Props have wings, you know

In honor of the space shuttle Discovery launch this afternoon, I went to see a piece of NASA history Monday afternoon.

Well, not exactly.

I dropped by the Surf Dog Café down at St. George Island and talked to owner Lloyd Summer about the propeller that hangs above the door. It reads: “Original Propeller from Apollo VII.”

So, if you hear folks giggling over a grilled cheese sandwich and pointing, you know they’ve noticed it. Lloyd said it’s worth a laugh or two or 10 a day.

Except sometimes people actually believe it.

A guy he knows once came in with his wife and he pointed it out to her. “Look,’’ he said. “It’s the propeller from Apollo VII!!!”

His wife rolled her eyes. “You’re so dumb,’’ she said. “They wouldn’t let Lloyd have that!’’

Lloyd Summer has the perfect name for someone who runs a café at the beach. A travel guide to the Florida panhandle once described him as a cross between Captain Ahab and Jimmy Buffett.

Speaking of Jimmy Buffett, if you’re extra gullible, you can check out the guitar on the wall above the buffet table. It is signed, “Great Buffet! Love, Jimmy.”

And, yes, some folks have asked Lloyd if Buffett really ate there.

The café has a few volleyball trophies hanging from the ceiling, along with some surfboards and old fishing tackle. The “Apollo” propeller is actually off of an old Cessna, and is the perfect conversation piece. It was given to him by John Ficklen, a well-know aviation artist who lives on the island and whose work is on display at the Smithsonian.

If you stretch the menu a bit at the Surf Dog, you’ll find at least one Macon connection on the menu. He offers a “Little Richard Hamburger,’’ served with secret barbecue sauce and a thick slice of smoked bacon.

Lloyd said he might be able to see the shuttle from out on St. George this afternoon. He has seen several of the shuttle launches in the past, even though Cape Canaveral is 250 miles across the state.

His next project? He has three brass boat propellers from the Nina, Pinta and the Santa Maria.

“It helps to have a warped sense of humor,’’ he said.