A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The O Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bike Trails, Books, Bucket List Trips, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Dolphin, Dream Highways, Eateries, Found Metal Sculptures, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Junk Art, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oita, Oklahoma, Ontario, Ostrich, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel in Japan, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Wanderlust, Washington, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art, Zoos
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.   Only, Tennessee Oak Creek Canyon - Sedona, Arizona Ostriches  - Fossil Rim Wildlife Center - Glen Rose, Texas Otterville Falls - Otterville, Ontario Owl Heads Grocery - South Irvine, Kentucky Oculus - Council Bluffs, Iowa Family Home For 4 Years - Oita, Japan Old Orchard Beach, Maine Odd, West Virginia Orca Art - Seattle, Washington & Port Orchard, Washington Dignity: Of Earth & Sky: Oacoma/Chamberlain, South Dakota…
Read More

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The M Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alberta, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, Big John, Bike Trails, Birds, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Fuji City, Geese, Geologic Formations, Illinois, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Manitoba, Mexico, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Mountains, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Carolina, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Saskatchewan, Selfies, South Dakota, Tennessee, Town Names, Travel in Japan, Tulum, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Wall Art, Washington, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Yard Art, Zoos
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 Moon Township, PA Muscovy Duck - Damascus, Virginia Mammy's Cupboard - Natchez, Mississippi Mail Pouch Barns - Brinkhaven, Ohio; Friendly, West Virginia; Hargett, Kentucky Billy Tripp's Mindfield - Brownsville, Tennessee Mr. Roger's T-Rex Statue - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Mountain Bluebird - The Badlands National Park, South Dakota Mac the Moose - Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan Monument Valley - Utah Monongahela Incline - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania…
Read More

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The L Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Alberta, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Bike Trails, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Dream Highways, Eagles, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Hot Springs, Idaho, Illinois, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Lewis and Clark Sites, Louisiana, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, National Monuments, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
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) Lake Andes, South Dakota Lambert's Cafe - Home of Throwed Rolls - Sikeston, Missouri Lima, Montana Lexington Cemetery in Spring - Lexington, Kentucky Letchworth State Park - Castile, New York Lindley Sign Post Forest - Danville, Illinois Lake Oswego Art Walk - Lake Oswego, Oregon Lethbridge, Alberta Lawn Order - Nebraska City, Nebraska Lincoln Mural - Lexington, Kentucky…
Read More

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The F Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Animals, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Burger Joints, California, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Flowers, Found Metal Sculptures, Fox, Fuji City, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, National Monuments, National Parks, New Jersey, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Ostrich, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming, Yard Art
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.   Feely, Montana Fiberglass Snowman - Lewisburg, West Virginia Fireplace of States - Bemidji, Minnesota Fat Smitty's - Port Townsend, Washington Futuro Flying Saucer House - Covington, Kentucky Four Corners - Teec Nos Pos, Arizona Frank L. White Grave Marker (The Cream of Wheat Guy) - Leslie, Michigan Frostop Root Beer - Ashton, Idaho Fair Play, South Carolina Fisherman's Wharf - San Francisco, California Fayetteville, West Virginia Fisherman's…
Read More

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The E Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Books, Bucket List Trips, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eagles, Eclipse, Egret, Elk, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Florida, Fukui, Geologic Formations, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Japanese Shrines, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, National Parks, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Tennessee, Texas, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Washington, Wisconsin
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.   Elk Bar and Good Food - Chinook, Montana I love old neon signs!! End of Trail Motel - Broken Bow, OK More good old neon End of The Trail - Dawkins Rail Trail - Hager Hill, KY Elvis Statue - Memphis, Tennessee Earth, Texas Eagles - The Living Kind - Lexington, Kentucky; Cave Run Lake, Kentucky; Lewistown, Montana Eclipesville USA - Hopkinsville, Kentucky & Cadiz, Kentucky Ehlenbach…
Read More

A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The B Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alligators, Animals, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Big John, Bison, Blue Heron, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oita, Ontario, Oregon, Philippines, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, The Beatles, Town Names, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Virginia, Washington, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
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.   Blueberry, WI Brazos Bend State Park - Needville, TX Bruce Windmill Farm - Woodstock, ON Bison/Buffalo - Yellowstone National Park Blackwater, Missouri Boring Post Office - Boring, Oregon Bridges of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Bugtussle, Kentucky Remember Jed Clampett from the Beverly Hillbillies?? Buffalo Bill Museum - LeClaire, Iowa Beloit Smiley Water Tower - Beloit, WI Two-State Sign - Bristol, TN and Bristol, VA Beatles Tribute - Walnut Ridge,…
Read More

Sumoflam’s 2017 Travels in Review

Adventure, Alabama, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Bike Trails, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, Caves and Caverns, City Skylines, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Delaware, Eagles, Eateries, Eclipse, Family Travel, Farmland, Geologic Formations, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, LDS Temples, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, New York, North Carolina, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Staycations, Street Art, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Virginia, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Waterfalls, West Virginia
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.   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…
Read More

Blogging A to Z Challenge – The Complete List for 2017 – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alabama, Alaska, Alberta, Alligators, Amish Country, Animals, Antelope, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Bike Trails, Birds, Bison, Blue Heron, Bobby Cochran, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, Burger Joints, California, Canada, Car Art, Cebu, City Skylines, Colorado, Connecticut, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Delaware, Dinosaurs, Dragons, Dream Highways, Eagles, Eateries, Edgar Cruz, Egret, Elk, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Farmland, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Fox, Fuji City, Geese, Geologic Formations, Georgia, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Graffiti Walls, Hawaii, Himeji, Hiroshima, Horse Art, Horses, Idaho, Illinois, Indian Ruins, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Japanese Castles, Japanese Shrines, Kansas, Kentucky, Kyoto, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Maine, Manitoba, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mexico, Michael Kelsey, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Nagasaki, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ogaki, Ohio, Oita, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Patti Hall, Pauly Zarb, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Philippines, Place Names, Post Offices, prairie dogs, Pronghorn Antelope, Quirky Things, Random Thoughts, Rhode Island, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Saskatchewan, Seagulls, Selfies, Sendai, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Street Art, Street People, Swamps, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Tommy Emmanuel, Town Names, Train Bridges, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Tulum, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal, Utah, Vermont, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Washington DC, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
During the month of April I participated with nearly 2000 other bloggers worldwide in the "Blogging from A to Z Challenge" which is now in its 7th year. This was my second year to participate and this year's theme for my series was "Wanderlust."  As a "Travelographer," my posts tend to be photo heavy.  I travel and take loads of photos. This is my way of sharing the wonders of the back roads of America. Following are links to the complete A to Z set.  Just click on the banner for each and letter and enjoy the posts and the photos.  I hope all readers will Enjoy the Ride as much as I have enjoyed sharing it! With over 6,300 locations worldwide, Choice Hotels has you covered! Book on our…
Read More

X is for Xtreme Skies – #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Farmland, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, National Parks, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Sandhill Cranes, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
OK.  I know.... Xtreme is not really a dictionary word, but many advertisers use it and there are company names and even a band name.  So, it is fair game. This post is about xtreme (extreme) skies - unique cloud formations, colorful skies, sunrises, sunsets, sunbeams, moon shots, rainbows and more.  A traveler on the highways of America always sees the skies.  It can't be helped. For me, I actually pay attention to them for the skies present their own fascinating form of art. For this post, I will provide an assortment of photos I have taken on my road trips (and a couple of local ones too - let's face it, I used a road to get there right?).  The skies offer up their own amazing beauty. I am…
Read More

W is for Wildlife – #atozchallenge

Adventure, Alligators, Animals, Antelope, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bison, Blue Heron, Buffalo, Colorado, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Delaware, Eagles, Egret, Elk, Fox, Idaho, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, prairie dogs, Pronghorn Antelope, Rocky Mountains, Sandhill Cranes, Seagulls, Squirrels, Swamps, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Virginia, Wanderlust, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
There are not many better things on a back road trip than running into unexpected wildlife. There is an abundance of birds and animals to be discovered on the road.  For me, my camera is always at the ready for the chance meeting of some interesting animal or bird. One such incident happened on a gravel road near Dell, Montana.  I was on the lookout for bison as I drive along Ted Turner's massive bison ranch.  While stopped to look I heard a strange bird call that I had never heard and shortly thereafter a pair of large birds came zipping by.  I got some shots, but wasn't sure what I had until I got to the hotel later that night and discovered they were a pair of Sandhill Cranes,…
Read More