Willy-nilly Friday 5: Maybe it’s a sign…

1.  When we were in the Great Smoky Mountains, we passed through Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  These are tourist destinations of the extreme variety and there is no shortage of signs there, but the best signs we saw when we were on our trip we found in the Cherokee and Bryson City, North Carolina areas.  These signs are throwbacks to the past and quite charming in my humble opinion.  Like this one for the Pink Motel.  Isn’t it great?!

2.  This one has seen better days.  The Teddy Bear Motel appears to have been closed for quite some time.  But that teddy bear still believes that “Life’s Good!”

3.  Here’s a sign for Granny’s Restaurant in Cherokee, NC.  Someday I might eat there if I have a chance.  Both of my grandmother’s were good cooks, unlike my mother who really didn’t much like cooking, in general, so I tend to avoid places that claim they serve meals like mom used to make.

4.  This was my very favorite sign of all.  Seems to me that the Warrior Motel has it all – remote cable TV, electric heat & air, picnic area AND a flower & water garden.  How many places can boast a flower and water garden??  Can you imagine how great that sign looks at night all lit up?

  To me, that sign is a real treasure.

5.  I get up early these days and figure that is free time for me to do what I want.  So while I drink my first cups of coffee of the day, I’ve been churning my way through Foyle’s War on Netflix.  Well, was I disappointed when I realized earlier this week that I finished the series.  I really enjoyed it.  I think they are still making new episodes, so I imagine that they will show up on Netflix one of these days, but until then…any suggestions?  Maybe this is a sign that I watch too much TV and should be doing something useful instead.  On that note, here’s a sign that’s definitely seen better days.

Linking up to Around Roanoke's Willy-nilly Friday 5!

Thanks, Tanya!

Lingering thoughts on Terlingua…

The other day something I read (don’t ask me what) made me think of Terlingua, Texas.  Generally, thoughts bounce around in my head like tennis balls and now and then I manage to catch one.  When I started thinking about Terlingua, eventually I simply had to go back to the photos I took when Greg and I were down there in January.  We didn’t spend a lot of time there.  In truth, we just passed through.  But the time we spent there made me curious about it.

Terlingua was once a thriving mining town with a population of around 2,000.  These days the population is more like 60 and it has the real feel of a ghost town.  But, in spite of that, it is now the home of the original chili cook-off and every year around 10,000 people stop by for that.  This year it is scheduled for October 30 through November 1.  I wish I could be there, but where visitors to this grand tradition will stay is somewhat of a mystery to me.  And I’m not one who would be comfortable sleeping in a car…or even a tent.  Even so, I imagine it will be a fun and tasty time.

Here are a few photos of Terlingua and environs.  Now, maybe I can get another thought in edgewise and get on with my life.

These photos were taken in the Terlingua Cemetery, which is listed on the National Registry for Historic Sites and is still in use today.

On further inspection, it looks like there are places to stay around there.  I think it would be best to get the reservations in early, especially if you want to stay in a nice, “quite” campground with free water and a tent with a shower.

You know, I can't help it.  I absolutely love places like Terlingua!

Table art and other St. John funkiness…

When in St. John, one must go over to Coral Bay and eat at Skinny Legs.  You can get one heck of a hamburger there served amidst chickens and stray dogs...and all kinds of people.  It’s a fun place.  Their motto is “same day service”, but we’ve rarely had to wait for too long.  In any case, they keep the rum runners and VI beers coming at a steady pace so you can’t really find too much to complain about.

Good advice any day of the week!

I think Melissa may have had too many Rum Runners...

Our other favorite lunch place is called “The Tourist Trap.”  The first time we spied this place we were a bit on the skeptical side, but now we wouldn’t miss it for anything.  They serve terrific Bloody Marys and even better pulled pork sandwiches.  My friend Dona and I fell for the Trap Dog, a spicy hotdog served on a New England style bun (the owner is from New Hampshire) with pulled pork and spicy slaw and we both got it the two times we managed to get over to the Trap on this last trip.  Now, the décor in this place is truly funky and you eat under a tarp that flaps so hard sometimes in the island wind that it’s hard to hear yourself think.  But then, who wants to think, man…we’re on vacation.

Hi from The Tourist Trap

When I first saw this, I didn't get it.  But then I realized it was a high-top table and since I am on the short side, I could read it without actually being "under the table."  

The Tourist Trap has truly unique decor.

Building a better money trap...