Our recent trip to Grants Pass, OR and Eureka, CA yielded some great sign finds.

Grants Pass welcomed us by telling us, “It’s the climate.”  I’ve got news for them.  Their rain wasn’t any more special than our rain at home.

There were plenty of fine looking places to stay.  Darn, no vacancy at the Crest.

Looks like the Flamingo has gone to monthly rentals only.

The Bunny was tempting.

Almost Heaven–hey, isn’t that West Virginia?

Dining options were also plentiful.

This one tempted me the most.

Although I do like Italian food.

We could have shopped at the Court House Market if we wanted to cook our own dinner.

Or perhaps Spadoni’s.  We could pick up a bottle while we were there.  Must be California!

Easier just to slip into the Wonder Bur for a drink, I think.

However, a martini at the Shanty might be better.

There were lots of choices of movie palaces, like this on in Orick.  I wonder what kind of vacuum they use?

Ah, the Rogue…

…I believe I went to a movie with him once.

Of course, how could on not prefer the Ritz?

Bob’s favorite–a place for doughnuts!

And speaking of Bob…

…we could have picked up a fine used car, either at Bob’s or…

…at A-1 Pre-Owned cars.  I wonder which is better, used or pre-owned?

All that glitz and pretty neon.  Eye candy!

Bob was born and raised in Montana, and we go back as often as we can.  We generally drive, and one of our favorite little towns to stop in is Ritzville, Washington.  Unfortunately, in the last 20 years that I’ve been traveling through there, the downtown has lost many businesses.  We would always have a meal in one of the downtown restaurants, but they’re all gone now.

Our favorite was the Circle T, but even its sign is gone.  The Whispering Palms is closed, too.

As is the old theater.

I think the bar and grill is hanging on!

No gas today.  Most of the business has moved out by the interstate exchange.  Bye, Ritzville.

Well, you know you’re in Montana when the sconces in the restaurant look like cow skulls!

We stayed in Kalispell and had breakfast at Sykes.  Yep, 10 cent coffee!

We went with some of Bob’s family to Glacier Park for a picnic.

There’s a handsome bunch!

We were on the shores of Lake McDonald.  Breathtaking!

I love the tenacity of trees.

I think it’s so cool that they still have the red busses in the park.  (Yellowstone has yellow ones!)

This is the Conrad Mansion in Kalispell.  The grounds were the prettiest I had ever seen them.

Kalispell has some cool old buildings, like the fabulous art deco TV station.

 

And the very proper City Water Department.

The old theater.

We had lunch with Vernon and Thelma, now both in their late eighties.  On the wall was this picture of Vernon and Pastor Pete.  I think Vernon is as handsome as Marshall Dillon!

We had breakfast one day at Wheat Montana.  Loved the poster.

This is the view from Bob’s cousin Glenn’s house.  Talk about Big Sky Country!

Wheat fields in the front of the house and the Flathead River out the back!  It doesn’t get much better than that!

Another tenacious tree.  It’s a long ways from the river now, but I think spring floods have had a go at it a time or two.

A couple more old signs.

And a Beaverslide!  For those who don’t know, it’s used for stacking hay.

Next, our visit to the state penitentiary!

 

Who would have ever thought that neon signs would evoke feelings of nostalgia?  But lately I’ve been noticing them when I travel.  The town of Prineville, Oregon was full of them, like this Real Estate sign.

And this men’s ware shop.

Even the jewelry store had a cool old sign.

Mitchell, Oregon is just a wide spot in the road, but look at this cool hotel sign.

Bend, Oregon has been a boom town in the last couple of decades, but this old sign is still shining bright.

A few weeks ago in Fife, Washington, we passed this cool old sign.  I only saw the sign, but Bob saw the little hamburger stand.  When we went that was again last weekend, we decided to try the burgers.  Good choice!  They’ve been in business 60 years, and boy, do they have it figured out!

Nearby was this old motel.

You can tell I’m starting to obsess about these old signs.  Ah, well, another harmless addiction.  If you love them, too, send me photos of your favorites!