Shunpiking to Sanity Tour: Day 1

July 11, 2013

Day 1:

Mileage: 188 Miles
Location: Jackson, MS (Cheap Hotel) 

The past few years have been tumultuous to say the least. Death, Deceit, and Divorce, the type of triple 'D' that no one likes to see. It has been an intense and discombobulating time period. However, I am an insanely fortunate person because my friends and family have helped me more than any set of  words could convey.

Right, enough with the gooey, sentimental stuff. On with the nerd.

Shunpiking is a term I learned from Neil Peart's writings. In his collection of essays, Far and Away, there is a explanation that is more succinct than anything I can write,

"The delightful term ‘shunpiker’ goes back about 500 years, to a time when British roads were lawless, especially at night, prowled by highwaymen and footpads. Villages blockaded their entry roads with a long pole—a pike—stretched across them. Around the same time, toll roads were invented, and a similar pike blocked the way until travelers paid their fee, when the pike would be turned—hence “turnpike.” In those days, travelers who deliberately avoided toll roads called themselves 'shunpikers.' "

It has been adapted by travelers today that avoid the main freeways/highways- there are shunpikers. Rather, I should say,  WE are shunpikers. Back roads, dirt roads, and quasi-roads these are place that I enjoy traveling. I have a skeleton of a plan, but if the road, mood, or advice takes me along a different path I will embrace it. Plans are made to be changed.There is something freeing, invigorating, and scary about barely having a plan when traveling.

I'm sure, gently reader, that you can understand why I have dubbed this vacation as the Shunpiking to Sanity Tour.

Today was not a shunpiking day, but sometimes you need to take the dread highways in order to get to the fun roads. Interstate 12 to 55 (boring). Only had intense rain for about 15 minutes.

So, the highlight of today was . . . FOOD! One of the fun things of traveling is finding hidden food gems. Cool Al's is a burger joint that was recommended to me by an older gentleman with 4 teeth. People that loiter outside of stores often have a good information (for a small tip) on cheap, tasty food, so with my trusting nature I ventured out looking for Cool Al's with no knowledge of the area and limited comprehensive on directions provided. This is the outside.

Looks inviting. This is not Burgersmith, Five Guys, or another chained-burger-joint.The sign is not legible and has nothing to do with my photography. They have a variety burgers- classic, turkey, and vegetarian. They even have some vegan offerings, but I don't include vegan cheese as anything but waste of time. Cool Al's has all the character you could want in a dive restaurant from sarcastic signs denoting that they are NOT fast food to declaring a $10 charge if you act an ass and mismatched decor. I knew I was in the right place.

I decided to behave and get a vegetarian pineapple delight. To balance out the health, I got sweet potato tots and onion rings. All home made.

I also got a pint of Red Stripe to round out the food groups. Beer is a food group, right? Sloppy, tasty, spicy, and amazing. It is worth ambiguous signage and location. I don't think I'll find a better place to eat (not including home cooked Indian food) on this trip, but I'll sure try. So find Cool Al's at 4654 McWillie Dr., Jackson, MS and you won't be disappointed.