Secrets From the Road

You’ve got $20 at the gas station—what are you grabbing for the road?

Pretzels, chips, and water, because I rarely stop so I’m usually dehydrated.

Who's your go-to local for the best town tips?

The people at body shops, repair shops, tire shops, and old gas stations. These guys have been there for generations.

What's the longest detour you've taken, and was it worth it?

I was in Wisconsin one time and I saw a gravel road called Bloody Run. I ended up 20 miles down and met this guy who called himself Goat Man, and I ended up buying a 1940’s Indian motorcycle frame out of a chicken coop. It was worth it.

What’s your road trip pet peeve?

Stopping to go to the bathroom.

What’s the most recent small town you visited that completely surprised you?

Pulaski, Tennessee. There’s a little university there. There's an old opera house that they're trying to restore, and the downtown is beautiful. It’s still got an old soda fountain. The courthouse is awesome, and there’s a lot of old neon signs. This place is cool.

What's a dive bar that blew your mind, and why?

Lucky’s Place in Bettendorf, Iowa. There was only one light in the place above the pool table. It’s long gone now. 

What's one restaurant you always visit on the road?

Red Hog in Louisville

What’s the one thing you’d tell someone new to the South?

Down here, if you say ‘what's up’ to somebody, give yourself 30 minutes because they're going to tell you. They're going to tell you about church and they're gonna tell you about their family and they're gonna tell you about what they’ve got going on and what they're cooking for dinner—and they might even tell you something about yourself.