In 2018 I will feature a random (yet alphabetical) selection of photos I have taken from my nearly 20 years of back roads travel in the United States and Canada. I may even throw in a few random shots from other trips to Japan, Mexico and the Philippines. My theme is called America’s Back Roads: A Grab Bag of Places in Pictures.
Elk Bar and Good Food – Chinook, Montana
I love old neon signs!!
Elk Bar and Good Food – Chinook, Montana
End of Trail Motel – Broken Bow, OK
More good old neon
End of Trail Motel Neon sign in Broken Bow, OK
End of The Trail – Dawkins Rail Trail – Hager Hill, KY
End of Dawkins Line Rail Trail near Hager Hill, KY
Elvis Statue – Memphis, Tennessee
A shot with Elvis in Memphis
Earth, Texas
Welcome to Earth, TexasYes, there is Earth Police
Eagles – The Living Kind – Lexington, Kentucky; Cave Run Lake, Kentucky; Lewistown, Montana
Eagle at Jacobson Park, Lexington, KentuckyEagle I saw when driving by Lewistown, MontanaEagle taken at Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery near Cave Run Lake, Kentucky
Eclipesville USA – Hopkinsville, Kentucky & Cadiz, Kentucky
Three of my grandchildren at the Eclipseville Photo Board (courtesy of Marissa Noe)Catching the Solar Eclipse in Cadiz, KYThe “diamond ring” effect begins as seen from Cadiz, KY
Ehlenbach Cheese Chalet – DeForest, Wisconsin
One of the two murals that decorate the outside of Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet
Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Palace Hotel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Echo Lake – Mount Evans, Colorado
Sitting on top of the world at Echo Lake near the base of the summit of Mt. Evans near Denver, Colorado
Elephant Buttes – Tuba City, Arizona
Elephant Buttes east of Tuba City on US 180
Eskimo Pie – Onawa, Iowa
Onawa, Iowa, Home of the Eskimo Pie
Elbe, Washington
Small Elbe Church in Elbe, WA
El Kapp Motel – Raton, New Mexico
More great neon
El Kapp Motel in Raton, NM
Eiheiji Temple – Fukui, Japan
Main gate to Eiheiji. Note the monk walking across. He was barefoot. (ca 1976).
Easy Street – Port Orchard, Washington
Easy Street, Port Orchard
Eiffel Towers of Paris, Texas and Paris, Tennessee
These two compete for the tallest – Paris, Texas added a cowboy hat to make theirs tallest.
Eiffel Tower in Paris, Tennessee is 60 feet tallThe Paris, Texas Eiffel Tower with a Cowboy Hat on top
Erie Canal – Medina, New York
Culvert Road Tunnel under Erie Canal
Egg Harbor, Wisconsin
Welcome to Egg Harbor, WI
Lake Eufala, Oklahoma
Lake Eufaula, Oklahoma
Egrets – Lexington, Kentucky; Cave Run Lake, Kentucky; Uncertain, Texas
Egret flies off at Jacobson Park in Lexington, KYA Great Egret relaxes in the swamp near Uncertain, TexasEgret taking a walk along a pond at the Minor E. Clark Fish Hatchery near Cave Run Lake, KY
Empire State Building – New York City
Empire State Building – as seen from Hoboken, New Jersey
Enchanted Highway – Regent, North Dakota
Enchanted Highway in North DakotaSumoflam on the Enchanted Highway near Regent, ND
Everglades National Park – Florida
Sumoflam at the Everglades in Florida in July 1990
Enjoy the Ride
My Travel Theme!
Sumoflam – Enjoy the Ride
Eagle Art from All Over: Kingston, Washington; Cut Bank, Montana; Joseph, Oregon; Idaho Falls, Idaho; Oglesby, Illinois;
Found this eagle in Kingston, WashingtonBig mural in Cut Bank, MontanaEagle statue in Joseph, OregonLarge eagle sculpture in Idaho Falls, IdahoWooden carved eagle at Starved Rock State Park in Oglesby, IllinoisEagle in Utica, IllinoisMore eagles at Starved Rock State Park
Embro, Ontario
Embro, Ontario, home of the Highland Games
Eighty Four, Pennsylvania
Eighty Four, PA Post OfficeWelcome to 84 Country – Eighty Four , PA
Elk Photos – Elkton, Oregon; Yellowstone National Park; Sugar City, Idaho
An Elk Bull near Elkton, OregonA solitary elk bull relaxes in the meadow at YellowstoneElk Bull in Sugar City, Idaho
Euclid, Ohio
Welcome to Euclid
Elliston Place Diner – Nashville, Tennessee
At Nashville’s oldest eatery – Elliston Place Diner – Featured in Antsy McClain’s video
If you like what you see, you may want to check out my book: Less Beaten Paths of America: Unique Town Names, available on Amazon. My second book, Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions, will be available in late April or early May 2018. Click on the photo below for more details or to get a copy of the book.
During the month of April I participated with nearly 2000 other bloggers worldwide in the “Blogging from A to Z Challenge” which is now in its 7th year. This was my second year to participate and this year’s theme for my series was “Wanderlust.” As a “Travelographer,” my posts tend to be photo heavy. I travel and take loads of photos. This is my way of sharing the wonders of the back roads of America.
Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX
Following are links to the complete A to Z set. Just click on the banner for each and letter and enjoy the posts and the photos. I hope all readers will Enjoy the Ride as much as I have enjoyed sharing it!
There are not many better things on a back road trip than running into unexpected wildlife. There is an abundance of birds and animals to be discovered on the road. For me, my camera is always at the ready for the chance meeting of some interesting animal or bird.
Sandhill Cranes fly over high plains near Dell, MT
One such incident happened on a gravel road near Dell, Montana. I was on the lookout for bison as I drive along Ted Turner’s massive bison ranch. While stopped to look I heard a strange bird call that I had never heard and shortly thereafter a pair of large birds came zipping by. I got some shots, but wasn’t sure what I had until I got to the hotel later that night and discovered they were a pair of Sandhill Cranes, my first ever sighting of these glorious birds.
Sandhill Cranes near Cecilia, KYA pair of Sandhill Cranes at sunset near Cecilia, KY
Just a few years later in my own state of Kentucky I was able to track down a migration of 1000s of these magnificent birds. I actually came close to walking among their huge flock and they were flying all around me. Words can’t explain the awe I had.
These birds migrate north back to their homes in Michigan and Wisconsin and fly through Kentucky in late January. They stop in the bounteous cornfields to eat the leftovers that remained after harvest.
1000s of sandhill cranes converse on a field near Cecilia, KYSandhill Cranes take flightSandhill Cranes fly over Cecilia, KY
Chance encounters are always a thrill. On a morning drive in Grand Teton National Park on a snowy morning in March 2013, I caught a fox leaping in the snow out of the corner of my eye. The lovely animal stopped and stared at me as I sought to nab a shot.
Fox on Snow in Grand Teton National ParkMigrating Snow Geese by the hundreds in Arkansas in February 2017
On another trip earlier this year, we were driving on a backroad in Arkansas when we saw a “field of white” ahead of us. Turned out to be a massive flock of migrating snow geese.
There could have been 1000s of them here, much the same as the Sandhill Cranes I noted above. But it was such an unplanned surprise.
Once again, camera was always at the ready, so I was able to get a few shots while still sitting in the van (though we had to go about a mile down the road to turn around and accommodate the photo shoot.
Snow Geese everywhereA flock of Snow Geese darkens the sky1000s of snow geese in a small field in central Arkansas
Just like the snow geese, I happened upon a large flock of white pelicans at Andes Lake in South Dakota. I could see them from a distance and thought they were ducks.
Pelicans in Lake Andes, SDPelicans taking flight at Andes LakeAntelope in open range along the side of Wyoming 120
Of course, its not always about birds. There are plenty of opportunities in the high plains to come across America’s fastest animal, the pronghorn antelope.
On trips through Montana and Wyoming I always saw these lovely sleek animals. Sometimes I got them right on the side of the road.
I did have one lucky trip in 2013 when I was driving through Colorado and saw a mother and her two calves go jaunting through the tall grass. I was able to get a nice shot with my telephoto lens.
Antelope Doe and Calves as seen from CO Hwy 13 north of Craig, COAntelope just stared back at me…didn’t runA small family of pronghorn Antelope scamper across a field near Pulis Lane in Wilsall, Montana.Antelope on the Run in WyomingA big bison poses for me in Yellowstone
The National Parks are always a great place to get some nice wildlife shots. I have been to Yellowstone three times in the past 5 years and have seen a nice variety of wildlife, but mainly its the bison that roam free that are a thrill. I was amazed at how huge some of these guys get. One that walked by my car was at least 7 feet tall.
Bison and calves relax by a lake in YellowstoneBison roam freely along the Grand Loop roadBison relax along Lava Creek in Yellowstone while pronghorned antelope look on from the backgroundBuffalo in southern Montana on Ted Turner’s sprawling ranch near Dell, MTAnother Bison in Yellowstone ParkA solitary elk bull relaxes in the meadow at Yellowstone
Elk are another great large mammal to look for. I have seen them in Yellowstone and Grand Teton, as well as some of the mountain drives I made.
These are lovely animals. And, like the bison, are huge.
Elk Bull in Sugar City, IdahoAn Elk Bull near Elkton, OregonOne antlered elk bull on a breeding farm near Archer, IDAn elk was seen roaming the area around Mammoth Hot Springs in YellowstoneDeer at sunrise in Shenandoah National Park
The great culprit of car accidents and frequent recipient of roadkill awards are deer. These can be seen along highways everywhere both day and night.
I recently made a trip to Shenandoah National Park and got some very nice shots of deer. I have many more from other places, but these are my best.
Deer jumping away in Shenandoah National ParkDeer looking onDeer on the road from Paradise in Mt. Rainier National ParkDeer grazing in the snow in Lewistown, MontanaBald Eagle shot taken in mid April 2017 near Cave Run Lake, KY
Sometimes I make trips to find the wildlife myself. Such was the case recently on a visit to the fish hatchery near Cave Run Lake in Eastern Kentucky. I was in search of some of the bald eagles that hang around there. Found one!
There have been more sightings recently of these lovely and regal birds. I have seen one or two almost every week at Jacobson Park locally and also have been able to see a nest with three adults and two offspring near Taylorsville Lake west of Lexington.
Love these eagles.
Eagle at Jacobson Lake in LexingtonEagle at Taylorsville Lake, KYGreat Blue Heron
My most favorite wildlife subject is the Great Blue Heron. These huge birds hang around lakes and rivers in Kentucky and many other places. I literally have 1000s of photos of them. Here are a few recent ones from Lexington.
I have photos of these birds in Texas, Arkansas, Tennessee, Ohio and other places as well.
Blue herons in Taylorsville LakeBlue Heron in Flight over Jacobson Lake in KentuckyBreakfast time
I could post dozens and dozens of other photos, but I will only add a few other wildlife shots to this post from my travels.
Cormorants in flight over KentuckyTurkey vulture gathering on a road in central KentuckyPrairie Dog – Cactus Flats, SDPrairie Dog — standing watch in Cactus FlatsA prairie dog scampers near the Camp Disappointment MonumentMama Doggie – Cactus Flats, SDPelicans in formation over the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston, TXA pelican starts its dive for a meal into the gulfPelicans fly in formation over the beach in GalvestonChristmas morning sunrise in Ocean City , MD and greeted by a dolphin in the foreground.A closeup shot of a seagull taken on Bremerton Ferry while crossing the Puget Sound in WashingtonSeagull in flight with the Gulf of Mexico behind itA couple of seagulls “converse” as they enjoy the view over Lake Superior in WisconsinA pair of seagulls glide by in GalvestonCaught some nice seagull shots in Egg Harbor, WIAn osprey in flightMountain Goat in the Badlands of South DakotaA Great Egret relaxes in the swamp near Uncertain, TexasA red squirrel with a mouthful in Nebraska City, NECattle Egret seen in Angleton, TexasI found a gator in Brazos Bend State Park in TexasAnother Gator in Brazos Bend State Park