A Trio of Trailheads Conquer Bowmans Island Trail, Talk Manly Man Talk, And Say “Sayonara” To Socks (Who Loves Barbecue).

While the official roster of Trailheads consists of five outdoor-loving, hiking enthusiasts – and one air conditioner-loving, outdoor-avoider- lately, we’re lucky if we can scrape up three people to walk in the woods.

Perhaps our members struggle with pattern recognition. It hasn’t sunk into their thick skulls that TRAILHEADS HIKE EVERY THURSDAY!!! It’s only been that way for four years. Do we expect our guys to be members of Mensa? 

Yes. Yes, we do. Well, at least Trail Master does.

But nooooooooo, Roy had an apparent Thursday-only plumber replacing a faucet, and he had to supervise Mr. Water Works to ensure it was done to his exacting specifications. Roy is a stickler for both hot and cold running water, proper pressure, and finely polished chrome. He’s a water snob. 

Steve had a big business meeting scheduled on a Thursday. But then it was shifted–– to an earlier time on Thursday!

And George needed to participate in an International Olympic Committee thingy. Are they having the Olympics again? Already?! Don’t athletes ever get to take a break? Will George ever actually participate in his revered games? 

With three men out, Trail Master Guy called on his dependable “true” Trailheads, Brad and Patrick, to participate in a repeat agenda from early March: Hike Bowmans Island, eat at Socks’ Love Barbecue, one of our favs. Read about that previous adventure here. He also enlisted Fio and Elvis to join and fill out the ragtag group of mongrels.

The hike got underway, and we shared some “guy talk.” It was like a Dr. Phil Show, but without that bald ass, know-it-all hosting. 

What is guy talk? Well, it’s like locker room talk without all the naked men, towel snapping, musty odors, and combination locks. Guy talk is a mature conversation between mature men about, you know, guy stuff. When Guy and Fio walked ahead, Patrick and Brad talked about Guy. Which is not technically “guy talk” but is considered “Guy Talk.”

The weather was beautiful, and Fio and Elvis took advantage of water sports. Kayaking, waterboarding (is that a sport?), and snorkeling. 

Bowmans Island is a good trail with some offshoot paths that we vow to explore sometime, but on this fine day, we had a mission – to finish hiking and get to Socks’ Love Barbecue by high noon. Plumber Roy was joining us to give a hearty Trailheads’ goodbye to Steven Hartsock, Mr. Socks Himself.

Socks is hanging up his Pit Master apron after seven years and pursuing a new career in construction, which he worked in previously. He’s a good friend and one helluva great cook, and Trailheads have loved sampling his delicious handiwork. We’ve enjoyed meeting his kids, who have occasionally worked in the business. Two are now off at college, probably not studying smoked meats. Read more about the barbecue legend nicknamed Socks in this Atlanta Magazine article: click here.

The good news is he is selling his joint, lock, stock, and barrel, with recipes, to the leading restaurateur in Cumming, and Socks is personally training the new crew. We met Kelly (she and her husband, Brian, are the new owners), as well as Iwona, the new manager. The two delightful women invited us to return– even our wives don’t ask to do that. We shall, ladies, we shall. 

We bellied up to the counter and ordered our lunches. The counter man told us the chopped brisket was almost completely gone. Of course, we snapped up every last morsel.

Trailheads set up camp at the picnic table we hauled down from the hill to the parking lot for tree shade ages ago. Socks has kept it there since. The dogs got their water bowls and sat under the table, grumbling about animal abuse because we rarely share our barbecue with them.

“You think man’s best friend could get a little brisket?” Elvis griped.

“Not going to happen,” said Fio. “The piggy humans eat it all.”

“Why doesn’t dog food come in brisket flavor? You don’t see anyone smoking Kibbles.”

“Elvis, you’re a genius. Apply for a patent!” Fio was ecstatic; she's a natural entrepreneur and has Guy's bank account numbers.

“I would, but I can’t work with a pen and paper or a keyboard,” Elvis said sadly. “Humans don’t want us competing.”

“That’s where they get you. I can’t get Siri to understand me either. Two-leggers keep everything for themselves.”

“Humans suck.” Elvis spat, and it landed on his nose.

Maybe humans do suck, but our lunches were amazing. We were so focused on eating that we forgot to photograph our food until after the carnage. We’ve used some photos from previous visits. Who says there’s no integrity left in journalism?

The chopped brisket was incredible, as it always is coming from Socks’ smoker. The man makes wood-smoked meat magic. He is a brisket master. Sliced or chopped, there’s none better.

The ribs were also fantastic. They’re tender, meaty, and chock-full of savory, smoky flavor. In no time, your ribs are transformed into a graveyard of bones picked clean.

The pulled pork was also on point. Socks knows how to get the best from every meat. He treats carnivores right.

And the sides were exceptional. The Yippee Ki Yay Cowboy Beans are so irresistible they demand your fork to, “Giddyup!”

The Fire Roasted Cream Corn is good enough to pass as dessert.

The “OMG” Mac & Cheese lives up to the hype.

Fried Okra does the noble vegetable proud. The green nuggets are battered, bathed in hot oil until golden brown, and dusted with salt. These delectable babies eat like popcorn. It makes you wonder why Fried Okra isn’t sold in buckets at movie theaters. (Psst: call us Regal.)

And the coleslaw cools the palate and satiates your natural desire for cabbage.

Steve “Socks” came out, and we had a terrific conversation. Trailheads thanked him for the tasty grub he’d cooked for us over the years, and we wished him the best on his next life stage. We’ll miss you, “Socks,” but you will live on in your recipes, and we’re thankful for that. Steven has become a good friend of the Trailheads. He has supported our causes, supplied our holiday brisket, and catered one of our momentous birthday parties. He’s a good fellow who we hope to get out on the trail soon.

Arrivederci, Pit Master Extraordinaire!

Rating: Four Ribs*

Socks’ Love Barbecue

1050 Buford Hwy.

Cumming, GA 30041

(470) 302-8383

sockslovebrands.com

*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.

• barbecue

• AtlantaBarbecue

• bbq sauce

• brisket

• Brisket

• ChattahoocheeChallenge

• Chiggers

• Elvis Loves Fio

• hikingforfood

• HikingGeorgia

• hiking

• North Georgia BBQ

• Pierre de Coubertin Medal

• Pulled Pork

• quicksand

• Ribs

• Trailheads

• Trailheads Approved

• White sauce

• TrailheadsHike

• City BBQ

• Summit Coffee

• Okra

• AJC

• Olivia

• Glacier National Park

• Island Ford Trail

• Pulitzer

• Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy

• Atlanta Journal-Constitution