So I realized that I had a 4 day Columbus day weekend only a few days before hand. I didn’t really have a travel plan, and it seemed that flights had gotten a little pricey. So I thought it might be a good idea to do something entertaining, and something big. Now, what could be bigger than seeing some of the world’s largest things? Nothing I could think of, so I got to planning.
After a quick Google search I ran across “Worlds Largest Roadside Attractions” website (http://www.wlra.us/) and picked the 5 closest items that I saw listed. I gathered a rag tag group of big thing adventurers and printed out directions in a folder labeled big things.
The BIG pencil:
While this huge writing implement was listed on the site, no address could be found anywhere on the internets. How could something so big not be know? This is what it is supposed to look like.
The BIG pancake:
We went to IHOP in Laurel after a few too many wrong turns. We discovered they just have normal size pancakes but they were still pretty good.
The BIG Trashcan:
This one was verifed by the Guiness book of world records. This was too be the first real thing of the day. We followed the faithful directions of “Jane” the british GPS women to the RESCO waste management building in Baltimore. We expected to see big trash. We asked a man in the parking lot about the big trash can, and he said something about them doing firing and not trash bins there. Then when asked about the “worlds largest trash can” he responded “Oh, they tore that shit down.” A little disappointed we moved on to the next big site.
What is was supposed to look like
What is actually looks like
This is what we look like sad for no big place to put our trash
The BIG Shoe:
Are there really and big things, or was this just a Hoax? Next we ventured off to Shoe House Road, in quaint Hellan, PA to see the biggest shoe. Eventually we made it to the famed street but still did not see anything big. We continued down the road while grumbling, that this too was a waste in the distance we saw a really large shoe. We did it. However, the Shoe was closed. I guess that meant you could not buy shoe toe ice cream. This did not stop us from taking pictures and from me running up to touch the shoe. I don’t think there was any real danger, but running up to touch the shoe made it seem more dangerous. Off to the next site.
It is on the map
The sign is real
The Shoe is real
It is bigger than our shoes
It is closed
It can be touched
The BIG clothespin:
This one is in Philly, near City Hall. I hoped this one was both existing and “open.” Even if this one was a sham, I was not that worried because we got to stop at a Wawa (the best convenience store) and I got a cup of Mac and Cheese (mmm….). After a way too long drive through the land of the Amish we made it to Philly and meet up with our guide Alfred. We did see the clothespin which is actually really cool. It was not on a clothesline or on the nose of someone to avoid a stinky smell, but it really is huge. Complete big thing success. We were also surprised to learn that across the street was a park filled with moderately big things. There was a big sorry piece, big dominos, big monopoly pieces, a big iron and more. Philly is a haven of big. Other things learned included that the skate Philly board kids are afraid to go down a stair rail for big tricks and that sometimes there are big celebrities downtown.
A shot with people
A better photo
The Iron
Dominos
The BIG button:
This was to be the last big thing of the day. A split (broken) button, located near the library of UPENN. After a walk from the subway and passing 14 Starbucks we laid our eyes on this monstrous button. It is great, but perhaps too big for my shirt. Oddly, many of the people in the area no longer seemed amused by the button, how could you not be enthusiastic about this all the time? The being the last big thing on the list, we ate some dinner and began the big drive home.
See more pictures here
I think I will end up seeing more BIG things. How could you not. I also plan on doing a series of paintings showcasing big things which will culminate in a BIG show. Stay tuned.
You saw big, now look at small. This is in Midgetville. Look how tiny it is.
See more info on this little place
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