This week’s tale is a moving story about a hike and lunch, with a surprising twist ending: We switched up our barbecue diet. Crazy, right? As usual, the Trailheads who couldn’t hike miraculously became available for lunch. We are predictable in our commitment to food over exercise.
As negotiations began for selecting a hiking spot, Trail Master Guy alerted us that Brad wouldn’t join because he was getting “transplants.” We wondered what body part had worn out. Feet? Elbows? Earlobes?
Patrick couldn’t join because he was getting “implants.” Steve bagged hiking because he was attending a technology conference either for old people or about technology assisting old people. Being old people, we were interested in both subjects but not curious enough to attend a conference.
As it turned out, Brad wasn’t having a transplant, but Patrick was getting a dental implant. Seniors are easily confused.
Brad couldn’t hike because movers were scheduled to deliver the last load of his stuff to his new house, which will also be our new global headquarters. We asked him how to avoid helping (laziness is part of our charter). Brad suggested we hike a hidden in-town trail close to his new digs. He offered us coffee and a tour if George brought bagels. So, Roy, Guy, and bagel boy George descended on the new Brad Pad for a pre-hike breakfast and tour.
His new joint is beautiful, which is good since he’d already bought it. Elvis was settling in nicely, meeting the neighborhood dogs, making new friends, and discussing the evilness of squirrels.
When the movers arrived, we bolted for fear of being dragged into working. We don’t like lifting heavy objects like furniture or weights at the gym. After a false start finding the trail, Guy consulted his AllTrails app map. We found a little park where the path-head (is that a thing?) sent us to the South Fork Confluence Trail. Confluence, as you probably know, means coming together, flowing together, or meeting. Let’s conflue, shall we?
Reading the AllTrails reviews of this hike will scare you, but the trail was kind of cool. It follows Peachtree Creek, flowing clear and bright. Elvis and Fio had a blast playing on the sandy beaches.
Wait–– Atlanta has beaches? What the hell?! The trail winded back and forth under the interstate. We walked dark and spooky passages beneath imposing bridges by some tent cities. Trailheads didn’t encounter any residents. The locals say they are good people who are in a bad spot.
We got lost but found the great totems of Lindberg—at least that’s what we called them. They appeared to have been hand-carved by a descendant of an ancient Native American tribe.
Or perhaps they’d been purchased at Costco. We weren’t sure. The totems were surprising and led to a series of switchback trails that led to a rusted bridge.
From there, we hiked to Lindberg, where Guy spotted a construction site marked NO TRESPASSING across the road. Naturally, he marched into the forbidden zone. He didn’t find another path, so we happily moved along before we were shot, bulldozed, or buried.
Then we discovered the entrance into Brad’s neighborhood and found our way back to his place, missing the opportunity to help move. Darn!
Since we were near Taqueria Del Sol on Cheshire Bridge Road, we called an audible to eat Mexican instead of barbecue. Roy and his wife, Karlenne, had dined here recently and loved the week’s special taco–The Bob.
It’s fried shrimp with crayfish mayonnaise, lettuce, and pickled jalapeños tucked inside a flour tortilla. The taco is a slice of heaven you can hold, devour, and savor.
We alerted Steve and Patrick to meet us there, grabbed Brad, and headed to Taqueria Del Sol. Elvis and Fio stayed at the new house protecting against squirrels and listening to acid jazz on the sound system, drinking Courvoisier, and playing poker (dogs love that).
We ordered a Salsa Trio (three tasty salsas), fresh guacamole, and tasty molten white cheese dip. The apps come with baskets of crispy chips, and we scooped and sampled the many flavors. Everyone ordered their favorite tacos. The Bob was a hit.
Some of us enjoyed a beef brisket taco to keep up our barbecue street cred. It's fantastic. We also loved the incredible shrimp corn chowder and pork green chili. It was all delicious.
We bade Taqueria Del Sol farewell and hasta la vista (we had somehow become bilingual). Then Steve and Patrick joined Guy for the afternoon tour of Brad’s new house.
It was a moving day in Trailheads' world, and after a good Mexican lunch, it was time for a siesta at home.
Rating: Four Ribs and Four Tacos*
Taqueria Del Sol
2165 Cheshire Bridge Rd NE
Atlanta, GA 30324
(404) 321-1118
*About Our Barbecue Rating System
Trailheads do not claim to be food experts, epicureans, or sophisticated palates. We are hungry hikers who attack a selected barbecue venue and ravage our way through whatever smoked fare and fixings they're dishing out.
Our reviews feature what we believe are the highlights of the menu we sampled. So our intent is not to trash talk the saintly folks who tend to smoldering smokers on hot, humid summer days. They are sacrificing themselves in the noble art of smoking meats and feeding the drooling masses. Many are independent entrepreneurs who are the backbone of this humming American economy.
Now that you know our standards, you may wonder why every barbecue place gets a four-ribs rating. The answer is easy: our group has acclaimed designers, and they think the ribs graphic looks cool.
Who are we to argue? Enjoy.
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Trailheads restaurant favorites (Taqueria Del Sol and Fox Brothers BBQ) join forces each year for the Hatch Chile Festival