I just love going for country drives.  This is especially true during the summer.  I enjoy seeing young fouls bucking around in the fields, crops nearing maturity, huge rolls of hay drying in the sun.

One of my favourite routes is to take the "long way" using Hwy 7 to the cottage on a Friday afternoon. Usually, the trip takes about 2-1/2 hrs.

Typical remarks made by the family along the way-

"Look honey!  See that hawk soaring up there?"

"Hey kids, look at the cows. Did you see the big black one?"

"How about that school bus that's for sale?  Someone converted it into a crane."

"You're joking....."

Sadly, I am not.

What's with all this stuff that I see at the end of everyone's driveway in the country?  Talk about depressing.  When did it became so de rigueur to put all your castoffs beside the road?  Its not just here and there, its everywhere. RV's, motorcycles, puppies, cars, tractors, boats, trailers, ancient U-Haul trucks, campfire wood, even manure. Oh, yes! How much of that could I squelch into the back of the Safari? Hmm.... move over kids.

The "for sale" signs are also horrible. Hand painted with black lettering on a weathered piece of wood, or better yet that lovely fluorescent orange spray paint on the windshield of the Firebird? 

There never seems to be a price listed on anything though.

If things were changed up a bit I may not complain so much.  The problem is that I keep driving by the same crappy articles that have been out by the road for months, even years.

How about this idea? Take out an ad in a  newspaper, or put it on ebay.  Oh, I see....  You'd have to actually evaluate what the realistic pricetag would be for such a unique find.  Can't commit to one?  Or, does the price of the article vary with your mood or situation? or what the sucker daring to pull up to the "find" is driving?

When I was younger, I used to pull over occassionally to look at some of this stuff.  Far too many times my experiences when doing so left me regretting the choice.  If not interested (which was the case more often than not) I ended up getting an earfull from an irate seller.  "You shouldn't have wasted my time!" or "Why'd you stop in the first place?" So much for country hospitality.

So now I don't stop. 

Ever.

Sad thing is, I never see any farm-fresh vegetable stands along this route anymore.  I'd buy some of those.  You know,...something I actually need?