After checking into the EconoLodge, we decided to explore the historic district of downtown Henderson. A town who’s history is steeped in tobacco, cotton, textiles and the railroad it still epitomizes Americana. The main drag has some architectural gems and an amazing number of furniture stores for such a small locale. (OK, it is North Carolina so I get the furniture thing) Everyone we passed on the street gave us a warm greeting or smile. Of course Don being decked out in full geezer regalia (John F. Kennedy/ USN hat and T-shirt that reads: “U. S. Navy 90,000 Tons of Diplomacy”) didn’t hurt.
Find Of The Day: SKIPPER’S FORSYTH’S BAR-B-Q
Trust me on this one. If you find an eating establishment that has been in the same location since 1941, eat there. If it’s painted pastel blue, has a chalkboard listing the daily specials and a big pink plastic pig inside all the better! Ms. Regina inherited the place from her grandparents & keeps her recipes a guarded secret. The staff and patrons were poster children for southern hospitality. When Don asked what Brunswick Stew was an older gentleman in another booth told him to come over and see his! The waitress then brought us both out samples. Since it had Bar-B-Q in the name I figured I couldn’t go wrong ordering that. We also tried the fried chicken, hush puppies, collards, mac n cheese and cole slaw. While everything was definitely top notch good ole southern home cooking, the Bar-B-Q was amazing! Moist but not sopping, tangy NC style was cloying but not choking. Our friend from the next booth leaned over and told us that when you come in “late” the portions get bigger. (It was 7:30 p.m. OK, the city that never sleeps it’s not) When we asked our high school senior waitress where the hot spots were in town tonight, she just laughed. Our manager and “the girls” came and sat by us after the other customers left and told us that last night they had a celebrity entourage as one of the stars of “Swamp People” had been there last night. We had a delightful time just talking food and travel and will definitely come by again. Why not? The chef said that next time we come “they’ll fix us some real good seafood”. We can’t wait.
Day 1 log: 215 miles Linden, VA to Henderson, NC
The Road Trip Rules:
1. No Whining (my exception: whining on the blog is OK)
2. No Explanations (Don’s exception: If he’s asleep and I come in at 2 am naked and covered in war paint,
I better explain)
3. No continuous country music ( I can only take so much)
4. No hitch hikers – sorry Kim, I draw the line at this random act of kindness
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