Kentucky to Montana: Random Shots from the Road

An Old Truck by a pond in North Dakota
An Old Truck by a pond in North Dakota

I have been on the road to Montana (chiefly along US Route 2) for the past three days now.  I will be writing detailed bogs about the trip, but wanted to post a few random shots from the drive.  The weather has been awesome the entire trip (May 20-22, 2014).  Following are just a few shots from the trip…..

Ran across this old piece of Americana in El Paso, IL
Ran across this old piece of Americana in El Paso, IL
On I 39 North near Bloomington, IL.  Looks like we will drive right into the wind turbines
On I 39 North near Bloomington, IL. Looks like we will drive right into the wind turbines
Beloit, WI Smiley Water Tower
Beloit, WI Smiley Water Tower
The famous pink elephant of DeForest, WI
The famous pink elephant of DeForest, WI
This was actually funny... a giant cow in front of Burger King and the sign is advertising chicken.  Shades of Chick-Fil-A
This was actually funny… a giant cow in front of Burger King and the sign is advertising chicken. Shades of Chick-Fil-A
Grampa's Swamp Side Cafe...sounds yummy.  Seen in Endeavor, WI
Grampa’s Swamp Side Cafe…sounds yummy. Seen in Endeavor, WI
Amazing Clouds seen from the highway in northern Wisconsin
Amazing Clouds seen from the highway in northern Wisconsin
A sign from the past...Ironwood Motel in Ironwood, MI
A sign from the past…Ironwood Motel in Ironwood, MI
Wood Carving of Iron Workers in front of Ironwood Station in Ironwood, MI
Wood Carving of Iron Workers in front of Ironwood Station in Ironwood, MI
A portion of a mural honoring 100s of iron workers in downtown Ironwood, MI
A portion of a mural honoring 100s of iron workers in downtown Ironwood, MI
The start of US Route 2 heading west out of Ironwood, MI
The start of US Route 2 heading west out of Ironwood, MI
Another vintage roadside motel sign on the outskirts of Ironwood on US Route 2
Another vintage roadside motel sign on the outskirts of Ironwood on US Route 2
A couple of old cars near Hurley, WI as seen from Route 2
A couple of old cars near Hurley, WI as seen from Route 2
Antiques or old junk? Hurley, WI
Antiques or old junk? Hurley, WI
US Route 2 rolling hills in eastern Wisconsin
US Route 2 rolling hills in eastern Wisconsin
Miles of birch forest line Route 2 in eastern Wisconsin
Miles of birch forest line Route 2 in eastern Wisconsin
Part of the front display of a "collectibles" shop west of Odanah, WI on US Route 2
Part of the front display of a “collectibles” shop west of Odanah, WI on US Route 2
Two gulls look at the view of Lake Superior in Ashland, WI
Two gulls look at the view of Lake Superior in Ashland, WI
One of a number of colorful murals in Ashland, WI
One of a number of colorful murals in Ashland, WI
A large mural depicting actual veterans from Ashland, WI
A large mural depicting actual veterans from Ashland, WI
Gulls relax on the beach of Lake Superior near Ashland, WI
Gulls relax on the beach of Lake Superior near Ashland, WI
An old Standard gas sign at Pagac's Bar west of Ashland, WI on US Route 2
An old Standard gas sign at Pagac’s Bar west of Ashland, WI on US Route 2
Sign on an old antique store in Blueberry, WI
Sign on an old antique store in Blueberry, WI
US Route 2 sign in Blueberry, WI
US Route 2 sign in Blueberry, WI
Giant wood carved grizzly head at Grizz Works in Maple, WI
Giant wood carved grizzly head at Grizz Works in Maple, WI
A Catfish monument in Floodwood, MN where they claim to be the Catfish Capital of the World
A Catfish monument in Floodwood, MN where they claim to be the Catfish Capital of the World
A great northern carving on US Route 2 in Deer River, MN
A great northern carving on US Route 2 in Deer River, MN
Old Neon sign for Bahr's Motel outlived the motel, which is no longer in Deer River, MN
Old Neon sign for Bahr’s Motel outlived the motel, which is no longer in Deer River, MN
Big Fish at Big Fish Restaurant
Big Fish at Big Fish Supper Club in Bena, MN
The famed Paul Bunyan and Babe statues made in 1937 in Bemidji, MN
The famed Paul Bunyan and Babe statues made in 1937 in Bemidji, MN
Crookston, MN Wall Mural
Crookston, MN Wall Mural
The Smiley Water Tower of Grand Forks, ND
The Smiley Water Tower of Grand Forks, ND
US Route 2 sign west of Grand Forks, ND
US Route 2 sign west of Grand Forks, ND
Crossing the tracks in Petersburg, ND
Crossing the tracks in Petersburg, ND
An old barn on ND Hwy 1 heading north
An old barn on ND Hwy 1 heading north
A colorful duck in the rush as seen along ND Hwy 1
A colorful duck in the rush as seen along ND Hwy 1
A colorful bird rests near a pond on ND Hwy 1
A colorful bird rests near a pond on ND Hwy 1
Hundreds of ponds line the roads in ND, like this one on ND Hwy 1
Hundreds of ponds line the roads in ND, like this one on ND Hwy 1
A duck enjoys a swim
A duck enjoys a swim
The famed North Dakota pyramid, a vestige of the cold war, as seen from ND Hwy 1 south of Nekoma, ND
The famed North Dakota pyramid, a vestige of the cold war, as seen from ND Hwy 1 south of Nekoma, ND
A silo and wind turbine coexist near Nekoma, ND
A silo and wind turbine coexist near Nekoma, ND
Th North Dakota Pyramid in the distance north of Nekoma, ND
Th North Dakota Pyramid in the distance north of Nekoma, ND
A nice rural scene on ND Hwy 5 west of Langdon, ND
A nice rural scene on ND Hwy 5 west of Langdon, ND
Trees along ND Hwy 20 south of Langdon, ND
Trees along ND Hwy 20 south of Langdon, ND
Randy's Revival Church in Cando, ND
Randy’s Revival Church in Cando, ND
Now this is a police crew that Can Do the job in Cando, ND
Now this is a police crew that Can Do the job in Cando, ND
Grain elevator rural scene along ND Hwy 17 west of Cando, ND
Grain elevator rural scene along ND Hwy 17 west of Cando, ND
Driving south of ND Hwy 3 heading towards Rugby, ND
Driving south of ND Hwy 3 heading towards Rugby, ND
The Rugby Geographical Center of North America monument juxtaposed with the HUB Motel sign in Rugby, ND
The Rugby Geographical Center of North America monument juxtaposed with the HUB Motel sign in Rugby, ND
US Route 2 west of Minot, ND
US Route 2 west of Minot, ND
Boomtown distress ran rampant in Williston, ND
Boomtown distress runs rampant in Williston, ND
Grain elevators and a barn with a collapsed roof in Bainville, MT on US Route 2
Grain elevators and a barn with a collapsed roof in Bainville, MT on US Route 2
A lovely view of the Big Sky in Montana as seen from US Route 2 west of Bainville, MT
A lovely view of the Big Sky in Montana as seen from US Route 2 west of Bainville, MT
Shaded hills on US Route 2 as the sun lowered in the sky east of Wolf Point, MT
Shaded hills on US Route 2 as the sun lowered in the sky east of Wolf Point, MT
An old church on the horizon east of Wolf Point, Montana
An old church on the horizon east of Wolf Point, Montana
A Lonely Tree basks in the sunset east of Wolf Point, MT on US Route 2
A Lonely Tree basks in the sunset east of Wolf Point, MT on US Route 2
Trees silhouetted in sunset east of Glasgow, MT
Trees silhouetted in sunset east of Glasgow, MT
Sunset east of Glasgow, MT on US Route 2
Sunset east of Glasgow, MT on US Route 2
The roof of a barn is silhouetted in the sunset east of Glasgow, MT on US Route 2
The roof of a barn is silhouetted in the sunset east of Glasgow, MT on US Route 2

Watch for detailed writeups in the next few days!