We finally got packed up and are on the road to the Baltimore Pen Show! Since we were running a bit late we decided to grab dinner on the way out of town. Now normally we leave the eating out portion of the trip for the return leg as a reward, if you will for a long hard working weekend. Well, the planned evening meal of leftovers didn’t really happen since there’s wasn’t many leftovers left in the fridge. You see, the one thing about having an amazing cook in the house is I get to have those amazing meals again the next day for lunch at work. I used to eat out every day for lunch, but that would not only be a waste of money, but when you have leftovers THIS good, well, you’d be foolish NOT to eat them.
But I digress, so we head out, surprised at how well we have packed the car this time, even though this is our fifteenth pen show together and we even have pictures of how the car is supposed to be packed based on which box goes where. Time to eat, well our choices right before getting on the highway were McDonald’s and KFC. Well, I’m no McDonald’s fan and I’ve had KFC on the brain for a few weeks now. One of our good friends and my co-worker, Donna, used to get together with us and some friends and have a greasy KFC lunch. We would rotate who would get it, and all huddle together around a bucket of chicken and numerous sides in the back of the piano gallery at work and have a good time. It was a small “club”, but anyone was invited to grab a drumstick as they passed through. Donna, passed away about two years ago from cancer. Her birthday was on Valentines Day and we haven’t all gotten together for KFC since. In fact, I haven’t eaten there since our last get together at her house, when I shaved my head for her. Today seemed to be a good day to indulge, and indulge I did.
I had heard about the infamous “Double Down” From another friend. Now if you don’t know what a Double Down is you can check it out here. Basically, this thing is a chicken sandwich with no bun. The chicken IS the bun, with bacon (who doesn’t love bacon?), and two kinds of cheese, all wrapped up with the Colonel’s special Secret blend of 11 herbs and spices (or the Original Recipe, if you will). This thing is so wrong it’s right. If I die tomorrow, at least I can say I’ve had one. Heck, I didn’t even think they made it anymore, but when I saw it on the menu, I just had to have it.
Well, almost time for the first gas rest stop. More later in another 200 miles or so. Stay tuned all weekend for highlights of our trip!
Cheers!
Brian & Lisa