Illinois – Less Beaten Paths of America Travel Blog

April 25, 2018April 25, 2018

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The R Things #AtoZChallenge

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.

Ric’s Grill – Steak in Water Tower – Lethbridge, Alberta

Route 66 Soda / Route Beer – Mokena, Illinois

Rabbit Hash, Kentucky

The Old Rabbit Hash General Store. It burned down in 2016 and had to be rebuilt.

Restroom Hiker Mural – Damascus, Virginia

Hiker painting on a restroom wall in Damascus

Other Restroom Fun – Story, Indiana; Hopland, California; San Francisco, California; Cleveland, Ohio; Cypress, Texas; Cincinnati, Ohio; Nebraska City, Nebraska; Ashland, Montana; Frenchglen, Oregon

A sign outside the restrooms at the Story Inn in Story, Indiana

The sign talking about “Weird Restrooms” at Real Goods in Hopland, CA

There were also a number of tile mosaics. This one was at the entrance to the restrooms in Golden Gate Park visitor’s center

Tavern of Little Italy Restroom is plastered with the history of Little Italy in Cleveland

Men’s Stall Door in restroom at Burger Shack in Cypress, Texas

Jungle Jim’s Restroom in Cincinnati have entrances that are deceptive. They actually lead to immaculate huge restrooms.

Men’s Restroom at Mo’s in Reedsport, Oregon

Sapp Brothers in Nebraska City, the “Cleanest Restrooms on I-29”

Restroom Door in a Convenience Store in Ashland, Montana

Sometimes even a place like this looks heavenly – the ceramic toilet is a planter. The real place is in the outhouse. Frenchglen, Oregon

Rock City – near Valier, Montana

Rock City Rd. and Dean Rd., north of Valier, MT

Sumoflam at Rock City north of Valier, Montana

Geographical Center of North America – Rugby, North Dakota

Rugby, ND – The Geographic Center of North America

The Rugby Geographical Center of North America monument juxtaposed with the HUB Motel sign in Rugby, ND

Real Goods Store – Hopland, California

Sumoflam with Solar Expert and Real Goods founder John Schaeffer

Riscky’s Steakhouse and BBQ – Fort Worth, Texas

Rudyard, Montana

Ragged Falls – Algonquin National Park, Ontario

Ragged Falls in Algonquin National Park in Ontario

Rosie the Fish – Sekiu, Washington

Sekiu’s somewhat famous “Rosie” welcomes you to the town

Red Squirrel – Nebraska City, Nebraska

A red squirrel with a mouthful in Nebraska City, NE

Rising Eagle Sculpture – Bismarck, North Dakota

Rising Eagle Sculpture in Pioneer Park, Bismarck, ND

Royal Donut – Danville, Illinois

Royal Motel – Ironwood, Michigan

A Route 66 type of vintage neon sign at the Royal Motel in Ironwood, MI

Riverside, Iowa

Future Birthplace of James T. Kirk in Riverside, IA

Live Long and Prosper – Sumoflam and the Starship Riverside

Random Road – Cleveland, Ohio

Mayfield Road and Random Road, by the little park in Little Italy

Romance, Missouri

Roseman Covered Bridge – Winterset, Iowa

Roseman Covered Bridge in Winterset, Iowa

Raton, New Mexico

Rio Brazos Dance Hall – Granbury, Texas

Roxy Theatres – Choteau, Montana; Langdon, North Dakota; Clarksdale, Mississippi; Shelby, Montana

Montana Grill and Roxy Theater in Shelby, Montana

Rockpile Museum – Gillette, Wyoming

Roosters Roosters – Needville, Texas; E. Peoria, Illinois; Seymour, Missouri; Eldon, Iowa; St. Louis, Missouri; Granbury, Texas

A big metal rooster sits in front of the Jay Cafe in Needville, Texas..doesn’t look like a jay to me.

Sumoflam with the giant Rooster with a Top Hat at Carl’s Bakery in E. Peoria

Uncle Rooster’s Big Rooster on US 60 near Seymour, Missouri

Red Rooster (looks white to me) – Red Rooster Collectibles Eldon, IA

Giant Rooster greets you at Joe’s Cafe entrance in Greg Freeman Park, St. Louis

Roadhouse Relics – Austin, Texas

Russell Flat Holiness Church – Sand Springs, Kentucky

Regent, North Dakota – Home of the Enchanted Highway

Welcome to Regent and Enchanted Highway Road Map

Enchanted Highway Gift Shop in Regent, ND – closed the day were there

Ronks, Pennsylvania

Dutch Haven Restaurant, Home of the famed Amish Shoo Fly Pie, located in Ronks, PA just down the road from Intercourse

Russell’s Point, Ohio

Roswell, New Mexico

Need some alien stuff? Plenty in Roswell

Rexburg, Idaho

Rocket Rest Stop – Elkmont, Alabama

At the Rocket Rest Stop in Elkmont, AL – home of a Saturn 1B. Taken in 2005

Large Saturn Rocket at Welcome Center in Elkmont, Alabama

Ride the Ducks – Seattle, Washington

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio

Real Quiet Lane – Lexington, Kentucky

Shhh…this is a Real Quiet Lane in Lexington, KY

Red River Gorge – Slade, Kentucky

Visiting Kentucky’s Red River Gorge in November 2016

Rachel the Golden Pig – Pikes Place Market – Seattle, Washington

Rachel the Golden Pig (on the right!!!) and Sumoflam at Pike Place Market in Seattle

Redcliff, Colorado

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.

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April 23, 2018April 23, 2018

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The P Things #AtoZChallenge

Peculiar, Missouri

Possum Trot Supper Club – Oakwood, Illinois

Pierre Part, Louisiana

Visiting Troy Landry of Swamp People fame in Pierre Part, LA in 2014

Swamp People Truck at Duffy’s Bait Shop in Pierre Part

Pound Gap, Virginia

Pound Gap Historical Sign on the Virginia/Kentucky Border

Prairie Dogs – Browning, Montana; Cactus Flat, South Dakota

A prairie dog scampers near the Camp Disappointment Monument in Montana

Prairie Dog — standing watch in Cactus Flat

Pal’s Sudden Service – Bristol, Tennessee

After eating Pal’s food make sure to Exercise Daily. Couldn’t help but chuckle

Perryville Battlefield – Perryville, Kentucky

Pink Elephants Everywhere! – DeForest, Wisconsin; Haubstadt, Indiana; Barboursville, West Virginia; Russellville, Kentucky

Martini bearing pink and white elephant pair at Hipp Nursery in Haubstadt, IN

This pink elephant is in the Huntington, WV suburb of Barboursville on US 60

Big pink elephant in Russellville, KY, just around the corner from the big cow with pink sunglasses

Need a Pink Elephant T-Shirt? I know where you can get one!

And then there is the Pink Elephant Car Wash – Seattle, Washington

Pink Elephant Car Wash in Seattle, Washington

Poutine – A Canadian Favorite – Paris, Ontario

Poutine – Fries, Brown Gravy and Cheese Curds -Pure yummiferousness

Portsmouth Murals – Portsmouth, Ohio

Chillicothe Street 1940s by Robert Dafford in Portsmouth, OH

Portland Head Light – Portland, Maine

Visiting the beautiful lighthouse on the rocky shores of the Atlantic Ocean in Portland, Maine in 2015

Just down the road from Hell – Pinckney, Michigan

Planet Damon Water Tower – Damon, Texas

There is Planet Hollywood and then there is Planet Damon…

Presti’s Bakery – Little Italy – Cleveland, Ohio

Prestis Bakery….the best cannoli in the world!! And some other good Italian goodies

Italian Yumminess in the case at Presti’s

Prosperity, Pennsylvania

Pain Reliever Bar – Nekoma, North Dakota

International Pain Reliever Bar in Nekoma, ND (notice they used a New Mexico flag??)

PRHBTN Murals (there are more than 20 – here are a couple) – Lexington, Kentucky

Sumoflam at MrDHEO’s wall painting in Lexington, one of a few new PRHBTN murals

The enormous “I Am MO” mural in the Lexington Distillery District

Louis Armstrong Mural by Sergio Odeith from Portugal, for PRHBTN 2015

Papa Joe’s – Crescent Junction, Utah

Sumoflam at Papa Joe’s in Crescent Junction

The Scooby Doo Mystery Machine at Papa Joe’s

P’Maws Bait Shack – Pierre Part, Louisiana

P’MAWS Bait Shack in Pierre Part, LA (Notice it is SWAMP spelled backwards)

Cuddling with a White Gator at P’MAWS in Pierre Part, LA

Pat’s King of Steaks – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Puget Sound – Seattle, Washington

Seattle as seen from a boat in the Puget Sound

Perry Como Statues – Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

Singing Perry Como statue in downtown Canonsburg, PA

Perry Como Statue in the Canonsburg McDonald’s

Fun Stuff in Portland, Oregon

Hung Far Low – Famous Chop Suey and Famous name – Portland, Oregon

Pheasant Bar – Winner, South Dakota

Petrified Forest National Park – Holbrook, Arizona

Sumoflam and tourists at Petrified Forest in 1983

Pinto McBean – Bow Island, Alberta, Canada

Pinto McBean statue in Bow Island, Alberta

A few Paul Bunyan guys here and there – Bemidji, Minnesota; Nitro, West Virginia; Minocqua, Wisconsin; Wentzville, Missouri

a Big Paul Bunyan in Minocqua, Wisconsin

Big Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox in Nitro, WV

Paul Bunyan Muffler Man just off of the interstate in Wentzville, MO

Price Less Foods – Irvine, Kentucky

Popeye Statue – Alma, Arkansas

At the Popeye Statue in Alma, AR in 2009

Port Gibson First Presbyterian Church – Port Gibson, Mississippi

Unique Steeple of the First Presbyterian Church in Port Gibson, MS

Powder River, Wyoming

An old neon relic of the past, the Tumble Inn Lounge/Cafe, with a vintage neon look in Powder River, WY

Paradise Point – Scottsville, Kentucky

Scenes from Paris – or four or five of them – Paris, Ontario; Paris, Kentucky; Paris, Texas; Paris, Tennessee

Homes and businesses along the river in Paris, Ontario

Welcome to Paris Catfish – they too claim to be the Catfish Capital

Point Defiance Zoo – Tacoma, Washington

Paul’s Hamburgers – Kansas City, Kansas

Giant Ice Cream Cone at Paul’s Hamburgers – Kansas City, KS

Peaks to Craters Scenic Highway – Idaho

Peaks to Craters scenic byway through the mountains of central Idaho

Grandview Canyon on US 93 – northern section of the Peaks to Craters Scenic Byway

Pelicans – Lake Andes, South Dakota; Galveston, Texas; Lexington, Kentucky

White Pelicans at Lake Andes in South Dakota

Pelicans in formation over the Gulf of Mexico in Galveston, TX

A rare sighting of a White Pelican flying over Lexington in late April 2018

Plaza Theatres – Glasgow, Kentucky & Wharton, Texas

Playhouse Square – Cleveland, Ohio

Cleveland’s Playhouse Square Giant Chandelier

Pea Meal Breakfast Anyone? – Woodstock, Ontario

PPG Glass Castle – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Professor Market – Tremont District – Cleveland, Ohio

Professor Market wall advertisement…located in the Tremont District of Cleveland

Pochahontas, Illinois

Pochahontas, IL – “Pokey” – Home of Country Singer Gretchen Wilson (Gimme a Hell Ya!)

Plaquemine, Louisiana

Pike Place Market – Seattle, Washington

Seattle’s famed Pike Place Market – what a place!

Penn’s Store – Gravel Switch, Kentucky

Pella, Iowa

Vermeer Dutch Windmill in Pella, IA – the largest working windmill in the United States

Penguins – Omaha, Nebraska; Tacoma, Washington

The small penguins stand majestically at feeding time at Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma, WA

Pheasants on the Prairie – Enchanted Highway – Regent, North Dakota

Enchanted Highway Stop #5 – Pheasants on the Prairie

Pickle’s Place – Arco, Idaho

Pickle’s Place – Home of the “Atomic Burger”

Pete the Curler – Bemidji, Minnesota

Pete the Curler by Dale Lewis – one of 25 pieces in the 2014 Bemidji Sculpture Walk

Pork Chop Sandwiches (as seen on Andy Griffith) – Mt. Airy, North Carolina

Snappy Lunch – home of the Pork Chop Sandwich

Cooking up the pork chops at Snappy Lunch

Old Prairie School House – Frisno, Montana

Old Prairie School House on Smith-Frisno Road west of Havre, MT. I wanted this one in black and white…

Giant Prairie Dog Statue – Cactus Flat, South Dakota

Sumoflam with the Giant Prairie Dog – Cactus Flat

Pelo’s Sundries – LeClaire, Iowa

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April 20, 2018April 20, 2018

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The O Things #AtoZChallenge

Only, Tennessee

Oak Creek Canyon – Sedona, Arizona

Sumoflam at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook in 1982

A Century plant in bloom with the scenic Red Rock country of Sedona below. This was taken at the top of Schnebly Hill Road in 1983

Ostriches – Fossil Rim Wildlife Center – Glen Rose, Texas

Otterville Falls – Otterville, Ontario

Otterville Falls in Otterville, Ontario, Canada

Owl Heads Grocery – South Irvine, Kentucky

Owl Heads Grocery in South Irvine. Love the sign!

Oculus – Council Bluffs, Iowa

Oculus by Broward Hatcher, at Bayliss Park in Council Bluffs

Family Home For 4 Years – Oita, Japan

The village of Usuki, also in Oita, is home of a famous Buddha statue. It is also the original landing place of the Dutch when they first arrived in Japan in the 1600s.

Old Orchard Beach, Maine

Sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean as seen from Old Orchard Beach, ME

Catching the sunrise with grandchildren Jos and Rockwell at Old Orchard Beach

Odd, West Virginia

Odd School Road takes you into the town of Odd, WV

Orca Art – Seattle, Washington & Port Orchard, Washington

A nice Orca Sculpture across the street from the Seattle Aquarium

Dignity: Of Earth & Sky: Oacoma/Chamberlain, South Dakota

Dignity is a stainless steel, 50-foot-tall statue was specifically designed by sculptor Dale Lamphere to honor the cultures of the Lakota and Dakota people.

Sumoflam at the base of the amazing statue called Dignity which overlooks the towns of Chamberlain and Oacoma in South Dakota.

Omaha, Nebraska

Giant Wall Mural in Little Mexico district of Omaha

Over-the-Rhine District – Cincinnati, Ohio

Historic buildings in the Over-the-Rhine district

Orin, Wyoming

Orange Moose Bar & Grill – Black River Falls, Wisconsin

Olympia, Washington

An Octopus mural, one of many wall murals in Olympia

Oldest Lake in America – Clear Lake, California

A view across Clear Lake, one of the oldest freshwater lakes in North America

Once in a Millennium Moon – America’s tallest wall mural – Shreveport, Louisiana

Tallest wall mural in US “Once in a Millennium Moon” is 14 stories tall…in Shreveport, LA

Olde Heidelberg Restaurant – Heidelberg, Ontario

Sumoflam gnoshing on pig tails at Olde Heidelberg

Okay, Oklahoma

Our Lady of the Rockies – Butte, Montana

Our Lady of the Rockies info sign at Butte Overlook

Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ – Kansas City, Kansas & Kansas City, Missouri

Oklahoma Joe’s BBQ in a gas station – Kansas City, KS

Stopped in KC to enjoy lunch with my good friend Brad Sweeten at Oklahoma Joe’s in KC, MO

Ohio & Erie Canal Towpath – Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio

Sumoflam at Cuyahoga Valley National Park and the Ohio and Erie Towpath Bike Trailhead

Oddville, Kentucky

Oddville United Methodist Church, Oddville, KY

Oil Springs, Ontario

Off the Beaten Path Ice Cream – Damascus, Virginia

Off the Beaten Path Ice Cream in Damascus, VA

Ice Cream Chart in Off the Beaten Path… LOL

Annual Oshawa Rib Fest – Oshawa, Ontario

Davor Zuder and some smokin’ ribs at Oshawa Rib Fest in Ontario in 2008

BBQ Pitmaster Oliver Zuder showing off his trophy at the Oshawa Ribfest in 2008 in Ontario

Ocean City, Maryland

Old Paradise Cafe sign in Ocean City. What is a beach resort town without a flamingo or two?

Olympic National Park – Washington

Mount Olympus and Olympic National Park as seen from Hwy 104

Onalaska, Wisconsin

Ole’s Big Game Steakhouse – Paxton, Nebraska

Big Moose at Ole’s (and one with antlers too)

Ohio Valley Steelworkers Statue – Steubenville, Ohio

Opal, Wyoming

Ore Dock Mural – Ashland, Wisconsin

The Ashland Oredock Mural in Ashland, WI

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Category: Illinois

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The R Things #AtoZChallenge

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