Elvis has (not) left the building

Ryan and I met the king today, and I don't mean that dude from the Burger King commercials.

Around noon, as we fueled our rental car near Defuniak Springs, Fla., we spotted this strange little trailer right next door called Pete's Snack Shop. It's just off I-10 on U.S. 90, west of Tallahassee. It's covered in hand-written signs promising delicious chili-cheese fries, hotdogs, burgers (with free jalapenos) and the like. (I think they'd make a killing selling antacids, too. Just a thought).

Just inside the little window I found Pete Shimko and his wife Pat taking orders. Pete explained that he is dedicated Gators fan and will be watching The Big Game with his family on hi-def TV.

"If you're wondering about the sideburns," he added out of the blue, "I'm an Elvis impersonator."

Really?

"Yes," he said. "I'm a professional Elvis impersonator."

Turns out Shimko, who's been singing in public venues for 30 years, did an Elvis tune at a festival five years ago and someone suggested he do more of it. So he did, dropping thousands of dollars on Elvis jump suits and growing his sideburns (the mustache comes off when he does gigs).

Shimko now hits fairs and festivals in Florida and Alabama, doling out renditions of "Heartbreak Hotel" and "Blue Suede Shoes" instead of spicy coleslaw dogs, BLTs and pattymelts. He said there is still a huge audience out there for Everything Elvis -- just as there is for fries with chili and cheese on them.

Back before Ryan and I left on this trip, I asked Times-Union columnist Laura Capitano for advice for this Dash to the Desert road trip. Other than to stay hydrated, to breathe and to have fun -- she said to be on the lookout for strange and interesting characters and places along our 2,100-mile path from Jacksonville to Glendale, Ariz.

Hey Laura: Mission accomplished.

See more photos here.


Jeff