Backwater BBQ with Brits in the Valley

Since March in this year of the plague, the “motoring” in the British Motoring Club has been up on jack stands.  Our destinations traditionally involve group dining but our current situation has made this all but impossible. Last weekend, Dan enlisted a few of us to do a trial ride and outdoor BYOB (bring your own breakfast) run to Overlook Park on Lake Martin.  Our recent spate of cool weather brought the call for motoring to the forefront.  Then this week, Jim Walton of the Brits in the Valley British car group in Columbus invited us (via their Facebook page)  to join them for a BBQ run to Lake Harding in Lee County followed by safely distanced dining at a small park just up the road.  I pitched the idea to Tom who then put out an announcement to our members.  Takers included: Tom Miro (TR6), Russell & Cathy (MINI), Dan (MGiata), Tom Densmore (T-Bird –  his TR4A has a weeping thermostat gasket) and Pam in her MGBGT.  We met at the Pike Road Town Hall and were on the road at 8:30.  The early departure time was necessary because of the time zone issue that plagues event schedules with our Columbus friends. Our route was along the mostly flat and straight US 80 (largely is superpositioned over the Old Federal Road) and later some Lee County roads to our destination.

Great BBQ “joints” are noted for their lack of pretension and down-to-earth decor.  Lewis Grizzard wrote in his exposition on BBQ that the best BBQ joints should be family owned, have religious tracts, and unpaved parking lots.  I didn’t see the religious tracts but Backwater BBQ owner, Wayne Wommack, is a proud veteran with his patriotism and politics on full display.  Mr. Wommack looks like a cross between Santa Claus and Grizzly Adams.  He’s a genuine people person and makes everyone’s day better for being near him. Despite its rather untidy appearance, the health department’s restaurant inspection score was a very respectable 96!  Prices are extremely reasonable and serving sizes are more than generous. I asked about his eastern North Carolina style vinegar-pepper sauce that he had decanted into a half gallon Jim Bean bottle.  He said that it was so good that it would cure the virus.  I ordered a small sandwich, and of course I had to try the Brunswick stew and yes it passed the “spoon test”.  Cathy had a pork plate with potato salad and stew.

After all had their to-go orders filled, we motored a few miles up the road to a scenic view of the lake at the “long bridge”.  We enjoyed catching up with old Brits in the Valley friends and meeting new ones and their LBC’s restoration and maintenance back stories.  Special thanks to Jim for putting this event together.  All agreed that more such joint outings should be in the days ahead.

Russell

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