We recently took a drive from Scottsdale, AZ to Atlanta, GA. An old fashioned road trip. It reinforced our belief that we live in a vast, beautiful and multi cultural country. I think you get that more in a road trip than just flying from point to point. Yes, gas was costly, but if you have the time it is no more costly than flying today. In addition to being able to explore and enjoy there are no hassles with long lines, no weight limit for the bags and you get your choice of food, beverage and sleeping places!

  We spent our first night in Van Horn, Texas. Not the best choice but we were in a sand storm and found places to stay in this funkey little town. While driving through town this “gallery” was spotted. I just had to take a photo. No, we didn’t go in, couldn’t get in the door because of the washing machine, television, chairs, etc. etc.

Our next major stop was Fort Worth, TX. What a wonderful city and great museums. We visited the Kimbell Art Museum, Modern Art Museum of Ft. Worth, Amon Carter Museum, Sid Richardson Museum,  The largest collections of original western art is held in these museums, which were all begun by private individuals who set up foundations to display and support their collections. Russell and Remington rule here.

Outside the Modern Art Museumis a fabulous sculpture by Richard Serra that soars 67′10″ into the sky. It is called “Vortex” and is made of corten steel. The small red dot in this photo is me standing near one of the openings.

Fort worth has lots to see and a wonderful downtown to explore with many great restaurants. If you enjoy Western Art and the cowboy life style, this is the place.   They even have a cattle drive and fun eating places and saloons in the Stockyards area. We had lunch and some fun riding the saddles at the bar.

It takes two days to cross Texas! On the way back we stopped at a small town who name has been lost to my fading memory but it was only a skeleton now. Abandoned and worn with only a working Homeland Security office and a couple of restaurants. Here is what most of the town looked like.

 Once you are through Texas the landscape becomes walls of green along the freeway. Thick forests of hardwoods and pine. I have mentioned the beautiful wildflowers planted in the medians before, thanks to Lady Bird Johnson. I realized that in this part of the country her biggest challenge was to keep the highway departments from mowing and destroying them. Lots of beautiful wildflowers added to the banks of forest. We found spring in the south to be beautiful. The dogwood trees were in bloom. Once they quit blooming you wouldn’t notice them but in bloom they spring through the forests with white lacy blooms, to add their beauty.

It was a wonderful trip. Hit the road yourself and you will discover your own special places. Watch out for art its everywhere!