I’ve been trying to wrap my head around why anyone would want to visit every Cracker Barrel restaurant in the US like this charming 80-year old couple but I finally came up with something. They did it because they wanted to. That’s really all the reason anyone needs to do anything to be honest, and they did it in a manner that made sense at least. At the very least it’s a pleasing time to sit down and enjoy a meal with your loved on while still completing one more leg of a life-long journey.
Ray and Wilma Yoder have been doing this for nearly 40 years now and have visited every Cracker Barrel in the continental United States. They’ve been constantly on the go, delivering motorhomes to make a living and seeking out each and every Cracker Barrel in the 44 states where they’re located. They finally reached number 645 in Tualatin, Oregon, where they finally sat, content in a job well done and a lifelong dream realized. It might seem a bit odd to some folks but keep in mind that one person’s dream is not like another’s. What one person finds relevant in life and worth achieving might seem a little strange to another person, but it’s no less valid to the person doing it.
It’s definitely impressive to see anyone with this type of dedication anymore. These folks have spent four decades of their lives together seeking out every restaurant in the chain, no doubt having to visit some after they were done being built. This is especially easy to assume since Cracker Barrel was founded in 1969 in Lebanon, Tennessee before it started to spread throughout the states. If they began forty years ago that means they started in 1977, a full six years after the name had already started to gain ground in the states.
I kind of wonder how often they had to backtrack through different states trying to reach the latest Cracker Barrel that just opened and if they’ll keep doing so if any more continue to spring up. It’s an impressive thing that they’ve come this far, but I do wonder if they’re going to be able to keep going at this point. 80 years isn’t much for some people and the two of them look as though they could weather through a few more, but it’s going to be harder going the older they get.
Plus, I don’t know as I’ve ever heard of delivering motorhomes to make a living. I’m going to just go along and believe it since there’s no reason not to, but that seems interesting to say the least. It seems like a job that would allow you to see a lot of the country and live an extraordinary life, but not enjoy a family all that much. Who knows though? Maybe they made it work somehow or maybe they decided that wasn’t something they wanted in their lives. This kind of life doesn’t seem like it would cater too much to a family, but it’s still one that seems highly satisfying.
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