We shopped the famous Highway 127 Yard Sale

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Map of the Sale Route

Every August a truly massive American event takes place along the Highway 127 corridor as it stretches 690 miles across six states from Addison, Michigan to Gadsen, Alabama. This is the world’s longest highway yard sale and  is currently taking place from Thursday thru Sunday August 9th.  Sher, our son and I packed some snacks, drinks and headed towards Cincinnati , knowing we’d cross the north south running route 127 just inside the Indiana – Ohio border.

We found our first sale just before we hit 127. A steep driveway led to a fairly large yard already full of customer cars. Driveway and garage full of stuff! Found a couple of items we bought, so off to a good start.

The two important type of signs today

We centered our searches for sales in and around Fairfield, Ohio, 25 miles or so west of Cincinnati. Lots and lots of homes were taking advantage of the crowds , Yard Sale signs were everywhere. Often you could park your car within walking distance of three or four houses selling. No pictures of houses and setups for privacy.

Inside a church sale, a bit of everything available at this stop

The types of items for sale at these stops is quite frankly rather amazing. Some houses had a majority of used clothes. Some have single categories like sports cards, furniture or framed art work. Others have a mix of anything and everything. That is part of the fun of shopping at the yard sales: you never know what you’ll find.

Heavy Pewter Paperweight bought during our adventure at the 127 Yard Sale

Our eBay listing for the horse paperweight: click here

The skies darkened, ominous clouds and far off rolling thunder soon ended our shopping as folks began to cover their items with tarps or other covers. Soon there were no more houses with goods for sale. We headed back home to Indiana driving through unbelievable amounts of driving rain.  This added to our adventure for sure. But we made it home safely after a successful day of yard sale shopping.

 

 

Tarzan and Jane final resting place

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Original 1927 movie poster

Several actors and actresses played the parts of Tarzan and Jane while bringing Edgar Rice Burroughs’ many novels to the big screen. One of those actors was a man named James H. Pierce. He was discovered by Burroughs himself at a party at the Tarzana Ranch and was hired to play the jungle hero in the 1927 film Tarzan and the Golden Lion.

The next year Jim Pierce married Edgar Rice Burroughs’ daughter Joan. The happy couple starred as the voices of Tarzan and Jane for the Tarzan radio show from 1932 to 1936.

“Tarzan”

“Jane”

 

 

 

 

 

Jim pierce was originally from Shelbyville, Indiana. He and wife Joan and other relatives are buried in Forest Hill Cemetery in Shelbyville. Their family plot is similar to many in the cemetery. However, only on Jim and Joan’s gravestones will you find the names “Tarzan” and “Jane”.

 May they Rest In Peace

We saw a large toy soldier at a Town Festival

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All green on every surface

Note the plates under the boots mimicking a real plastic toy soldier.

This is a novel way to make a living, or at least provide a clever side hustle. We saw this fellow at a town festival where we had set up as vendors several years ago. He showed up at noon on Saturday (of the weekend festival) and just walked around. He did not say a word, but every so often would freeze in a position and hold it for several minutes, thus becoming a big “plastic” toy soldier. Kids loved it and followed him around all afternoon.

Texas Hill Country Olive Company

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We had just finished checking out the town of Dripping Springs in the Hill Country outside of Austin and were waiting for a restaurant to open. I spotted a sign for an olive company the opposite direction from the eatery, so off we went.

Striking architecture of the Olive Company

About five miles later we saw what looked like some kind of Italian mountain villa. Yep, that turned out to be the Texas Hill Country  Olive Company. We had no idea what to expect, except that it would involve olives. Well, what a nice surprise when the hostess showed us to the free tasting stations. Yes, we were invited to taste different olive oils. I sure got an education.

Olive oils on the left, balsamic vinegars on the right

Fun signage

 

 

 

 

 

 

I had no idea that there were so many different kinds of olive oils, all of which were made by this family owned and operated business. Sher and I both enjoyed tasting the different olive oils. You taste them by putting a few drops in a small cup and either tasting it directly by mouth or dipped on a small piece of bread.

In the showroom in front of one of the tasting stations.

In addition to the oils, there were several varieties of balsamic vinegar as well set out for tasting. These were all imported from Italy, and there was an amazing range of flavors. The balsamic vinegar we bought was a blackberry flavor, which will be perfect to mix with the olive oil we bought to make a great salad dressing. Yum! The showroom also has a wide variety of gift boxes and other goodies.

Olive trees at the Olive Company

Olive tree beginning to flower

 

 

 

 

 

This place should be on everyone’s list of must visit places in the Hill Country. The site has lots of olive trees in their on site orchard. Our hostess explained that the company also has many more orchards in south Texas as well. Yes, olive trees grow in places other than Southern Europe and the Mid East. You can experience them at the Texas Hill Country Olive Co..

King Neptune statue on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk

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September of 2005 saw the grand unveiling of an awesome sight on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk. Where 31st Street intersects Atlantic Avenue, a 34′ tall bronze statue of the famous King Neptune gazes over the city as he emerges from the depths of the sea. Well, OK, he maybe isn’t coming out of the sea but he is sure impressive!

Compare Neptune’s size to the bike rider!

The artwork is the masterpiece of artist Paul DiPasquale’ a well known sculptor from Richmond, Virginia. Neptune grips his trident in his right hand while he “palms” a huge sea turtle in his left hand. He is surrounded by many other seas creatures, including dolphins and a massive octopus. The details in both Neptune and the sea creatures are breathtaking. This statue is adjacent to Neptune’s Park, site of many events held on the beach during both the summer season and the off season as well.

Neptune and his turtle

The octopus on the statue base

A trip to meet King Neptune is a must when you visit Virginia Beach, Virginia. You will be impressed! And be sure to check the calendar of events for Neptune’s Park to plan on attending whatever event is planned for the time of your visit.

Historic Starr Piano and Gennett Recording Studio

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Original Gennett Records logo

Richmond Indiana is a history filled city on the Ohio-Indiana border in the central part of the state. Both I-70 and Historic US 40 run through Richmond. One of the historic sites in Richmond is the remains of the old Starr Piano manufacturing plants and the Gennett Recording studios.

Starr made high end pianos beginning in the 1870’s. The remaining Starr pianos are highly sought after by collectors and musicians alike. The Gennett recording Studios were in business from 1920 to 1934. The records were made in a primitive concrete and brick building with little acoustical features. Legend says that an Oriental rug from the Gennett mansion was used as a wall hanging to deaden the echo sounds during the recording sessions.

Louis Armstrong’s place on the Walk of Fame

Today the Starr Gennett Foundation continues to keep the music history of the 20’s and 30’s alive with many events at the site of the old factory building. One of the many memorials to music is the Walk of Fame. The Starr-Gennett Foundation website details this feature and a special event in September 2026: “In 2007, as part of its ongoing effort to promote and celebrate the music legacy of Starr Piano Company and its subsidiary, Gennett Records, the Foundation inaugurated the Gennett Records Walk of Fame to honor those who recorded for Gennett Records and whose work contributed significantly to American history. Selected by a national panel of music experts, those honored are musicians who created the distinctly American musical genres of jazz, blues, country, gospel, and popular music. However, the Gennett studio recorded the spoken word as well as the music of American Indian and other ethnic groups.”

Many famous musicians of the times got their first recordings made at Gennett. Hoagy Carmichael’s big band recorded there. Louis Armstrong got his start in the Gennett studio. The Great Depression, however, signaled the end of Gennett Records as it did many other record companies of the times.

The old factory now refurbished for concerts

Unique view of the old factory

 

 

 

 

 

The remaining portion of the brick factory now has a modern steel structure and metal roof system. This building is used for concerts, meetings and other civic events. It is interesting to think of the tremendous musical history represented at this Indiana site. Hand made pianos and the beginnings of several genres of music began here. When in Richmond be sure to seek out the old Starr Piano building. You just might hear echoes of music from the past.

Our welcome committee to Yellowstone National Park

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Our first cross county RV trip from Indiana to Seattle was a thrilling journey through totally new to us parts of the country. As we planned our route we  decided we wanted to go through Yellowstone National Park. From Cody Wyoming we drove to the East Entrance of the park. There a friendly and helpful Park Ranger gave us a map, a couple of tips and sold us our America the Beautiful Senior Pass.

He was huge! That is Lake Yellowstone in the background.

We had not been in the park very long until we saw Lake Yellowstone off to our left. Up ahead we saw brake lights and several cars stopped. I thought it must be an accident. Then we saw calmly strolling down the middle of the road the cause of the traffic jam. Coming down the road towards us was a huge bison just like he owned the road. Well, yes he did own the road! We’ll never forget the bison who welcomed us to Yellowstone!

The Alki Point lighthouse in Pugent Sound Washington

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Seattle’s Puget Sound is home to 13 working lighthouses

We got this photo on a cruise from Seattle to Tillicum Island.

The first unofficial light established at Alki Point was a kerosene lantern reported to have been hung on the side of the barn sometime in the 1870s.  A permanent large light was placed on a wooden post by the U.S. Lighthouse Board in 1887. Hans Martin Hanson was the property owner and farmer and became an official paid lightkeeper at a salary of $15 per month.

The Alki Point lighthouse is currently an operational fully automated facility operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. It is the southernmost of the 13 lighthouses on the Sound. This is a beautiful structure when seen from any angle. It has been open for free tours in the past however the lighthouse is now closed for maintenance and repairs dependent upon the U.S. Coast Guard securing funding for the project in future years. Time will tell…

Mission San Xavier del Bac, the White Dove of the Desert

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About 10 miles south of Tucson, Arizona you will find the “White Dove of the Desert” also known as the Mission San Xavier del Bac. This magnificent Spanish mission was completed in 1797. The first Spanish missionary, Father Eusebio Kino, arrived at the site in 1692. Throughout the years the location has been part of New Spain, Mexico, and finally a part of the U.S. after the Gadsen Purchase of 1854.

My postcard-like photo of the Mission

When you enter the church you cannot help but be amazed by the incredible amount of 18th century statuary and murals. The impact varies for everyone who walks the interior of this powerfully spiritual place. Candles are always lit and displayed. A shrine to St Francis is a prominent feature and one of solemn devotion.

Inside the sanctuary

Prayer chapel and garden next to the church

Sacred statuary

 

 

 

 

The edifice is still a functioning Catholic Church that primarily serves the Tohono O’odham tribe, formerly known as the Papago. Being one of the most popular tourist stops in Tucson, we were fortunate to visit when there were very few people there. It was almost as if we had the place to ourselves. This is a site that is filled with history as well as a sacred place for contemplation, meditation and prayer. Do not miss a chance to visit San Xavier. You will be moved.

The San Xavier website is packed with info for your assistance in visit planning .

Devils Tower: the first U.S. National Monument

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Northeast Wyoming is home to one of the most remarkable landscape features in the United States. The towering mass of volcanic rock known as Devils Tower has long been the destination of curious travelers and is the source of several Native American legends describing the origin of the rock formation. In the fall of 2014 we were on our way from Indiana to Seattle and decided to make a short detour to see this striking and beautiful gift from Earth.

One of, if not the most striking geologic feature in Wyoming

Detail image of each “column” that is about 8 feet across!

One of the legends of the origin of the tower tells the story of girls who were pursued by a huge bear. The girls prayers were answered when the Great Spirit caused the rock to raise from the ground with the girls safely on top. The bear attempted to climb the smooth sides of the rock, and his claws made the distinctive shapes we see today.

Geologists tell us that the tower was made when volcanic intrusions of lava pushed up into thick layers of sandstone, now eroded away after millions of years. The rock, an igneous basalt type, took on the shapes of columns when it cooled. Called a columnar formation, this shape is not uncommon and can be found in rocks all over the world.

The Devils Tower was the first designated US National Monument, so declared by President Teddy Roosevelt in 1906. The first Caucasians saw the tower in the 1850’s. It was also the site of the famous ending of the 1977 film Close Encounters of the Third Kind.