Category : Pilgrim’s Chronicles

O.K. I know what your’re thinking, it’s “Gluttony Week” on the blog….. No actually, Jason Stewart and I checked out a neat Bar-B-Que place in Eureka Springs, and of course I got the burger, which was o.k. but I found it an excellent opportunity to stretch my photographic legs and try to piece together a little story. First, this was all done with minimal equipment. The lens range was from 24mm to 100mm, and the camera was Nikon’s little Coolpix P300. I’m finding it really fun to walk around with such a tiny camera and see just what you can catch! Enjoy.

Vision is a gift from God, the ability to see beyond the obvious. The better vision, is the ability God gives us to see beyond the obvious with people. Working with Jason & Terrence the weekend in Eureka Springs was reminder of how valuable friends are in our lives. For years, working for Nikon, I’ve had to go to big cities, every year to work photo shows. Some are not so bad, but the one in New York, I dread all year long, but it’s part of the job, so I do it. Knowing I will get to spend time with great friends like Jason makes it worth while. In Las Vegas back earlier this year, (another one of my least favorite destinations), I had the honor of going out for an evening of shooting with Jason and Paul Van Allen, another of my favorite Nikon sons, (they all think of me as a father or grandfather figure, being the oldest member of our department.) We had a great time shooting together, and having another great burger at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. I’ve long admired Paul and Jason’s skill as a teachers, and shooters, but even more for their kindness and compassion for others. If I were a treasure hunter, I could stop looking, I’ve found true treasure, in friends like these.

Thank you Father for such a rich blessing as friends like, Terrence, Jason and Paul. Amen

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: All images with Coolpix P300.

Today, let’s lighten up and have some fun. For many years I’ve been on a journey, a journey to find my place in God’s plan. Then again that’s a serious journey and we all have to have lesser missions. Many years ago when I started traveling extensively across the U.S. (For 11 years while running every GAPW event I drove 70,000 plus miles per year). To have something to look forward on all those days away from home I decided to start a joyous journey to find the perfect cheeseburger. O.K. it doesn’t rise to the level of seeking God, but hey it’s something to do to pass the time on the road.

I came up with a 5 pickle scale for my burgers. First, I’ve never and will not likely ever give 5 pickles. So far the highest rated burger was from Milt’s Stop & Eat it in Moab, Utah. That sweetheart got 4.75 pickles! To be a near perfect burger, for me, I have a simple formula.

1. The burger must be made from hand formed hamburger meat, not lean ground beef. It’s the fat in the meat that makes it juicy, by hand forming the meat is not to compressed and the juices will stay in.
2. The meat must be not cooked anymore than Medium to very slightly Medium Well. Overcooking meat dries it out and ruins the burger. *Look members of the Health Department
it’s not what you wanted to hear, but this is about taste, not disease prevention….
1. The seasoning is very important and most burger makers have their own secret ingredients but it almost always has salt (sea salt), pepper and garlic, you’ll know it when you taste it.
2. The buns should be buttered and toasted.
3. The toppings should be nothing but mayo, mustard, ketchup, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and American cheese. Pickle on the side is kosher. Chilli is for a bowl, mushrooms for steaks, etc etc. Hey I’m a purest, mine are American Cheese and Mayo only (Hellmann’s real mayo is the best).
4. Acceptable sides would be onion rings or french fries.

The Cheeseburger is an American creation, at least four restaraunts claim to have made the first one, and no one seems to be able to sort out who is right.

So far, in my search, here are some of the very best I’ve found in descending order by score:

Milt’s Stop n’ Eat – Moab, Utah 4.75

Hut’s in Austin Texas 4.7
Pappa’s Burgers in Houston Texas 4.7

Rotiers in Nashville, TN 4.65
Cheeburger, Cheeburger in Sanibel Island Florida 4.65
Billy’s Big Burgers in Jackson Wyoming 4.65

The Depot in Corbin, Kentucky 4.6
Ruby Tuesday in London, Kentucky 4.6

Steak n’ Shake (any good one, and most are) Frisco Burger with Am. Cheese and Mayo only 4.5
Hamburger Heaven in Palm Beach, Florida 4.5
Bobcat Bite, Santa Fe, New Mexico 4.5
Margaritaville, Key West, Florida 4.5

Fuddruckers (most locations) 4.4
W.W. Cousins in Louisville, Kentucky 4.3

Anything else is just what you eat when hunger over rides a great burger!

The reigning Champion, Milt’s Stop n’ Eat in Moab, Utah……..

My Pastor, Tim Thompson, delivered a wonderful message yesterday morning, The Smile of God. It was so good I wanted to paraphrase it for you. He opened with a great quote that should
open a few folks eyes about religion; “Religion is a man sitting in a church thinking about fishing,
spirituality is a man out fishing, thinking about God.” God’s heart is touched by your compassion and your commitment, your authenticity. Is your love for God real?

The Smile of God is the goal of our lives. Since pleasing God is the first purpose of our lives, your most important task is the discovery of how to do that. Worship is the act of pleasing God, surrender and approaching Him in the spirit, (honesty and openness). Worship is when we love God supremely, trust Him completely, obey Him whole heartedly, and thank Him continually.

God is not pleased with wrong motives, He is pleased with a deep desire to know and do His will.
We must truly trust Him if we hope to please Him. Another dear Christian brother, Dr. Charles Stanley, one asked me, “Do you know how to make God smile?” His answer was, “Tell Him your plans……” Relying on God means knowing He already has a plan for your life, and that He wants you to rest in the knowledge that it is what is best for you. Can we trust God with our futures? If we can’t, there is no where else to turn.

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: D7000, 24-120 AFs-VR and processed in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

O.K., Couldn’t help myself, I wanted to share a few more images from last weekend, with the theme of rust or decay. Not sure why I love these kinds of subjects, maybe as the body gets older and your feel some rust in the joints all this old stuff starts to have more appeal? Enjoy and I will wrap up after a few images.

The one place you don’t want to get rust is in your spiritual life. It’s easy to prevent, stay on your knees in prayer, stay in the word for knowledge, and keep your eyes on Him.

the pilgrim

*Photo Note: All images D7000. 24-120 and 70-300 lenses. Yes ,the D7000 and 24-120 lens combination is becoming my favorite in a long, long time……. This is the “new” 24-120 f4 AFs VR.

*Burger Alert: I just had a great burger in a very unexpected place. My sweet waitress Cynthia at the London, Kentucky Ruby Tuesday’s served up a very good burger yesterday when I met
Chuck Summers for lunch. I would give it a 4.3 pickles, best I’ve ever giving close to home!