Souce from Greer’s Market in Beaumont Mississippi. What is it? Read on . . .

Last night Wayne satisfied his hankering for breakfast steaks for dinner with a run out to Greer’s, the local market in Beaumont, Mississipi, a 15-minute drive from our camp at Lake Perry.

“They had this weird stuff you’d be interested in,” Wayne told me, but couldn’t remember what the said item was called. Wayne knows I’m culinary-curious, and that I grew up with my Dad making delicious soups which included organ meats. I’m far more curious than squeamish than your average bear when it comes to putting parts down my hatch.

Before we took off, Wayne’s wifi ceased working at our campground. He needed some extra time to participate in the “war room” of his game and a more cooperative wifi connection, so we agreed to mosey over to Greer’s parking lot for better wifi for him, while I sleuthed out the weird food Wayne spotted for me. I figured out it was souse, a new item for me. However, I didn’t want to pay $4.52 for a melange of pig snout, hearts, and other sundry hog bits with 20% fat. Besides, when I used my phone to Google recipes using souse, Google insisted I must’ve meant tomato sauce.

Later I found out it’s also a form of head cheese, generally served like you would any other cold-cut—in sandwiches or crackers with cheese. Pass.

Yoohoo: Harlan Coben’s favorite character Myron Bolitar’s favorite drink.

While we’re road-tripping, we’re more thirsty than hungry, so I scouted Greer’s drinks, too. I’ve read several Harlan Coben novels which frequently feature Youhoo, so when I saw how cheap it was, I bought a sixer. If you want to know more about Yoohoo, Harlan offers a link on his author’s FAQ page. If tldr: it’s really bad for you chocolate milk, loaded with corn syrup and 35 mg of sugar/serving. I usually keep my sugar doses to 14 mg or less.

Buc-ee’s sign: even off I-10 in Southern Alabama, you can’t miss it.

Gas Buddy prompted Wayne and me to reconnoiter at Buc-ee’s in Southern Alabama for a fill-up, before crossing the border to Florida. Little did we know we were entering a hallowed Texas gas and convenience-store institution with followers as fervent as Disney. Instead of Mickey Mouse, Buc-ee’s famed mascot is a beaver.

Buc-ee’s Southern Alabama convenience store is 50,000 square feet!

Driving in was akin to entering a Costco parking lot, where cars weaving their way to one of 120 fuel pump stations feels a bit like an adult bumper car ride—alert, defensive driving required!

Fast food, packaged food, tchotchkes, libations: Buc-ee’s has ’em, whether you need ’em or not.

“You’ve never been to a Buc-ee’s?” gushed our pump station neighbor, incredulously. You’ve They’re a Texas phenomenon. You gotta go inside; they’ve got the best jerky and even their restrooms are amazing!”

I told her I planned to use our RV’s toilet because I know whose ass was last on our seat. I was masked; she wasn’t.

The Buc-ee’s truck, loaded with Buc-ee beavers in three sizes.

Mask wearing wasn’t required by customers, but the most prominent Buc-ee beaver for sale in the store wore one, complete with a logo patch of his own image on it.

Pickled quail eggs, Buc-ee branded.

Inside, sound ricocheted off the tile floors while customers bustled about, eagerly buying whatever Buc-ee’s was selling. I felt like I landed in Wall-e world.  I did cave and try their $5.99 pulled pork sandwich (okay) and some cold drinks for later.

I am no longer a Buc-ee’s virgin. But next time, I’ll get my gas and go.

This afternoon we crossed the Florida border. We’re in a parking lot in Tallahassee. Tomorrow is old home week in Jacksonville Florida. We’ll stay at the JAX Naval Air Station (NAS) until Friday when we head south to Fort  Pierce.