Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

McGee: Roy cheeseburgers not to be missed

"Cheeseburger!" said the Lady of the House.

We had just spent the last three hours zipping over miles of two-lane blacktop through miles of vast emptiness that is northeastern New Mexico.

"With green chile," she whispered.

We were on our way to Red River, but our immediate destination, our shining El Dorado, was the dusty town of Roy, where we would find the best green chili cheeseburger in the world, according to the Lady of the House.

We pulled into the town and I took a right.

"Cheeseburger?" she asked

"It's fine," I said, "It's only ten 'til 3. I saw a park over here, we can walk the dogs."

It was a lovely little park and the puppies and I had a glorious romp.

"Cheeseburger?" A soft whisper rose from the car.

"OK," I said, putting the dogs in the back seat.

"Cheeseburger?" asked the Lady of the House brightly.

"Just a minute," I said. "I'm thirsty." Pulling a soda from the cooler in the trunk, "Want one?"

She just shook her head.

"Okay" I said, "Now.... wait, I need to stop in the restroom."

A moan of desperation issued from her side of the car

"It's OK," I said getting back in the car, "It's only 3:15. We have plenty of time."

And we were on our way.

Soon the Lady of the House and I were in downtown Roy, New Mexico, standing in front of the town's only restaurant.

The place was closed. It closed at 3 p.m.

Who closes at 3 on a Friday afternoon?

"Cheeseburger?" asked the Lady of the House with a tear in her eye.

"It's OK, dear," I said, "We'll try again on our way back through town."

Later that day, some reported hearing a strange sound echoing through the mountains of New Mexico, they said it sounded like the soft chanting of a single word, over and over again, "Cheeseburger ... cheeseburger..."

Grant McGee is a long-time broadcaster and former truck driver who rides bicycles and likes to talk about his many adventures on the road of life.

Contact him at: [email protected].