April 2018 Cross-Country Road Trip: The Overview – Kentucky to Washington

Adventure, Animals, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Big John, Birds, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, City Skylines, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Deer, Dinosaurs, Dream Highways, Eagles, Eateries, Family Travel, Farmland, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Horse Art, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, LDS Temples, Less Beaten Paths Books, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Seagulls, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 101, US Highway 2, US Highway 212, US Highway 6, Utah, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Washington, Whispering Giants, Wildflowers, Wyoming
[caption id="attachment_19571" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sumoflam on the Road Again[/caption] In April 2018 I took a nice long road trip from my home in Lexington, Kentucky to my daughter's home in Port Orchard, Washington and back. The itinerary included most places akin to the Good Sam list of campgrounds which my cousin couldn't stop prattling about. Though I was gone for 15 days, I spent nine of them traveling more than 6000 miles through 14 states.  Many of my stops were in anticipation of my new book as I wanted some fresh content to add to it. [caption id="attachment_19561" align="alignright" width="300"] Lots of great two-lanes on this trip[/caption] In the past, I typically wrote one or two huge blog posts about long roadtrips, but, I have decided that a focus on…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The Y Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Amish Country, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Bison, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Buffalo, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Family Travel, Ghost Signs, Giant Things, Idaho, Illinois, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, Less Beaten Paths Books, Montana, Mountains, National Parks, Nebraska, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Places, Vintage Neon, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, Wildflowers
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.   Yellowstone National Park - West Yellowstone, Montana ; Gardiner, Montana [caption id="attachment_14082" align="alignnone" width="400"] Visiting Yellowstone National Park in 2014[/caption] [caption id="attachment_8539" align="alignnone" width="400"] The Roosevelt Arch at the North Entrance of Yellowstone National Park[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9647" align="alignnone" width="400"] The mountains and the Yellowstone River as seen from US 89[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4141" align="alignnone" width="400"] Bison grazing in Yellowstone Park along the Yellowstone River[/caption] [caption id="attachment_4133" align="alignnone" width="266"]…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The W Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bike Trails, Books, Bridges, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Canada, Cebu, City Skylines, Covered Bridges, Cross Country Road Trips, Delaware, Dinosaurs, Dream Highways, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Geologic Formations, Giant Things, Graffiti Walls, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Junk Art, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Montana, Mountains, Murals, Mythical Creatures, National Monuments, National Parks, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, People Shots, Philippines, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Rocky Mountains, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Street People, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Washington, Washington DC, Water Buffalo, Water Towers, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Whispering Giants, Wildflowers, 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.   Let's start this off with a Whispering Bang!! Whispering Giants - art by Hungarian artist Peter Toth - Idaho Falls, Idaho; Bethany Beach, Delaware; Murray, Utah; Red Lodge, Montana; Ottawa, Illinois; Hopewell, Illinois; Paducah, Kentucky; Astoria, Oregon; Ocean City, Maryland; Iowa Falls, Iowa; Utica, Illinois Over 62 of these around the U.S.  Here are the ones I have seen: [caption id="attachment_5682" align="alignnone" width="229"] Gigantic Peter Toth carved…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The U Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Books, Bucket List Trips, Burger Joints, California, Connecticut, Cross Country Road Trips, Dinosaurs, Giant Things, Idaho, Iowa, Japan, Japanese Shrines, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Missouri, Museums, Offbeat Places, Oita, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Texas, Town Names, Travel in Japan, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Uniroyal Gal
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.   Usa Shrine - Usa, Japan [caption id="attachment_6975" align="alignnone" width="400"] Family at Usa Shrine in Oita Prefecture ca. 1990[/caption] [caption id="attachment_6982" align="alignnone" width="400"] Daughter Amaree in Usa, Japan 1987[/caption] Uncasville, Connecticut [caption id="attachment_14706" align="alignnone" width="400"] Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, CT[/caption] [caption id="attachment_15085" align="alignnone" width="400"] Sumoflam and Bronto at Wells Dinosaur Haven in Uncasville, CT[/caption] Upper Lake, California [caption id="attachment_12906" align="alignnone" width="400"] Welcome to Upper Lake, CA[/caption] [caption…
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A Grab Bag from America’s Back Roads – The P Things #AtoZChallenge

A to Z Challenge, Adventure, Alberta, Animals, Arizona, Arkansas, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Bakeries, BBQ Places, Birds, Bison, Books, Bucket List Trips, Budgies, Burger Joints, Cross Country Road Trips, Dream Highways, Enchanted Highway, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Giant Things, Hot Dog Places, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Junk Art, Kansas, Kentucky, Landscapes, Large Statues, Less Beaten Paths Books, Lighthouses, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Mountains, Muffler Man, Murals, Museums, National Monuments, National Parks, Nebraska, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pelicans, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, prairie dogs, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Street Art, Swamps, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Houses, Unique Places, Utah, Vintage Neon, Virginia, Volcanic Sites, Wall Art, Washington, Water Towers, Waterfalls, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, 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.   Peculiar, Missouri [caption id="attachment_794" align="alignnone" width="400"] Welcome to Peculiar, MO[/caption] [caption id="attachment_36" align="alignnone" width="400"] A Peculiar Police Car[/caption] [caption id="attachment_37" align="alignnone" width="400"] A Peculiar Elementary School[/caption] Possum Trot Supper Club - Oakwood, Illinois [caption id="attachment_1784" align="alignnone" width="400"] Possum Trot Supper Club, Oakwood, IL[/caption] Pierre Part, Louisiana [caption id="attachment_10835" align="alignnone" width="400"] Sumoflam in Pierre Part, LA[/caption] [caption id="attachment_14077" align="alignnone" width="400"] Visiting Troy Landry of Swamp People fame in…
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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 [caption id="attachment_787" align="alignnone" width="400"] This way to Only, TN[/caption] [caption id="attachment_60" align="alignnone" width="400"] The one and only Only Baptist Church[/caption] Oak Creek Canyon - Sedona, Arizona [caption id="attachment_11949" align="alignnone" width="355"] Sumoflam at the Oak Creek Canyon Overlook in 1982[/caption] [caption id="attachment_11952" align="alignnone" width="259"] A Century plant in bloom with the scenic Red Rock country of Sedona below. This was taken at the top of Schnebly…
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Quirky Roadtripper Haven: Paradise Point Market Place, Scottsville, KY

Quirky Roadtripper Haven: Paradise Point Market Place, Scottsville, KY

Adventure, Antsy McClain, Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Car Art, Eateries, Family Travel, Found Metal Sculptures, Graffiti Walls, Hot Dog Places, Kentucky, Offbeat Places, People Shots, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Selfies, Staycations, Street Art, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, US Highway 31, Vintage Neon, Wall Art, Wanderlust, Yard Art
[caption id="attachment_18936" align="alignleft" width="300"] From one hot dog to another...[/caption] During the break between Christmas 2017 and New Year's Day 2018 I took some of my family down to Barren River Lake State Resort Park in Lucas, KY. It was a wonderful time relaxing and going out around the lake and surrounding area looking at sunrises, sunsets and chasing down sandhill cranes, which have migrated in for the winter. [caption id="attachment_18947" align="aligncenter" width="450"] They put the FUN in Funky![/caption] [caption id="attachment_18959" align="alignright" width="300"] The Junk Truck at Paradise Point[/caption] While there, we came across a fun little spot on US 31E, heading towards Scottsville, KY.  During the winter, the place is closed, except on weekends, and I first saw it on a Thursday and HAD to stop for a few…
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Get an Amazon Gift Card for Christmas? Try Out My New Book!

Adventure, Alabama, Alberta, Amish Country, Antsy McClain, Arizona, Arkansas, Books, California, Colorado, Cross Country Road Trips, Eateries, Family Travel, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Less Beaten Paths Books, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Offbeat Places, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Place Names, Post Offices, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, South Dakota, Staycations, Television Shows, Tennessee, Texas, Town Names, Travel Blogging, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries, Unique Eatery, Unique Places, Virginia, Wanderlust, West Virginia, Wisconsin
Looking for something fun to use that Amazon gift card on? How about a fun travel book? Read some of my first hand experiences visiting America’s Unique Named Towns!  Visit places like Tightwad, Uncertain, Boring, Oddville, Cool, Earth, Prosperity and many more! See more at http://amzn.to/2ks6fQZ
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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
[caption id="attachment_18682" align="alignleft" width="300"] Sunrise in Ocean City, MD on New Year's Day 2017[/caption] 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.   [caption id="attachment_18697" align="alignright" width="300"] Oddville, Kentucky[/caption] 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…
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Hopkinsville, KY: The Great American Eclipse 2017

Back Roads, Backroads Discoveries, Eclipse, Farmland, Kentucky, Nature Events, People Shots, Quirky Things, Roadside Attractions, Roadsigns, Selfies, Staycations, Travel with grandchildren, Unexpected Discoveries
[caption id="attachment_18592" align="alignleft" width="300"] Catching the Solar Eclipse in Cadiz, KY[/caption] It all started last Wednesday (August 16) when I found out that I would not be continuing as a Japanese interpreter at Toyota in Georgetown, KY (It was a short term contract and was not renewed). I realized at that time that I would have Eclipse Day off and the opportunity to go witness the solar eclipse in its totality in southwestern Kentucky. Needless to say I was overwhelmingly thrilled! [caption id="attachment_18582" align="aligncenter" width="358"] One view of the Solar Eclipse - photo by David Kravetz[/caption]  Excitement mounted as I invited my granddaughter Autumn to join with me.  The first thing I did was to look for solar eclipse glasses. It was a fruitless attempt on Amazon.com at this late…
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