KEENE, NH-Big Bun has been able to see quite a bit of the country, particularly the eastern United States. Throughout our time in the area we have been met with smiles, excitement, and joy. However, it is very rare that we are met with a surprise welcoming committee. That ended up being the case while we were headed through the Granite state, New Hampshire. We pulled in after a gorgeous drive through Vermont and into Keene, NH to a hotel parking lot like many we have seen before. We checked into our rooms just as we have many other times before. Then something a little out of the ordinary occurred. The hotel manager informed us that the grill was just about to get started and everyone is going to be there in a couple of hours. We had time to freshen up, so to speak, and got back to the parking lot. Within no time at all, the parking lot was packed with the great people of Keene, NH anxious to meet Top Dog, Mr. Beeftastic, and most importantly, Big Bun. We had found out later on during the BBQ that this had all been organized and put in the local newspaper. The franks sizzled and the conversation was supurb–another great edition to the coast-to-coast weenie roast!

P.S. After much thought and second-party discussion, I have decided that this title is indeed funny.

Mount Airy, NC — In one of our first brushes with “fame” Big Bun, Tara, and I took a short day trip on one of our off days when we were in southwestern Virginia. Being lovers of classic television, Tara and I were very excited to see the inspiration and birthplace of Andy Griffith. However, once we got there, we had no idea how that sentiment would be reciprocated by the great people of the small community.

As with all things with the Wienermobile, there was an event that came about even on one of our off days. We were able to sneak into town via the Andy Griffith Parkway and into a back parking lot without much attention drawn to us except for a couple of teenagers that were questioning what we would ever be doing in Mount Airy and if we needed directions. We explained that this was a planned stop for us and were excited to see the attractions. Once inside, we were able to take in all things Mayberry as Andy’s hometown had completely embraced their #1 son and his accomplishments to show off many of the locations Andy had borrowed in the show or to go as far as re-create many of them to make

Big Bun and Andy’s Car

Mayberry come to life. The result is the perfect example of intimate small town, USA where everyone knows everyone else and it being a positive thing.

Our incognito status did not last too long, actually only until lunchtime. We were eating at a small diner dedicated to Deputy Barney Fife. It came out that we were responsible for the 27-foot hotdog down the street when I needed to get some cash from the lone ATM found in the chamber of commerce. When I walked in the door a woman jumped out of her chair and then sat right back down when I turned to the ATM and away from her line of sight. “I thought he was the hotdog man for a moment,” I heard her over my shoulder to another woman sitting at a desk adjacent to her. When I confessed to her, the smiles on their faces were indescribable. She told me that the local paper has been looking all over for us and that everyone around town has been talking about it.
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