Oct 04 2016 Meridian to Cleburne

After breakfast....

took a nice long walk around the lake on the "Bosque Hiking Trail"

One day we will learn if these are dangerous!

Next stop Norse   In the second half of the nineteenth century a few thousand Norwegians settled here - partly because the countryside is about as Norwegian as you can get in the US.

They were accompanied by Cleng Peerson (1782-1865), “Father of Norwegian Immigration to America.”King Olav V of Norway visited the cemetery in 1982 to lay a wreath and dedicate a marker to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Peerson’s birth.

Then on to Clifton.  Another potentially nice town that needs a more 'browseable" center.

Art Alley

Finally to Lake Whitney State Park for our overnight stop - or so we thought.

Turns out its closed due to flooding.  Hmm Lake level can get no higher than the dam but closed due to flooding.  Maybe we will understand that one day.

So on again  - first to nearby Hillsboro.  Its Tuesday. Its 2pm.  The courthouse is closed.  Local citizens are rattling the doors and storming off in disbelief.  What is going on?  Anyway, another nice town to stroll around - and this one has made the effort to produce a short self guided walking tour. Thats all it takes to keep us there for a while.  So many other little towns give us the "its on our list of things to do" nonsense.  But we disgress.

Nice courthouse.  I wonder why there are no cars parked next to it.

Vistors center is in the relocated old railroad depot.  Nice lady inside was pondering whether to call the judge to find out why the courthouse (city hall) was closed.  Many people had asked her.  She was of the opinion that that it might be better not to know why.  We never did find out what was going on.

Can you guess where the oldest compounding pharmacy in the US is?

All roads lead to hillsboro...

Then a quick drive up to Cleburne State Park to spend the night,