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Sun up over Mt. Haleakala National Park, Maui, HI. At 10,000 feet above sea level the event was attended by hundreds.

Located at the corner of Hwy 52 and SR 115, this is the place to be on any weekday morning. Opens at 6:00am after the cooking crew has been making biscuits for an hour. A steady flow of customers stops for gas, biscuits, coffee and conversation. If you are employed and drive a truck, of any kind, this is your morning stop. Work trucks clog the parking lot, so much so, that the parking lot of the small store across Hwy 115 is a perfect place for those trucks pulling utility trailers, and boom trucks too tall for the canopy covers over the gas pumps. By 6:15 the small table inside has the everyday men sitting with their coffee and discussing local politics, high school sports and other current events. On some mornings the picnic table out front fills up with a second group of men. Watching the customers I can see plumbers, nurses, police officers, firemen, lawn care crews, construction workers off all specialties, motorcycle riders, deliverymen, handymen, electricians, garbage truck crews, roofers, and just plain old people like me wishing I had a truck.

On the weekends the customers change to visitors from the Atlanta area. Riding motorcycles of all kinds this is the perfect stop to take a break, ask directions to a waterfall, lake, fishing spot, campground or to Downtown Dahlonega. Sports cars of all makes on their way to the mountain road curves, stop for something to drink. Campers, hikers and fishermen can be seen filling up their coolers, getting small snacks and exchanging stories as the take a break from their trip to a weekend getaway.

The owners of Pierce’s store have given me permission to take this picture, and I appreciate that. I asked one morning after a purchase of 15 gallons of gas and was about to take the first bite of a sausage, egg and cheese biscuit. Now where did I set my coffee….

Fence line shows the way

Fence divides the way

A reflection of the sunrise which is coming up behind me. The sun is just begining to play with the tops of the mountains