Food Truck in a Boat

Astoria, Oregon

In the 1930s, hundreds of wooden "Bowpicker" boats -- all of a standard design, 28 feet long -- cruised the Columbia River, trolling for salmon with gill nets. When the nets were hauled in, the fish would be picked out at the ship's bow, hence their name.

This Bowpicker was retired and turned into a fish and chips "food truck" in 2001. Although it's on wheels, it has been parked here all those years. Despite its history, it only serves Pacific Coast albacore tuna, not salmon. There's usually a line of customers when it's open.

Because this is a real, mostly open boat, it's closed in cold weather -- and because it serves fried fish and chips, it also has to close in windy weather because the gusts blow out the flames on the fryers.