Yesterday my new book, “Less Beaten Paths of America: Quirky and Offbeat Roadside Attractions” made its debut on Amazon!
The book is 130 pages of FULL COLOR whimsy and kitsch as I tell stories of my visits to these places all over the U.S. and Canada. Definitely was fun taking these back roads trips to quirkville and I am excited to share them with you in words and photos.
Even more exciting was that after a few hours the book was already #5 on Amazon’s Road Travel New Releases chart and #24 on their Travel Reference chart!!
I hope you will be able to check out the book or even get it on Kindle (#14 on the Road Travel chart). You Chang the book here:
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.
Talent, Oregon
Welcome to Talent, OregonTalent MuralTalent Police
Tee Pee Motel – Wharton, Texas
Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, TXSumoflam at the Tee Pee Motel in Wharton, TX
Thoroughbred Park – Lexington, Kentucky
Thoroughbred Park, Lexington, KYHorse and jockey racing down the track. Perhaps my favorite photo of all from Thoroughbred Park
Tightwad, Missouri
Tightwad, MOTightwad Bank – no longer in business, but was fun to see while there
Tornado, West Virginia
Tornado, WVTornado Church
Top of the World Store – Beartooth Pass – near Cody, Wyoming
Welcome to Top of the World Store on Beartooth Pass Highway north of Cody, Wyoming.Sumoflam at Top of the World on the Beartooth Highway in Wyoming
Tulum, Mexico
Enjoying a visit to the Tulum Ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
Tews Falls – Hamilton, Ontario
Tews Falls in Hamilton, OntarioTews Falls, Hamilton, Ontario
Trailer Park Eatery – Austin, Texas
Trailer Park Eatery in Austin — a hybrid “food truck” type of place comprised of trailers that are actually like food trucksTrailer Park Eatery. Check out the Airstreams!
Teddy Rides Again – Enchanted Highway – Regent, North Dakota
Enchanted Highway Stop #6 – Teddy Rides AgainSumoflam at Teddy Rides Again
Turkey Vultures guard their meal near McKee, KYA Turkey Vulture, also called a buzzard, flying way overhead in Versailles, KYTurkey vulture gathering on a road in central Kentucky
Thermopolis, Wyoming
Welcome to Thermopolis, WYA sign about the Hot Springs of Thermopolis
Trail Town USA – Damascus, Virginia
Damascus calls itself Trail Town USA for a reason. The Appalachian Trail, the Virginia Creeper Trail and others come to a crossroads here.At the Cross Roads of the Virginia Creeper and Appalachian Trails
Ten Sleep, Wyoming
Crazy Woman Cafe in Ten Sleep, WyomingTen Sleep Canyon on US 16 near Ten Sleep, WY
Thronehenge – Apple Valley Hillbilly Garden – Calvert City, Kentucky
Thronehenge in the Hillbilly Garden
Tomahawk, Wisconsin
Tomahawk, WIBig Bull Moose in Tomahawk, WI
Texan Motel – Raton, New Mexico
Texan Motel neon in Raton, New Mexico
Teton Drive In – Rexburg, Idaho
The old Teton Drive-In – Rexburg, Idaho
This Way and That Way – Lake Jackson, Texas
Corner of This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TXThis Way U TurnPlaque describing the naming of the roads This Way and That Way in Lake Jackson, TX
Taughannock Falls – Ulysses, New York
Taughannock Falls in New York
Turtle Twist Ice Cream – Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Turtle Twist Ice Cream in Canonsburg, PA
Theodore Roosevelt National Park – Medora, South Dakota
Some of the scenic and colorful hills of Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Teepee Cafe – Bonesteel, South Dakota
TeePee Cafe – Bonesteel, South Dakota
Taisekiji – Fujinomiya, Japan
One of the huge buildings of Taisekiji in Fuji-no-miya (ca. 1978)Towering pillars of Taisekiji. Notice the little dots at the bottom…those are people. (ca. 1978)
Tower Rock State Park – Cascade, Montana
Missouri River in Tower Rock State ParkHardy Bridge in Tower Rock State Park
Tioga, Texas
Tioga, Texas – Birthplace of Gene AutryTioga Heritage MuseumRustic shopping area of Tioga, Texas
Tallman Hotel – Upper Lake, California
The Tallman HotelTallman Hotel in Upper Lake, CA
Tersier (Actually called a Tarsius) – Bohol, Philippines
A Tersier on Bohol
Tunica, Mississippi
Gateway to the Blues, Tunica, MississippiThe Tate Log House in Tunica, MS
Thorncrown Chapel – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Thorncrown Chapel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas
Tom Sawyer’s Fence – Hannibal, Missouri
My two sons, Seth and Solomon, at Tom Sawyer’s Fence in Hannibal, Missouri., Summer 2001
Threadgill’s – Austin, Texas
Threadgills in AustinJanis Joplin painting at Threadgill’s
Truth or Consequences, New Mexico
Truth or Consequences, NMNM 152 near Truth or Consequences, NM
Two-Tailed Walleye – Shell Lake, Wisconsin
Two Tailed Walleye Statue in Shell LakeSumoflam with the Shell Lake Two-Tailed Walleye
Train Mural in Gauley Bridge painted by Nancy Lane to commemorate the rich rail heritage of the town.A large mural of a train welcomes visitors to Ravenna, KYTrain mural in Glasgow Montana on the side of a building
Texas Pipe Supply – Houston, Texas
Giant Armadillo – Texas Pipe Company – Houston, TexasBig Scrap Metal Stegosaurus – Texas Pipe Company – Houston, Texas
Twin Buttes – Atomic City, Idaho
Twin Buttes near Atomic City as seen heading west to Arco, ID
Three-Legged Willie – Georgetown, Texas
Statue of Three-Legged Willie in Georgetown, TX
Totem Poles – Neah Bay, Washington; Blueberry, Wisconsin; Ketchikan, Alaska; Superior, Wisconsin
A totem pole in Neah Bay, WAScrap Metal totem pole outside of Blueberry, WI Antique storeSumoflam with a Totem Pole in KetchikanWooden Bear Totem Pole – Gronk’s in Superior, Wisconsin
Troll City – Mt. Horeb, Wisconsin
Welcome to Mt. Horeb, WIAhhh..trollsAnother Mt. Horeb Troll (or two?)One of dozens of HUGE trolls in Mt. Horeb, WisconsinGrumpy Troll Brew Pub and Restaurant, Mt. Horeb, WIAnother Mt. Horeb Troll – for good measure
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.
The Nutt House Hotel – Granbury, Texas
Who would stay in the Nutt House Hotel?
Nice, California
We all know who is really Nice! Nice, CA
New River Gorge – Victor, West Virginia
A view of the New River Gorge in West Virginia taken in 1995New River Gorge Bridge – One of the largest Arch bridges in the United States
Neah Bay, Washington
At Neah Bay in the northwesternmost corner of the contiguous United States in 2015Looking out at Wa’atch Point, which is a cape off the northwestern peninsula near Neah Bay
Nashville, Indiana
One of the many kitschy shops in Nashville, Indiana. Really a fun place to visit
Not the Hotel California – Lima, Montana
“Not the Hotel California” in Lima, MontanaNo Steaks and Burgers at this place in Lima, Montana
Tuckhannock Viaduct – Nicholson, PennsylvaniaThe viaduct is dizzying when looking up from below
Nekoma Pyramid – Nekoma, North Dakota
The Pyramid in Nekoma, NDSumoflam and MSR Pyramid in Nekoma, ND
Nada Tunnel – Slade, Kentucky
The rough hewn stone Nada tunnel near Slade, Kentucky
Niagara Falls – Niagara Falls, Ontario
Niagara Falls, OntarioNiagara Falls
Novelty, Ohio
I found Novelty in OhioNovelty Post Office
Normal, Illinois
Am I Normal? Who knows?A Normal Water Tower
Nikko Shrine – Nikko, Japan
Perhaps the best “old shrine” in Japan, Nikko has been around for centuries. This is north of Tokyo. I visited Nikko in 1990.The colorful pagoda in Nikko
National Mustard Museum – Middleton, Wisconsin
National Mustard Museum Sign, Middleton, WIPoupon U Degree from the Mustard Museum – I got my MBA (Master of Bad Attitude)
North Bend Rail Trail – Cairo, West Virginia
My wife Julianne and her sister Laura at the North Bend Rail Trail HQ in Cairo, WV
Naches Tavern – Greenwater, Washington
Naches Tavern in Greenwater, WA (featuring Bigfoot!)Dollar Bills on the walls at Naches Tavern
Newport, Oregon
Giant Mural on outside of Mo’s in Newport, OregonMo’s Seafood – Newport, Oregon
Salem Sue – New Salem, North Dakota
Salem Sue Sign in New Salem, NDSalem Sue in New Salem, ND – the World’s Largest Holstein Cow (Yes, that’s Sumoflam under the Udders)
Northside Murals – Cincinnati, Ohio
Large Mural on side of building representing the Northside districtTall mural on side of a building in Cincinnati’s Northside
Nagasaki, Japan
Remains from A-Bomb in Nagasaki in 1988Japans second most famous China Town (Tokyo’s is first). This one is located in Nagasaki
JJ’s Cafe – Newell, South Dakota
J J’s Cafe in Newell, SDSign at the door of TJ’s Cafe in Newell, SD. Bear in mind this is sheep country.
Nitro, West Virginia
Nitro WW I museum – Nitro, WVBig Paul Bunyan and his Blue Ox in Nitro, WV
Nolan Ryan Statue – Alvin, Texas
Sumoflam with Nolan Ryan in Alvin, TXWelcome to Alvin, Texas, hometown of Nolan Ryan
New Orleans, Louisiana
Bourbon Street in New Orleans in 2011
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Sapp’s Coffee Pot Water Tower in Nebraska CityArbor Day Farm Tree Adventure – Nebraska City, NebraskaDowntown Nebraska City
Nauvoo, Illinois
The completed LDS Nauvoo Temple in 2002
The Jay Vintage Neon – Needville, Texas
The Jay Cafe in Needville, Texas. Vintage neon sign
Mark Twain Statue – New London, Missouri
Mark Twain Statue in New London, Missouri
Willie Nelson Shrine – LSA Burgers – Denton, Texas
Willie Nelson Shrine at LSA Burger Co. in Denton, TXWillie Nelson Portrait above his shrine
Nanobozho Muffler Man – Bemidji, Minnesota
Nanobozho, Muffler Man Indian in Bemidji, MN
Number Hill – Arco, Idaho
Number Hill – Arco, ID
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.
