Of Comfort

Earlier this month, we drove 3200 miles from home in Northern Virginia to Comfort in Texas and back again. While there, we combined some family business with a holiday. More than half of our long drives were through the departure and arrival states, Virginia and Texas, and the balance crossing Tennessee and Arkansas.

THE JOURNEY THERE

Overnight stops in Nashville and Dallas on the way were fun. We particularly enjoyed the laid-back hospitality and friendliness of Hotel Palomar in Dallas. Outstanding dog friendliness, too. Our arrival was unforgettable. The concierge ushered us in as our unloaded SUV was whisked off to the hotel lot. A member of staff appeared to hold the dogs while we checked in. The concierge disappeared momentarily to reappear with glasses of red wine that tasted wonderful and washed away the residue of travel that lodges in one's throat on long drives. Dogs or no dogs, we can thoroughly recommend lodging at the Palomar.

AT COMFORT

Comfort, nestled in the Texas Hill Country, is a charming small town that offers a unique blend of tranquillity and adventure. Our 20-acre rental property, perched on a low hilltop just outside the city, was a perfect retreat. The spacious inner fence around the ranch house allowed our dogs to roam freely, adding to the sense of freedom and relaxation.

The area has some good restaurants, but we didn't get to try out as many as we would have liked. Special mention, though, to Comfort Pizza. We went there on our last night in the town because it was one of the few places open on Sunday. I am so glad we did; the pizza is the best I have eaten in the USA and ranks best anywhere. They understand that pizza is about the crust and not the topping. Their crust was beautifully crisp, thin and delicious. The topping was sparse, as it should be, and very tasty.

We were kept delightfully busy, and family business has a habit of overshooting the schedule, especially when it is informal. I only had a little time to spend with my camera, but I have put up a few images that hopefully impart a flavour of the area. The ranch house had a covered outdoor kitchen and dining area, which we put to good use. The overbearing heat of a Texas summer had gone away by the time we got there, and it was delightful to sit outside, often into the wee small hours.

LE RETOUR

Though less eventful than the trip to Comfort, the journey back home had its charm. We made overnight stops in Little Rock, AR and Kingsport, TN, strategically chosen to break the journey into manageable stages. Travelling with our three Vizslas added a layer of complexity, but it was a rewarding experience nonetheless.