Stinging their praises: An update on Rhode Island's giant Exeter Scrap Metal scorpion

 A year and a half ago, we did a post about the giant green and yellow scorpion statue made out of old propane tanks, engine parts and other scrap metal castoffs that sits at the entrance of Exeter Scrap Metal in Exeter, Rhode Island, Eccentric Roadside's hometown (click here to read it). It took a little while, but just recently the legit Rhode Island press (The Providence Journal) also did a story about the place that went into much greater detail (unlike us, they actually talked to someone there) that answered all the burning questions ("who owns the place?" "why a scorpion?" "does he have a name?") we were too lazy...er, busy to ask.

Turns out the place is owned by a Mr. Kevin Gilligan, and the sculpture was created by various employees and family members and you can click here to read the full investigative report.

And we're sure when Thomas Jefferson said "The press is the best instrument for enlightening the  mind of man, and improving him as a rational, moral and social being," he meant stories about giant green and yellow scorpion statues.

Heavy metal act: The giant scorpion of Exeter, Rhode Island

We've blogged about our adopted hometown of Exeter, Rhode Island and its rural, "there's no there there" vibe, so you can imagine our delight when we spotted a giant green and yellow scorpion made up of old propane tanks, engine parts and other scrap metal castoffs gracing the side of main-drag Route 3. Exeter is already an eccentric little place, what with the Middle of Nowhere Diner and Yahgoo Valley, Rhode Island's only commercial downhill skiing "mountain," but this really puts the town on the eccentric roadside attraction map. To those who ask why a predatory arthropod or why green and yellow, we would offer why put a smile on the Mona Lisa? An artist follows his muse, especially when he's got to use whatever materials he's got lying around. Our hats go off to Exeter Scrap Metal and the talented artist that put this roadside delight out there for all to drink in. You rock us like a hurricane.

Happy Valentine's Day

This lovestruck love truck is parked in the romance capital of the universe, Exeter, Rhode Island. Can cupid be far?

All dressed up and Nowhere to go: The Middle of Nowhere Diner of Exeter, Rhode Island

The food doesn't make these patrons have blurry faces...I did that in Photoshop.

My omelet was so good...

...that I cleaned my plate...

...and didn't have room for these yummy desserts.

You might see a chicken or two in the parking lot (Rhode Island does have a chicken as its state bird, after all).

They took some pretty hilarious liberties photographically on the menu with those mountains...

Here's what the real middle of nowhere looks like heading to the north...

...and the south.

There's something admirable about the modesty of a place that declares it's in the middle of nowhere. Such is the case of the Middle of Nowhere Diner on Route 3 in Exeter, Rhode Island. Exeter, 21 miles southwest of Providence, is not exactly what you'd call cosmopolitan, and that's the way the Exeterians like it. And that includes us, as we've been Exeter residents since the early 90s. We finally made it to the M.O.N. diner just recently and were not disappointed by its friendly, small town atmosphere and good grub. You might even see a chicken or two walking around the parking lot, in keeping with Exeter's eccentric rural ambiance. So if Exeter is the middle of nowhere, and I live here, then I guess I must be a real Nowhere man, sitting in my Nowhere land, making all my Nowhere plans for nobody.