July 14, 2016, Harrisonburg, VA- The Spine of Virginia is replete with picturesque cities and towns, of various sizes, from sprawling Roanoke and bustling Charlottesville, to compact places like Dublin and Damascus. I decided to stop for lunch, and a stretch, in Harrisonburg, a city about the size of Prescott, and whose civic life is also centered on the area around its courthouse. Court Square, west of James Madison University, has a variety of eateries and clothing shops. I was drawn to Artful Dodger Coffeehouse and Cocktail Lounge. Being a teetotaler, I was a curiosity to the couple who tend bar and manage the place. I enjoyed my iced tea and tuna sandwich, regardless. Jaqie and Rob couldn’t have been nicer. It was pointed out to me that, if I stuck around until Friday night, I could get free Salsa Dance lessons. There but for fortune, go I, towards Florida, but maybe on my next pass.

Here are some scenes both inside and outside of Dodger:

 

Once I parked my car, I passed by the town’s Welcome Center, on the way to lunch.

Inside Artful Dodger, Jaqie and Rob were chatting with the regulars- about something going on Friday night, and I busied myself with the accouterments of the house, whilst waiting for my meal.

 

After a good forty-five minutes out of the heat, I set out for a brief exploration of Court Square.

I will regard this little town as another link in the chain of homes I seem to be building, whilst continuing to connect with friends and family. It is always about expanding the network.

NEXT: The Road Back to Florida