past week I took some vacation time. Not having anything better to do I decided to drive out to Noack on Farm to Market 112. FM112 was designated in 1944 and runs from Taylor to Lexington. It's a pleasant drive with a lot of straight sections and a few curves here and there. The road alternates between having big stretches of farm and ranch land and being lined with tall trees. One day I'll get a GoPro or something to actually record these road trips because it's hard to stop and take pictures when there's no shoulders and the roads are a bit narrow. Not that it was particularly busy, especially on a Tuesday.




At some point you'll come to a church that was organized in 1891. It's still active today, it seems.

Further on  there's a three way intersection where a bar grill sits. I don't know what the building originally was, but it's been at least two bars. It may have always been a bar. Anyway, it looked like a nice place but it wasn't open when I got there. 

I think I could live this way. Away from the crowds in what some people might consider "the middle of nowhere" with a local watering hole to go to. Maybe people would even acknowledge my existence. Greet me when I show up. That would be nice.

There's another building nearby but I couldn't make out what it used to be. One day I'll be old enough to not give a crap and just go and poke around.

As I usually do, I wondered what it was, what it did, who owns it now, and do they know they own it? I understand that a lot of people would probably look at buildings like this as a dangerous eyesore for the community, but I'm thankful that they're left standing. I would love to poke around and see if there's anything left inside that gave some kind of hint as to what daily life was like.

I took my pictures and with a lack of locals threatening me with shotguns headed back onto the road to Lexington.

Lexington was originally name String Prairie. The name was changed in 1850. It's a small place with a population of about 1,200. It's the only town I've been to where I was greeted and welcomed by a town official. I don't know what she did, exactly, but she worked for the town. In any case, it was nice.

I wish I could live in a small town.

Norman's Crossing, TX

     At the intersection of FM 3349 and FM 1660 lies Norman's Crossing. Going here was kind of unintentional. You see, I don't actually just get in the car and drive around and miraculously come across old buildings or whatever. I generally pore over Google Maps and look for something out of the ordinary, like Dime Box, or just happen upon something that catches my attention. Then I look it up on Wikipedia or the TSHA site. After that I use Street View to see if there's anything interesting nearby.

St. John's Church, built 1925

     Norman's Crossing didn't really get my attention. What I saw in Street View was, basically, an historical marker set into the ground. I decided, then, to give it a pass and just drive around in the hopes I found something interesting. Shopping had to be done and I didn't want to take up a lot of time, anyway. Also, it looked like it would rain.
     So I fired up the Red Head and took a drive. I found a church at a cross roads and stopped to see if, maybe, it had a marker on it and maybe find out when it was built. That could take a few minutes of my time. Sure enough, it did. I took some pictures which, I swear, were straight when I took them.
     Turning, I looked across the street to see if there was anything over there. That's when I saw this:

It was fate!

     Really. What were the odds of the random left and right turns I took to eventually end up at the place I had decided not to bother with? I won't say it was a wasted trip. It was actually quite nice. And I didn't travel too far from home. And I saw this lovely couple who were eyeing me suspiciously.

"You just keep right on movin'..."

   

They feature live music

 There's also a bar nestled back here call R Brushy Creek Bar. It wasn't open, I think, when I went past. I'd be curious to know what it's like when it is open. Is it busy? Do a lot of people stop by? I had always hoped that when I got to this place in life that I'm at that I'd have a small house next door to a bar like this.
     I'm not sure why; I don't actually drink much these days. I guess it would just be nice to be around a group of people who go on about their lives doing living people kind of things.