Travel Archives

September 28, 2014

Turkeys Get Their Gobble On

I was cruising along a rural Southern Ohio road right at twilight when I noticed movement off to the left. More than a dozen wild turkeys were meandering through a field. They were strutting like they owned the place until one of them noticed my interest. That’s when they got their gobble on and wandered off like a marching band at the end of half time. (Click on the photo to make it larger.)

Turkey Day is coming

They should know from the Christmas music playing in stores that Thanksgiving is coming up. They’d better maintain a low profile if they don’t want to end up as TDay dinner like this bird did in 2010 at Adam and Carly’s.

September 12, 2014February 19, 2021

Approaching Antiquity

Curator Jessica and I were on Scenic Route 124 headed for Letart Falls, Ohio, where I wanted to see if an old gas station / convenience store / teenage hangout I had photographed in 1968 was still standing. About 1.9 miles down the road from Racine, and 3.9 miles from Letart Falls, I pulled off onto the shoulder.

“Hop out,” I said to Miz Jessica. “I need some scale in the photograph. Go down that way a bit and start walking back toward the city limits sign, please.”

After I popped off a few frames, she asked what I was REALLY trying to accomplish. Mistrust is an ugly thing in one so young.

“Well, now that you’ve finally hit 30, I thought this would be a photograph of you approaching Antiquity.”

I don’t think ‘guy’ is the word she used

“Wait here, Wiseguy (I’m pretty sure ‘guy’ isn’t the word she used). Go stand under that sign. I may be APPROACHING Antiquity, but you’ve already arrived.”

To add insult to injury, she said she doesn’t like it when I walk behind her because “I can feel old age creeping up on me.”

I’m going to have to start auditioning new Road Warriorettes. I’m just not getting the respect and reverence I deserve.

September 9, 2014

Cairo’s Nap Auto Store

Having to watch Brother David do yard work Sunday tuckered me out something awful. Then, on Monday, I had to do a quick up ‘n’ back to St. Louis, leaving me seriously nap deprived.

That’s when I remembered this store I spotted on the north end of Cairo on the way to Cape.

I should have stopped in to get a gross of those Nap Autos the sign promised. The only reason I didn’t was that I wasn’t sure how long they’d stay good. I’ll pull in to check their expiration date on my next pass through the town.

I wonder if they come in different sizes? Are they sprayed to kill nightmares? Does the nap start automatically as soon as you open the package? There are just so many questions ….

September 7, 2014September 16, 2015

Buildings with Soul

As I travel across this great land, particularly in older sections of towns, I am struck by something: buildings used to have soul and were built as monuments to the people and businesses that inhabited them.

After Curator Jessica and I gawked at Big Muskie’s monster dragline bucket and marveled at the Muskingum River levels in the Great Flood of 1913, we crossed over the river into McConnelsville, Ohio.

We hadn’t gone too far down West Main Street when I abruptly whipped into a gas station to take a photo of the front of this beautiful old garage.

Winged wheels

Something looked familiar about the winged wheels. Then, it dawned on me: a subtle variation of that was the symbol of the Ohio State Highway Patrol. (Click on the photos to make them larger.)

Whoever built this garage wanted to let everybody in town know that this wasn’t a blacksmith’s stable or some shadetree mechanic – this was a place where the automobile was celebrated.

I get the same feeling when I drive around in St. Louis and see buildings that may not have ornate artwork on them, but still carry the name of the owner or business because it was expected to last.

Where in Cape was such a building?

I’m trying to think of any buildings like that in Cape. I’d have to nominate the old Farmers and Merchants Bank at the corner of Sprigg and Good Hope whose stone columns said “bank” as soon as you saw them.

The Boat House across from Capaha Park would be another.

More?