Road Side Sightings

Made a little roadie trip yesterday toward New Albany, Mississippi.  You can get there several ways, but mostly its up I55 and over.  We decided to take Hwy 7 from the Coffeeville exit to Oxford, then over some more.

Some of these roads have a bit of four lane in them, sorta kinda like a by-pass of sorts, but for the most part, its just two laners.  Driving 55 mph gives you a bit of time to take in the sights.  Today was no exception.

As you make your way down these roads in this part of the country you have to wonder what these folks that live around here do for a living?  Not much farm land, and not a whole lotta pine trees.  As you make your way through this countryside, you get to noticing where they shop.  The areas are too rural for a Wally World, but dang, if Dollar Gentral hasn't found a niche.  They must be the current version of the General Store from the fifties and sixties!  Like the general stores of years past, what you see is what they have.  No storage room in the back, all on display for you to pick from!

Along with the Dollar Gentrals, there are countless convenience stores that dot these highways and byways.  Guessing everybody eats fried foods because almost everyone of these include a counter for Chester's Fried Chicken and JoJo taters.  No time limit on this stuff, cooked in the morning, and in the serving case till its all gone!  Other convenience store chains cater to the pizza eating crowd with an offering from Hunt Brothers .  Funny how you never see any advertising for any of these offerings!

If you ever stop at one of these and go in for a quick snack, they give you that look, "you ain't from around here, are you?"  Kinda like that scene in Burt Reynold's movie "Deliverance" with the two bubba's in the stream, you pay for your stuff and get outta there quick!  And what's up with the Koolaid pickles?????

Lately, I'm seeing a buildup of the latest business model, a convenience store, selling everything under the sun, but also including a Baskin Robbins counter, chicken & pizza, and even a barbershop or Donut shop attached.  It's the Indian Merchant's version of the mini mall!

The other most common sighting are the roadside farm vendors.  How in the world does a fella make a living by selling a pickup truck load of sweet potaters or watermelons?  At least the taters can stand the heat!  Then, there is the roadside street vendor with his huge boiling pot and propane tank selling boiled peanuts.  Does anybody ever ask "hey buddy, when's the last time you changed out the water and salt in that big ole pot of yours???"

When you reach retirement, you can slow it down a bit, and take the side roads. Sometimes these byways are surprising, like 30AAA!  Afterall, what's the hurry?  We're planning a trip to the mountains once our beach season is over.  Bet there will be a story or two to tell!