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.
Mystic Pizza – Mystic, Connecticut
Mystic Pizza in Mystic, CT with my sweet wife
Moon Township, PA
Township of Moon, PA
Muscovy Duck – Damascus, Virginia
A unique Muscovy duck in the river in Damascus
Mammy’s Cupboard – Natchez, Mississippi
Mammy’s Cupboard in Natchez, MSMammy’s Cupboard Dining Room – Much bigger than it looks on the outside
Mail Pouch Barns – Brinkhaven, Ohio; Friendly, West Virginia; Hargett, Kentucky
Mail Pouch Barn in Brinkhaven, OHMail Pouch Barn in Friendly, WVA rare Mail Pouch barn sighting in Hargett, KY
Billy Tripp’s Mindfield – Brownsville, Tennessee
Sumoflam at Tripp’s Mindfield Cemetery in Brownsville, TNA portion of the Mindfield Cemetery in Brownsville, TNMindfield Cemetery, Brownsville, Tennessee
Mr. Roger’s T-Rex Statue – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Mr. Rogers T-Rex
Mountain Bluebird – The Badlands National Park, South Dakota
A Mountain Bluebird perched on a fencepost in the Badlands
Mac the Moose – Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Mac the Moose in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Monument Valley – Utah
Monument Valley, UtahEnjoying the splendor of Monument Valley in southern Utah and Northern Arizona around 1983
Monongahela Incline – Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Welcome to the Monongahela InclineMonongahela Incline going upMonongahela Incline in Pittsburgh
Maid of the Mist – Niagara Falls, Ontario
The Maid of the Mist at the bottom of Niagara Falls filled with tourists
Melt Eclectic Cafe – Cincinnati, Ohio
Melt in CincinnatiMelt Cafe
Metal Green Bay Packer – Pagac’s Bar – Ashland, Wisconsin
Robotic scrap metal quarterback. The guy in the bar said you can plug it in and it actually moves!
Mayan Ruins – Tulum, Mexico
Enjoying a visit to the Tulum Ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
Midlothian Castle – Burk’s Falls, Ontario
Midlothian CastleHeadstone on one of the Gates to Midlothian Castle
Home of Mayberry – Mount Airy, North Carolina
Snappy Lunch – Mt. Airy, NCMayberry on MainMayberry Cheese
Mount Rainier National Park – Greenwater, Washington
Entering Mt. Rainier National Park on WA 410 south of Greenwater, WAMt. Rainier in Washington – visited in 2015A ferry passes by us in the sound with Mt. Rainier in the background
Migrating Snow Geese – Arkansas
Snow Geese everywhereRan into a HUGE flock of migrating snow geese in central Arkansas
Medicine Hat, Alberta
Giant Teepee in Medicine Hat, Alberta
Mickey Mantle Statue – Commerce, Oklahoma
Mickey Mantle Statue in Commerce, Oklahoma
Memorial Falls near Great Falls, Montana
Memorial Falls near Great Falls, MT
Meerkats at Henry Doorly Zoo in Omaha, Nebraska
The Meerkats are my favorite animal at the zoo. This one posed for me!Lounging Meerkats at Henry Doorly Zoo
Metropolis, Illinois
Welcome to Metropolis, home of SupermanGiant Grocer Statue in Metropolis, IL
Dinosaur Tracks – Moenave, Arizona
Moenave Dinosaur Tracks near Tuba City, AZThe kids at the Dinosaur tracks in Moenave, AZ near Tuba City (July 1993)
Mama Santa Pizzeria – Little Eatery – Cleveland, Ohio
Sumoflam with Mama Santa’s owner Papa TioSumoflam with Nancy Starvaggi Schaffer, showing off the AMAZING homemade sausage and pasta from Mama Santa Restaurant in Cleveland, OH
Montour Trail – Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
Montour Trail – Canonsburg, PA
Miner’s Memorial Mural – Ironwood, Michigan
The men in Miner’s Memorial Mural represent the thousands of men who worked in the Gogebic Range Mines of Michigan and Wisconsin.A section of the Miner’s Memorial Mural in Ironwood, which was completed in 2012
Mt. Fuji – near Fujinomiya, Japan
Enjoying wintertime at a resort at the base of Mt. Fuji, near Fujinomiya, Japan in 1987Mt. Fuji, Japan as seen from my airplane seat in 1990 as I flew to Tokyo from Oita.
Multnomah Falls – Multnomah County, Oregon
At Multnomah Falls in Oregon
Mud Street Cafe – Eureka Springs, Arkansas
The unique and quaint Mud Street Cafe in Eureka Springs, ARCozy Mud Street Cafe
Memphis Egg – Memphis, Tennessee
With the famous Memphis Egg in 2007
Mothman Museum – Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Glowing Red Eyes of the MothmanMothman Museum in Point Pleasant, WV
Mel’s Diner – San Francisco, California
Sumoflam at Mel’s Drive-in in San Francisco
Mapleton Taxidermy and Cheese Shop – Mapleton, Ontario
Taxidermy and Cheese StoreTaxidermy and Cheese
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.
For most of my 250+ blog posts on my Less Beaten Paths Blog, I have discussed the back roads of America and Canada.
But for today’s post in the A-to-Z challenge, I want to note some of my other travels outside of the country. I would like to say I’m a world traveler, but I have yet to visit Europe or Australia or New Zealand or South America. But, I have been very fortunate to have lived in Japan for a number of years. From 1987 to 1991, my family also lives there with me. I have also spent a number of weeks working in the Philippines and spend some time working in China near Shanghai and Suzhou. Finally, I should note that I have also visited the mainland of Mexico during a cruise and was able to see the ruins at Tulum.
Perhaps the best “old shrine” in Japan, Nikko has been around for centuries. This is north of Tokyo. I visited Nikko in 1990.
Hanging with the fish monger and holding dried squid in Takaoka, Japan (ca. 1977)
My first venture overseas was to Japan in 1976 as a missionary for the LDS church. I served in what was then called the Nagoya mission and worked in cities throughout Central Japan including, in order, Kanazawa, Nagoya, Fukui, Takaoka, Ogaki and finally, Fuji City. It was an amazing 22 month experience for me as a young 19 to 21-year-old.
Though most of my time was spent doing missionary work, I did have occasion to travel and visit parts of Japan back then. I also was very lucky to live at the base of the beautiful Mount Fuji, one of the most well known symbols of Japan. Many of the following photos were scanned from old Fujichrome slides taken between 1976 and 1978.
Sumoflam in Fuji, Japan 1978, with Mt. Fuji in the backgroundShinto Toori Gates in Fukui, Japan (ca. 1976)Mt. Fuji framed by Japanese flag, ca. 1978Gifu Castle in Gifu Japan (ca. spring 1977)A busy missionary….no cell phones back then. Just Japanese pay phones. (ca. 1978)Visiting the Imperial Castle in Tokyo just before I left to return home. I was with one of the sisters who I taught in Ogaki in 1977, who came to see me off. (ca. Apr 1978)Japan Sea sunset taken near Fukui, Japan (ca 1977)Seijin-shiki (Coming of Age Ceremony) 1976 in Fukui, Japan (ca. Nov. 1976) – A celebration for all that have turned 20 (which I did in 1976)Big Buddha in Takaoka Japan 1976Sumoflam at Buddhist Temple in Kanazawa, Japan 1977Typical Japan Town (forget where this was) (ca. 1977)Ken-roku Park in Kanazawa. One of Japan’s most famous garden parks (ca. 1976)Giant fish attacking me in Japan in 1976, in Kanazawa (Yes, I liked the quirky even back in 1976!)A wave splashes at sunset on the coast of the Japan Sea near Fukui (ca. 1977)Mt. Fuji and Fuji City ca. 1978Mt. Fuji at night (ca. 1978)
Snow piled high (yes, it was THAT DEEP!!) in front of the LDS Church in Fukui, Japan (ca. winter 1976/77)
After my return to the states, I went to school, got married, had children and eventually graduated from Arizona State University with a Masters Degree in International Political Science. At that time, in 1987, Japan’s Interior Ministry and the Ministry of Education had started a brand-new program called The Japan Exchange and Teaching Program (JET Program). After consulting with my sweet wife, I decided to apply for that in hopes that maybe we could go to Japan as a family and experience that country together.
Since we were in the Los Angeles district for registration, I really worried that I would not qualify despite my language skills. But I did and was one of the first 38 individuals selected to participate in the program as a Coordinator for International Relations (CIR). There were about 400 others selected as assistant English teachers.
Enjoying wintertime at a resort at the base of Mt. Fuji, near Fujinomiya, Japan in 1987 during a JET Program conference for CIRs. Notice the slippers in the snow…LOL
David with Gov. Hiramatsu and then British Foreign Minister Sir Geoffrey HoweThe children got a special visit with the then-Governor of Oita, Morhiko Hiramatsu.
My assignment would be to work in the office of the governor of Oita prefecture on the island of Kyushu. Oita’s governor Hiramatsu was a nationally known progressive governor. He had programs that he had instituted to produce locally and think globally. During my two-year stint as a CIR, I got to travel extensively throughout the prefecture and got to meet many wonderful people and experience many wonderful things, as did my family. Also, as a CIR, I participated in a number of TV programs and my children were in numerous television and print commercials. It was an amazing experience for us all.
Daughter Chelsea with Governor Hiramatsu at a festivalSome of Japan’s oldest stone carved Buddhas can be seen at Kumano Magaibutsu park in OitaThe 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.Making a New Year’s TV Show in Oita while working as a CIRSeth and Chelsea at a waterfall in Japan where they were shooting a TV commercial.Amaree in Usa, Japan 1987Family at Usa Shrine in Oita Prefecture ca. 1990Amaree in a promotional ad for a department store in Fukuoka, JapanFamily at Kumamoto Castle in 1988Marissa got to be all dressed up for an ad in Japan tooHanging with a Geisha in Kyoto, Japan 1987Enjoying a visit to the famed Suizenji Park in KumamotoA hot spring shower in Beppu…and yes, the towel was necessary. 1990Wielding an authentic Japanese katana at a history center in Takata for a TV show.
Visiting the Matsushima Islands near Sendai, Japan in 1990 while on a business trip for Asahi Solar.
On the day that my assignment ended, July 31, 1989, I got onto an airplane to fly to Fukui where I had once served my mission. August 1 would be my first day as the Director of International Planning for a nationally known company called Asahi Solar Corporation, which was also headquartered in Oita. I was the first foreigner to work for that company and I traveled throughout the country with the president of the company. We also made trips to China, Hawaii and other places within the United States in search of improving the solar industry. We even brought a solar water heater to donate to the solar foundation at the Hopi Indian reservation in Arizona.
One of Japan’s smallest castles, the Hikone Castle, supposedly has tiles of gold on top. I visited here in 1990David in Amagase for another TV Show — yes, Japanese style for those who are curiousSolar water heaters from Asahi SolarSetting up solar water heater on Hopi Reservation in 1990
David with Colorado State solar car at GM Sunrayce in Florida. Asahi Solar was a sponsor and I managed the project
Visiting the Fukuoka Sumo Basho in 1991 with my wife.
During my four years in Japan from 1987 to 1991, I’ve visited every prefecture in the country except for Okinawa and Hokkaido.
We got to visit many wonderful places and famous places. We attended the national Sumo Wrestling Tournament in Fukuoka. We visited some of Kyoto’s famed sites and more.
I took this shot of Konishiki from my seat in Fukuoka in 1991. He made me look small!!At the Gold Pavilion (Kinkakuji) in Kyoto, Japan in 1990 with my wife and DadNagasaki Peace Park in Sept 1988Japans second most famous China Town (Tokyo’s is first). This one is located in NagasakiVisiting the famed Himeji Castle in 1987Sumoflam at Nikko Pagoda in JapanIsland Hopping in the Philippines in 2006
Indeed, Japan was a wonderful experience. Our family returned to the US in late 1991 and eventually made our way to Kentucky. While in Kentucky I worked for a number of Japanese companies as an interpreter. I eventually made my way to Lexmark International, where I worked with the software development team to get the Japanese, Chinese, Korean (and other language) versions of their software localized. While an employee of Lexmark, I made two training trips to Cebu, Philippines, yet another great experience. You can read a detailed post of my adventures at my Cebu Journal
Visiting the shopping area in Carbon, Cebu, PhilippinesGetting a ride in Bike Cart (poor guy…I SHOULD have been pedaling)The Bride – CebuMotorbike QuartetBlind Guitarist – Colon, CebuPondering Girl – Colon, CebuBasket Vendor – CebuBuffalo Man – CebuSmiling Girl – CebuChocolate Hills in Bohol, Philippines in 2007The Chocolate Hills in BoholA Tersier on BoholBohol Truck – Bohol IslandAn outrigger on the small island of Caohagen, PhilippinesA young girl on Caohagen IslandRiding an outrigger….yes, I barely fitA squatter village in CebuEnjoying a visit to the Tulum Ruins on the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico
My only other real big overseas trip was on a cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. During this cruise we also got to take a small boat to mainland Mexico and visit the old Mayan ruins of Tulum.
As a lover of history, this was a fascinating visit and one I will not soon forget.
I am glad that my sweet wife was able to accompany me. You can see the entire story on the Polyesterfest Cruise Post of mine.
Twin cruise ships docked in Cozumel, MexicoApparently the world’s smallest Hard Rock Cafe in Cozumel, MexicoTulum Ruins, Mexico