off the beaten path Archives - grace grits and gardening

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?Continue Reading

that time I visited Apalachicola, Florida

July 1, 2017 By Talya Tate Boerner Leave a Comment

Apalachicola, Florida

Last June (as in 2016 not yesterday), I spent a few days in Apalachicola, Florida, a small port town located on the gulf and at the mouth of the Apalachicola River. Of all the places I visited last year, Apalachicola was one of my favorites. There’s something extra special about a port town and shrimp boats and folks who live and breath by the tides. The whole experience felt very “old Florida” to me. Nostalgic and dreamy. On the peaceful end of the relaxation scale.

I wanna go back.Continue Reading

Rusted Ford Trucks (a short story waiting to be written)

June 18, 2016 By Talya Tate Boerner 10 Comments

This rusted Ford truck collection on the side of the road just south of Crawfordville, Florida (Highway 319), is exactly the sort of thing that causes me to stop and spend some time exploring. THIS is what makes a road trip a road trip. Seeing those things you wouldn’t normally see if you, say, hopped on a plane and bypassed the drive itself. Unexpected and out of the way marvels.

Writer friends: need a writing prompt?
Talk about a short story waiting to be written… Apocalyptic farm lit or doomsday swamp tale?