Archer City

Kman and I got up early this morning and headed northwest. Drove through some brief but serious rain showers, then a nice cool norther came in, the sun came out and it was a gorgeous day to be country driving.

We were headed for Archer City to visit that famed book store owned by Larry McMurtry - "Booked Up". Stopped in Jacksboro to have breakfast and due to the unavoidable ease of hearing booth neighbors, was privvy to a strange conversation. More on that later. Suffice it to say, Jimmy Swaggart must have kinfolks in Jacksboro, Texas. I about choked on my waffle listening the tales coming from that booth behind me. It was better than a skit from SNL.

While driving through the little German town of Windthorst, we stopped to look at this amazing Catholic Church:

 
 
 
 

The grotto was erected in 1949, and was a tribute to all the men from the little community who fought in WWII and returned home safely. I believe the memorial said they all returned alive and without serious injuries. Looked like about 40 names or more on the plaque.

 






Then, we stopped in Weinzapfel's General Store ( see the new Jeep!) and got some soda pop, gum and lifesavers. Cool old wooden floors, and old meat market counters inside.

 














The photo below is of the Archer City movie theater; remember "The Last Picture Show?"
 
 
  













I am not sure why I didn't take some photos of all the Booked Up places, but trust me, this place is b-a-a-a-d on your wallet. I was making a stack of books that I intended to purchase until I stopped to add up what I had collected. Yikes! Some went back on the shelf. This is not your old Half-Priced Bookstore, my friend. But, there are some delicious titles and one-of-a-kind treasures to be had.

Oh, and we never saw Larry. Darn.