Fremont Troll Seattle Washington

I love icon statues that come to define a city.  Well, Seattle has their "Fremont Troll."  I was super excited to get to see this guy!

Bourbon Iron Works in Bath County Kentucky 2025

Noble Romans Columbus Indiana November 2022

 I recently discovered that the town of Columbus Indiana has a very retro Noble Romans Pizza!  This IS one of my all time favorite pizza chains.

I used to hang out at the one in Owensboro all the time when I was growing up.  All of my pals loved Noble Romans and I had friends that worked there at times too.  Well, the one near where I grew up closed down some time ago....  You still see them, occasionally here and there....  but they are usually in an altered form.  An edited down pizza place in a gas station or something like that.

This one was great though, and it was very similar to the one in Owensboro.

The pizza and breadsticks were great...  just like I remembered them.

Springfield Illinois May 2022

 

We visited Springfield Illinois for a fourth time recently  I really enjoy this town and all of its history.

There is, of course, all of the great Abraham Lincoln and Illinois Government history, and there are some incredible independent businesses.  

I will put up some more videos of the various places in town that I love, but here is a quick one about this trip....

Gatlinburg Tennessee June 2022

 Yes, I know....  I have talked about Gatlinburg a lot.  I love the place...  AND, I know there is an overabundance of videos on the tourist town on line....  but I am still going to put another one up.  This is from a recent trip walking up and down the strip.  I would love to hear from others who cant get enough of Gatlinburg.

Red River Gorge Scenic Byway and Nada Tunnel Slade Kentucky December 2021

 Here is an edited video of Nada Tunnel and the Red River Gorge Scenic Byway!

Dinosaur World Cave City Kentucky December 2021

 AND, here is a video from our visit to Dinosaur Word in Cave City!

Borroum's Drug Store Corinth Mississippi November 2021

 Corinth Mississippi has a ton of Civil War history, it also has a great roadside attraction- Borroum's Drug Store!

Shiloh Tours and Museum Tennessee November 2021

 Oh man, we had a great time hanging out with Larry Deberry on a battlefield tour, and and his Shiloh Tours and Museum site!

Miamisburg Ohio Mound March 2021

 Check out the Miamisburg Mound in Ohio!

Wisconsin Dells May 2013

 I posted a video of the Wisconsin Dells from our trip there in 2013!

Lyme New Hampshire September 2021

Lyme New Hampshire!  This is why you go to New England!  "nuff said.

Hillbilly Hot Dogs Lesage West Virginia

 

Here is some video from a visit to Hillbilly Hot Dogs in Lasage West Virginia!  I have mentioned this place before...  and I really love this place!

Amish Buggy Ride Walnut Creek Ohio July 2021

 In front of the Carlisle Inn in Walnut Creek Ohio, you can take an Amish buggy ride!

July 29th 2021 Eastern Kentucky Storm

 On July 29th, we were driving around the Eastern Kentucky area we were caught in a bit of a storm!  I made about a one and a half minute video as we pulled over.

Kentucky Castle- Lexington KY June 2021

 AND, here is a video from our recent tour of the Kentucky Castle!

H & R Bakery in Salem Indiana

Salm Indiana has about one of the all time coolest coffee/donut places I have ever scene.  We stopped on a recent trip through southern Indiana and I am so glad we found this place.

When you walk in it has a spacious traditional donut shop feel...  there are display counters full of various donuts.

I ordered a pastry and coffee and both were great.  There was a very sweet lady who took my order too.  

The thing that really impressed me though was that the place has a toy train display!  There is a nice seating area where you are surrounded by shelves of trains, and a layout that goes along the wall!

I have always appreciated a train layout, and have even done some stuff in HO scale myself.  I believe the collection here is bit bigger than HO (S?)

It looks great though, and I enjoyed checking it all out.  

Downtown Salem is just a bit off of the main drag, so make sure you look for it on your next roadtrip!

 

Futuro House Carlisle OH February 2021

 Here is a short video of us driving by the Futuro House in Carlisle Ohio!

"Gettysburg's Coster Avenue: The Brickyard Fight and the Mural" by Mark H. Dunkelman

I recently rewatched my video of a battlefield tour we took in Gettysburg from several years ago.  As I watched it, I remembered how exciting and fascinating the town was.  

It is great, and there are so many places, people and art associated with the town and the battle.

Well, I started thinking about the wonderful, though very faded outdoor painting that we saw, the "Coster Avenue Mural".

This great piece of art was big and impressive.  It was right in the area of the battle.  It was also on wood, and exposed to the elements.

I googled around, wondering what had happened to it, and if there was ever any restoration done to it.

Luckily, I found that the mural's creator, Mark H. Dunkelman wrote a book about the battle and the mural!

AND, autographed copies are available through Gettysburg Publishing!  You know I ordered one!

This is a great book.....  It is a quick read, but it is a lot of fun.  AND, since it is by the artist.....  it is kind of a great souvenir for anyone who has seen the mural and marveled at it.

I really enjoyed reading about the inspiration and creation of the mural early on.  There have been restoration efforts.

After I was able to see it in its very faded state, it REALLY got a makeover.  I don't want to give anything away, but the painting is truly transformed into something new, while still being the mural.

 

Mammoth Cave National Park Drive January 2021

 We took a nice drive around the Mammoth Cave National Park area back in January 2021.