After traveling some miles and some time from the grey havens, Frodo stands by the sign into Valinor. (written in the native Valinorian dialect of course) The word Bosque is from the Spanish for "brushy." Located between the fertile blackland prarie where cotton was king and the open ranchlands of west Texas, Bosque county Texas was such a brushy dense area that it hindered early settlement into the area. It was settled however by cattlemen during the mid 19th century.
Bosque Overlook: Frodo overlooks the main river valley through the central portion of Valinor. This is the spot where the elf, wneighbor’s, grandparents had one of their first dates. At that time the side of the area down to the river had been cleared of trees and was ranchland. Pepaw drove to the top of the overlook, put his old Model A truck in neutral, jumped in and they rolled down the hill. Grama said it was the scariest thing that ever happened to her! But, she married him anyway and never wanted on a roller coaster the rest of her life.
Frodo visits the seat of government for Valinor. This building was contracted by a great-great-grandfather of the elf.
Next, Frodo visits some scenic places in Valinor.
This is Meridian Lake at Meridian State Park. Wneighbor has explained to Flat Frodo that this is one of the dearest places to her heart. There is not much ground here unknown to Wneighbor from kayaking, canoeing and hiking.
And here is Frodo in front of the pavilion at Meridian State Park with Wneighbor's mom.
From the playground in to the home in Valinor of the elf. This building is the former school building in Mosheim, Texas. In 1936 for the centennial of Texas Independence the community school was rebuilt as a replica of the Alamo.
Though only a rural farming community the Mosheim school boasts many state championship basketball trophies from teams coached during the 50’s and 60’s by Wneighbor’s great-uncle. The first year Mosheim won the state basketball championship there were only 6 members on the team. About halfway through the season one of the players broke a leg while working cattle. So with only 5 members able to play, one of the smallest schools in the state won the championship.
Frodo now stands in front of the bed and breakfast which welcomed British Prime Minister Tony Blair on his visit to our President’s ranch. This home is also a place where Myranda, daughter of Wneighbor spent many hours playing as a child.
Heading back across the land we come to some other interesting parts of Valinor.
This is the Heritage Plaza located in the town of Clifton near the center of the county. It is a memorial to the cattlemen’s heritage of our area. Just to the side of this are words penned by Red Steagol which capture the heart of the locale.
Now Frodo travels on to the Norwegian capital of Texas. A little town known as Norse, Texas, right outside Clifton.
Here is Frodo at the monument to the 17 original Norwegian settlers to the area. The first of them, Cleng Peerson arrived in 1851 only 6 years after Texas accepted statehood.
Frodo is here in front of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. This church was organized in 1859 by the Norwegian settlers and is the mother church for the former Evangelical Lutheran Church in Texas. It is the center of the community of Norse in Bosque County.
And now we are nearing the end to Frodo’s visit in Valinor with the elves. He is taken to another great river crossing in the very north reaches of Wneighbor’s Valinor.
At this crossing are ruins of another old school located just yards from the shores of the Brazos River. This was the Kimball Bend area school.
Frodo has reached the northernmost crossing point on the Brazos River for the historic Chisholm Trail.
Here Frodo has found what appears to be an abandoned campsite for one of the cattle drives. Frodo sets himself up as a guard at the ford as he knows from experience the dangers of the Nazgul near at fords!
So concludes Frodo’s restful tour in the land of elves!