Some Post-trip Musings - Part 3 - The Places

September 3, 3021

While the ride and the roads are the main attraction, the places passed by or arrived at are certainly part of the mix.  As I traveled on 2-lane backroads for over 6,000-miles, I saw places and things that are not part of the experience when traveling on “the slab” AKA the freeway/interstate system.  Add to that, different parts of the country provide their own distinctive flavor to the tour.

Right off, let’s get the political piece out of the way.  I don’t know how many small towns I went through, a hundred or maybe more, and I notice right away that in nearly every one of them I saw at least one house sporting a campaign poster for the person who lost the last presidential election.  Most of them were for the 2020 election but there were others that expressed their hopefulness for 2024.  In one town in Pennsylvania, a house could barely be seen behind the wall of posters, banners, and flags along with some hand-drawn imagery that some would define as fairly rude directed at the current White House.

That out of the way, another thing I noticed, once I got out of South Dakota and into Minnesota and continued all the way to Maine, were how many homes had vegetable stands out front.  They were on tables, in shed, or under pop up tents and advertised “Fresh Vegetables” and, apparently, it was the honor system where customers picked out what the wanted and left the money in a can or box attached to the table.  Sweet corn was, on average, $5/dozen.  

Second to the vegetables for sale was “Campfire Wood.”  These bundles looked to be about 16-18 inches long and a foot or so in diameter and wrapped in plastic.  Some specified whether they were hardwood or softwood.  Prices ranged from $4 to $6 a bundle.

Once I’d left Montana I noticed something else that was new to me and that were all of the “Dollar General” stores.  A town might not have much else other than a gas station, a bar, and church, but it had a Dollar General.  I wasn’t sure what they were but when I looked them up I learned they have a little bit of everything from groceries to hardware to clothing, a true “general store.”  Evidently, there are over 16,000 of these across the country.

The layout of towns is surprisingly similar across the country.  If it’s really small, you’ll first encounter a few houses before they give way to the “downtown” where the commercial goods and services are found.  Businesses that are dirty or noisy, like automobile repair, are found on the outskirts but on the opposite end from where the homes are.  The type of homes seen along the way vary but the farther east we got the more wood-frame, Victorian-type of building became dominant.  What was interesting about them is that there would be 2 or 3 that looked pretty good, followed by 1 or 2 that were restored, and then one that was probably beyond restoration.

And for those who are interested in old barn wood, just follow my route through the east and you’ll find more than you can haul away.  There is a proliferation of collapsed structures across the country, the paint long-gone, and the remaining wood barely standing.  These were usually out buildings but plenty of former residences were in that condition as well. 

The one type of buildings I never saw in a dilapidated state were the churches.  They may be simple in design and construction but they were always well-maintained.  As I mentioned in my daily blog, it was interesting seeing what denominations dominated as I passed through different regions.  In Minnesota, it was the Lutherans.  As we neared Maine, it was the Catholics.  Once we headed into southern Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont, it was the Baptists.  I don’t remember seeing any LDS on the ride which are plenty popular in Montana.

Something that really impressed me, especially across Minnesota, was the pride people have in their properties.  A farmhouse would sit back on a half acre of grass that is very green, mowed, and otherwise well cared for.  There are an abundance of flower gardens around the houses and the overall curb appeal is high.  No vehicles on blocks with piles of junk leaning against the house.  What is it that leads to this difference from what I find in other places?

And clean.  The downtown areas of these towns are really clean.  It reminded me of the small villages and towns I went through when I lived in Germany.  By contrast, where I live, Billings, MT, I consider it a fairly dirty place.  A business will have weeds growing in the sidewalk out front.  Litter is a problem.  And one doesn’t have to go very far out of town to encounter assortments of dead vehicles, agricultural equipment, and other refuse existing alongside whatever residence is there.  But not in small-town America.

There were plenty of surprises along the way found by sticking to the backroads.  For example, we were traveling along Hwy 10 through Haverhill, NH when we came up a TourTech motorcycle test ride event at their fairgrounds.  Pretty cool.  Then there was the Dixville Notch in New Hampshire, which I’d heard of, but it was the large resort, The Balsams, across the lake that was a nice find.

And let’s not forget the delicious Bismarcks from the General Store in Grand Isle, Maine.

And the historical museum across the street with the great photography collection.

The list of specific places can go on and on but it’s the sweeping view of America that creates a lasting impression. Political banners aside, I come away with the feeling that America is doing just fine.  We saw people going about their daily business, taking care of their homes, having fun in their parks and their county fairs, enjoying the great scenery, and just living life.  Relying on opinions foisted 24/7 through the broadcast, streaming, and social media, one could end up with a slanted view of what is really taking place in the country.  I checked out of that media on this trip and that diet is likely to be one I will continue for some time.