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Things I Brake for in the Delta

February 13, 2018 By Talya Tate Boerner 17 Comments

Things I Brake for in the Delta

I prefer to take the backroads, the gravel roads, the roads that veer off the interstate. The things I brake for in the Delta are plentiful. And because of that, for me, getting from Point A to Point B rarely involves a straight line. Braking leads to exploring. Exploring leads to all sorts of creative endeavors. I make sure to build brake time into my schedule.

To the person who posted a recent Tweet saying (something to the effect), “I forgot how there is NOTHING in this part of the state.”

Oh, my word and bless your heart. If you find yourself driving behind me, please pass at the first opportunity. I will be driving way too slow for your imagination.

The things I brake for in the Delta?

Tree Art.

A tree festooned in tires certainly warrants a full-fledged photo stop and maybe later, a starring role in the setting of a short story. This is the stuff of the Delta, y’all. We parade quirky in our front yards with pride.

Things I brake for in the Delta.

Old Cemetery.

I’m forever stopping at roadside cemeteries, especially those with no official gates and old splintered, whitewashed signs to point the way. Under a full moon, this sign would glow. You know it would.

Old Cemeteries

Historical Signs:

There are over 100,000 historical markers in the United States. The more remote the location, the more intriguing I find it to be. This one, on Island 37, marks Tennessee land that is now only accessible via Arkansas because the Mississippi River changed his course in 1876. That’s a bit of a detour if you’re driving a tractor.

things I brake for: historical signs

Main Streets:

Architecturally significant buildings, century old murals fading into brick, new awnings shading the front door of the hardware store that’s been there forever. What’s not to love? Have a java at the local coffee shop or poke around at the resale shop on the corner. Main Street USA still holds a bucketful of charm.

Main Street, Stuttgart

Farm Equipment:

Yes, I brake for farm equipment in odd places. This cotton picker is parked on a hill to protect it from Mississippi River floodwaters. (Or so I was told by someone in the know.) An example of common sense and smart thinking, really. Nobody needs a drowned picker.

things I brake for

Church Steeple:

Here’s the church.
Here’s the steeple.
Open the door,
and here’s all the people.

Small churches with steeples and crosses give me hope. This one belongs to Grand Avenue Methodist in Stuttgart. It was organized in 1887. If I lived in Stuttgart, you might find me sitting on the third pew come Sunday morning.

church steeple

Cypress Trees:

It would be a difficult choice, but if I could come back as a tree, I might be a cypress. Something about their wide-spreading trunks fascinate me. Plus, they get to swim during the hot, sticky summer.

Cypress Trees

Old Buildings:

Old buildings have stories to tell. If this one was a person, I have a feeling she would proudly vote along democratic lines.

quirky old houses

Water Towers:

Oh, the crown of every small town. I always wave and sometimes take a picture.

things I brake for in the delta

Milkweed:

When I find milkweed growing wild at an old homestead or along the road, I report my sighting to Journey North. Journey North tracks migration of various bird and butterfly species as well as critical milkweed.

milkweed

Ducks:

They are fun to watch as they fly over farmland. Pull over, roll down your window, and listen.

ducks

And Geese:

There are so may ducks and geese in Stuttgart, you have to stop to let them cross the road…

Stuttgart - ducks!

Indian Mounds:

If you don’t brake for Indian mounds rising out of the flat Delta, you’re in much too big a hurry. These impressive formations at Toltec Indian Mounds are mind blowing! (I’ll do a whole post on this later.)

Toltec Indian Mounds

Rivers:

A bonus of driving in the Delta: sometimes there isn’t much traffic. Stopping on a bridge is a-okay when you seem to be the only human left. Beautiful White River.

White River

Sunsets:

As finale to another day in the Delta, a show-stopping sunset can’t be ignored. Celebrate it!

Sunset in the Delta

Other things I brake for (yes, there’s more): vegetable stands, Kreme Kastles, historic courthouses, wildflowers, pumpkin patches, estate sales, rock shops, box turtles, bookstores, abandoned red cabooses, state line visitor centers that provide free coffee and maps.

Because of the things I brake for in the Delta, GPS (her name is Sylvia) takes pleasure in arguing with me. “Recalculate. Recalculate. Where on earth are you going???”

She’s annoying that way. (I don’t think Sylvia’s from around here.)

If she says it will take two hours and fifty-eight minutes for me to drive from Cottonwood Corner to the Duck Capital of the World, I add at least another hour to my drive. Maybe two.

Sylvia needs to chill and enjoy the journey.

Grace Grits and Gardening
Farm. Food. Garden. Life.

[tweetthis]The things I brake for in the Delta? They are numerous #countrygirl #offthebeatenpath[/tweetthis]

Musical Pairing:
Sanders Bohlke, Somewhere

Filed Under: Arkansas, Farm, Simple Pleasures, Travel Tagged With: Delta, Mississippi Delta, Northeast Arkansas, off the beaten path, rural Arkansas, Southeast Arkansas

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Comments

  1. Mary Ann says

    February 13, 2018 at 8:35 am

    Oh, I love how you travel!!My husband does not travel that way. I need to start going by myself!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      There’s a positive to solo travel!

      Reply
  2. Cathy v says

    February 13, 2018 at 10:08 am

    I love this. My husband and I went to Holly Grove Arkansas to see where the survey began for the Louisiana purchase. It was so cool and in a swamp. Very out of the way and beautiful. He knows how to excite his geologist wife’s heart.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:43 pm

      Oh, I stopped there on this trip. It was incredible. Worthy of its own post for sure!

      Reply
      • Cathv says

        February 18, 2018 at 10:39 am

        Definitely!

        Reply
  3. mondayswitholiver says

    February 13, 2018 at 10:59 am

    Great stuff! I love old cemetaries and often if I am driving alone I will stop to meander through the rows of head stones noting the oldest and newest and the interesting trinkets, memorials and epithets.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      Thank you! Such artwork in cemeteries!

      Reply
  4. Colene says

    February 13, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    Love it! Like they say “stop and smell the roses”.

    Reply
  5. Ken says

    February 13, 2018 at 2:31 pm

    This is one of your best stories. It would be nice if we could all travel that way once in a while.

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:44 pm

      Thanks, Ken. I highly recommend it.

      Reply
  6. Sarah C says

    February 14, 2018 at 8:47 am

    Love this! I drive a lot because I always take my dog along. And I always keep my camera in the front seat beside me!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      Thanks, Sarah! Sometimes I think I might need to get a camera…

      Reply
  7. marthajaneorlando says

    February 14, 2018 at 12:22 pm

    Back roads are absolutely the best, Talya! I would be inclined to stop at all those attractions as you are. Thanks for sharing the wonders of the Delta.
    Blessings!

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      February 15, 2018 at 2:45 pm

      Thanks, Martha! I’m glad you came along with me:)

      Reply
  8. Dorothy Johnson says

    February 19, 2018 at 2:50 pm

    Love these reasons you brake–Great pictures. I stop when I’m alone, but my travel companion is more about getting from point A to point B. However, he’s mellowed out enough to stop occasionally for a photo moment.

    Reply
  9. Lois Watson says

    March 17, 2021 at 11:24 am

    Just finished your first book. Couldn”t put it down. Starting on 2nd today! I lived in Osceola for 60 yrs. I loved it and was very happily married with a family. Recognized so much of what you wrote about and that was special. Thank you for giving me so much enjoyment. Lois

    Reply
    • Talya Tate Boerner says

      March 18, 2021 at 2:47 pm

      Thank you sooooo much!!!

      Reply

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Hi! I'm Talya Tate Boerner. Writer, Reader, Arkansas Master Naturalist / Master Gardener, Author of

THE ACCIDENTAL SALVATION OF GRACIE LEE (2016)

GENE, EVERYWHERE: a life-changing visit from my father-in-law (2020)

BERNICE RUNS AWAY (Now Available!)

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