And I thought Mom's was the boondocks

On Saturday I headed out in the car for another art studio tour. After visiting the first two places I drove in an unfamiliar direction to get to Brookline, a tiny town I'd never heard of before. All these places are on a tour map, however the directions are from the south and I was coming from the north. I drove through one teeny place and saw a fantastic ruins which I didn't stop to photograph. I felt anxious. Very few people were on the road. An occasional pickup with a gun in the back window kinda thing. Towns I passed through had a gas station and that was about it. I had hoped to interact with people as I've been so darn isolated.
I drove and drove and drove. Finally I arrived at the turn onto Route 30. Take a left the potter I had visited earlier told me. Ok. The road signs were made of wood. The road turned to dirt. Oh my god. I turned around and drove back to another road which had a arrow saying Brookline. It was paved. Then it turned to dirt. On and on and on. One ramshackle house every mile or so. This road has to go somewhere I said but I was getting angry. I was further into the isolated boondocks than ever.
Finally, I saw a person. "Does this road get to Brookline anytime soon?" I asked. "Yep, four miles or so and you hit pavement. I don't know where you're going...." Neither did I. Now, none of this would be upsetting to me if my intent had been to get away from it all, get away from people and just see the countryside. Really, it's hard to believe but I felt like I might have a nervous breakdown. Part of that may have been it was lunchtime and my blood sugar was low. I hadn't brought any food with me.
Finally, I hit the paved road. I drove past the above round schoolhouse. I visited a felter who had maybe ten felted animals. Bless her. I visited a potter who had a very cool shop in an old barn and I bought two bowls. By now I was starving but again, there are no stores out here. Nothing. Nada. "I want to get to P.(read civilization) I told the potter and he gave me directions. I didn't really care if I saw another yellow open studio sign or not. Give me food.
I passed through this village. Now, you would think with a courthouse here they'd have a jiffy mart kind of place. Not that I could find. Only a country store selling candy and such like. And a restaurant which I didn't want to spend the money for. The temptation to assuage my hunger with candy was great but I resisted. I knew it would only make me ill in the long run.
Nevertheless this was a pretty cool common. Every building was white with black shutters. And look at this old Thunderbird.
Well, at least I was on paved roads. I drove and drove and drove until I reached a covered bridge which led to an east-west cuthrough to the area I wanted to arrive in. I drove over TWO covered bridges during this excursion, neither of which had a stopping area where I could get out and take a picture. Or maybe my mood prevented me from trying.
At last. I arrived at this barbecue place that has been here for 38 years. My brother had told me about it. Isn't it wild? I had barbecued chicken breast. And then I drove on to a really great thrift store where I heard Erma Franklin sing an old Janis Joplin song. Only the grey haired people in the store recognized it.
Two pots I purchased.