But that was none of my business. We met all kinds of characters, from country loving, hip-swaying senior citizens at Pop's Tavern to a server who twice told us if she played the hook-and-ring game too much and didn't win it, she might commit suicide. But those were just the stand-out characters.

On a quick side note, I know I've written about the hook and ring game before. But I couldn't find the post I did, where I asked what it's called. Can you help me? Or am I hallucinating?

I'm always surprised at how welcoming the people are in Dundalk dive bars. We struck up friendly conversations with strangers at just about every place we went. And it was so refreshing to see bartenders who actually wanted to serve us, as soon as we walked through the door -- no matter how packed the place was. After being ignored by countless Baltimore bartenders, it was almost shocking.

Our fellow barcrawler Tom got plenty of flack for sporting a black T-shirt which read "Nickelback Sucks." But we expected that.

The biggest surprise were the jaw-droppingly low prices.

At a bar called the New White Swan, the six of us gorged ourselves on 30-odd massive buffalo wings, a plate of fries and two pitchers of beer. It cost $28 dollars. Yeah, you read that right. $28.

Man oh man. 

I'll be dropping the details from our tour like bombs all week. So just get ready. But for now, let me lift a mug of Bud and say, Dundalk, you have never let us down.