Sumoflam’s 2017 Travels in Review

Sunrise in Ocean City, MD on New Year’s Day 2017

On January 1, 2017 I sat on a beach in Ocean City, Maryland to watch a spectacular sunrise and pondered to myself about the opportunities I would have to travel throughout the year. Little did I really know the extent that I would actually contact a mini bus rental in Chicago and travel over the year and I’m grateful that I’ve had a wonderful year of seeing more of this beautiful country.

 

Oddville, Kentucky

Beginning with that glorious morning in Maryland, over the course of the year I have driven nearly 15,000 miles on road trips, many to visit family or be with family, but all of the trips have been wonderful. Some have been close by doing what I refer to as “staycation“ trips in Kentucky. But, throughout the course of the year I have been to 19 different states and have seen a plethora of places and things. Many of the trips included time with my wife, my children and my grandchildren. That makes things so much better and enjoyable!

Welcome to Louisiana with some of my grandchildren
All the family gathered at my sister’s Mayfield Smoke Shop in Little Italy, Cleveland

In July we had a family reunion. It was the first in five years and all of my 10 grandchildren and all my five children were here at one time or another and even my sister and her husband and daughter came up to visit. During that time we also visited my extended family in Cleveland, Ohio. So, travel was not the only joyful thing. Family is the best.

The following photos tell just a small story of the past year.  I have already posted some of the things in more detail and have five or six others in the works about specific places.  But here are just some of the places and things form this past year. ENJOY THE RIDE!

Giant Pepsi Pop Bottle Cap in Johnson City, TN
Huge snowman in Lewisburg, WV
Welcome to Hopkinsville, KY for the Solar Eclipse
Chunky, Mississippi
Ran into a HUGE flock of migrating snow geese in central Arkansas
West, Texas
The swamp of Caddo Lake near Uncertain, TX
The Gator Chateau in Jennings, LA
A place called Gnaw Bone in Indiana
Chicago LIVE in Cincinnati. First time I had seen them in over 40 years
Giant Indian Chief “Standing Brave” in Big Cabin, OK
Duck Commander HQ, home of Duck Dynasty in West Monroe, LA
West Virginia’s Capitol Building in Charleston, WV
One of over 50 waterfals in Watkins Glen State Park, NY
Tallest wall mural in US “Once in a Millenium Moon” is 14 stories tall…in Shreveport, LA
Chief Wacinton in Paducah, KY was one of three Peter Toth Whispering Giants I visited this year.
Forest, Mississippi Fire Department
The New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia
Pittsburgh, PA at night
Chief Little Owl, one of three Peter Toth Whispering Giants. This one is in Bethany Beach, Delaware
King’s Island Amusement Park north of Cincinnati, OH
Village of Story, IN
Post Office in Happy, KY
The Shack Burger Resort – amazingly quirky and fun – in Cypress, TX
Caught the Sand Hill Migration in early January near Cecilia, KY
The Indian River Inlet Bridge between Maryland and Delaware
The Happy Bible Church in Happy, KY
A section of the Virginia Creeper Trail near Damascus, VA
Big Monster at Big Mike’s Rock shop near Cave City, KY
Genesee Falls at Letchworth State Park, near Castile, New York
The Inlet Indian, dedicated to the Assateague tribe, is in Ocean City, MD and is one of three of Peter Toth’s Whispering Giants visited in 2017
Capitol Building in Indianapolis, IN
Big Stone Gap, VA
Pal’s Sudden Service in Bristol, TN
Found a Canadian in Oklahoma
The CastlePost Castle near Versailles, KY
Found a nice beach on Lake Erie… Presque Isle State Park
Big Paul Bunyan in Nitro, WV
Hanging with Grandkids at Wigwam Village in Cave City, KY
The “diamond ring” effect begins as seen from Hopkinsville, KY
Large Saturn Rocket at Welcome Center in Elkmont, Alabama
Mammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, MS
Historic Downtown Cairo, IL
Fall Colors over the Red River Gorge in Kentucky
Magnolia Market at the Silos in Waco, TX (Home of the TV Show Fixer Upper)
We slept in Wigwam Village in Cave City, KY
Cathedral Falls in Gauley Bridge, WV
Deer at sunrise in Shenandoah National Park on Easter Morning 2017
Bald Eagle shot taken in mid April 2017 near Cave Run Lake, KY
A place called Donkey in Virginia
Waveland State Historic Park in Lexington, KY
Superman central in Metropolis, IL
Welcome to Missouri
The Hobbit Hole – a unique and quirky shop in Fayetteville, WV
Pop’s BBQ in Morehead, KY
Says it all – Cleveland, OH
Bob Evans Farm HQ – New Albany, OH
Louisville Bridges
Welcome Sign in Indianapolis
Easter Sunrise as seen from Shenandoah National Park