The vehicle is caressing the smooth asphalt at a crisp 65 miles an hour. Moments later, a sign that reads "County Road Maintenance Ends" rises to the right. Instead of turning onto the smooth pavement, I choose to continue straight until the road until dirt, rocks, and gravel begin to touch the tires. The pavement begins to shake, rattle and roll. Thoughts of the unknown enter the mind.
Nerves continue to creep up as the gravel, which passes as dirt, is followed by hills and wind. After easing on the brakes to break up increasing gravitational intensity, I began to ponder, "Did I make the right move by continuing?" Despite the ongoing nerve roller coaster, beauty resides along the roadside. One of my favorite roadside characters is the windmill. It truly epitomizes the history of an area.
(Outside Ponder, Texas)
In addition to magnificent sites is the history gravel roads represent. Many of these roads are a reminder of what life on the road was like during the formative years of the automobile. For example, Dust Bowl migrants seeking the fresh fruits of freedom and opportunity along Route 66 rode the Model T on the dirt and gravel.
As thoughts of new experiences and opportunities took over, fear subsided and a sense of adventure took over. From there it was about being a student of history and the unknown.
Some of diamonds along the gravel rough:
(County Road 13 in Baca County, Colorado)
(Along a pre-1937 alignment of the Old Spanish Trail outside Columbus, Texas)
(Pre-1952 alignment of Route 66 between San Jon, New Mexico and Glenrio, Texas)
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