Bigham’s is one of my favorite BBQ places. I miss eating here every week or so.
Years go, when I worked in Lubbock, Bigham’s BBQ was a favorite place to go get lunch. Sometimes Wife would come up and meet me there. Sometimes I went with colleagues. Sometimes I just went by myself. The smoked turkey is very good. The brisket is not bad either. On Wednesdays, they served smokey burgers, which were hamburgers they cooked in the smoker. They needed sauce because they tended to be a little dry (smoking will do that). But goodness what flavor they had.
I managed to get there once for lunch and I’m glad I did. It’s still one of my favorite places.
After church and brunch with dear friends, the Girl and I returned to our temporary lodging in west Lubbock. We ran from the 4Runner to the door, not wanting to be out in the weather any longer than necessary. Rain pelted the west-facing window off and on all afternoon. It was not all that cold, in the mid-40F range. But that wind made it very cold.
The view from my window illustrated that feeling. So, I retrieved my iPhone from its case and made the capture.
When I walked the Girl at our motel in Gainesville, Texas, we came across this most-interesting gate. I’m Longhorn-sensitive now, after being indoctrinated by Daughter and her family. I noticed the logo and burnt orange immediately. The afternoon light lit the scene well. So, I made the capture while the Girl sniffed about.
The Pancake House in Lubbock, Texas is a local landmark. It’s been there for decades. I remember eating there now and again when I worked at Tech. When I’m in town, I make sure I get there. With all the chain stores around, I still prefer local whenever I can.
I met a friend there yesterday for breakfast. We had a great time visiting, catching up, and sharing a meal. The Girl snoozed quietly next to me, enjoying a warm floor and the energy that bonds long-term friends.
I could live here again, I think. But maybe it’s my role to just pass through here now and again. I don’t really know just yet.
This miniature pump jack was tipping. Maybe it really was bringing black gold to the surface. Regardless, it made an interesting picture.
I passed this miniature pump jack on my way through western Louisiana or eastern Texas. After I passed it, I decided it had to photographed. So, I turned around and returned to the spot. The Girl sniffed around while I shot a few images. It made me smile.
The Witter-Smith Chapel, adjacent to a geocache-hiding cemetery in rural Arkansas.
Traveling along State Highway 23, I stopped out in the middle of nowhere Arkansas at the Witter-Smith Chapel. The stop was partly for a break for me, partly for a break for the Girl, and partly to see if I could find a geocache that was listed near the adjacent cemetery.
I accomplished all tasks but one — I didn’t find the geocache. But the Girl and I had a nice break from the 4Runner, the road, and a good stretch of the legs. It is important to remember those who lived before us and I honor those folks when I visit their graves. As a boon, the chapel made a nice capture.
The Front Desk of the Waffle House in Lebanon, Missouri — A Busy Place!
I left Rolla, Missouri yesterday about 0730 and headed towards Springfield to see my maternal grandmother. It was a gray, drizzly day and I drove through showers heavy enough to require the windshield wipers off and on all day. After about an hour, I decided a cup of coffee would be nice and it’s always a good idea to get out of the car for a few minutes, stand, walk around, and clear my head. Plus, the Girl appreciates time on her feet and new opportunities to leave pee-mail.
So, it was a deal. Of course, it was raining in Lebanon. Therefore, the pee-mail delivery was curtailed in favor of a dry spot at a booth inside the local Waffle House.
Waffle House is a favorite stop. It was when my family was with me and it remains so now. I like Waffle House better than Denny’s in many ways. Both evoke a sense of nostalgia and wanderlust in this old man. Waffle House, though, is more the quintessential American Diner. It evokes a greater sense of the past than Denny’s, at least for me. Plus, Waffle House waffles are much better than the Denny’s offering. It is Waffle House, after all.
So I enjoyed my coffee and ordered a Pecan Waffle. The server asked about the Girl, who was pleased to come out for a greet and then return to her snooze under the table. I watched the servers work and interact with the clientele while I remembered all those times I spent with Wife and Kids on the road. Now it’s just me and the Girl, wandering a bit, a few destinations in mind but no real reason to be anywhere in particular at any particular time.
I spent time with Daughter and her family this Fall. I saw my Denver kids this summer. I’m headed to Texas to visit friends and family there for a few days. Then I think I’ll head toward Carson City to retrieve a few things from my storage unit and see Younger Son and friends there. I’m thinking I might head to Washington for Christmas to spend the end of the year with a friend there. Plus, I’d like to see the coast again and the Cascades in snow.
My waffle arrived just as I caught up with my social media and finished my reverie. It was really tasty and I’m glad I stopped, rested, and got a snack. I had a couple more cups of coffee, then the Girl and I walked next door to the Knife Outlet. They had big display cases of Case and Buck knives, far too many for me to select anything. So, I window-shopped a bit and we left to continue on toward Springfield.
The Geocaching Path in John C. Rudy County Park, York County, PA.
A few weeks ago the Girl and I went out for a geocaching run. We visited John C. Rudy County Park in York County, PA. There are supposed to be five geocaches in the park. But, we found only one. Still, one is good.
But, far beyond that, we had a beautiful day for a four or five mile hike, lots of beautiful foliage, and the park was not very busy. It was a very good day.
A few weeks ago — naw, it’s a couple of months now — the Girl and I were headed east from Nevada on our way to Pennsylvania to see Daughter and her family. Yellowstone was on my list to visit for a very long time. I didn’t want to take the Interstate Highway System, although it’s faster. I wanted to travel at a slower pace so I could see the countryside I passed through.
So, I elected to stay on the U.S. Highway system, or the state highways, as much as possible. I also knew I’d be close enough to Yellowstone to at least drive through it.
So, I did. I have a few more captures from my passage that need to be sorted, culled, and processed. Then I can post a few of my grab shots here.
One thing I learned — I need to go back. That needs to be not during vacation season so that the wonders I want to see are available. Did I say I need to go back?
While walking in DC, I passed the White House. I had to have an image.
No, this isn’t a political discussion. The White House serves as the home and working space for the President of the United States of America. Regardless of what I think of any sitting president, I will respect both the office and the residence.
While in DC a couple of weeks ago, I had the opportunity to walk the National Mall. Both of us enjoyed that walk. We saw (and/or smelled) many things, interacted with interesting people, and I made a few images.
On the way back to the hotel, we passed the White House. It being an iconic representation of my beloved country, I paused to reflect a few minutes and to make this image. After I made this image, we approached the south gate to the area around the White House. A number of Secret Service agents were working there. It’s routine guard duty, except it seems nothing is routine any more. I sat on a bench next to the fountain and watched traffic come and go for a few minutes. The Girl found a grassy spot within a few feet of the bench and stretched out to cool herself in the cool, green grass.
Old Guys don’t always look bad without a shirt…After a few minutes, we got up and headed north along the internal circle around the White House lawn. I noticed some activity on the lawn and there was a soccer game forming up (I think). These two “older” guys were warming up, shirtless of course. Thinking of my friend in Washington (state), I made this image and laughed about old guys not always looking so bad.
Old guys still have moves.As we walked along the path, one of them started stunting a bit. He was kicking the ball (pretty well, it seemed to me), then did a header, then this back kick. My timing was just a bit off on the latter, but the blue ball is still in the frame.
I have no idea where the other ball came from. It appeared in my frame.
