We checked out what we thought was a new cafe downtown, but it wasn't exactly that. Although you could get a coffee, you would have to take it with you because the main purpose of El Postino was to sell pre-prepared (or just prepared, is pre redundant?) meals that had been made in the kitchen of their restaurant in the nearby town of of Almonte.
We next checked out another cafe, Foundry Coffee Bar, but it is small and always full whenever we pass by. We turned back to the parking lot, and there was the Blue Spoon Atelier advertising sourdough bread. We had visited that location once or twice under previous management and hadn't been impressed, but we were curious and entered.
It was semi busy but there was seating aplenty as other customers seemed to be taking out. We enjoyed good coffee and scones inside and took a loaf of sourdough home with us.
As I sat drinking and munching, I decided that when I left I would take photo of the mural that I could see across the way. The man in the mural was familiar to me. For many years in the past twenty, we would just about always see him walking around downtown whenever we were strolling along main street. He was an ever-present fixture; some people referred to him as Wanderin Wayne.
There is a big pole and various wires in front of the mural, so I resorted to taking multiple phone photos, and Sue took one of me that shows the difficulty of photographing this mural.
I had to take three separate photos. Some work had been done to the wall after the initial painting of the mural — the part over his face. They tried to restore it, but up close you can still see the spot where repair work had been done to the wall.
This was a good project to send on to Sue to make one of her composites.
Nice history for the town. Bet he could have filled a book with his stories. Linda in Kansas
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet memorial to a man so many were aware of. But where's the photo with you taking the photos?
ReplyDeleteit’s the first image in the post.
DeleteSecond image, as the coffee and food is on top. But I did see your red shirt off to the left in image 2. I have no idea whether it should be pre-prepared or not. Precooked works, but is not entirely accurate if it is a green salad, for instance. Ready to Eat? Take-out? We need to coin a phrase that will encompass all.
ReplyDeleteAfter the election, when my brain is not mush. Living in terror that Trump Junior and his merry men will get too many votes. I must lean on the NDP daughter today.
What a fun wall - I love the fact that his eccentricity was valued.
I really like this tribute to a local historian in action. Very cool.
ReplyDeleteGreat mural of a fascinating man! The town did well in remembering him!
ReplyDeleteWhat a very nice tribute to a kind soul. I imagine it was done after he died so wondering if he ever knew he had been cherished in your town.
ReplyDeleteThat is a wonderful tribute.
ReplyDelete"A horse drawn wagon"
ReplyDeleteWow!
I forget sometimes how much the world has changed in only a short period of time.
Thanks for sharing this. I enjoyed reading it.
Liam.
i was around in the 50s and a few horse-drawn milk wagons were too, but not at the end of the decade, at least not where I was then located,
DeleteI only have seen those carriages in the movies. Nice story about Wayne; thanks for taking the time to introduce him to your fan base.
ReplyDelete"One step at a time" is good advice. Wonderful story and photos, what an amazing man.
ReplyDeleteYour search for coffee turned into a journey through several spots, ending with a visit to the Blue Spoon Atelier for coffee, scones, and sourdough, and a meaningful encounter with a mural of Walkin' Wayne
ReplyDeleteNice mural! And you captured it well.
ReplyDeleteI love the way they commemorated both his work and recreational contribution. In difficult times, walking (and other small pleasures) can save your life.
ReplyDeleteThat is so neat and you did a great job in photographing it!
ReplyDeleteWe had a fellow in 1996 through about 2004 that the whole town looked after. He spent his days walking the downtown looking for change that people dropped. He had a regular schedule where he'd stop by certain places and each place...barber shop, hair dresser, bakery, and the bank would have a cup of coffee ready for him when he stopped in. He was like clockwork.
If he didn't show up at a certain establishment someone would go check on him.
What an interesting character! That's wonderful that they immortalized him. I can never figure out how to take photos of murals. To get all of it in, I'm too far away but then I have to do it piecemeal. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteWhat a nice tribute to the milkman. I am old enough to remember the milkman delivering to the door. Some houses had a built-in sort of small cupboard that could be accessed from inside and outside, and the milk would be put in there. Sounds like your town has several interesting small businesses.
ReplyDeleteNice mural to remember a town fixture.
ReplyDeleteI really like the mural, especially the little bio of Wayne. That's quite something, to be remembered like that.
ReplyDeleteThose scones look interesting! Far different from what I see in most coffee shops, which are little pie wedges--and usually too sweet and fatty for my taste.
What a lovely tribute. He sounds like a man who lived a good life, found the good in his fellow man, and did whatever good he could do as well.
ReplyDeleteI don't remember horse drawn milk wagons of course, but I do remember milk deliveries, delivered in quart bottles and left in a metal box that sat on our front porch.