BS: An American Travelogue

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 09:31 PM

Whoa! The "magic roundabout" shown in Bill D's links is truly awesome! But wait a minute...if the roundabout was created to handle extraordinary levels of traffic, how come there are so few cars in the picture? (The top one, I mean.) When was the picture taken? At 6 a.m. on a Sunday? Why didn't they show it during rush hour? (To show the markings on the pavement more clearly, I guess.)

* * *

Those who want to avoid chain restaurants might enjoy this guidebook:
Roadfood: The Coast-to-Coast Guide to 500 of the Best Barbeque Joints, Lobster Shacks, Ice Cream Parlors, Highway Diners, and Much More, by Jane & Michael Stern.

The Sterns are regular guests on The Splendid Table, a weekly radio show produced by Minnesota Public Radio & syndicated nationwide. The Splendid Table provides them with a web page called Where We Eat.

Plus they write a column in Gourmet Magazine whose website Epicurious also provides them with two more web pages: America's Best Eats and Postcards from the Road.

They have their own website called Roadfood.com "a site devoted exclusively to finding the most memorable local eateries along the highways and back roads of America." It includes a discussion forum.

Happy browsing!

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Bill D
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 06:37 PM

DC area traffic circles vary widely...some are relatively simple (Westmoreland Circle), some are busy and scary, though still simple (Chevy Chase Circle), some are both busy and complex (Washington Circle or Logan Circle)....but Dupont Circle is in a class by itself! It has several 'lanes', with cement dividers in places, and spots to move from one lane to another, complicated by traffic lights and bus stops. You MUST know where you intend to end up and choose early. Add to this it's historic look and monuments in the center for distractions, and tourists can get hopelessly confused. Local drivers who know the area tend to have NO patience with those who hesitate...


but look at this!
and this

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 03:02 PM

Here are, I think, all the chains that have been mentioned in this thread. (One o' these days I gotta get a life.)

Applebee's
Bickford's Grille
Big Boy
Bob Evans
Boots
Burger King
Cracker Barrel
Denny's
Friendly's
Grandy's
Holiday Inn
Hooters (note no apostrophe)
IHOP (I was surprised to find this is a real name and not a nickname. It used to be International House of Pancakes.)
Krispy Kreme
La Quinta Inns
Little Chef
McDonald's
Motel 6
PoFolks
Red Lobster
Red Roof Inns
Sbarro
Shoney's
Stuckey's
Tesco
Tim Hortons
Waffle House
Wendy's

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:45 PM

I usually evict the Gideon Bible. I typically stick it on the cart of a passing room cleaner when they're not looking or leave it on the ice machine down the hall. They can figure out later where it goes.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: PoppaGator
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:32 PM

I only wish that the Bob Evans restaurant chain was as widespread as some of you have implied; I have really enjoyed the few times I've eaten at one, but they are only found in their own region, far from my home base. Much preferable to Denny's, McD's, etc.

What about Stuckey's? They used to be ubiquitous; I haven't seen one for years, either because I haven't been traveling the highways as much as I used to, or because they've gone out of business. Who knows?

They were notable for not having chairs, stools, or seating of any kind -- patrons were expected to eat standing up at high counters. Many truck drivers tired of sitting behind the wheel for hours at a time apparently preferred this arrangement. In addition to rudimentary fast-food menu items (hot dogs, etc.), Stuckey's was notable for its Pecan Log dessert/candy, so sugary that one could get a toothache just thinking about it.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 01:14 PM

Roundabouts are more complicated than they look, especially if they have more than one lane. Before my first driving trip in the UK, someone—probably an American—told me, "Hey roundabouts are no problem. If you aren't sure where you want to exit, you can just keep driving around in circles until you figure it out." That's true ONLY IF you're in the INSIDE lane. If you're in the outside lane, you're supposed to take the next exit. If you fail to exit when you're supposed to, you risk a collision with a car to your right that is trying to change lanes. The people on the inside lane tend to assume you're going to exit and that you'll be out of their way, and so they often change lanes automatically at the appropriate time, without looking to their left. If the driver to your right happens to be alert enough to notice that you haven't exited, and he manages to avoid hitting you, you will at least have caused him to miss his exit and forced him to make another loop around the roundabout, which is not a friendly thing to do.

I probably made this mistake many times before I figured out the proper procedure.

The normal procedure is this: As you approach a roundabout, you're supposed to look at the sign and figure out whether the exit you want is the first one to your left, or the second, or the third, etc. If yours is the first exit, you should be in the furthest left lane. Usually the road widens just before it enters the roundabout, and a new lane appears on the left. That's the one you should be in. Or, if you want the second exit, you enter the lane next to that one, and as soon as you pass the first exit, you move to the outside (left) lane. And so on, depending on how many lanes and how many exits there are. At any rate, you have to count the exits as you go by them so that you know how far ahead yours is, and change lanes at the appropriate time.

It's ironic that Britain has some strict rules about learners—they have to display a big red L on their bumper, which isn't done in the US. But if you have a US driver's license, they let you drive with no restrictions. Rental agents will hand you the keys to a car without even asking if you have ever driven in the UK before, or if you know what a roundabout is, etc. Ha ha ha!

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 02 Jul 04 - 08:33 AM

The narrative at the beginning failed to mention the fascinating reading materials you find in American motels: USA Today, the Gideon Bible, TV Guide...

Actually there is one way that America is less homogenized than Britain. In America, every city has its own daily newspaper, sometimes two, each with its own flavor or style. In Britain, nearly everybody reads one of the national papers. Of course, that means you have more papers to choose from, and my favorite, The Guardian, is much better than anything I've seen in America. People tend to choose a newspaper according to where it stands on the liberal/conservative spectrum (Guardian vs. Telegraph) or intellectual/low-brow spectrum (Guardian vs. Daily Star). In America you're lucky if you have 2 newspapers to choose from, but at least you get to see different papers when you travel.

In Britain, if you want local news, you have to read a local newspaper in addition to your national one. (The local papers don't cover national or international news.) The Brighton & Hove Argus is an example.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,JOHN of ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 11:20 AM

Leadfingers,
            Surely the "super roundabout" in Hemel Mempstead was instituted over 20 years ago or am I mistaken?

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,Leadfingers
Date: 01 Jul 04 - 08:13 AM

Roundabouts ? You havent lived till you have tried the SUPER roundabouts that have recently been introduced in U K ( Hemel Hempstead , High Wycombe and Swindon so far to MY knowledge) . On these there is one HUGE roundabout with Mini Roundabouts at each intersection , and the traffic goes round BOTH ways at the same time .
A bit frighteneing the first time you meet one , but surprisingly , the DO seem to work OK . Always remember the rule is to give way to traffic approaching from the right !

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,John Hardly
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 05:17 PM

Oh, "Fake" is such a negative word. I prefer "Imaginary".

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 30 Jun 04 - 06:37 AM

I knew this was a fake as soon as I saw "I fall asleep comfortably" early in the journal.

I returned from a European trip the day before yesterday. Today I woke up at 3:13 a.m. It seems to be for the duration.

Jeri, you are so right. "Once you get off the highway, and you can talk to local folks instead of fellow travellers. You can experience things unique to that area."

"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and I took the road less travelled-by, and that has made all the difference."

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Jeri
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:57 AM

The traffic circles around here (New Hampshire) are actually referred to as 'roundabouts' and have one lane. They're great for losing tailgaters - you go around 1.5 times instead of .5, and there are never any left turns. They go around counter-clockwise, as opposed to the ones in the UK. I'd think both countries would go in the same direction as were in the same hemisphere.

On the article posted by John Hardly, I take it more as self-deprecating than a slam on American culture, because it has to do with his choices.

When I lived in the UK, the first time I went to visit London with a bunch of other Americans, all but two of us went to eat at...McDonalds. I, and a friend, sought out a restaurant serving English-style food. I had an enormous pork chop with peas and mashed potatoes, and I actually remember it.

Les Barker has a sort of guide to "Avoiding Motorway Service Areas, but an awful lot of the restaurants seemed to be named something like 'Tesco's'. You can go to Canada and eat at McDonalds or Tim Horton's. One good thing about food chains is that you know what to expect and can eat the same food wherever you are. One bad thing about them is...see above.

Once you get off the highway, and you can talk to local folks instead of fellow travellers. You can experience things unique to that area. Many folks want the speed and security of the highway versus slower winding roads and the risk of unknown food establishments, though.

And I LIKE Cracker Barrel! They aren't ubiquitous here, so eating at one feels like a treat. Will trade you one fried clam stand for one Cracker Barrel.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:15 AM

New England, and especially eastern Massachusetts abound in traffic circles - called "rotaries" (singular - rotary) (at least in Mass)- they do take some getting used to.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: JennyO
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:10 AM

We do have double lane roundabouts on a lot of main roads, but they don't sound quite as complicated as the ones you have Carol. I don't think I have seen one with three lanes. Sounds scary.

Still the majority of our roundabouts are smaller and on single lane semi-busy roads in the suburbs - like the one on my street. My street has a series of them - one at every intersection. They are sometimes planted with flowers or shrubbery, but not the ones the buses drive across though.

Sometimes one street will have a mixture of roundabouts, speed humps and chicayunes - the general idea being to slow the traffic down. The roundabouts are often used on streets that are not major enough for traffic lights, but which need something for safety.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,John Hardly
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 11:06 AM

I'll be the roundabout
The words will make you out 'n' out
And change the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

The music dance and sing
They make the children really ring
I'll spend the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

I will remember you
Your silhouette will charge the view
Of distance atmosphere
Call it morning driving thru the sound and even in the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

Along the drifting cloud the eagle searching down on the land
Catching the swirling wind the sailor sees the rim of the land
The eagles dancing wings create as weather spins out of hand
Go closer hold the land feel partly no more than grains of sand
We stand to lose all time a thousand answers by in our hand
Next to your deeper fears we stand
Surrounded by a millions years

I'll be the round about
The words will make you out 'n' out
I'll be the round about
The words will make you out 'n' out

I'll be the round about
The words will make you out 'n' out
And change the day your way
Call it morning driving thru the sound and in and out the valley

In and around the lake
Mountains come out of the sky and they stand there
One mile over we'll be there and we'll see you
Ten true summers we'll be there and laughing too
Twenty four before my love you'll see I'll be there with you

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:59 AM

Carol has described what we have here in Fort Worth and what I remember in Brooklyn. The little things in Seattle are faux-roundabouts, regular little intersections in streets that typically have one lane for travel and two parking lanes. Those operate because traffic meeting in that lane is expected to pull into the parking lane to pass. At the intersections, there is only room for one car to go around it, and it makes sense here in the U.S. to always go around to the right even if you what you wanted to do was make a left turn, meaning you drive 3/4 of the way around the thing. My sister tells me it is permissible to drive to the left for that left turn if there is no one else around.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: beardedbruce
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:54 AM

ANd the circles in DC have stop signs and lights for both entry and exit. So you get them all!

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: CarolC
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:47 AM

Do the roundabouts usually only have one lane? The circles in DC usually have three lanes. The usual practice is for traffic that is going a longer way around the circle to get into the inside lane and traffic that is getting on and off to use the outside lane. I guess the middle lane is a transitional lane. With the circles, there are usually at least six and sometimes eight possible turn-offs because the circles occur where two roads going at right angles to each other intersect with an avenue or two, which usually run diagonally to the other roads.

DC is on a grid system with all of the main roads having either a letter name (going east/west) or a number name (going north/south). The exception to this rule is the avenues which go pretty much wherever they want, but mostly diagonally in relation to the other streets. I think the circles only occur where numbered and lettered streets intersect with avenues.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: JennyO
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 10:37 AM

A few years ago, a series of roundabouts were built near where I lived at the time, and some of them were on a bus route. They were very large in the centre, and the road round them was quite narrow. Buses had no alternative but to go over the top of them.

However, whoever built these ones miscalculated the height, and soon after they were built, there was the amazing sight of a bus marooned on one, with part of its "undercarriage" well and truly stuck, like a turtle on its shell. They lowered them very smartly after that. It seems quite ridiculous to me, putting them on bus routes, but they continue to, and the buses go straight over the top.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,JOHN FROM ELSIE`S BAND
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 09:10 AM

Our national Road Research Laboratories discovered, surprisingly, the smaller the centre of the roundabout, the safer and more efficiently the traffic flowed hence the number junctions ones sees Britain with small raised circular bosses to indicate the centre. One of the incidental bonuses of our big raised roundabouts, here in the south, is when they are transformed into beautifully planned flower beds offering an attractive welcome to the town or district.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 29 Jun 04 - 12:54 AM

In Brooklyn, New York, I remember a traffic circle called Bartel-Pritchard Square (though by consulting a recent PDF of the Prospect Park area I see they caught the silliness and renamed it B-P Circle).

We have traffic circles around Fort Worth. They're always quicker than taking other regular roads where you must wait at the intersection for the light to change.

Seattle has lots of little saucer-sized things sitting smack in the middle of what used to be normal little street intersections. It appears to me that they got tired of people racing through and crashing, or perhaps people forgot how to give the right-of-way to the person on the right. Now everyone has to go around to the right to pass these things. Some are planted quite ornately--perhaps they've been adopted by the neighborhood?

I stand by my earlier assessment of the Cracker Barrel. I have eaten there a few of times and I always leave with a sinking feeling that no matter how hard I tried to avoid it, they managed to sneak a bunch of extra fat into whatever I ordered.

I was out in the middle of what seemed like nowhere out west many years ago, and I pulled off of the Interstate highway in Vega, Texas. It has the usual three entrances into town, one on each end and one in the middle. I think I stopped for a late breakfast at this little restaurant outside a national chain motel. But this was a really nice little place, simple, rather feminine versus gender neutral. There was wonderful low classical chamber music playing in the background (obviously selected and imported because classical was not an option on any local stations!), good food, and they knew how to make a really good cup of tea. I had the impression that it was a lesbian establishment. I think I stopped there a couple more times over the years, but last time through it had burned to the ground. I hope it was just a case of the stove hood catching on fire.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: JennyO
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 11:48 PM

Deckman, we have those lanes you call "car pool lanes" only we call them Transit Lanes. They only operate for a few hours in the morning and afternoon in the peak hours - some require 2 people, and some require 3. They are always marked T2 or T3. Buses use them as well. It does make for a much faster trip if you have a passenger, but frustrating for the singles in the other lanes watching them go by.

They are closely policed too. I believe some people have already resorted to putting a crash test dummy, or a life-size inflatable alien (available from some car sales yards) in the passenger seat to try and fool the police. I actually have an alien myself from the last car I bought, but I have never used him for this purpose. I think green and slanty-eyed doesn't really look very human, n'est ce pas?

In Oz, we seem to be overrun with all the so-called traffic calming devices that have been mentioned here and in other threads. Roundabouts are common, and double lane roundabouts have caused some interesting legal questions when there have been crashes on them. Speed humps, chicayunes, whatever, we got 'em all. There's hardly a street you can go down without meeting a bunch of them. In fact, I live on a corner with a roundabout, which is all right until the idiots with their souped up machines come along on Saturdays and chuck wheelies around it. Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: CarolC
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 11:35 PM

Washington DC has them. They're called "circles", and they each have their own name. The first baby raccoon I ever raised was found in Dupont Circle in Washington DC of all places. I reckon the mother got there from the suburbs through the storm drains or something. At any rate, people who drive in the DC area are pretty familiar with them. They're not too bad I guess. At least they're not significantly worse than all the rest of the crazy traffic conditions in the DC area.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 11:00 PM

Well, As an American who has experienced roundabouts with drivers that know how they are supposed to operate, I still think they are quite a nice idea, provided the drivers have some sense and a modicum of consideration and courtesy. Imagine being able to drive all the way across your state on regular roads without encountering any stop signs or triffic light, even if you are on the smaller road? Seems to make good fuel economy sense also as no-one necessarily needs to come to a full stop unless trffic is heavy. I think they are pretty neat.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 10:13 PM

Ellen ... Since you left the states a few years ago, the traffic engineers over here have delighted us with new inventions. We now have something called "car pool lanes." The theory goes like this: One car and one driver get to sit in the traffic stalls, while cars with many peoples in the cars get to pass them by faster by traveling in their own "car pool lane."

O.K. Sounds great, right? This is a classic case of "human engineering" gone bad. You see, most "car pool lanes" allow travelers with TWO people in the car. Except SOME require THREE people in the car. It apparently depends on which county you are in ... and what time of the day!

So ... if you are a stranger to the territory you are perusing, you usually don't have a clue as to which lane you are allowed to enjoy, until the cop pulls you over and gives you a $ 155 ticket.

But, that's progress they say! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: GUEST,Augie
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 09:52 PM

Right you are RangerSteve

The damn things are multiplying here in the Midwest faster than mosquitos and are just about as welcome,unless of course you happen to be of urban planner persuasion.

We still can't get half the people in the state to get out of the left hand lane if they're going 50 MPH on the interstate,and now they're supposed to figure out how to get on and off these circle-thingies?

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: RangerSteve
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 09:12 AM

THey exist in the states, Ellen. In MA as rotaries, and in NJ as traffic circles. In NJ, there's an attempt being made at getting rid of them, but businesses built around them are actually protesting this move. I drive miles out of my way to avoid them, especially during rush hour.

As for the disparaging remark made by someone earlier about Cracker Barrel, yeah, it's greasy spoon food, but it's the best greasy spoon food in the world. I recommend the "Uncle Herschel's Favorite" breakfast - Fried catfish, hash brown casserole (grated potatoes and cheese), eggs (any style), biscuits with flour gravy- once a year is my limit. And a large orange juice is really large.

I also recommend the chicken tenders at Bob Evans, make sure you get their own barbecue sauce with it. Avoid Bob's "Sunrise Special", scrambled eggs topped with hash browns topped with sausage gravy, topped with cholesteral. It's good, but you'll leave the place with the feeling that you will never have to eat again, mainly because you feel like you'll never digest what you've eaten, and if your pants don't have an elastic waist, it just plain hurts.

   And if a place has a Cracker Barrel-like name (ie- Biscuit Box, Cookie Jar), pass it by.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 03:51 AM

Ah...Roundabouts! Nothing to match them in the States! Where else can you just go 'round and around in a circle until you figure out which the hell sign is actually pointing towards the direction you need to go??

I have fond memories of twirling a roundabout, looking at the signs over and over again, and yelling out the window simultaneously to everyone giving me dirty looks, "Just another Crazy Colonial here!"

..xx..e

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 11:24 AM

HuwG, actually my first foray in driving in England did, in fact involve the Norfolk Broads. I was obsessing about learning to drive on the left side, and I have to admit I was terrified of making a mistake.   The very thought of roundabouts was terrifying. FOr 2 weeks prior to our first trip which was from Gatwick to Great Yarmouth, I studied the map to learn every turn I needed to make. etc. I was looking at he legend of the map with all the symbols and came across the symbol for the roundabout. I studied my route and proudly told my wife that it would be near the end of our first day in Norwich before I would encounter a roundabout so I should be quite prepared for it by then.

You can imagine my shock when I left the parking lot of the rental car office, and promptly ran in to a roundabout followed by ANOTHER roundabout 50 meters later. I learned that roundabouts are simple as long as you go left, and in fact are one of the more effecient ways of moving traffic. I wish we had them here in the states. My grandma lived in Great Yarmouth, and my dad was stationed in Eye, on the NOrfolk/Suffolk border during the War, so I have enjoyed my time in Eastanglia a lot.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: HuwG
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:59 AM

I wonder if jimmyt was actually travelling the Norfolk Broads.

These are:

a: A series of inland lakes, linked by rivers and canals in the low-lying country of the Eastern Counties. Originally formed by peat extraction in the Bronze Age;

b: Those welcoming ladies remembered with affection by former members of the US 8th Air Force.



Some of the "A" roads in Britain can be quite an adventure too. The "A" designation doesn't actually indicate quality of surface, it merely denotes a main route. They range from the A1, the former Great North Road, which is a motorway for much of its length from London to Tyneside; to some of those in the mountainous regions of Scotland, Wales and the Pennines, which can be easily wide enough for two bicycles to overtake each other.



Roads to avoid in Britain:

The M6. Usually your view is restricted to the tail of the lorry 10 yards in front of you and the headlights of the one 10 yards behind. Speeds in this formation can range from 0 mph, which is tedious, to 60 mph, which is terrifying.

The M25, the London outer ring road. It has been known to send drivers into such a trance that they have gone twice round, and wondered why Darlington (in North-East england) is getting no closer.

The M60. It's too close to Manchester. Enough said.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 10:22 AM

I thought I'd mention that the "Blue Highways" in Moon's book title refer to the map he used. The small country roads were all colored blue! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 08:12 AM

So Deckman, am I your "British Friend"? If so, don't tell the US Dept of State, or I'll lose my passport! Then again, I'm fine with being taken for a "local" here as long as I keep my big old Yankie mouth shut.
Yup, the "B" roads are the way to go here in the UK. They are twisty and windy and turn into cow tracks if you're not watching carefully, or up in the Yorkshire Moors, sheep tracks. I love em, though you just hop out and pee when the mood strikes, and better carry your own picnic fixings from the last market you passed.

I agree that for many of us our "sense memories" of a beloved place are the ones that last longest. I've lived in so may different countries that I've forgotten their names, but never my favorite dishes.

"Blue Highways" is a true classic, but I'm going to be taking notes from this thread for any further adventures I might be lucky enough to make back in the USofA...

..XX..e

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 07:28 AM

^altar^ (much as I proofread, something always slips through)

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 07:25 AM

Great story, Bob!

Funny, isn't it, how we have places like that in our own communities (and we know how to find 'em) and we know they're out there when we travel -- just don't have a good way to find 'em -- and we set ourselves up for some real stinkers along the way!

As I travel (doing the Art Fairs I do) I try to find good out-of-the-way restaurants for dinners, but I admit to turning to convenience for travelling meals. So, much as I poke fun at our homogeneous culture, I admit that I benefit from it as I travel. As a friend of mine once said, "We've sacrificed "really good" at the alter of "seldom horrid"."

What prompted my lame attempt at a little humor (the initial post) was.... I had just hung up the phone from talking to a friend who had just returned from a trip to Ireland. He had mused on and on about the fact that he had just gotten a flight over there and a rental car, and went, without pre-planning anything, from B&B to B&B and had a wonderful time. It just sort of tickled my funnybone to think about someone doing the opposite (coming here and going from Inn to Inn) and getting a taste of American culture.

And I thought of trying a grander post, and was actually thinking of a parody of the "Blue Highway" book.......but I realized that, being a forum post that was already of tedious length, going any further would almost certainly condemn it to NOBODY reading it! :^)

SRS,
I'm contemplating a few Art fairs in Texas next spring You gonna show me some of those "Blue Highway" eateries?

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 04:54 AM

Maggie, I think Zeke's is still going strong! Bob

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 02:19 AM

There are great places I used to stop around Washington when I was driving out to climb mountains on the weekends. Always little spots in tiny towns up in the mountains or in a valley on the way there. Never on the Interstate. Zeke's up around StartUp or Goldbar comes to mind. It probably isn't there any more. Fantastic homemade hamburgers and real-fruit milkshakes.

Down here in Texas I take people out to some of the small local barbecue places that have their own recipes for sauce and such. And there is a wonderful little town (Cleburne) about 20 miles south of here that has a Kolache (Czech pastries) Bakery in the middle of town. I don't even remember what it's called, but I go there a couple of times a year. It's a big room with checkerboard lineoleum and a couple of tables and coffee and drinks service on one side, but all of the activity is over at the counter, choosing their marvelous baked goods. I like the sausage ones myself, but always get a few fruit-filled ones for the kids.

Then there were the three years I lived in New York City--whew! You can eat in little neighborhood places for such reasonable prices and get such fabulous food--and most tourists never set foot in there. They look to scary, not standardized like McDonalds and Szbarro and whatever places are on the Avenues. Gotta get over on the side streets and into the neighborhoods for real food.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 11:30 PM

In Great Britain, Bob, M roads are motorways or like our Interstate system. A roads are National highways, sometimes 4 lanes but not limited access. Many times they are simply 2 lane roads. B roads are similar to America's "county roads or even smaller,   lots of times they are single lane with occasional turnouts where people can pass oncoming vehicles. They are the real fun roads to explore.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 10:07 PM

jimmyt ... questions please: What are "M" roads and "B" roads? Thanks. Bob

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 09:48 PM

It is a bit similar in England, Bob, One could easily go up or down any M road in the country and see only Little Chefs, and other boring cookiecutter type "Turnpike fare" It is only when you venture off the easy but boring superhighways that you see any country. One must decide on convenience and speed or real character of the byways. I normally try to travel the B roads in ENgland,which are absolutely stunning in the local flavor, but you would be hard pressed to average 45 miles peh hour.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 08:59 PM

I LOVE that book ... "BLUE HIGHWAYS." It's a great read. Some people feel that it was better than John Steinbecks "Travels With Charlie." The concept is the same, but it is different. My bride Judy and I enjoy taking off on a Sunday morning a driving ... wherever, we eat wherever. I wish our British friend could join us. CHEERS, Bob

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 08:46 PM

great story Bob! Those places are all over A,erica, and every other country I suppose, you just have to look past the interstate exits to find them. William Least Heat Moon, in his great book, Blue Highways, describes them as resturants where you can rate them based on how many calendars hang behind the cash register. Very heartwarming story, and if you try it, quite a great way of rating Cafes. diners whatever you want to call them.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Deckman
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 07:41 PM

John Hardly ... Let me tell you of a REAL AMERICAN cafe experience I had just a couple of months ago. I was close to the end of a four hour drive to visit my brother. As he is a terrible cook, I decided to eat before I arrived. I found a little "working man's cafe" in the town of Cosmopolis, Washington (Washington state). This is very close to Aberdeen. It was called "The Blue Bird", or something like that.

I walked in and grabbed for the walls, as the floor tilted. I stumbled to a booth and crashed down. The table was up to my chin. I then heard this horrible shreiking and laughing and cackling coming out of the kitchen. Soon a well worn waitress appeared and said, "So Deary, how the hell are you?"

I've loved places like this all my life and I knew exactly what to order. I said, "Gimme what you had for lunch." She didn't bat an eye and said "O.K., it's your funeral."

She brought me the most delicious bowl of clam chowder and the best halibut sandwich I've ever eaten. After she delivered it, she brought over a cuppa coffee for herself and slammed into the booth opposite me,
"d,ya mind if I take a break with ya?".

Could I mind, Hell, I didn't have a choice! Then she started telling me stories about all the locals that had just left. That lunch took me an hour to eat because I was laughing so hard I couldn't swallow my food.

All of this is a very true story, I swear. Now then, THAT is the kind of place you want to try to find to get a real tate of America.

Thanks for starting this thread ... I'm enjoying it! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: LilyFestre
Date: 26 Jun 04 - 07:38 PM

Hmmm..just to add to the list...how about Shoney's along almost as many exits as Waffle House in the South? Or IHOP's coutner part of Bickford's in the North East?

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 09:35 PM

I'll be headed to New England Cape this weekend...wonder what the standards along I-95 will be.........

Tshcuss!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: LilyFestre
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 09:27 PM

Has anyone spotted any Po' Folks while travelling through the south...say by way of Atlanta? And ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...the WAFFLE HOUSE!!! YUMMMMMMMMMMMM!

Michelle

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 12:56 PM

Nope--aside from some pretty scenery along the way, once you pull into many New Mexican small towns as well as into Albuquerque, you'll find Motel 6 and La Quinta there (and all across the Southwest). More taco places may be found, along with Applebees and the ubiquitous Cracker Barrel, the cholestrol-laden greasy-spoon breakfast-and-cute-country-crafts joints of the South and Southwest. You'll also find Grandy's.

There used to be a lot of Holiday Inns, and there probably still are. But I don't remember seeing them as much as before.

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 11:44 AM

Yes, John Hardly, it mush be so. :~) We're Friendly, too, and I must admit, Hardi is a bit of a Big Boy. Hope we don't get so much sun he turns into a Red Lobster! When that happens, we're surrounded by Hooters!

El, we'll happily IHOP on your behalf, and enjoy the Silver Dollars (nyah nyah) :~)

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: jimmyt
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 11:11 AM

Or travelling north on I 75 from the Florida border: Ohwafflehouse
ohpecansohwafflehouseohpecansohwafflehouseohnudedancingohwaffle houseohpeachesohwafflehouseohboiledpeanutsohwafflehouseohatlantaoh wafflehouseohboiledpeanutsohwafflehouseohcarpetohwafflehouseohtennessee

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Ellenpoly
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 11:09 AM

Of course, what I miss the most is IHOP. I lived in those places while criss-crossing the USofA. Heck, here in the UK, what would they make of a request for Silver Dollar Pancakes??

..xx..e

(PS-MMMmmm as I wrote the above I remembered those sirup carrousels on each table...and the jugs full of hot coffee.)

Subject: RE: BS: An American Travelogue
From: Mark Clark
Date: 25 Jun 04 - 11:05 AM

Excellent, John. But as your traveler made his way through Cedar Rapids to stay at our lovely Red Roof Inn, near the incomparable Motel 6, he had to drive right past what must surely be the world's only stainless steel tree. I don't understand why he didn't mention it.

      - Mark