As the pandemic changed most people’s plans, it also changed ours.  Early in the year, one of our camping friends called and said, “if we want to make reservations to camp in Maine around the 4th of July, the six month window opens today!”  So the planning began – reservations in Acadia National Park, then planning the route and camping stops along the way.  Then February came.  Then March.  Then the world fell apart.  Shortly thereafter, the governor of Maine shut down the state to non-residents and that was that.  I won’t say we were undaunted, but we made a change of plans and headed to North Carolina instead, for the week. No lobster-fishing.  No waves crashing on a majestic seashore.  But there were mountains and hikes to be had.  And, since I was involved, there was going to be barbecue

We were camping about an hour north of Asheville, with two other couples, so we decided that toward the end of the week, we would make the journey into town for lunch.  I suggested 12 Bones Smokehouse and they were all in agreement.  We verified that they were open (for carryout) and they had actually set up picnic tables in their lot where you could dine.  My dear wife ordered a pulled pork sandwich, with cucumber salad and their smoked potato salad.   

This was moist, smoky pulled pork, without a need for sauce.  She also enjoyed the freshness of the cucumber and tomato salad, with a lite vinaigrette.  I also ordered a side of ribs, to share and taste (with a side of jalapeno cheese grits). 

The ribs were  sauced with their house blueberry chipotle sauce.  It was a sweet sauce, with a kick and the ribs were excellent – just the right tug to pull the meat from the bone.  The jalapeno cheese grits had the same “right” amount of kick.  For myself, I ordered the Hogzilla plate,

 

sugar bacon, pulled pork, home-made bratwurst and pepper jack cheese on a hoagie roll, with mac-n-cheese and their “Damn Good Corn Puddin'”.  Here’s a close-up of the Hogzilla:  

This had the same moist, smoky pork, a really fine brat and thick-cut, smokey bacon.  A really fine sandwich.  And they didn’t lie about the corn pudding.  It was “damn good”.  We actually got a couple of more sides of it, to go.  Our friends had many of the same things (they loved the ribs, too) and also had the brisket, which they said was excellent.  What a meal.