Pattie and Marissa feed Toulouse well

I’m writing this as I eat a savory breakfast at The Eggs Up Grill, located on the scenic Route 66, just east of Portland, CT. My wholesome breakfast of corned beef hash browns with two eggs over-easy and brown toast and fresh coffee cost me a neat $7.00 and lasted me well into the afternoon.

The previous day I’d driven the ToulouseMobile south from Fredericton, NB, out of a snow blizzard, through sloppy slush and rain into Maine and Massachusetts. By the time I crossed into Connecticut at Webster on the 395 Interstate, the shadows were getting longer and the light took on a warm golden hue. I’d been playing cat and dog with the sun most of the day and the clouds drew themselves up into massive dark and light pictures from deep funnels of charcoal gray to crenulated fractal forms with bright halos and finally to beams of soft ethereal yellow light.

Spring in Connecticut

I left the interstate to go west on Route 6. At Willimantic, Route 66 beckoned southeast and I answered. I found myself driving pleasant windy roads that took me through pastoral woodland and attractive houses nestled among the trees. I drove through charming villages like Columbia, Hebron, Marborough and East Hampton. Warm shades of brown, gold and green and grey greeted me beneath the warm glow of a setting sun. Connecticut’s Route 66 runs from Meriden to Windham, crossing the Connecticut River, and serves as an alternate east-west state highway to US 6 through east-central Connecticut.

In the waning light of dusk, I settled in the Riverdale Motel, just east of Portland. Owned and operated by jetsetters Robert and Joseph Seiferman and managed by Elizabeth Badin, it’s a cheerful, bright and clean establishment with a feel-good energy. The next morning I was directed to the Eggs Up Grill, which gave me an uplifting start to the day. The sun shone brightly overhead already (I’m not an early riser).

French toast at the Eggs Up Grill

The grill was unassuming. I was later told it started out as a hotdog stand. When I opened the door to the cozy restaurant, a cheerful din greeted me. The place was packed with locals in lively chatter, sharing stories over good food. Memorabilia, including an old authentic historic Route 66 sign, covered the walls. Pattie handed me the menu and a steaming cup of rich coffee. The menu was pretty basic, listing about six major items, with pretty well any combination available to customize your breakfast. I chose the Number One from the wholesome selection that included an omelet, pancake, French toast or breakfast sandwich. Of course there was the obligatory biscuits and gravy. In fact, the Number Four breakfast listed gravy first among the sausage, biscuits and eggs. In no time Marissa handed me my breakfast. I sat back and enjoyed the homemade corned beef hash, grilled tastefully with potatoes and onions, and dipped my toast in the runny egg yolk. My little pink tongue lapped up what the toast missed and I smiled. I knew why the locals congregated here. This was the best place to eat in the a.m. on Route 66. In Connecticut, that is.

One of Route 66's rock creatures

The original U.S. Route 66, known as the Will Rogers Highway or the Main Street of America, was one of America’s first extensive highways. Established in 1926, it spanned from Chicago, Illinois through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and California, covering 2,448 miles of plains, scrub, dessert and mountains. Pop culture recognizes it through songs and an old TV show.