We have talked a lot about eating in diners on these pages. Eating is one of our favorite hobbies. Eating in diners also provided us with the best opportunities for meeting and talking to the locals. A case in fact is the chance meeting of Ric Knox at breakfast in Newcomb, NY. Ric was having coffee at the counter when Brian and I walked in. I had spotted his truck in the parking lot with the sign, Adirondack Boatworks- Chris-Craft, Gar Wood. Since he was the only other person in the place, I was pretty confident that he would answer when I asked if he was the guy who restored boats.
We ate a pleasant breakfast learning about old wooden boats and the history of Gar Wood boats in particular. When Ric found out that we were east bound, he invited us to stop at his shop and see some of the boats. We were there within a half hour.
Ric’s pride and joy is a 1946 Gar Wood run-about. This Chrysler powered inboard is a one of a kind prototype. It is a true showboat. I took some photos at the shop, but they do not match the photos on Ric’s website. Check out the great boats. That’s Ric sanding the deck of a boat.
The same day that we met Ric, we also had one of our strangest encounters. Our route east of Newcomb took us through some very remote sections of the Adirondacks. The roads in these areas generally follow rivers or streams. We were following a river downstream, so we were coasting at speeds between 20 and 25 mph. There were several wide areas near the road, giving people access the river.
While cruising happily down the road, I glanced at one of these turnouts to my left. There I spotted a man, a rather fat man, a rather fat, hairy man adjusting the propane tanks on his trailer. The man was wearing a ball cap. That’s all. As I passed, he turned to face me full monty. Fortunately, he didn’t wave.
I looked into my mirror as Brian passed the turnout. I could see him do a double take and then start to speed up to catch me.
“Did you see….?” Brian asked, laughing as hard as I was.
We broke the rules that we had set earlier this year. We didn’t get his name. We didn’t take a photo. Some things are best left to the imagination.
Wes
