A DFW Dash

Gently gliding along Texas 360 heading from work in Southlake, TX, the mind got lost. "Vintage neon signs, older highway alignments and...Greg keep driving" was on my mind as I headed to Arlington to catch up with two fellow road-a-holic friends, Nick Gerlich and Ken Youden. Nick drove down from Canyon in the Texas Panhandle while Ken flew in from Colorado where the temperatures have played roller coaster the last few weeks.

I parked my truck and walked inside the lobby of the Baymont Inn where I waited for the gents to meet me. Minute after minute felt like an eternity as I wanted us to just get up and explore. 4:24 it was game time and as a green van drove up. Youden got out and welcomed me with a deer in a headlights glare. As we shook hands the blood began to flow at incessant levels. The three men, separated only by a few years and miles, were beginning to transform into a superhero of sorts called Road-A-Holics. The destination: Signgeekville.

Pedal to the metal and the van filled with luggage and an awesome array of camera equipment were ready for the ride. After examing a few industrial factories, the first stop along the ride was the Tradewinds Motel, which offers "cable TV with extra stations, free high speed wireless internet access, mini-fridge, free local calls, air conditioning and electronic door locks." The beautiful sign awaited our cameras and it served well as our model, as it would a little bit later.

Moments later, Gerlich drove across railroad tracks and found a triad of signs. Each of these signs, while very difficult to capture together or in parts was a signgeeks dream. Each of us scattered to our spots like herd only to congregate later for the final shot in the sequence.

 

However, that was not the end, a few miles down in Grand Prairie, a drive in restaurant captured our hearts and cameras while infecting us with nostalgic fever (we are not looking for a cure).

 

After finishing a mean French fries and soda pop we headed where the evening journey finished in Deep Ellum, which is an entertainment and arts district in Dallas, where we shot a couple of fascinating murals

 

and enjoyed a beer and a burger at Angry Dog. As we came back to Arlington, we had one last stop. Paying our respects to Tradewinds.