Blue Highways

Chicago in Spring

2006-04-24T16:59:00.000-07:00

The weather was beautiful Sunday, the tulips are blooming, and I had spring fever.

Scenes from Georgetown, Colorado

2006-02-05T09:16:00.000-08:00

Georgetown is a tiny town nestled in the 8000-foot peaks of the Rockies. We stumbled on it one year, completely by accident, simply because we were tired and it didn't look like a tourist hell. We were right. Although it is a tourist town, in that "preserved mining town" sort of way, the ski resorts and snow bunnies haven't found it quite yet. So we decided to go back for Thanksgiving weekend.

The downtown area has approximately 200 preserved buildings. It is one of the only mining towns in the area not to have suffered a large scale fire, which is why so many of the buildings have remained intact. There's even an old-time soda fountain in one of the stores.

From the top:
1 and 2. Main Street looking north towards I-70.
3. Police AND public restrooms. Brilliant combination.
4. Main Street looking south.
5. Christmas decorations.
6. Best burgers outside of Montana. And damn cheap beer.

Hanging Lake Colorado, November 2005

2006-01-27T16:54:00.000-08:00

Instead of going home for Thanksgiving, we headed west to Colorado. 3 days of hanging out in the mountains. The first full day there, we drove out I-70 into Glenwood Canyon. Hidden along the interstate is a trail called "Hanging Lake." A little over a mile long, and an elevation change of about 2000 feet, it is a hidden treasure along the open road.

The trail starts at a rest area along the interstate. Deceptively paved and flat.

Elevation changes brought in the colder air. The stream was flowing at the bottom of the trail, but was frozen solid by the time we reached the top.

Moving water under the ice.

Looking down from the top of the trail. The last few yards were fairly treacherous with the snow and ice.

The reward at the top. Hanging Lake.

Sun was setting fast as we headed back down. Exhausted, but well worth the hike.

Savannah, May 2002

2006-01-21T08:50:00.000-08:00

In May of 2002, Clint and I went to Savannah. Our first road trip since NYC on New Year's. I'd never been there, and he assured me that I'd love it.

Savannah is a city of vast contrast, even more so than most cities. There is the Savannah that you see in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and there is the Savannah of the projects, of the decrepit, falling-in houses that ring the center city. While that contrast exists in every city, and really in every place I've ever been, it is even more glaring in Savannah, where the old graceful willow trees and Spanish Moss only accentuate the peeling paint and sagging roofs.

But I did manage to capture some of the beauty in the city.

Bonaventure Cemetary - Savannah. The "Birdbath Girl" from Midnight was here originally. She's now on display in the historical museum in Savannah, partially to prevent her from being stolen. Probably the most amazing cemetary I've ever seen.

The Mercer House. When I took this, it was still privately owned. I can't imagine living in a house that was used in a movie.
One of Savannah's famous squares.

The Tybee Island lighthouse. Tybee is a small coastal island off across the bay from Savannah. South of Hilton Head, it's one of the last undiscovered islands in that chain. Definitely not for those who demand four star hotels or fine dining.

Just in case we forgot we were in red-state territory. To this day I don't quite understand this sign.

Brooklyn 12-31-05

2006-01-20T17:11:00.000-08:00

One of the things we do when we go to a big city is pick a train line, and just ride it to its end. This was espcially instructive in Chicago, where almost all of the system is above ground. In New York, you have to go to the boroughs, which suited me fine, as I'd never seen anything other than Manhattan and the interstate that runs through Queens from LaGuardia.

We choose the D(?) train, south to Brooklyn and, as it turned out, Coney Island.

Brooklyn reminded me a lot of the South Side of Chicago. Lots of boarded up buildings, tenement looking homes. You could tell parts of it were undergoing renovation/gentrification, but it was clearly a long way off for some streets.

The Verranzano Narrows Bridge as seen from the station platform.

Would you really want to stay here??

A glimpse of the Coney Island roller coaster from the station.

About to re-board.

Gentrification has a long way to go.

New York Public Library

2006-01-19T16:24:00.000-08:00

Clint and I traveled to New York City over New Year's weekend, 2005. During the afternoon rainstorm that threatened to wipe the whole evening out, we took shelter in the New York Public Library. Although it wasn't my first time there, it was the first time I had the chance to really explore. And this time I had my camera.

From top to bottom:
Second floor ceiling
One of several murals depicting important religious and historical moments.
Second floor hallway.
The main entrance from the second floor balconey.
Second floor gallery.

Welcome

2006-01-19T16:19:00.000-08:00

to my playground. I undertook a project last year, to create a photo album from my road trips from the last several years. In the course of that project, I found several pictures that I wanted to share with the world. Enough that I didn't think it would work for my other blog, since it's not a photo blog.

So this was born. I hope you enjoy my glimpses of life from the road, and from every day. Postings will mainly occur on the weekends, with some occasional mid-week postings. Comment, give me tips, hints, suggestions, criticisms...whatever. Mainly, it's for enjoyment...and to give me a place to direct people when they ask me what the largest scrap metal sculpture in the world looks like.

Have fun.