What the air does out here
The barbershop at Mile 73 keeps two chairs, one striped pole, and a kettle of bay leaves that has not been off the heat in years. Hot towels come off the warmer, and the steam runs spiced bay leaf and warm clove under a splash of dark rum, patted on at the finish by a man who has been doing this since haircuts cost less.
Who rides with it
First-haircut kids gripping the armrests. Standing-appointment men who arrive early to wait longer. The barber, who has two chairs and one opinion and issues both with the hot towel.
Pair it at the next stop
Jake, Mile 66, made this promise: the tailgate citrus takes up with spice and a barber's chair, and the man keeps it the first Saturday of every month, an endorsement the barber declines to discuss. Cleaned up and out the door, the dressed-up evening waits at Agent 007, Mile 91, the first porch of the Basin.