Lunch in Navarre
John E. Peterson
Thursday, November 16, 2006
OFF WENT THE FOUR of us for lunch in Navarre. George and Mary had heard there was a new place there, so they called Merle and me to make an arrangement for when we should go.
Darn! I just discovered that I used George and Mary Downing’s names and Merle’s name in that introductory paragraph. As I have explained many times, the three of them do not like their names to appear in these trivial columns. That is why I simply say “the four of us.” But I goofed up and it is too late to rectify the situation now. The three of them would forgive me, if I had my way.
Up the Americus road we went to US-56. Then west to Council Grove. That is always a beautiful drive. Lovely views of the Flint Hills and, since it was the last week in September, there were magnificent masses of flowering plants everywhere.
Since we saw these beautiful plants on this entire circular luncheon jaunt, permit me to say a bit about them. I could not remember what they all were, so I went down the hall and asked Professor Tom Eddy. He is an expert on our wild flowering plants.
There were lots of yellow ones. Many of them are sunflowers. Three or four different sunflowers are regularly seen. Then there is broom weed and a couple of different goldenrods. Every once in awhile we would see a patch of blue flowers. They are salvia and often called blue sage. And, of course, the red clumps of sumac are common in the fall. Lots of floral beauty!
We went on west to Herington, north on US-77 a bit to K-4 and then west on it. We were only on K-4 for about eight miles. Too bad, because K-4 all across Kansas is one of my favorite drives. But we did pass the stunning little St. Johns Lutheran Church with its other buildings and cemetery. Spectacular!
At Hope, we went north on K-43 and there was Navarre. Navarre always brings me a memory. That is because our across-the-street neighbor for 16 years in Columbia, Mo., was Navarre Perry. He was always known as “Sid Perry,” but Navarre always makes me think of him.
The restaurant was called Munchies & More. Below the name it said, “Best pizza in town.” Of course, it was the only pizza available in Navarre, so that was accurate — even though the pizza was brought in from out of town.
The restaurant was owned and operated by a couple of men. All the service was by men. One of them sat down beside us and chatted about how it all came into being. Interesting. The food was OK, but nothing special. We did enjoy our luncheon experience, though. It was all rather different.
You would try it, if I had my way, but I am not going to say that it is a must. The trip itself was very fine. The actual luncheon pretty ordinary. Back south we went on K-43 and into Hope. Always an interesting little town and, it appears, one that is hanging on very well. The restaurant to which we went some time ago was closed, however.
We continued on south on a blacktop road to Ramona and had a a look around it. Interesting little town with a lovely bed and breakfast. On south on the blacktop. A sign pointed east to Lost Springs. We had thought we would go on down to Pilsen, but changed our minds and went to Lost Springs.
The restaurant there, which I wrote about many columns ago, is closed. Lost Springs was a pretty, quiet little town. On south on US-56 and 77, which are together there. We passed Lincolnville and had a look at it.
A few more miles and we came to K-150. We headed east on it. A beautiful, beautiful drive it is. It is not quite as spectacular as it was before it was all upgraded. Many of the hills have been cut down, so the road is flatter and better, but not as spectacular. But it is still a nice drive.
At US-50 we looked around Elmdale and took that blacktop out to Cottonwood Falls. All blacktop and a lovely drive. We went off into the Chase County Lake area. It is a beauty. Then on into Cottonwood Falls.
We had hoped to have dessert at the Emma Chase Cafe, but it was late in the afternoon and it was closed. Getting ready for its usual Friday night affair, I suppose. So off to Strong City and down US-50 to home.
It was a fun luncheon jaunt and a marvelous circular drive. Lots of nice scenery, spectacular masses of flowering plants and many towns. We saw Americus, Council Grove, Delavan, Herington, Navarre, Hope, Ramona, Lost Springs, Lincolnville, Elmdale, Cottonwood Falls and Strong City. You would give such an excursion a go some day, if I had my way.