© 2021-2023, Dave McCoy - SpiritBridge


The first step into using this as a project blog, I should start by saying Happy Independence Day! 

My current work journey has been very tumultuous, to say the least, a real roller-coaster of a ride. The ride is not over, as I still try to find a path to better wages and possibly a Career. Needless to say, it eats into my time for this project and getting new photos and content, but I digress.

Tuesday brings us into the July 4th holiday, of which many of you are or will be traveling to events, firework shows, & family. One of the holidays in which travel picks up to levels usually seen during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons. I am willing to bet sizable amounts of travelers will follow a set path or Google Maps guidance via Interstates and State Highways for ease of arrival and familiarity.

So allow me your time to suggest to you a detour or deviation option to the rolling pavement, traffic jams, and mediocre food fare.

Most travelers this weekend and the following week will travel past a dozen or more unknown, unseen, or ignored communities needing tourism. Interstate exits offering a Love's Travel Plaza or Mcdonald's with adventure beyond the one-mile radius of the ramps will not draw people past their itineraries of going from point A to B. You'll exit, turn into the lot or fueling island, fuel up (both yourself and your car), and get back at that grind on the main roadway.

But what if you allowed yourself that time to look into that village beyond where the Oasis outlies? That exit you took for McDonald's also indicated a town called "Paw Paw" or "Ramsy" (or any other name), which may be hiding a gem of a community! Home Cooking restaurants, friendly folks, and even regional treasure you otherwise will not find along the main route.

A prime example that comes to mind would be for those traversing Interstate 39 North or South and passing McLean, IL. So many times have myself and my grandparents called the Dixie Trucker's Home a rest stop for our journeys between Wisconsin & Arkansas. Home cooking in a small community along the old Route 66. Also within that exit is Funks Grove, Illinois, home to a local honey producer, an old rail depot & gas station.

This, of course, is only a single example of the endless side-quests you and your family can take. Extra points if you guide your route off the main highways to take older alignments or rural county roads. I cannot tell you the number of times I have driven on old country roads and found a village or town that I never knew existed, incorporated or not. When you travel these roads, you bring added adventure to the drive. When you stop for gas, snacks, at the restaurant, or to pee ('cause we all know that's inevitable on a long drive), you are patronizing the businesses to provide needed income and even sales tax credits they can use for families and community growth or maintenance.

Also, I will note that these small communities tend to be decked out in patriotism and American pride during the 4th of July Holiday. Take that as you will; considering past political events, I am not here to politicize things. You may arrive to watch the local Forth of July parade, an area Bar-B-Que, or other hometown events. Soak in the Americana & step back into a time when the small town was the norm.

That is my wish for everyone this season & also this summer! It doesn't need to be just for the holiday trip. Explore your locale and what small hidden places may exist to visit. What attractions do they offer to see and support the area's economy? There is nothing more American than the open road and small-town America!

Explore - Travel - Discover!

Until next time, get out and enjoy the summer! The image on this post is of the flagpoles found at the former Manchester, SD town school. The school was one of the many buildings leveled in the 2003 Manchester Tornado. What remains of the building is a few bricks from a wall and flag poles with memorial signage for passersby to stop and read about the history of the town.