Good Morning, Mayberry!

This weekend, I worked the two-night Toughman event in Mt. Airy. It might surprise you to know that although I’ve lived in NC forever, I’d never been to the town otherwise known as Mayberry. Since I didn’t have to be at the venue until six on Saturday night, I took the entire day to be a tourist in my own state.

I started out at Mayberry on Main, a cute little gift shop with more things Andy and Opie than you could shake a fishin’ pole at. Note to future Mt. Airy visitors- Most everything “downtown” opens at 10 so if you get there early, Mayberry on Main is one of the few places you can go. In addition to the Mayberry paraphernalia, they sell local food items and a wall full of hot sauces. They have free samples… but it was too early in the day for chili peppers for me so I politely passed on the sauce. The proprietors were fantastic, chatting with me and offering some helpful suggestions for my list of “must see places”.

By the time I was finished there, everything else was open so I wandered in and out of the Visitor’s Center and a dozen or so gift shops until it was lunchtime. I counted how many times I heard “Good Morning” from total strangers. I was up to 17 in less than 45 minutes when I popped into Snappy’s Lunch, a little hole in the wall made famous on the Andy Griffith Show for the pork chop sandwich. I learned that a pork chop sandwich “all the way” includes mustard, chili, slaw, onions, and a tomato. Trying to be a good little tourist, I agreed to everything but the onions. And, let’s just say, “try it, you might like it” did not end successfully at Snappy’s Lunch. But, again, four different waitresses asked if I needed anything so they get points for friendliness. I think friendliness is a requirement for living and/or working in Mayberry.

 

I then headed to the Andy Griffith Museum where I met two more friendly folks and I wandered through a maze of photos and memorabilia where I learned all sorts of things about Mayberry, Andy, Opie, and the gang. The museum is also home to the world famous Andy & Opie statue that depicts the dynamic duo doing their favorite things- whistling a tune while headed to the local fishin’ hole.

I waved goodbye to Andy & Opie and a friendly older gentleman giving the patrol car tour and I headed somewhere else… but you’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out where. J