World traveler has never been tacked onto my lengthy life resume. The only foreign country my wife and I have visited is Canada, absolutely loving the place including its people. I’m blessed to live amongst fine natives from this land right here in Lake Havasu City, where they maintain second homes, and oftentimes relocate for good.
I’ve learned several Canadian words: Canucks, kerfuffle, two-four, loonie, and Ontario. That last word is shared by Canadians and Californians alike, with a friend from Fontana claiming that California had it first. Who am I to doubt the man, because Fontanians are not known as story tellers. Hopefully, a kerfuffle doesn’t break out over this. Kerfuffle is Canadian for argument or scuffle, and you often see these during hockey games.
I consider myself more of a “rural traveler” than anything. This seldom used term is not as widely advertised as world traveler, because in layman’s terms, it’s someone traveling on a shoestring budget.
My wife and I generally take back roads—finding them much slower than the interstate and more to my driving skill. Going 45 in a 55 is something rural travelers do quite common and I’m quick to imitate. It’s amazing how much more you can see by slowing down. Years ago, I spotted a rusty Crescent wrench lying along one country road, having time to stop—then back up and retrieve it. Try that on Interstate 40 with big rigs whizzing by.
My travels have taken me to some out-of-the-way places that few of my friends here in town have had the honor of visiting. Yoder, Kansas, quickly comes to mind. Yoder is an Amish community where residents still use horse and buggies as transportation. They have a renowned restaurant in town that my wife’s family loves to visit called, Carriage Crossing Restaurant and Bakery. The portions are good and food tasty, much akin to our Black Bear Diner here in LHC. My number one rural restaurant though, is Coachlight Restaurant in Longford, Kansas.
Longford is a small town where you can go and not feel unwelcome. Residents there seem to treat all visitors with open arms much like Lake Havasu City does. Coachlight Diner in Longford is my favorite place to eat because of their freshly baked pies. It’s generally packed on Friday and Saturday nights with folks driving fifty miles or more one-way just to eat. I equate it to Crossroads Diner in peaceful Parker, or The Wagon Wheel diner in bustling, Needles, California, at least where ambiance is concerned. The buildings in all three places are not fancy, but have lots of history behind them, much like Hussong’s Mexican Restaurant did in Havasu before it went up in flames.
With Father’s Day fast approaching, I’ve got a hankering to get on the road once again, and hit another one of those exotic rural destinations. Not wanting to go very far, classy, Kingman, Arizona, and their world renowned Cracker Barrel restaurant comes to mind. I’d love to hang around town for a Father’s Day meal, but unfortunately, no one here serves chicken & dumplings.
For us rural travelers and purveyors of exquisite cuisine, that’s one delicious lunch or dinner to simply die for!
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