Barney Fife: Well, I guess to sum it up, you could say, there’s three reasons why there’s so little crime in Mayberry. There’s Andy, and there’s me, and [patting gun] baby makes three.” 

You’re looking at the main street of Mayberry, RFD; actually, it’s Mount Airy, North Carolina – the birthplace of actor Andy Griffith. I think to this day, there’s hardly a more beloved actor than Andy, and particularly in his role as Andy of Mayberry, along with Opie, Aunt Bea, Barney Fife and the rest.

This throbbing tourist community is not far from Galax, Virginia where I was judging barbeque on the weekend. I learned a couple of years ago that I had better come down here to experience it. What I wound up experiencing was maybe the best haircut I have ever had.

I spent just under two hours in this barbershop on Friday morning; I was the second of just three people to get their haircut in that time, because this barbershop is just a focal point for everybody in town; most of the people popping in and out were locals. I encountered more locals than tourists, and what I found myself doing was just sitting and chatting like I belonged. Wonderful feeling! This is Lana cutting my hair, the same barber I had two years ago when I first discovered this treat. At least three times she had to push me back into the chair, saying, “Oh, honey, we aren’t nearly done yet.” She even does a wee neck massage before she lets you go….after the talc, hot towels, shaves, etc., the whole 9 yards! If i can help it, i wouldn’t miss this for the world. If you are headed this way, let your hair grow and go to Floyd’s.

I ate at the Waffle House. I’m pretty sure my doctor wouldn’t like that. This is Mike; you can see by his shirt that he is a “rockstar grill operator”. He is a nine year veteran of Waffle House; he loves his job, and as I have discovered with other grill operators or short-order cooks, it’s like watching a ballet.

After my weekend, I’m headed home. I just thought you should see who is on the road. The first car was sitting in front of me in a West Virginia I-77 traffic jam; I really liked the license plate. I thought you might, too. And then, in another traffic jam at the entrance to a great tunnel through a mighty mountain, I snapped this police car. This is a public service photo, so you recognize the West Virginia state police if you’re travelling this way. You can thank me later.

What I was not expecting on this trip, after my encounter with Andy Griffith, was to stumble upon his deputy, Barney Fife. It turns out Don Knotts is from Morgantown, West Virginia. And his statue is on the main street right outside of the theater. He’s holding his deputy’s hat from the show in one hand; in his left hand, he holds the script from “The Ghost and Mr. Chicken”.

Don also has a star on the sidewalk. If there are others, i did not see them in the rain. It also never really hit me till i was back in the car what a freak coincidence it was to encounter both Andy and Barney on the same trip. But, ain’t that America!

I am going to bed just north of Washington, Pennsylvania-just south of Pittsburgh, after a particularly dismal, rain-soaked and foggy drive.

And yes, there’s more to see you tomorrow!