Recap: Texarkana

Ever since 1977, Texarkana has loomed large in my mind.

The theme from the movie Smokey and the Bandit performed by co-star by Jerry Reed -- "Eastbound and Down" -- started it all.

"Keep your foot hard on the peddle...son, never mind them brakes let it all hang out cause we've got a run to make The boys are thirsty in Atlanta, and there's beer in Texarkana and we'll bring it back no matter what it takes East bound and down, loaded up and truckin' a'we gonna do what they say can't be done We've got a long way to go and a short time to get there I'm east bound just watch ol'Bandit run ......"  Texarkana sounded like a larger-than-life place in the Wild West that was probably famous for a lot more than beer. I swung through it the other day on the final leg of the journey to Austin. It certainly looks like it's seen better days. But it sure does look like the kind of rough and ready place where you'd be able to do a deal for a truckload of contraband alcohol, tobacco, or firearms if you ever had to. The Sterns from Roadfood write about a place nearby called Bryce's Cafeteria which "has been a Texas landmark since it opened downtown in 1931." They also note: "Among the multitude of pies, we like the Karo-coconut and chess pies. Excellent pie alternatives include hot fruit cobbler with a savory crust and traditional banana pudding made with meringue and vanilla wafers." With all due respect to the Sterns, I kept rolling until Austin. I had a long way to go and a short time to get there.