Week 288 - We were avoiding freeways - 02-19-2012

Barns Across America

Of our current 80,581 motorhome miles, we estimate that over 60,000 were NOT on freeways. There is great joy in staying off these roads. Not the least of which is seeing a lot of very interesting places, meeting people and as you see here, getting to see barns of the past. We always envisioned that broken down barns were only a part of the wild, wild west. But, as you will see they are everywhere across the USA.

These old barns are perfect subjects to paint.

The geographic source of the photos in this collection are marked on this map.

Wallowa Valley near Joseph, Oregon.

Joseph, Oregon.

On Oregon Highway 3, north of Joseph, heading to the Washington border.

On Washington Highway 129 from Oregon's Highway 3 to Clarkston, Washington.

On Washington's Highway 129 between Oregon's Highway 3 and Clarkston, Washington.

Between Clarkston, Washington and Spokane on highway 27.

From Clarkston, WA to Spokane on highway 27.

On US 90 between Haugan and Butte, Montana.

Between Hardin, Montana and Gillette, Wyoming.

The next six photos are in Kentucky as we traveled the back roads from London to Louisville. The majority of the trip was on US 150, a highway which looked big on the map but in reality was a small winding highway taking you past thousands of small homes and farms.

This barn was on our trip between Center City, Kentucky and Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

While much of Utah is barren red earth and fantastic rock formations, there are plenty of small farms and old barns as well.

This barn is close to home, just south of Guadalupe, California.

We are pretty sure that most of you know we do not have the talent to paint this barn, but used our photo manipulation program to "paint it for us".

So, you have choice: Drive the freeways, try to get "there" as fast as possible, arriving tired and cranky or take your time on the back roads and see some of the great history of this wonderful country.

[Editor's note: Only two more weeks before we leave Palm Creek Golf & RV and hopefully find you some new and unique travels and photos.]

Until next week, be blessed: Love, Pete, Ellen and Mandy.

Photos from 2011