Checking in from the road

[Alps]

Well, after a couple of uneventful days in Atlanta, I've gotten my drive on.  Whilst I have a little Internet, here's where I've been:

Last night (Saturday): Had a little extra time, so I drove GA 13 (old I-85 freeway) and circled the Atlanta beltway (I-285), both of which I've wanted to do for years.  Added in a clinch of I-675 while I was down there - there still is a northbound button copy shield, on the left side as the road is beginning from 75 NB.  That's the only one I saw in Georgia, so get there while you can.  One note - while all freeway signs in Georgia are new, there are still old signs on the I-85 frontages north of the city.  From there, I swang up I-85 to I-985 and met up with the founder of the former Peach State Roads for dinner and a quick tour of the area (and a chance to meet for the first time).  I headed west on GA 369, which is a beautiful drive even at night, up GA 372 to GA 5 Business, which turns onto a stub that merges into GA 5.  Pulling a U-turn, I came back down I-575 to I-75 and back to center city.

Today (Sunday): Because I got everything done in Atlanta yesterday, I woke up a little later and headed straight over to Gadsden via US 41 to US 411 (as opposed to just taking US 278), exploring old alignments when I got the chance.  I thought 411 was a worthwhile drive for the added bit of distance.  There is one old button copy sign on US 278 EB at US 411, as a note for interested Alabama area enthusiasts.  After seeing the waterfall north of Gadsden, I drove down through Decatur just to check out the town, where I spied an old US 72 shield on Moulton St at US 31.  I then left town on Moulton St. and switched over to Old Moulton Road, which was another really cool drive that is now a couple of county routes.  Beats the four-lane any day.  I came down AL 157 looking for the Jesse Owens museum, but it opened at 1 and I was so early thanks to Saturday that I didn't want to wait.  So I continued to Montgomery on US 31 and got the rest of my driving done:

I-65 SB to I-59 NB, which has a ton more button copy non-reflective signs than I-59 SB/20 WB, so I think I made the right decision in terms of which way to drive.  Followed by I-459 SB, which also has its share of button copy in either direction, then back up I-59 NB into town and down US 31 to Vulcan Park for a spectacular view of Birmingham.  After that, I came back up 31 to 20/59 to I-65 SB, where I found a few MORE button copy signs.  I thought I would only find them in Montgomery tomorrow, but I was happily surprised.  I U-turned and headed to Kelly Ingram Park, the center of the city where MLK had his church.

I'll be heading back into Birmingham tomorrow to get my civil rights museum on, then it's over to Selma and Montgomery.  Let's see when I check in again!

[Bryant5493]

Nice little excursion there.

Got pictures of any of the signage? Roads?


Be well,

Bryant

[agentsteel53]

oh goodness... Georgia.  I clinched all the counties in the middle of the night because there is so little to see there!

[Riverside Frwy]

I remember living in Georgia, but I lived in Augusta. Atlanta though has nice freeway system.

[Dougtone]

oh goodness... Georgia.  I clinched all the counties in the middle of the night because there is so little to see there!

With Georgia, all you have to do is blink your eyes and you've driven into another county.  There are things to see in Georgia, but in my opinion, there's much more to see in other parts of the country if you're looking for older gems.

[agentsteel53]

Georgia since their great sign replacement of 1999-2003 or so has been terrible... I'd much rather scour a state like Massachusetts with forgotten state route alignments around every corner.  I found an 18x18 1956-spec wood interstate 91 shield the other day; could I ever find such a thing in Georgia?  I think not!

[Bryant5493]

Hey! Hey! Let's not throw Georgia under the bus (lol). We've got some nice stuff to see here.


Be well,

Bryant

[agentsteel53]

We've got some nice stuff to see here.

where are they?

[jdb1234]

Hey AlpsROADS, When you go back into Birmingham, make sure you drive along 14th Street.

[Bryant5493]

where are they?

Okay, if you're looking for tourist attractions and beautiful scenery, there's The Little Whitehouse in Warm Springs; Stone Mountain Park; the beautiful scenery along Zell Miller Mountain Parkway, in the North Georgia Mountains; the sometimes-confusing Downtown Atlanta city streets; Piedmont Park; the historic district of Savannah and the beaches of Tybee Island; and much more. You just have to know where to look, like anywhere.

And I'd like to see the tabs separated from the exit signage, but it is what it is. The newer signs that've been installed at HOV exits look weird and will take sometime to get used to. Additionally, there's an old button copy sign for I-75 on Henry Ford II Avenue at I-75 South in Hapeville. Lastly, I think the Savannah road network is pretty interesting with respect to the county-maintained freeways (Veterans Parkway and Harry S. Truman Parkway). I've driven Truman Parkway, but not filmed it.


Be well,

Bryant

[agentsteel53]

Okay, if you're looking for tourist attractions and beautiful scenery

nope, I'm looking for old signs 

[Bryant5493]

nope, I'm looking for old signs

Okay. They're out there, but they're like "Waldo."


Be well,

Bryant

[Ian]

I found an 18x18 1956-spec wood interstate 91 shield the other day

Where? Any pics?

[agentsteel53]

Where? Any pics?

Massachusetts.  Give me a bit of time to upload it.

[Alps]

In Birmingham - what's on 14th St. and where am I supposed to be looking on it in particular?  I did in fact use 14th St. before to connect up from 2nd Ave. to 6th Ave. (N) and didn't see anything there.

Also forgot a pair of notes.  Obviously, to drive down through Decatur, I had to drive up US 431 to Huntsville and out I-565.  431 gets quite twisty as it winds way up a hill and down the other side above Huntsville - and it was snowing!  (The only snow I had to drive in so far, and it comes on a curvy hill...)  It's neat seeing rocket ships from an Interstate highway.
Note 2 - I did go out and spy the current end of Future I-22 off CR 77.  It's all gravel, and while you can't continue straight eastbound, there are gaps in the barrier that theoretically let you drive down onto the freeway stub.  I didn't feel like risking an arrest in Alabama, though.

[hbelkins]

Okay, if you're looking for tourist attractions and beautiful scenery

nope, I'm looking for old signs 

There's quite a bit of old stuff in Georgia if you know where to look. We saw some nice stuff during our January meet in Atlanta a couple of years ago.

[jdb1234]

In Birmingham - what's on 14th St. and where am I supposed to be looking on it in particular?  I did in fact use 14th St. before to connect up from 2nd Ave. to 6th Ave. (N) and didn't see anything there.

Also forgot a pair of notes.  Obviously, to drive down through Decatur, I had to drive up US 431 to Huntsville and out I-565.  431 gets quite twisty as it winds way up a hill and down the other side above Huntsville - and it was snowing!  (The only snow I had to drive in so far, and it comes on a curvy hill...)  It's neat seeing rocket ships from an Interstate highway.
Note 2 - I did go out and spy the current end of Future I-22 off CR 77.  It's all gravel, and while you can't continue straight eastbound, there are gaps in the barrier that theoretically let you drive down onto the freeway stub.  I didn't feel like risking an arrest in Alabama, though.

14th Street is one of Birmingham's old truck route and has some odd and old signs.

Like this example on 14th Street @ 4th Ave N:

this one should still be there unless it has been removed.

This one on 14th Street @ 5th Ave S is still there:

[froggie]

If "old signs" is your sole focus, then true there isn't much to see in Georgia.  But there's a lot more to see out there than just "old signs"...

[CanesFan27]

If "old signs" is your sole focus, then true there isn't much to see in Georgia.  But there's a lot more to see out there than just "old signs"...

I'm with Froggie on that one, from the times I have been off the Interstate in Georgia there is plenty of good items.  It depends on what you're interested in...the amount of old general/country stores and rural downtowns among other things would make many trips worthwhile.

[CanesFan27]

Steve,

Don't forget to go to Flea Market Montgomery!

[hbelkins]

If "old signs" is your sole focus, then true there isn't much to see in Georgia.  But there's a lot more to see out there than just "old signs"...

I'm with Froggie on that one, from the times I have been off the Interstate in Georgia there is plenty of good items.  It depends on what you're interested in...the amount of old general/country stores and rural downtowns among other things would make many trips worthwhile.

And the scenery in the northern part of the state is excellent. I'm a fan of the mountains and the mountain country in that area is gorgeous.

[Dougtone]

If "old signs" is your sole focus, then true there isn't much to see in Georgia.  But there's a lot more to see out there than just "old signs"...

I'm with Froggie on that one, from the times I have been off the Interstate in Georgia there is plenty of good items.  It depends on what you're interested in...the amount of old general/country stores and rural downtowns among other things would make many trips worthwhile.

And the scenery in the northern part of the state is excellent. I'm a fan of the mountains and the mountain country in that area is gorgeous.

When I was visiting Georgia a couple of years ago, I stopped at Neels Gap in the north Georgia Mountains, and I really enjoyed the view from there.

[Alex]

Steve,

Don't forget to go to Flea Market Montgomery!

Where is that and on what days does it run? I'd like to check it out. Have been to the largest flea markets in both Florida and Texas and scored lots of road-type items of interest.

[CanesFan27]

Alex,

You're not gonna find any road related items at FMM (Flea Market Montgomery).  :-p 

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/03/hey-hey.html or just look up Flea Market Montgomery on youtube.

There's a video of Billy and myself on facebook somewhere.  Last February, while in Atlanta for hockey, a few of us made a roadtrip down there just to visit.  After all, it's just like...it's just like, a mini-mall!

[Dougtone]

Alex,

You're not gonna find any road related items at FMM (Flea Market Montgomery).  :-p 

http://surewhynotnow.blogspot.com/2009/03/hey-hey.html or just look up Flea Market Montgomery on youtube.

There's a video of Billy and myself on facebook somewhere.  Last February, while in Atlanta for hockey, a few of us made a roadtrip down there just to visit.  After all, it's just like...it's just like, a mini-mall!

Living rooms, bedrooms, dinettes, oh yes!