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
Ric’s Grill – Lethbridge, AlbertaRic’s Grill – Lethbridge, Alberta
Route 66 Soda / Route Beer – Mokena, Illinois
Route 66 “Route Beer”
Rabbit Hash, Kentucky
Welcome to Rabbit Hash, KYSign at Rabbit Hash RoadThe 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, IndianaThe sign talking about “Weird Restrooms” at Real Goods in Hopland, CAThere were also a number of tile mosaics. This one was at the entrance to the restrooms in Golden Gate Park visitor’s centerTavern of Little Italy Restroom is plastered with the history of Little Italy in ClevelandMen’s Stall Door in restroom at Burger Shack in Cypress, TexasJungle 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, OregonSapp Brothers in Nebraska City, the “Cleanest Restrooms on I-29”Restroom Door in a Convenience Store in Ashland, MontanaSometimes 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, MTSumoflam at Rock City north of Valier, MontanaRock City, Montana
Geographical Center of North America – Rugby, North Dakota
Rugby, ND – The Geographic Center of North AmericaThe Rugby Geographical Center of North America monument juxtaposed with the HUB Motel sign in Rugby, ND
Real Goods Store – Hopland, California
Welcome to Real GoodsA view of the Real Goods StoreSumoflam with Solar Expert and Real Goods founder John Schaeffer
Riscky’s Steakhouse and BBQ – Fort Worth, Texas
Riscky’s Steakhouse – Ft. Worth, TexasRiscky’s BBQ – Ft. Worth
Rudyard, Montana
Rudyard Welcome SignSumoflam and Dino – near 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 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, IALive 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
Road to RomanceRomance Baptist
Roseman Covered Bridge – Winterset, Iowa
Roseman Covered Bridge in Winterset, Iowa
Raton, New Mexico
Raton Theatre in Raton, NMMain Street in Raton, New MexicoEl Kapp Motel in Raton, NM
Rio Brazos Dance Hall – Granbury, Texas
Rio Brazos Dance Hall – Granbury, Texas (now closed)
Roxy Theatre in Choteau, MontanaROXY Theatre in Langdon, NDNew Roxy in Clarksdale, MSMontana Grill and Roxy Theater in Shelby, Montana
Rockpile Museum – Gillette, Wyoming
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. PeoriaUncle Rooster’s Big Rooster on US 60 near Seymour, MissouriMetal Rooster in McIntosh, MNRed Rooster (looks white to me) – Red Rooster Collectibles Eldon, IAGiant Rooster greets you at Joe’s Cafe entrance in Greg Freeman Park, St. LouisBig Rooster in Granbury, Texas
Roadhouse Relics – Austin, Texas
Roadhouse Relics Wall Sign in Austin
Russell Flat Holiness Church – Sand Springs, Kentucky
Russell Flat Holiness Church – Sand Springs, Kentucky
Regent, North Dakota – Home of the Enchanted Highway
Welcome to Regent and Enchanted Highway Road MapEnchanted 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 IntercourseThe Outhouse Gift Shop – Ronks, PA
Russell’s Point, Ohio
Stewart’s Drive In in Russell’s Point, OhioBringing out the ice cream at Stewart’s
Roswell, New Mexico
UFOs in RoswellMore Art in Roswell, NMNeed some alien stuff? Plenty in Roswell
Rexburg, Idaho
Rexburg, IDRexburg LDS Temple
Rocket Rest Stop – Elkmont, Alabama
At the Rocket Rest Stop in Elkmont, AL – home of a Saturn 1B. Taken in 2005Large Saturn Rocket at Welcome Center in Elkmont, Alabama
Ride the Ducks – Seattle, Washington
Ride the Ducks in Seattle
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame – Cleveland, Ohio
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, ClevelandRock and Roll Blvd. in Cleveland
Real Quiet Lane – Lexington, Kentucky
Shhh…this is a Real Quiet Lane in Lexington, KY
Red River Gorge – Slade, Kentucky
Red River Gorge near Slade, KYVisiting 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
Green Bridge near Redcliff, ColoradoNice carved eagle in 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.
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.
Lost Springs, Wyoming (Was Population 1, now Population 4)
Visited Lost Springs, WY, Pop 1 in 2007. Went back in 2014 and it had grown 400% to Pop 4. And yes, I have a photo of that sign too!Lost Springs in 2014 – ironically I was wearing the same shirt 7 years later!!!Lost Springs Store and Post Office, Lost Springs, WY
Lake Andes, South Dakota
White Pelicans at Lake Andes in South Dakota
Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed Rolls – Sikeston, Missouri
Sumoflam and wife at Lambert’s Cafe – Home of Throwed RollsLambert’s Cafe – Sikeston, Missouri – big placeThrowing Rolls at Lambert’s
Lima, Montana
Downtown Lima, Montana“Not the Hotel California” in Lima, Montana
Lexington Cemetery in Spring – Lexington, Kentucky
Spring Colors at Lexington Cemetery
Letchworth State Park – Castile, New York
Letchworth State Park, New York
Lindley Sign Post Forest – Danville, Illinois
Lindley Sign Post Forest SignLindley Sign Post Forest in Danville, IL
Lake Oswego Art Walk – Lake Oswego, Oregon
Large Skelephant, part of the Lake Oswego Art Walk
Lethbridge, Alberta
High Level Bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta was built in 1909. It is 5327 feet long and the largest of its type in the worldRic’s Grill – Restaurant in a Water Tower – Lethbridge, Alberta
Lawn Order – Nebraska City, Nebraska
Great Name for a Lawn Care Business – Lawn Order
Lincoln Mural – Lexington, Kentucky
Completed Painting on November 15, 2013
Lordsburg, New Mexico
Interstate 10 near Lordsburg, New Mexico
Leland, Mississippi – Birthplace of Kermit the Frog
Birthplace of Kermit the Frog, Leland, MSSumoflam at the “Birthplace of Kermit the Frog” in Leland, MS
Lake Wobegon Trail – Avon, Minnesota
Lake Wobegon Trail
Libby’s Pumpkin Factory – Morton, Illinois
Welcome to Morton, Illinois – Pumpkin Capital of the WorldWe missed the Morton Pumpkin Festival by only a few days.
Lookout, West Virginia
Lookout, WV Post Office
Log Cabin Motel – Ashton, Idaho
Log Cabin Motel – Ashton, Idaho
Lucy in Disguise Costumes – Austin, Texas
Lucy in Disguise, Austin, TX
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, KY as seen from across the Ohio River in IndianaLouisville BridgesDetail of Noah Church mural in Louisville. Not sure who all of these folks are…
Larry Vennard Iron Sculpture Park – Centralia, Missouri
Sumoflam and Larry Vennard at his Iron Sculpture Park in Centralia, MOLarry Vennard’s Highway “T” Rex near Centralia, MO“Dimetrodon” by Larry Vennard
Lostant, Illinois
Id the ant is lost, how do they know which direction it is?
Leif Erikson Statues – Cleveland, Ohio and Duluth, Minnesota
Statue of Leif Erikson in Cleveland, IllinoisLeif Erikson Statue in Duluth, Minnesota
Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Welcome to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho
Abraham Lincoln Statue – Jackson Hole, Wyoming
Sumoflam and Lincoln in Jackson Hole
Leaning Tree Cafe – Babb, Montana
Leaning Tree Cafe, Babb, MontanaKade and Charlie, with their Dad Aaron at Leaning Tree Cafe in Babb, MT at the base of Glacier National Park – March 2013
Laboratory, Pennsylvania
Community Honor Roll for Veterans in Laboratory, PA
Large Wooden Trolls – Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
One of dozens of HUGE trolls in Mt. Horeb, WisconsinAhhh..trolls
Welcome to Louisiana
Welcome to Louisiana on US Hwy 61
Laughing Ladies Cafe – Salida, Colorado
Laughing Ladies Cafe – Salida, Colorado – love the name and the sign
Langdon Wind Energy Center – Langdon, North Dakota
Langdon Wind Farm Info Center near Langdon, NDSilo and Wind Turbine near Nekoma, ND
Little Big Horn National Monument – Crow Agency, Montana
Grave markers of the US Calvary Soldiers that died at the Battle of Little Big Horn in Little Big Horn National Monument in Montana
Lizard Lick, North Carolina
Lizard Lick, North CarolinaLizard Lick Towing mural on sign outside of towing placeLizard Lick lizard on top of gas station
Lucille Ball Birthplace – Jamestown, New York
Lucille Ball BirthplaceJamestown Banner advertising Lucille Ball Festival
Landry and Lombardi – NFL Coaching Icons – Dallas, Texas and Green Bay, Wisconsin
Legendary Dallas Cowboy Coach Tom Landry (At Cowboys Stadium)Legendary Green Bay Packers Coach Vince Lombardi (At Lambeau Field)
Longaberger Baskets – Newark, Ohio
Amaree, Solomon and Seth at Longaberger Basket HQ in Newark, OH Fall 1999
Lynn’s Paradise Cafe – Louisville, Kentucky
Unfortunately, this place closed down around 2010 or so.
Sumoflam at Lynn’s Paradise CafeLegs on walls at Lynn’s Paradise Cafe
Lovesick Falls – Ontario, Canada
Lovesick Falls in Ontario
Little Italy – Cleveland, Ohio
Little Italy Historic District in ClevelandMayfield Road and Random Road, by the little park in Little Italy
Lopatapillar – Butterfly House – Chesterfield, Missouri
Grandkids play on the 30 foot long “Lopatapillar”, created by artist Bob Cassilly at the Butterfly House in Chesterfield, Missouri
Logan’s Shoe Shop Neon Sign – Denton, Texas
Logan’s Shoe Shop Neon, Denton, TX
Lusk, Wyoming
US 20 East out of Lusk, WYOld Lusk Drive-In Theatre MarqueeCovered Wagon Motel in Lusk, Wyoming
Little River Cafe – Oregonia, Ohio
The Little River Cafe in Oregonia, OH is most easily reached by bike. It is literally on the side of the trail. The road to Oregonia is way out of the way.
Troy Landry – Swamp People icon – Pierre Part, Louisiana
Sumoflam and Troy Landry from Swamp People
LSA Burger Company – Denton, Texas
LSA Burger Company Neon, Denton, TXTexas Instruments, a unique sculpture at the LSA Burger Co., in DentonAlbum Counter at LSA Burger Co.
Lewistown, Montana
Golden Statue of Liberty in Lewistown, MontanaDeer grazing in the snow in Lewistown, MontanaEagle I saw when driving by Lewistown, Montana (my very first Bald Eagle sighting/photo)
Lund Theatre – Viborg, South Dakota
Lund Theatre – Viborg, South Dakota
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.
I am always intrigued about the ingenuity of humans. Their ability to build and create things that solves problems for them.
There are many examples of ingenuity to can be seen on the back roads of America. Whether it be bridges or towers or buildings. There is always something unique and interesting to see.
Tuckhannock Viaduct – Nicholson, PennsylvaniaNicholson’s welcome sign features the Viaduct
One of my brightest memories of fascination comes from a town in eastern Pennsylvania called Nicholson. In this town, the train company needed a solution to get the train up high to pass by as the town was down in the valley. So, a giant viaduct was built. Called the Tunkhannock Creek Viaduct, this giant structure. towered over the town and allowed the trains to pass by way up on top of the town nestled below in the valley. To realize that this was built in 1915 is amazing to me. It is 2375 feet long, 240 feet tall and 34 feet wide. Yes, 24 stories tall!!!!! The bridge was built as
The viaduct is dizzying when looking up from below
part of the Clark’s Summit-Hallstead Cutoff, which was part of a project of the Lackawanna Railroad to revamp a winding and hilly system. This rerouting was built between Scranton, Pennsylvania and Binghamton, New York. All thirteen piers were excavated to bedrock, which was up to 138 feet below ground level. Almost half of the bulk of the bridge is underground. The bridge was built by the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad and was designed by Abraham Burton Cohen. Construction on the bridge began in May 1912, and dedication took place on November 6, 1915.
Tuckhannock Viaduct towers over the small town of Nicholson, PACleveland’s tallest buildings
One needs only go to some of the older big cities such as New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Cleveland or Cincinnati, to see the tall buildings that were built in the 1930s and 40s. Naturally, these were to accommodate offices are in a crowded area. The building designs were amazing and are still beautiful to look at.
I really love the older buildings as they were obviously much more difficult to build and their architecture is so reminiscent of the times. I guess I grew up watching the old Superman movies and saw the old buildings used in these.
New York City 1959 (from an old family picture – I was actually there when this was taken. Only 3 years old)New York City, 2013 – taken from Hoboken, NJCincinnati Skyline with its old buildings and numerous bridgesThe Ascent at Roebling’s in Covington, KY across the river from Cincinnati
But not all of the buildings are old. There is a unique condominium structure that was built in Covington, which is a suburb of Cincinnati across the Ohio River into Kentucky. The structure is unique in its architecture. And the amazing PPG Building in Pittsburgh really blows my mind…a true glass castle!
A view from below One PPG PlaceBridge over Mississippi River at Cairo, IL
I have also grown a fascination with bridges. These are massive structures that cross rivers great and small. In Cairo, Illinois there are two massive and Long Bridges. Cairo is where the confluence of the Ohio River flows into the Mississippi River. The Ohio River is at its deepest and widest point here and when going south through this area one must cross a bridge over the Ohio and then over the Mississippi. These bridges are amazing and it stuns me that the traffic and the years have not worn these bridges away.
The New River Bridge in West Virginia is THREE Statues of Liberty high above the river. An amazing feat of engineering.
River Crossing near Cairo, ILA view of the Detroit-Superior Bridge in ClevelandHigh Level Bridge in Lethbridge, Alberta was built in 1909. It is 5327 feet long and the largest of its type in the worldRoberto Clemente Bridge in PittsburghCut Bank Creek Trestle, built in 1900 in Cut Bank, MontanaSunset over Tacoma Narrows bridge in WashingtonBridges of PittsburghSome of the kids viewing the massive New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia in August 1995Green Bridge near Redcliff, Colorado
I once crossed over a bridge in a valley in the mountains of Colorado (see above). This bridge to was stunning to me is you come down off of the hill and see the bridge down below. I wondered out loud at the time how engineers could fulfill this feat.
Golden Gate Bridge in 2016
Another of the great and fascinating Bridges is the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Not only is it massive like the bridges in the east, it is also crossing over a giant bay and must also be earthquake proof.
Delaware Seashore BridgeVeterans Memorial Bridge in Steubenville, OH
Some of the newer bridges are more unique and have their own kind of personality. The bridge crosses the bay in Delaware was stunning to me. I was fortunate enough to be at this bridge during sunset and cut the lovely photo of it above.
Many of the newer bridges have dozens of cables attached to large pillars. They look futuristic and are cool to drive over. I have seen quite of a few of these in recent years.
William H. Harsha Bridge from Maysville, KY into Ohio.Rexburg, Idaho LDS Temple
Ingenuity is this not stop just at skyscrapers and bridges. There are many religious structures that can be seen across the country that are also amazing feats of engineering. Take for instance today LDS temple in Salt Lake City. The stones gathered to build that building came from the canyons and had to be hauled by horse drawn wagons.
Many of the other LDS temples are also spectacular. But they are not the only religious buildings.
Old Church “San Xavier del Bac” in Tucson
The old church in Tucson, Arizona called San Xavier del Bac, was built in the 1700s and one can only wonder how the Spaniards built this beautiful and unique structure in the middle of the desert.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in GalvestonChapel of the Holy Cross in Sedona, AZSt. Mary’s Basilica, Marietta, OHCentral Presbyterian in Cambridge, ONHoover Dam and Bridge (photo credit hdrinc.com)
I have crossed over the Hoover Dam in Nevada and the Glen Canyon Dam in Arizona numerous times. These are some of the largest dams in the United States and when you stand on the edge and look down it is dizzying. And to think that these damn’s were built in the 1940s and 1950s is amazing. The ingenuity of the engineers that designed and manage the construction of these is beyond words to me.
On the top of the world on Beartooth Highway that borders Wyoming and Montana south of Red Lodge, MTSumoflam at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook in 1982. You can see hairpin turns at right
And finally, some of the highways themselves are stunning pizza engineering. Have I overused those words already? The Beartooth Highway in northern Wyoming and the highways that go across the Rocky Mountain National Park are a couple prime examples of this. Even the winding hairpin turns of Oak Creek Canyon Road from Flagstaff to Sedona are quite amazing.
Ingenuity from the 1880s — Longest Covered Bridge in Canada, West Montrose Covered Bridge, West Montrose, ON opened in 1881
Though I am more drawn to the unique and quirky things to see around the country and perhaps closer to the nature of birds and animals and trees and clouds, I am nevertheless grateful and overwhelmed by the ingenuity of humans in the spirit of design and innovation. What needs only open their eyes on the highway and think about some of the things that have been built whether they are bridges, buildings or even monuments to fallen heroes. There is always inspiration to be seen and felt from the ingenuity of the human spirit.