Romeo Ride - Tuesday Lunch to Tightwad, MO (8/25/09)

[JerryM100]

Greetings, Kansas City Romeo Riders!

This week we are going for a RIDE! Let’s go down to Tightwad, MO for lunch at 11:00 am! According to Google Maps, from the general center of Kansas City to Tightwad is about 92 miles. And it is going to be a beautiful day!

Roger found some information on Tightwad:

“Here in this town of 63 on Missouri 7 in eastern Henry County, the cheapest thrill for frugal people is having their picture taken in front of its little bank. Don Higdon and company recently reopened Tightwad Bank, where your checks advertise your penny pinchiness to your debtors and creditors. http://www.tightwadbank.net/

Local legend has it that the name changed to Tightwad because of a transaction over a 50 lb. Black Diamond watermelon.

It goes back to long-gone storekeeper/gas station owner Ernest Parks.

A customer wanted to buy a watermelon but needed to leave it at the store until later. When he returned, Parks had sold the melon to someone else for a higher price, and the first customer proclaimed Parks to be a tightwad.

A reporter and videographer couldn't find any watermelons on a recent visit but Tightwad Café serves a fine Rueben sandwich.

Hope to see you there!

Jerry in KC
http://www.romeoriders.com

[JerryM100]

What a great day and a great turnout at Tightwad! We had either 19 bikes and 20 people or 20 bikes and 21 people last I heard. The best was Leo Clegg who left his house in Mountain Home, Arkansas at 6 am and rode 198 miles up to have lunch with us. Thanks for coming up, Leo, great to see you again!

Tightwad has a population of 63 but the cafe is on highway 7 so they probably do a good business. In any case, they were happy to have us and did a great job hustling the drinks and orders. Carrie was our waitress and in addition to being quite attractive was very friendly and worked hard to get us fed. Nice place, good food, friendly, and a good long ride - what more can you ask for??

Jerry in KC

[shoresr]

I think KC Romeo is coming of age!! 20+ riders made it on this lunch which was 83+ miles from Kansas City to Tightwad, MO. This is a picture of me with my new "idol" 500,000 mile Mel Smith from Adrian, MO. After lunch Mel took me to Warsaw and over (and behind) the Truman Dam!

Mel said a picture of me in front of the Tighwad Bank seemed very appropriate. That's funny--and he had only known me for about an hour!!Here are some links to more Tighwad pictures--from Melvin Smith http://melsmith.smugmug.com/Other/Tight ... 20_r3yjS/3 all of Roger's http://tinyurl.com/Romeo-Pics