November 5, 2008 - Wednesday
I took advantage of the excellent internet connection in our Super 8 Motel in Lake Havasu City - to catch up on email and post a few photos to some of this weeks' blog posts - so go back a few and see what I've added.
Then off to see London Bridge which was lovingly disassembled, moved to Arizona, and reconstructed - back in the 60's. It was a huge undertaking. Originally, it just sat there in the middle of the desert, but they have dredged out a channel so now it actually goes over water and connects an island to the mainland - with Lake Havasu surrounding it.
Really pretty cool. We drove over it twice last nite - looking for our "Italian Restaurant" - and we walked down to it and looked at it this morning. Annnd walked around the "English Village" surrounding it.
Really just a collection of souvenir shops. Ummm... It was... OK. But we were done really quickly. We even checked in to a "Tourist Information" station there and the very-nice woman confirmed that the area really has to do with the *lake* - and since it was cold and windy - there really wasn't much else to do there - so we could safely press on toward Phoenix. So we did. Via the "backroad" that she recommended - rather than I-10. Interesting landscape. A few really-pretty vistas
- but mostly just a quiet drive.
Really pretty cool. We drove over it twice last nite - looking for our "Italian Restaurant" - and we walked down to it and looked at it this morning. Annnd walked around the "English Village" surrounding it.
Really just a collection of souvenir shops. Ummm... It was... OK. But we were done really quickly. We even checked in to a "Tourist Information" station there and the very-nice woman confirmed that the area really has to do with the *lake* - and since it was cold and windy - there really wasn't much else to do there - so we could safely press on toward Phoenix. So we did. Via the "backroad" that she recommended - rather than I-10. Interesting landscape. A few really-pretty vistas
- but mostly just a quiet drive.
Kathy used the Sprint Aircard to get online and look for attractions in Phoenix: the Aircard worked very well - even on the back roads - but we didn't find much which was "compelling" - other than picking one of the *4* "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dive's" that are in the Phoenix area: "Thee Pitts Again".
Frankly not a great name, but it was a *great* restaurant.
Frankly not a great name, but it was a *great* restaurant.
It's in a diner-looking building - but they do *amazing* BBQ. We arrived at 2PM - so it was not a busy time, so the waiter - a nice young guy - started talking to us and confirming what a boost to their business that the TV show had been - and helping with suggestions about the menu. Kathy had read the menu online while we drove so we were somewhat prepared - but the food was really great. We got a "Combo" platter: ribs, ham, turkey, chicken, brisket, and more PLUS amazing cornbread AND really-tasty coleslaw and home-recipe potato salad. All of it was very very *flavorful*. Not hot and burning your mouth: just really *tasty*. A GREAT meal.
Annnd as we sat talking, the *owner* came out and started talking to us. He's been winning BBQ competitions for years now - he REALLY knows how to cook (and some of the recipes are his wife's - so *she* knows how to cook, too). We talked about business (generally not good, but the TV show has helped a lot. He is currently actually looking for an investor to help buy the building he's in - since bank loans have totally dried up - perhaps you'd read about that in the news?), and about the economy and art (he also loves Kush) and the food - as we waded thru the amazing platter of BBQ sampler.
Annnd as we sat talking, the *owner* came out and started talking to us. He's been winning BBQ competitions for years now - he REALLY knows how to cook (and some of the recipes are his wife's - so *she* knows how to cook, too). We talked about business (generally not good, but the TV show has helped a lot. He is currently actually looking for an investor to help buy the building he's in - since bank loans have totally dried up - perhaps you'd read about that in the news?), and about the economy and art (he also loves Kush) and the food - as we waded thru the amazing platter of BBQ sampler.
Annnd then we *had* to try some desserts: Kathy had a bread pudding that was *just* the right amount of cinnamon - and I had an Apple pie/tart thing with ice cream. An amazing meal. And we decided to buy the "Diners, Drive-in's and Dives" *book* which has just been published - which includes some of the featured recipes - like the potato salad and the cole slaw.
The impression I got was that the owner REALLY knows how to make REALLY good food - but he could use a smart business person to help him ignite the business and perhaps even franchise him. The owner deserves to be rich - but like most small business owners these days - he's buried in taxes and regulations and rigid bankers. Eat there for sure, but invest in this guy if you can.
I think we spent over 2 hours there. Quite memorable. THIS is what a "restaurant of note" SHOULD be: special signature dishes, great cooking, great TASTE, and a fun and colorful atmosphere - AND very-reasonable prices.
But I'm gushing.
Anyway. Back to Monroe to get us to our hotel.
And in huge, amazing Phoenix, we really can't find anything that we just "have to" do here - so we think we'll just get up and drive *hard* tomorrow - for Carlsbad Caverns. We had thot that maybe we should consider retiring here in Phoenix - since everybody else does, but that, alone, is reason *not* to: it's too big and "big city" for us.
Another quiet, but amazing day: when you sit and TALK to people, the stories are very real. Thanks for sharing them with us.
7497 Miles.
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