Weird Sightings Across America

As we travel around the country, we come across some real weird things. Many of them are actual posts in my Blog, but some are pictures that I wanted to share but was not quite sure how, so I decided to make a post called Weird Sightings Across America.  I will be updating this post as we find new things to share. Many of the things I find come from Roadside America. They have some weird and quirky things on their site, and I take some descriptions from it for some of my pictures. 

While staying in Panacea, Florida in December 2016, I found a spectacular collection of old Ford vehicles. They are rusty and overgrown with vines and grass, arranged in chronological order, dating from the early 1900s to the mid 1970s. They are a splendor to behold. The vehicles, placed here by Pat Harvey, have all been used on the Harvey family farm. Some were used by his grandfather and some by his father. All were left in the woods to rust when their time had passed. Mr. Harvey is completely amazed by the number of travelers who stop and take photos of this unique artistic find.

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On our way east after Thanksgiving, we stopped at Grayton Beach State Park for a couple of days and drove up to Destin to visit Margaritaville for lunch. This tree is considered Destin's Magnificent Magnolia.  The tree was a part of Destin before Destin existed. It is estimated at approximately 170 years old, it was once a 4-story tree and outlived other magnolias by some 90 years. In the early years of Destin this tree was a prominent landmark for boaters and fisherman at sea. The tree is intertwined with Destin's history and is visible in many historical photographs of the Destin Harbor and its famous fishing fleet. Local lore as it that the city's founding father, Captain Leonard Destin, would tie his boat up to it during storms and hurricanes. 

To preserve the memory of this tree and perpetuate its significance as a harbor landmark, artist and sculptor Marlin Miller memorialized this tree into this coastal life monument for Destin's citizens and guests to enjoy for many years.

1844-2014

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This statute of Ronald Reagan is located in Covington, Louisiana, which is close to Abita Springs, where there is an RV park that we stay at.  The story goes that a local councilman renamed a parish road Ronald Reagan Highway. The first new signs went up in Covington, and it was at that dedication ceremony that a car pulled up and out stepped Patrick F. Taylor, Louisiana tycoon, owner of Taylor Energy Company, one of the 400 richest men in the world, and a good friend of Ronald Reagan. "He told us that day, 'When Reagan passes away I'm gonna build the largest memorial to him that I can,'" recalled Trey Blackall, Covington's city council president. "And we said, 'We'd love to have it in Covington!" 

Reagan stands almost 10 feet tall -- one-and-one-half times life size -- atop a six-foot pedestal. Clad in a business suit, raising his right arm in a military salute, with a trademark Reagan smile on his face, he seems to be saying, "Welcome to the team, Covington." "I think it's an excellent thing for the city," Trey said of the statue. "And it's what Mr. Taylor wanted. He wanted the biggest one, and he got it." 

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I do have a whole post dedicated to the pistachio farm that we visited, but I wanted to highlight the 30 foot tall "World's Largest Pistachio."  It was built in 2008 as a memorial to the founder of the farm. 

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We traveled up Hwy 180 to Valle, Arizona. We visited a WWII / Airplane museum and across the street was a company selling rocks and fossils, and statutes made out of steel. They were fun to look at.

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I thought this eagle beautiful.  We went to a WWII / Airplane museum (August 2016) and this statute was across the street at a small picnic area.

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When we were staying at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico, (July 2016) we went into Raton for dinner one evening. We went to a hotel and inside the main area was this carving.  Look at both pictures real close ~~ one side is the Indian with his wings spread, and the other side looks like an eagle. All carved out of one piece of wood.  Very fascinating and beautiful.

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These are two rock formations I took at Enchanted Rock State Park in Texas. I walked a short distance around the Rock, which is very similar to Stone Mountain in Georgia. These two formations caught my eye, which I wanted to share.

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When we were staying in Clovis, New Mexico (June 2016) I went out walking in the neighborhood with Hayley and Lucy.  Just down the street was a business with an RV parked inside, and a bunch of sheep.  As you can see, they are curious critters and came fairly close to the fence to take a look at us. I thought it was so out of the ordinary that there was a pack of sheep right in the city, it became part of my weird sightings.