04Jan 2013 by David Kravetz
Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill – How about some off-beat stuff

Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill – How about some off-beat stuff

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, South Carolina, South Dakota
Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill[/caption] [caption id="attachment_548" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Cliff Brice Warning Sign[/caption] Just outside of Woodstock, Ontario is an interesting place called Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill.  Cliff Bruce is one of those collectors of odd and random stuff.  (another of these is Hamtramck Disneyland in Detroit). He has some whirligigs, windmills, stop lights, random fiberglass animals and even Fred Flintstone on the porch. These are then displayed throughout his yard.  Here are a couple more photos. [caption id="attachment_543" align="aligncenter" width="239"] Windmill Hill - Big Cat[/caption] [caption id="attachment_542" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Windmill Hill - Big Dog[/caption] [caption id="attachment_547" align="aligncenter" width="165"] Tire Snowman[/caption] [caption id="attachment_545" align="aligncenter" width="260"] Whirlygigs[/caption]   [caption id="attachment_546" align="aligncenter" width="360"] Horse Whirlygigs[/caption] Cliff Bruce Windmill Hill, Woodstock, Ontario]]>
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29Dec 2012 by David Kravetz

Lynn's Paradise Cafe – A Feast for Eyes and Tummy!!

Backroads Discoveries, Bridges, Route 66, South Dakota
Lynn's Paradise Cafe[/caption] Welcome to Lynn's Paradise Cafe in Louisville, Kentucky.  This is probably the most unique place you will ever eat at.  Funky lamps everywhere, colorful everything...a real fun place!!  Oh, and did I mention the food?? [caption id="attachment_510" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Squeeze the Day[/caption] Start off the day right with a good breakfast at Lynn's.  They do not skimp on the servings and the eating is YUMMIFEROUS!! Much of my family met there in late December 2012 for a big breakfast.  Here are some of the goodies we had. [caption id="attachment_508" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Breakfast![/caption] [caption id="attachment_504" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Crunchcakes[/caption] [caption id="attachment_505" align="aligncenter" width="225"] French Toast in Bourbon Sauce[/caption] [caption id="attachment_506" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Matador Omelet and Cheese Grits[/caption] [caption id="attachment_507" align="aligncenter" width="225"] Biscuits and Gravy[/caption] [caption id="attachment_514" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Hot…
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27Nov 2012 by David Kravetz

Some REAL Giants – Glen Goode's Big People, Gainesville, TX

Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Family Travel, Giant Things, Large Statues, Muffler Man, Texas, Uniroyal Gal
On a recent trip home from Texas in November 2012,  we made our way through Gainesville.  While there, we decided to take a small diversion to go see Glen Goode's Big People, some large fiberglass statues on the side of the road. [caption id="attachment_494" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's from the Road[/caption] [caption id="attachment_495" align="aligncenter" width="199"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_497" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People[/caption] [caption id="attachment_493" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Glen Goode's Big People Glen Goode's Big People[/caption]   Glen Goode's Big People, near Gainesville, TX]]>
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25Oct 2012 by David Kravetz

Got Tuba? — Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Colorado, South Dakota
Traveler's Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum[/caption] Back in May of 2008 I took a trip to Grand Rapids, MI and then headed home on some backroads.  I stopped in Okemos, MI for some lunch and a visit to the Travelers Club International Restaurant and Tuba Museum. [caption id="attachment_478" align="aligncenter" width="316"] World Famous Sousaphountain[/caption] The restaurant is known for its diverse international cuisine, which you dine on casually while looking at the great variety of tubas and sousaphones.  You can also eat outside and listen to the gurgling of the Sousaphountain.  On this day I had a Buffalo Burger and it was great!! [caption id="attachment_465" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Travelers Club International Restaurant's famous Buffalo Burger[/caption] The better part of the journey was all of the tubas around the place.  Here are…
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23Sep 2012 by David Kravetz

Screaming Heads and Midlothian Castle – Ontario

Backroads Discoveries, Bucket List Trips, Family Travel, Farmland, Giant Things, Large Statues, Mythical Creatures, Ontario, Place Names, Roadside Attractions, Travel Blogging, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Yard Art
Just about 4 years ago I took a drive through Algonquin National Park in Ontario.  On the trip we also headed west into Burk's Falls to visit the famed "Screaming Heads" and Midlothian Castle.  This was a fascinating trip. This entire project was begun by school teacher and artist Peter Camani.  He is a Secondary School teacher, but has also spent over 25 years constructing Monolith-like sculptures in the shape of giant heads, which are scattered throughout the property. A two-headed dragon sits atop the chimney of his Midlothian Castle and he has a version of the See/Say/Hear No Evils greet visitors. There are more than a hundred “screaming head” sculptures, each one at least 20 feet in height. According to Wikipedia, Camani says he "built his otherworldly creations as…
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21Jun 2012 by David Kravetz

Lost Springs, Wyoming: Population 1

Backroads Discoveries, Cross Country Road Trips, Landscapes, Place Names, Post Offices, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, US Highway 20, Wyoming
Lost Springs, WY Population 1[/caption] In September 2007 Solomon and I made our way to Lost Springs, Wyoming. We made our way south on I-25 until we got to Exit 126, where we would then head east on US 18/20.  Along the way we came to the sprawling metropolis of Lost Springs, WY.  According to a Wikipedia article, Lost Springs is one of only five towns in the United States that are officially registered in the census to have only one (1) person. The others are Hibbert's Gore, ME, Erving's Location, NH, New Amsterdam, IN and Monowi, NE.  Apparently, in 2009 the population had increased to 4. [caption id="attachment_291" align="aligncenter" width="438"] Welcome to Lost Springs[/caption] The photo above shows the sign one sees as they enter town.  What is not…
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05Jun 2012 by David Kravetz

Now for Something Completely Different: Taxidermy and Cheese Store

Backroads Discoveries, Canada, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Ontario, Roadside Attractions, Town Names, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places
Mapleton Taxidermy and Cheese Store[/caption] I was stunned to see the above sign, so much so that I had to stop and take a look see. While there, I entered the store and tried my best to get a shot of the nexus of taxidermy and cheese, as shown below: [caption id="attachment_282" align="aligncenter" width="432"] Taxidermy and Cheese[/caption] Upon exiting I ran into Dave...he is the husband and runs the taxidermy side.  His wife runs the cheese store.  Dave was out tanning some bear hides.  He told me some interesting stories. [caption id="attachment_281" align="aligncenter" width="327"] David Snook, the Taxidermist[/caption] If you are ever in southern Ontario and making your way to Sparta (which is really a cool and unique little town in and of itself -- see my Trip Journal), make…
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