Jeff Barganier's A Spring Fling

Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier A Spring Fling in Alabama’s Black Belt

I wake up early, hankering Vaughn Road for a spring fling. and is eager for Following my walk around your business. gorgeous Lake Cameron His wife is at The Waters in Pike expecting a Road, it’s only natural second daughter to start the day with a who will have delicious cup of coffee made her debut and blueberry muffin from by the time you The Waters own Hole in read this. While the Wall Coffee Shop. Zack and I get Hole in the Wall is the acquainted, creative genius of retired Dr. Cornwell dentist Bill Cornwell and construction executive Carl Calderone. The quaint establishment got its name when Dr. Cornwell’s Bill Cornwell (L) and Carl Calderone (R) wife Marci warned him, “Don’t you dare put one hole in the arrives with wall unless you’re sure you’re going to two goats in do this!” At which point, Dr. Cornwell tow for the turned and smashed a hole through children to the sheetrock, birthing a new business pet. (This and first ever coffee shop at The impromptu Waters. A commemorative section of petting zoo that very drywall hangs on the new wall in the shop and features a coffee mug emerging like a butterfly from a cocoon. The coffee shop displays comparable humor and creativity Kenzie Feeding Goat throughout, making this a fun establishment to visit. occurs now The locals love it, and Hole and then.) One in the Wall has become goat’s large and a favorite neighborhood brown. But the hangout. children seem to favor the pigmy Cindy and I take seats at named Snowball. an outside table and are Snowball’s not soon joined by neighbors quite as eager Zack Knight and his to be petted as adorable daughter Kenzie. Hole in the Wall Coffee Shop @ The Waters the children are A transplant from Mississippi with eager to pet him. He cries and tries to relatives in the river region, Zack’s bolt away but calms when held. And opening a new State Farm office on everyone enjoys their show. We enjoy our coffee to the last drop before departing for Shana’s Place located at 1894 County Road 6 in Shorter, Alabama. The cover designer for my latest novel Lawson’s Bluff is an avid hunter who lives in the southwestern edge of Colorado at the base of the Rockies. When, in an email, she told me about the delicious elk and antelope her family hunts and eats, my mouth watered. But where in the world around here can one find such epicurean delights? Shana’s Place! And not just exotic meats but fresh fish. You can order a whole red snapper from Shana and have it in a few days! At Shana’s, we’re greeted by her notso-camera-shy gobbler, Ranger, who poses with us for photos and struts his stuff. All around us are processing facilities and freezers—some in a converted school bus. I search through a freezer and find … elk meat. Yes! I promptly purchase a couple of pounds for my grill. Shana is crazy busy managing this

Calming Snowball the Goat business she started from scratch in 2003. But she takes time to visit, is delightful to talk with, and is full of enthusiasm. “We have the ability to order a ton of awesome products that we don’t generally keep in stock! Some of these items are cowboy rib eyes,

porterhouse, dry aged anything, wagyu, crab legs, lobster, fresh oysters, shrimp, caviar, clams, seaweed, whole fresh fish like snapper, flounder, grouper, mahi, monkfish, tilapia, tuna, salmon, halibut and catfish. Please call with your request and I’ll get pricing!”

Shana’s offering something new this year—smoking different meats on the grounds. Today, it’s brisket. It’ll be ready in time for lunch. You can check out her offerings and subscribe for email updates on her website below. This is without a doubt the coolest meat market I’ve ever visited. Satisfaction is guaranteed. Be sure and get a selfie with Ranger. (By the way, talking about meat, my latest novel is about an Alabama hunter, Jack Lawson, who hunts wild boar with dogs. He never carries a gun, preferring to tackle the hog and kill it with a knife. The idea for this novel came from a BOOM! feature about a hunter in Georgia. You can read that feature at www.jeffbarganier.com.)

We rush back to The Waters, put the elk meat in the freezer, then head south on Highway 231 to the Sikes and Kohn’s location of Hamburger King where we enjoy their famous burgers for lunch—the best ever. Afterward, as naptime is approaching, we foreclose on shopping at the country mall. Instead, we opt for a visit to Sweet Creek Farm Market off 231 North, just shy of Montgomery. As usual, Sweet Creek is slammed with customers. But the grounds sprawl over a couple of acres, so it doesn’t seem crowded at all. I don’t even have to wait in a line for my butter pecan ice cream cone. We enjoy snapping

Shana with Jeff, Talking Meat

Ice Cream at Sweet Creek 2

Ranger

My travel pieces often cover venues far away. But, to be honest, none of the wonderful places I’ve visited for a travel story have anything over what we have right here in the Black Belt. While it’s fun to travel afar and explore, there’s also much to see and some photos and do close to home. Watch exploring the for more regional stories in market to see coming issues of BOOM! as what’s new. All I explore the Black Belt and the while, we’re offer suggestions for fun serenaded by and interesting “flings.” And Sweet Creek’s thanks for reading BOOM! excellent musicians We write for you! performing the Hamburger King at Sikes & Kohn's song Misty. To Learn More: See: Johnny Mathis – Misty (Audio) – www.holeinthewallcoffeeshop.com YouTube. www.shanasplace.com

Jeff S. Barganier is a freelance writer and manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC in Pike Road, Alabama. (www.cindybarganier.com) He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact him at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Follow him on Instagram @jeffbarganier. Visit www.jeffbarganier.com