The Old Time Barbershop

As the country marches on one of the things that still exists,although in smaller numbers, is the small town barbershop. When you travel small town American you can still see the red and white pole adorning the barbershops in many small towns. For many men this was one of the first places we went that was a bastion of all things male. I still remember going to Fran's Barbershop in Deep River, Ct and reading comics and watching television while waiting to get my hair cut. My coolest memory of those days was watching Reggie Jackson hitting his first home run as a member of the New York Yankees. As he circled the bases the fans showered the field with the "Reggie Bar". This was a candy bar that was introduced to promote Reggie's coming to New York as a Yankee. That memory is very clear in my mind.

The first shot here is from Apalachicola, Florida and the second in from Bryson City, North Carolina.

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Route 301 Florida

Since the highway system was built most roads that once were the main routes for the traveling public has faded away. Many of the old motels, drive-ins and tourist traps have faded away.

One road that I like to travel and practice my photography is Route 301 from Ocala to the Fla/Ga border. This is a long one day roundtrip. There are some great roadside stands and these two examples of old Florida. The Orange Shop in Citra is one of the very few old orange roadside stands. This is in Citra, Fl. The taxidermy shops location escapes me right now, however I do not recall seeing any others in Florida. There are many neat things to shoot on this stretch of road.

Apalachicola, Florida

In the panhandle of Florida, just a short trip east from Panama City, lies the small town of Apalachicola. This is one of the few areas in Florida that has not been ruined by the uncontrolled growth that has ruined much of the state. The waters around here produce some of the best oysters in the United States and during the oyster season you can get oysters from the fisherman directly and at a fraction of the cost you would pay at your local market.

The small downtown area caters to locals and tourists. They have done a nice job of restoring some of the old buildings in town. There are a a small number of shops, restaurants and other things to do. It is a great place to spend a day or two. There are also a large number of older homes in town that have kept there charm.

The barbershop was still in business when this picture was taken in April 2008.

Touring Georgia

As you travel the backroads of Georgia you find many delights. The small towns provide a large number of great photo ops. The first picture was taken near Eatonton and the Flavor Crisp picture was taken near Demorest.

Tarpon Springs, Florida

Tarpon Springs is a small coastal city located just north of St. Petersburg along the Gulf of Mexico. The area was a haven for Greek immigrants who located here. They came for the sponge diving. The area along the docks is a tourist destination. You can get some great Greek food here. This is a nice departure from the usual Florida tourist destinations.

Columbus, Georgia.

Labor Day Weekend of 2008 I went on little roadtrip from Tampa and headed up to Georgia and ended up in the City of Columbus, Georgia. The downtown area was a very interesting area. It was a mix of stores and businesses that seemed to be from the 1970's, closed businesses and revitalization. There were a fair number of bars and restaurants in the area. They seemed to cater to locals and students from a nearby college. Had a number of beers at some joint that had tables outside. It was great for people watching. Went to a few more places after that and had a great time.

You can see that it is a struggling downtown that may be on the verge of a renewal.
Hope they succeed.