Life Began Where The Blacktop Ended

Some of the best times I ever experienced were where the blacktop ended, and an old country road started. Throughout my childhood, there were many old roads and trails, and the memories of experiences on them can still bring a smile to my face. Even the taste of the dust brings back special memories.

My mind holds many memories of little roads that wound their way around fields and hollers of farms that now have houses where old barns once stood. A schoolhouse now sits right on top of where the old family home once stood. While progress is not necessarily a bad thing, I miss the ability to walk down the roads that were so meaningful to a young boy.

If you have never walked, down a back road and watched the cattle grazing or the chickens hunting for insects you need to make time to have that experience. The world that exists back off the main roads is one that is full of wonder and amazement that you could never experience in a classroom.

While not all the smells experienced walking down these roads are pleasant, you would be amazed at just how alive your senses become. Whether it is the unpleasantness of a freshly dropped cow patty, or the sweet smell of fresh jasmine or honeysuckle, I promise you will remember those smells for the rest of your life.

As a young child, I will never forget the walks with my dad or grandfather, taking in every sight and sound. Eventually those walks would give way to rides on a bicycle watching out for ruts in the road that would cause you to crash. As I got older dirt bikes and rail buggies would replace the bike, with each one bringing new thrills and experiences. Now I would love simply to just be able to go on those simple walks again with either of my grandfather’s again.

Recently I did take an afternoon and traveled back to one of my dirt roads from my memory. As you can imagine a flood of emotions swept in, reminding me of just what is important. It is amazing how walking down a dirt road that I have been on hundreds of times, and never really considered that special, now has so much meaning to me.

For those who have never experienced life at the end of the blacktop, take time soon to make a dirt road memory. However, if you are like me and have memories that seem long forgotten, hop in your car or truck and if possible take along someone you love and experience life again, where the blacktop ends.