While at the Charleston Tea Plantation I noticed this frog which seemed to be a sibling to the frog at our hotel in Charleston. Unfortunately, I didn’t have a teacup for my hand but I did the best I could. Later I found another smaller frog in a shop and was told it and others were created by a local artist. Maybe his name was Kermit, or maybe not.
Tea Plantation Frog
While in Charleston we decided to make a trip to the Charleston Tea Plantation, a short trip away. The Plantation is the only tea plantation in the US. Quite an interesting visit to see how tea is harvested and dried. While there we found this Big Thing. Seems it was exhibited in Summerville before it was replaced with a larger version and found its way to the plantation.
Tea Plantation Sweet TeaTea Plantation Sweet Tea
We arrived in Charleston after viewing the eclipse in Columbia and when checking into the hotel I noticed this frog on a bench in the courtyard. I couldn’t miss out on this opportunity.
Doubletree Frog
On our way from Columbia to Charleston, after the eclipse, we stopped in Summerville, SC to get a photo of this Large Sweet Tea container. On the way in to town we stopped at the Visitor Center. We found about the Azalea Park which has walkways featuring a number of sculptures and azaleas and camellias in season, a nice park in a small town. We also were recommended to a local treat, Eve’s Restaurant where we had great fried chicken lunches. A real “local” place. Oh, I forgot, the sweet tea image. Here it is.
Summerville Sweet Tea
OK, there are several descriptions for this big bird. I am calling it a Gamecock, after all we were in Columbia, SC the site of the University of South Carolina. What else would it be?
Columbia Gamecock
This is billed as the “World’s Largest Fire Hydrant.” I don’t know if that is true but is certainly dog gone big. This is also in Columbia quite near downtown.
Big Fire Hydrant
Well, we got to Columbia, SC to view the Total Solar Eclipse on Monday August 21st. While walking along Main Street on Sunday while it was closed off to become a pedestrian mall and art fair we found the Neverbust Chain which I knew about from Roadside America. My apprentice, Willa, allowed me to include her in this photo.
Columbia Chain
On our way to find a Big Comb in Roanoke, VA we passed by this Big Dog standing in front of the Roanoke Fire-EMS Station #7 at the corner of Denniston & Memorial Ave. The comb was not to be found but we stopped at the fire station to get this big dog. It’s a one of a kind and obviously hand made.
Roanoke Dog
After visiting Glen’s Transmission shop we stopped down the road at Northwest True Value Hardware that had this Big Frying Pan on the wall. Glen told me is was also on the list of items of interest in Roanoke. We planned to stop by and with Glen’s endorsement we were not disappointed.
True Value Frying Pan
How could I pass up this opportunity for a Muffler Man in Roanoke, VA. Standing outside Glen’s Transmission & Automotive Repair he dominates the area. We stopped by and had an opportunity to speak with Glen. He loves the Muffler Man and told me it is included in sights to see in Roanoke. He is trying to find a way to have the Muffler Man hold a ‘trannie, that would make his day. Glen was a great sport and it was a pleasure to meet him.
Glen’s Muffler Man
On the way to the Transformer Man we saw the Coffee Pot building and decided to catch it on the way back. It currently serves as an artist studio with many water sculptures in front. We didn’t have time to go inside but it looks like a great place to visit if you have the time. It’s on East Midland Trail in Lexington, Virginia.
Coffee Pot Art Building
I call this a Transformer Man since it is made up of a bunch of car parts. It can be found on Sycamore Ave. in Buena Vista, VA in front of a metal reclaimation facility (aka: junkyard.) I like it a lot since is showed a lot of creativity to construct. This was our first stop in Virginia on our way to South Carolina to view the total eclipse in Columbia, SC. No comment on the politics still displayed 9 months after the election.
Transformer Man
On our way to view the eclipse in Columbia, SC we stopped at Freedom Memorial Park in Strasburg, VA to get this Big Cross. I have a couple other crosses, one in Indian River, MI and one in Effingham, IL. This was a triple cross with the tallest measured at 150 feet.
Big Cross
While we were at Poconos Raceway for time trials we got in a little shopping. One vendor had a selection of hats with this attention getting display rack. I borrowed a cap for this image. Notice the Jimmie Johnson shirt I am wearing. Go 48 car!
Poconos NASCAR Cap
For Father’s Day, Ben and Nate gave me a visit to the NASCAR Pocono 400 racetrack. Known among race fans as the “Tricky Triangle,” a 2 1/2 mile test of drivers skills. We (Ben, Nate, the Chief Photographer and I) went to the time trials on Saturday before the race. Interesting and much different than watching a Sunday race. Cars in and out of the pits working on set-ups, tires, etc. During one of the breaks we walked around some of the booths and I saw this Big Idaho Potato. (It was first spotted by Olivia, the niece of my Number One Fan, when she was in Idaho – check out the Bird Dog page.)
Pocono Potato
In need of a sewing machine table Deb and I visited Steve’s Sewing and Vacuum in King of Prussia along Rt. 202. I know there was a Big Vacuum in front of the store and could swear that I had an image that I took when I went by with Andy a number of years ago. But I don’t see it on the site. Need to investigate further. At any rate we came away with this image and a new sewing table.
Steve’s Sewing Vacuum
I have a Turkey Hill Cow already (see below) but it was a traveling cow on a trailer. That is what I expected to find here. Instead I found a much larger version of the cow. Much like the many cows we’ve found elsewhere. The Turkey Hill Experience is an admission charge museum type venue located in Columbia, Pennsylvania just off US-30.
Turkey Hill Experience Cow
After our trip to York to see a Time 4 Three performance (which Deb gave me as a gift) we took a route home leading through Reading, PA. In Skillington, near Reading I had researched a Big Pretzel. It is located in front of the Tom Sturgis Pretzel Factory on Lancaster Pike. Truly a great pretzel, too bad it was a Sunday and we couldn’t get in the retail store to buy some of these pretzels.
Tom Sturgis Pretzel Factory
We’ve been past Rhoads Garden a number of times and didn’t stop to grab this Big Chair. Nice chair and I understand Rhoads Garden is a very good garden center. If you are in southeast Pennsylvania stop in. They’re at 570 DeKalb Pike in North Wales.
Rhoads Garden Chair
Here are a couple photos from my banjo playing pal, Bill. On his way to Memphis to get his banjos tuned he spotted these two Big Things in Cross Plains at the Hwy 25 exit. He found a 1929 Gibson in Memphis, his soul mate, for $29,000 but was shot down by Marge.
Tennessee Elephant
Tennessee Native American