A Roadside Attraction

On Friday my dear ol' dad and I took a mini road trip out west to see the bluebonnets and to visit the Natty Flat Smokehouse, a place he used to frequent on his motorcycle. Natty Flat, which is located on US 281 in Lipan, Texas (pop. 442), is home to the Guinness Book of World Records certified World's Largest Cedar Rocker, which would make King Kong, were he to sit in it, look like Goldilocks in Daddy Bear's chair. After contemplating the enormity of the surprisingly large cedar rocking chair, we decided to grab a bite to eat.

I dined upon pork ribs, pinto beans, and potato salad backed by pickled green tomatoes and jalapenos while Hank Williams was playing on the sound system, so all was good in the universe. Adding to the down-home cosmic goodness of the experience was the fact that every single person we met was friendly and pleasant, and, well, you just can't beat a place that sells locally produced chowchow, pickled okra, and other such provisions. So, needless to say, I was grinning like a possum.

I am also pleased to tell you that Waylon County: Texas Stories is now available in the greater Natty Flat metropolitan area. Yes, Waylon County can now be purchased at the S & K Trading Post there in Lipan. And while I certainly hope that local folks will decide to dip into the book, I also like the fact that US 281 runs a total of 1,872 miles from the Canadian border to Brownsville, and that, according to Krickett, the trading post's owner, many travelers from the Great White North actually stop at her place looking for Texas literary fare. I, of course, would love to see Waylon County hitch a ride to Brownsville or even Moosejaw, Saskatchewan, so I was glad to hear what Krickett had to say. Well, if you need a little respite from your normal routine, head out to Lipan for lunch and a smile.

Here is the Texas-sized cedar rocker. To get a sense of scale, look at the motorcycle parked nearby.

There are plenty of copies of Waylon County: Texas Stories on the book rack at the S & K Trading Post in Lipan. Be sure to tip your hat and say howdy to Krickett, the proprietor, when you're there.   

Here is Waylon County at the S & K Trading Post. Martina took the photo on Saturday.