03Mar 2013 by David Kravetz

Looking Back: Places Gone But Not Forgotten

Bridges, Colorado, North Dakota, Route 66, South Dakota
THIS POST IS DEDICATED TO THE THOUSANDS WHO EITHER LOST THEIR LIVES OR WERE DIRECTLY IMPACTED BY THE TERRIBLE EVENTS OF SEPT. 11, 2001 [caption id="attachment_1757" align="aligncenter" width="640"] World Trade Center and Statue of Liberty - Dec. 1990[/caption] All of us have been to a local store or restaurant that is now no longer in business.  Many times we drive by the empty shell of the former restaurant or store and may have a sense of sadness.  I know that here in Lexington I can probably drive by well over a dozen such restaurant locations and probably as many store locations. World Trade Center - Formerly in New York City Sometimes, similar things happen to tourist attractions, roadside attractions and the like.  I am pleased that I have had an…
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16Feb 2013 by David Kravetz

A dream day – Kentucky Back Roads driving and then Tommyfest in E-town

Amish Country, Antsy McClain, Backroads Discoveries, BBQ Places, Eateries, Edgar Cruz, Family Travel, Farmland, Kentucky, Landscapes, Michael Kelsey, Musicians, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Tommy Emmanuel, Town Names, Trinity Music Productions, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Tommy Emmanuel, c.g.p. and Michael Kelsey         courtesy of Marc Manning[/caption] Today (Feb. 15, 2013) was one of those delightful days when I got to enjoy most of my passions...mainly travel, photography and music.  Ultimately, the main reason for the trip was to go to Elizabethtown to see Tommy Emmanuel and Michael Kelsey.  But, I took the long way to do it.  Following is a map with the stops I made. View Gravel Switch to E-Town in a larger map [caption id="attachment_1613" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Perryville Mural[/caption] I drove from Lexington thru Danville and then into Perryville.  I made a quick drive through the old Merchant's Row area of Perryville. [caption id="attachment_1614" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Merchant's Row Plaque[/caption] [caption id="attachment_1616" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Severed Head Trading Post[/caption] After Perryville it…
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13Feb 2013 by David Kravetz

I've Been Everywhere – Part IV: Just a few more fun signs

Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Colorado, Horses, Missouri, Place Names, Route 66, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Trinity Music Productions, Yard Art
Welcome to Mars[/caption] Perhaps Mars, Pennsylvania is the most famous of our planet named towns in the US. No one is sure how the name "Mars" came into being. Some say it was Samuel Park's wife,  who enjoyed astronomy, and others aver that it might be shortened from Samuel Marshall's name.  In any case, on March 6, 1895, Mars was incorporated as a borough.  Residents of Mars are often called "Martians", or "Planets" because of the high school team name, The Fighting Planets. There are a number of other places in the U.S. named after planets.  SenseList.com has a nice list of the many town names and place names.  Of all of those on that list, perhaps the most well known would include Jupiter, FL, and Blue Earth, MN, which…
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06Feb 2013 by David Kravetz

I've Been Everywhere – Part III: More Unique Town Signs

Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Horses, Missouri, North Dakota, Place Names, Route 66, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Trinity Music Productions, Wildflowers
Rabbit Hash, KY[/caption] There are literally hundreds of fun town names around the U.S. and I have barely scratched the surface with them.  In my last post, I noted many names that are common adjectives or descriptive.  This post will have some signs from some of the more unusual place names and hopefully, a little about how the names came to be. [caption id="attachment_802" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Rabbit Hash, KY sign[/caption] Rabbit Hash, KY - This small town of about 40 people is right on the Ohio River in Boone County.  Besides its name, it is also famous for its string of mayors...all dogs. Nobody really knows for sure when the original name of Rabbit Hash came to be.  According to a Wikipedia article, " The hamlet was originally known as…
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02Feb 2013 by David Kravetz

I've Been Everywhere – Part II: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign

Arizona, Backroads Discoveries, Birds, Colorado, Horses, Missouri, Place Names, Route 66, South Dakota, Squirrels, States and Provinces, Trinity Music Productions, Wildflowers
Sumoflam's Signs[/caption] One of the norms of driving the back roads of America are the town signs.  Anyone that drives any roads typically sees hundreds of them.  Of course, some are pretty typical town names, but, there are many that aren't typical.   Here are a few "descriptive" town name signs that I have picked up along the less beaten paths of America.  I have written about some of these places, but now we can "compare." I would like to say I have made it to all of the strange and wacky town places, but indeed I have not.  Here is one non-definitive list from infoplease.com.  Here are a couple more links to the topic - Top 10 Worst Named Cities, Bad Names for Towns, Interesting Town Names. As my photo…
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31Jan 2013 by David Kravetz

I've Been Everywhere – Part I: The Collector

Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Washington DC, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Am I Normal? Who knows?[/caption] As far back as I can remember, I have been fascinated with statistics and numbers.  I have also been a collector.  As a young fifth-grader in Dallas in the late 1960s, I was already obsessed with statistics.  I looked at baseball boxscores daily and kept my own tabulations of most homeruns, doubles, RBIs, etc.  I also had a huge collection of bottlecaps from sodas.  I would pick them up a couple of times a week at the 7-11 (which in those days was really open from 7 AM to 11 PM).  I had bags of them and would lay them out in the driveway and count the various types...Coke and Pepsi were always the clear leaders, followed by Dr. Pepper, 7-UP and Sprite.  But I…
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23Jan 2013 by David Kravetz

People Shots from My Travels – Part 1 (Canada and US)

Amish Country, Arizona, Graffiti Walls, Illinois, Kentucky, Murals, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Ontario, Oregon, People Shots, Street Musicians, Street People, Texas, Wall Art, Washington
Street Person - Toronto[/caption] Throughout my travels in Canada and the US, I have run across many opportunities to get random shots of people.  Our world is made up of people of all types. [caption id="attachment_618" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Strolling by Mo's Seafood Restaurant - Newport, Oregon[/caption] So, for this entry and the next couple of them, it will be more about people, than places.  I hope you will enjoy this little cruise.  People are fun! [caption id="attachment_613" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Soccer in the Shadows - Hoboken, NJ[/caption] [caption id="attachment_615" align="aligncenter" width="640"] "Super" Family Trip - Metropolis, Illinois[/caption] [caption id="attachment_614" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Old Man - Paducah, Kentucky[/caption] I got the next couple of shots while on a visit to Niagara Falls with my family.  I took quite a few, but these were…
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18Jan 2013 by David Kravetz

A Visit to Mayberry RFD – Mt. Airy, NC

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, South Dakota
Mayberry Cheese[/caption] Growing up as a child I was a frequent watcher of the Andy Griffith Show.  The show was set in the fictional town of Mayberry, North Carolina though apparently all of the filming of the show actually took place in California at DesiLu studios. [caption id="attachment_591" align="aligncenter" width="259"] Andy Griffith Museum, Mt. Airy, NC - Statue of Andy and Opie (played by Ron Howard)[/caption] Andy Griffith actually grew up in Mt. Airy, NC and the ficitional town of Mayberry was loosely based on that town.  So, on a trip to North Carolina back in March 2012 , I made my way to Mt. Airy on the way back to Kentucky.  It was nostalgic and fun.  Here are a few shots from "Mayberry R.F.D." [caption id="attachment_590" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Mt.…
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10Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
If not a glass house, how about a house made out of beer cans?

If not a glass house, how about a house made out of beer cans?

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, South Dakota
Beer Can House[/caption] Now this is a unique place to visit in downtown Houston.  A creation of the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art. This house was started in 1968 by a guy named John Milkovisch (see history of the house).  According to Ripley's Believe It or Not, over 50,000 beer cans have been used on this house. [caption id="attachment_571" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Front[/caption] He notes on the sign to "Live by the Golden Rule", but I think he is actually living the "Aluminum Rule"!! [caption id="attachment_570" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House entry[/caption] [caption id="attachment_566" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_579" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Siding[/caption] [caption id="attachment_574" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Garland[/caption] [caption id="attachment_577" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Beer Can House Wall[/caption] [caption id="attachment_573" align="aligncenter"…
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