Tradition…?
Who knows, as it’s way to early to guess at this point. However, it is something lately eagerly anticipated, carefully worked into any ‘plans’ to the extent plans even exist, and it is enjoyed to the max… It was only our second visit to that not-really-stylish or modern facility, but the atmosphere had unquestionably retained that same ‘charm’ and quality of ‘welcome, come-on-in’ feeling. I was, as always, proud to be there!
Brenda’s ‘Tumbleweed Café’ near Watauga, SD, is not a yuppie-type of place by any exaggerated, convoluted stretch of the imagination. Fact is, I’d suggest it just might be the perfect antithesis of a desirable destination for the ‘gentile’ crowd with their stiff little fingers, crossed legs and napkins placed just so on knees, with teacups and saucers carefully balanced on those napkins. Even a ‘Starbucks’ it is NOT! You’ll won’t find anything like this in downtown Seatle of San Francisco.
Although Brenda would cheerfully bring it to ya, it’s perfectly OK to just pour your own coffee (as long as the coffee isn’t still brewing!) … In fact, she appreciates folks doing small things for themselves, as her's is strictly a one-person operation. She’s very pleasant, and she is definitely a great breakfast short-order cook! Mitch and I had stumbled upon that place the year before…
Even though he’d already made long rides out west before, my veteran traveling companion agreed it would be an important step in the overall introduction to the ‘trans-continental coddiewomple’ for our newest long random ride associate… Ross, RNFWP. By the way, we’ve come up with a name for the color of blue for his Valk… more about that in a future episode… His transformative experience continued in the parking lot of the Tumbleweed with an exchange we had with a local retired farmer…
“Y’all on them scooters?
“Yep…”
“Where y’all from?” We told him… Tennessee, South Carolina, and Florida.
“Dang, what’re y’all doing way up here…?”
“Escaping the heat back home,” it was matter-of-factly offered. “We’re already declaring our mission a huge success in that regard,” I added… Yep, it had turned cold up there, with my Gerbings and heated grips having already been fully employed by this time…
What followed was so typical of such encounters: Small-talk bantering followed by a pleasant farewell. I suppose due to the nature of life in rural America, those practitioners of the agrarian lifestyle are naturally efficient in all they do, and this gent was a prime example of such. He’s what I call a ‘master of the five-minute visit’. A congenial, brief conversation followed by a skillfully executed, smooth inoffensive departure… Most of us struggle with disengagements, but not this guy!
Inside, Brenda was her usual pleasant self. She also alleged to have remembered Mitch and this far-rider accompanying him from the previous year. Perhaps… I dunno. I immediately noticed she had made a couple of modest upgrades to the interior, however, and I took that to be an indication of some level of success with her business! I was really happy to see that, too, as it also implied, she could have some ‘staying power’ thereby being around for future visits…
One other customer was present when we took our seats inside. As is typical in places like this, small talk soon developed between him and us, and a most pleasant chat about nothing, really, followed… It was more the simple acknowledgement of fellow travelers on spaceship earth and a muted non-verbal salute for having apparently successfully made their journeys that far.
Just before we took our leave, three other ‘patrons’ entered. After pouring their own coffee, one inquired if beer could be had…? Brenda didn’t exactly say ‘NO’, but she did emphatically state, “Don’t make me kick your asses…” I doubt she’d actually meant it, but I also had no doubt she could have done it, if she’d chosen! No one in our group had any idea how all of that might have turned out, though, as we respectfully made our exit and continued to head west…
Our breakfast was good, as it had been the year before, and thoughts of returning seemed unquestionable at the moment. Although the topic had come up, we decided to not treat such a visit in a cavalier manner by having a hamburger right there, right then… another time, perhaps. Is that how traditions are born? Has this become one? Of course, not at this early stage, but it certainly did seem to have the potential to become one! Only time will tell, I reckon… and a few more drop-by visits… We’ll just have to wait and see…
DDT (12)
