Speaking of riding to eat and eating to ride ... For true culinary delights, consider small-town mom-and-pop operations ... When traveling the back roads that lead to many small towns that make small-town America look like big cities, I really know I've struck culinary gold when I walk in and everyone stops and has a good look at the stranger. This happens a lot with some of the places I've been. Especially in West Virginia. A few years back I was headed to Parkersburg to meet up with a friend from Maryland on my way to Paducah for a small gathering. From basically first light that morning, I rode a maze of mountain backroads that loosely meandered in the general direction of Parkersburg. I came across this one very small town, a hamlet really ... just a crossroad with some buildings/residences up the side of the mountain. A few hundred yards past this urban sprawl mountainside metropolis was an old brick diner. I pulled into the lot and parked my bike in front of the window and entered. The place was fairly busy and I did cause that moment of silent staring at the stranger. In return, I gave them the best courteous Canadian nod to say "Howdy" the locals ever got from a Canadian. I took a spot at the counter rather than use a table. Behind the counter a rather large woman/waitress/cook/possible owner and anything else she was needed to be, greeted and asked how I was doing ... and asked "is that your motorcycle?" ... To which I grinned and replied "Oh no ma'am, I stole that one ..."
Had me a cup of fresh percolated coffee, bacon and eggs with some of the best home potatoes around. But the real surprise was the toast. Local homemade bread, cut thick and flame toasted on the grill. The bill for this heaping feast was barely over $3 ... And the funny thing was, many of the patrons, who I guess had been eavesdropping on the conversation between the waitress and myself while I ate ... While paying their bills turned and offered well wishes on my journey.
Yup ... Fine dining at it's best
Had me a cup of fresh percolated coffee, bacon and eggs with some of the best home potatoes around. But the real surprise was the toast. Local homemade bread, cut thick and flame toasted on the grill. The bill for this heaping feast was barely over $3 ... And the funny thing was, many of the patrons, who I guess had been eavesdropping on the conversation between the waitress and myself while I ate ... While paying their bills turned and offered well wishes on my journey.
Yup ... Fine dining at it's best
