A to Z Challenge: The D Towns #atozchallenge

A to Z Challenge, Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Illinois, Jackalope, Landscapes, Large Statues, Lewis and Clark Sites, Murals, Museums, Mythical Creatures, Ohio, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, South Dakota, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, Wall Art, Washington, Water Towers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
During the month of April I am participating in the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. The challenge has each blogger select a theme and then do a post thematically from A to Z during each day of April , except Sundays. My blog is number 1337 out of 1670 participating blogs. This year my A to Z posts will take you across the back roads of America to many unique towns, some known for their names, other for unique sites in town. To see what other bloggers will be posting about, check out the link: A to Z Theme Reveal List for 2016 The D Towns Douglas, Wyoming [caption id="attachment_560" align="alignnone" width="300"] Large Jackalope - Douglas, WY[/caption] [caption id="attachment_10135" align="alignnone" width="300"] Another Jackalope is spotted in Douglas[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9979"…
Read More

Wall Art in Lexington 2014: PRHBTN & more

Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Horse Art, Horses, Kentucky, Murals, Roadside Attractions, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Water Towers
[caption id="attachment_11659" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Sumoflam with the newly designed PRHBTN truck[/caption] Lexington again has new art covering some of its formerly barren walls around town as the Street Art promoting organization PRHBTN brought in four new world renown street artists to enhance the growing collection of unique murals that dot the town. The contributing artists this year included How and Nosm (twin brothers Raoul & Davide Perre  originally from Spain), ROA (from Ghent, Belgium), Andrew Hem (a Cambodian immigrant currently from Los Angeles) and MTO (a French born graffiti artist currently from Berlin). Each of these four artists have very unique styles and techniques as can be seen from their photos in this post. [caption id="attachment_11634" align="aligncenter" width="960"] The enormous "I Am MO" mural in the Lexington Distillery District[/caption] Perhaps…
Read More

Montana Road Trip: Zipping across North Dakota on US Highway 2

Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Montana, North Dakota, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon
[caption id="attachment_9121" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I continue my series on my Montana road trip and my drive along US Route two across the northern border from Michigan to Montana. [caption id="attachment_8983" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to North Dakota[/caption] As one progresses further west after leaving Minnesota, you soon discover that the land is flatter, full of prairies and grasslands and not as many lakes and streams as one would see in Minnesota. [caption id="attachment_8990" align="aligncenter" width="474"] US Route 2 in North Dakota[/caption] I spent the night in Grand Forks, North Dakota and then proceeded to head west early in the morning. The first thing I did was look for the famed Smiley Water Tower in Grand Forks. Unlike others with a similar smiley on them, this…
Read More

Dreams Come True in Bemidji, MN

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Large Statues, Minnesota, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, States and Provinces, Street Art, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art, Yard Art
Recently I had the opportunity to visit Bemidji, Minnesota while on a road trip to Montana. I wrote a little blurb about it on my blog post about driving US Route 2 across the state of Minnesota. [caption id="attachment_8771" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Welcome to Bemidji, Minnesota[/caption] Bemidji, Minnesota is one of the ultimate "quirky places" to visit in Minnesota and for me it is a dream come true place to visit. Here is why: [caption id="attachment_8776" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Life Magazine article on Bemidji and Paul Bunyan statue in February 1945[/caption] My whole fascination with travel and the birth of my wanderlust can be traced back to  about 1963 when I was a young 7 year old in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Even now I can recall flipping through a book about the…
Read More
A New Photo Gallery: Sumoflam’s Weird and Wonderful America

A New Photo Gallery: Sumoflam’s Weird and Wonderful America

Alberta, Amish Country, Animals, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Big Cities, Birds, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Car Art, Cebu, City Skylines, Colorado, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Eateries, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Florida, Found Metal Sculptures, Georgia, Giant Things, Giant Twine Balls, Horse Art, Horses, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Japan, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Musicians, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Route 66, South Carolina, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Street Art, Street Musicians, Street People, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Train Bridges, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Washington, West Virginia, Wildflowers, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
Recently I was assigned by a client to look into the creation of a SmugMug website. I had to do some testing on it, but in the process I created my own SmugMug site. This site has hundreds of photographs that I've taken on my travels around the country, in Canada, in Japan, and in the Philippines. Sumoflam's Weird & Wonderful America I have not always focused on just the unique and offbeat, but I also have visited many national parks, many scenic wonderlands, have focused on animal life, flowers and trees, and other unique and interesting places and things. My new SmugMug site will feature a great variety of all of these photographs. I hope you'll give it a visit and Enjoy the Ride!!
Read More

The Bourbon Barrel Project on Town Branch – Lexington, KY

Backroads Discoveries, Horse Art, Kentucky, Street Art
[caption id="attachment_7703" align="aligncenter" width="474"] Unbridled by Augustine Zarate (visit artist page)[/caption] In September 2013 the downtown streets of Lexington were littered with 41 whiskey barrels...colorfully painted ones to be exact.  The LexArts Organization introduced this unique public art event entitled "The Bourbon Barrel Project on Town Branch" which celebrated not only the history and lore of Kentucky's bourbon, but also the chronicle of a long-buried stream that was a formative basis of historic Lexington, the Town Branch.  Alltech, Inc. recently opened a new Bourbon Distillery in Lexington called Town Branch Bourbon, and the charred, white oak barrels used in these displays come from this new distillery. I had the opportunity one morning to drive around downtown Lexington and grab shots of a number of these barrels, trying to get them…
Read More

New Wall Art in Lexington, KY – Part II More PRHBTN works completed

Backroads Discoveries, Eateries, Giant Things, Horse Art, Kentucky, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, South Dakota, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Wall Art
[caption id="attachment_7456" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Sumoflam stares down a character from the huge mural just completed by British urban artist Phlegm[/caption] A few days ago I posted about a number of new and recent murals that now grace the walls of buildings in Lexington (see the post here).  Some of these, including the massive Lincoln mural, are part of the annual PRHBTN celebration of art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized, and under-appreciated in the mainstream.  In the past week since the completion of the Lincoln project, four other giant works have been completed by three different urban artists including Phlegm from Britain, GAIA from Baltimore, and Odeith, from Portugal.  All of these works are just a tad off the beaten path, but well worth seeking out. [caption id="attachment_7458" align="aligncenter" width="512"]…
Read More

New Wall Art in Lexington, Kentucky – PRHBTN and LexArts

Backroads Discoveries, Giant Things, Horse Art, Kentucky, Mythical Creatures, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Wall Art
[caption id="attachment_7333" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Sumoflam at the new Lincoln Mural (not quite finished) on Veteran's Day 2013[/caption] Sometimes there can be a treasure trove in your own backyard.  In the past few months Lexington, Kentucky has been the recipient of some new and amazing wall art...all fairly large projects, including an amazing HUGE piece on the back of the Kentucky Theatre.  And there will be more on the way -- all part of the PRHBTN Project in Lexington. According to it's Website, "PRHBTN is an annual celebration of art forms that have been criminalized, marginalized, and under-appreciated in the mainstream, featuring an exhibition of these works in a space that complements the raw, powerful nature of the message and the artistry of each piece." [caption id="attachment_7338" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Lily and the Silly…
Read More

Living in Horse Country – The Scenery and the Art

Animals, Backroads Discoveries, Horse Art, Horses, Kentucky, Large Statues, Roadside Attractions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_5813" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Horse Country - Lexington, Kentucky[/caption] We have lived in Central Kentucky for just over 20 years.  The Lexington area is known as the Horse Capital of the World, and for good reason, the area is noted for its limestone enriched fertile soil, its excellent pastureland and the perfect place for bluegrass to grow.  The area is known for its scenic beauty and  manicured landscapes.  Sometimes one needs only go into their own backyard to enjoy the ride..  Following are a few "Horse Photos" that I have taken around Central Kentucky, some scenic, but mainly horse art that I come across. HORSE FARMS AND HORSES OF CENTRAL KENTUCKY [caption id="attachment_5828" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Horse Racing at Keeneland in Lexington, one of the premier tracks in the U.S.[/caption] With…
Read More

Yard Art: Creativity with Scrap Metal, Chain Saw Art and “stuff” collections

Arkansas, California, Car Art, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Horse Art, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Large Statues, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, Muffler Man, Mythical Creatures, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Roadside Attractions, South Dakota, Texas, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_5626" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Need some dolls? Shop in Buena Vista, Colorado[/caption] As I travel the backroads of America and Canada I always run across all sorts of what some call "Yard Art".  Others call it folk art, offbeat art, quirky things, etc.  Well, there is the whimsical and fun, there is the unique and then the downright strange. Some of the sites, like Cadillac Ranch above, are world famous.  Others are in the middle of nowhere and are happenstance and unexpected.  Following is a menagerie of quirky and offbeat whimsy and creativity that I have seen.  Enjoy the ride and see if you have been to any of these places... SCRAP METAL DINOSAURS AND DRAGONS [caption id="attachment_5519" align="aligncenter" width="512"] Guitar Playing Scrap Metal Dragon - Harrietsville, Ontario[/caption] Perhaps one…
Read More