Roadside Adventures

This afternoon we had a long drive from Richmond to Roanoke. About two hours in, my presenter noticed that we were about to pass Appomattox, VA and we decided it was about the right time to find a bathroom and get dinner. First we drove to the national park, where we saw the battlefield and (from a distance) the reconstructed Appomattox courthouse where, if you don't recall, Lee surrendered to Grant to end the Civil War. Then, on our way back to the highway, my presenter spotted a sign pointing to town where "restaurants, antique shops, and stores" were promised.

If you exclude fast food, there was actually no "s" on the end of "restaurants". The only option we could find was on the fabulous, one-block Main Street--Grannie Bee's. Walking in was like walking into an odd horror movie. We were the only people under 60. There were no less than three women in terrifyingly overdone makeup. Everyone stared at us like we were aliens. The entire place smelled like a deep-fryer. Everyone spoke with a thick southern twang. No joke.

The menu was sparse, but they had sweet tea! The waiter announced that the special was "saol-oh-mahn cakes" and "...the extra vegetable tonight is mac'n'cheese." I was definitely not ordering the special, but feeling adventurous I ordered fried flounder (meh...), green beans (from a can...), and the "veggie" mac'n'cheese (probably velveeta...). At least the sweet tea was tasty and the rest was definitely edible, unlike my presenter's unwise choice of "country ham" which more resembled shoe leather than food.

As soon as we exited the restaurant, walking past the most pathetic, wilted salad bar I have ever seen (including a large, soupy, clear container of cling peaches), we climbed into the car and burst out in giggles. Really, who cares if the food sucked, it was amazing. Utterly amazing.