Day 2 - Fallingwater and... at DennyGibson.com

Day 2: August 23, 2022
A Little Lincoln Highway
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I don't recall why I originally wanted to eat at Pee Dee's Brunch & Bar but I do recall that it was closed for vacation at the time. I confess to briefly second guessing myself when it came into sight this morning. It's the middle storefront of the three pictured and does not look super inviting from the outside. Once inside, however, inviting could have been the word of the day. Diane -- cook, server, and I suspect owner -- chatted with everyone at the counter and a fellow who helped with coffee and such was just as friendly. After asking where I was from, Diane surprised me by kicking off a conversation about travel. The Cayman Islands were her favorite vacation spot, she told me while wearing a several year-old tee-shirt from there. She'd been there multiple times and planned to return. She didn't care much for Florida but did like Key West and the drive there. It was a great conversation and the bacon and eggs were good too.

I zipped across the river into West Virginia, came to a complete halt -- several times -- in Pennsylvania, tunneled my way into Pittsburgh, and eventually reached my goal, the Heinz History Center.

I'd understand if you thought I was there to see the big red Studebaker or the only-one-I've-ever-seen Bantum prototype but the truth is I was there to say hi and chat with historian and author Brian Butko. It was a great visit but the stress of taking a selfie always seems to come through in my facial expression.

My next stop was at the Lincoln Highway Experience near Latrobe, PA. My visit started off with a movie that featured not only the place I would be spending the night but the guy I'd just left in Pittsburgh. To keep the Butko connection going just one photo further, I believe that cigarette machine is the one Brian told me his father donated. The gas station facade is from a real station that operated nearby. Although the pumps did not come from that station I was quite interested in the one on the left because it provided a shot of Lincoln Highway Texaco Ethyl to go with the Dixie Highway Texaco Fred I found last week in Tennessee.

Thinking (correctly, as it turns out) that I'd had apple pie on my last visit, I went for the cherry pie today. It and the coffee were served up by Clay who remembered when this Jerry O'Mahony diner was in real world operation. After a stint in the Air Force in the 1950s, Clay delivered papers while looking for a better job. He used to sit on one of these stools and trade newspapers for coffee and donuts.

The Lincoln Highway in Pennsylvania curves vertically as well as horizontally.

I find it almost impossible to not stop at the former site of the Ship Hotel despite the fact that there is more graffiti and less ship every time. I think maybe I stop just to see if the old gas station across the road has collapsed yet. It can't hold on much longer.

Here, complete with new owners, is my home for the night. Lucas Steinbrunner took over the Lincoln Motor Court in July after Bob and Debbie Altizer operated the unique stop for 39 years. After checking me into cabin #12, Lucas went back to work getting things ready for a big to do Friday night and I did a brief walkabout.

I've always thought the old building across the street was almost as likely to fall down as the station near the ship hotel site but I was obviously wrong. Someone is busily restoring the place for a bed-and-breakfast.

It was a Sunday when I stayed here last fall and the Jean Bonnett Tavern was closed. Not so on Tuesdays and that's where I headed for dinner. I sometimes hide my food and beverage behind a text link but the Yard’s Washington Porter and Blueberry Shrimp Salad look too good to hide and they taste just as good as they look. I think that salad could be a contender for best in the world.

Back at the motor court, Lucas and Michelle were busy leveling an Airstream for some added living space as they work on refreshing everything else. They graciously consented to a photo then I slipped out later to get a look at what night time travelers on the Lincoln Highway see as they approach from the east.

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