Southern MotelThe sign from the Southern Motel sits along US41 near Cordele, Georgia.

The motel is long gone, but the sign remains.

Interstate Highways have their uses I'll admit.  If you need to get from here to there in a hurry, they are usually the quicker way to do it than the backroads I prefer.  However, the interstates come with their own challenges and disadvantages. 

If you've ever been caught in one of those interstate traffic jams that last for hours you know what I'm talking about.  Add in lots of trucks, idiots who are in a real hurry and come up behind you flashing their headlights just to get caught behind the next car and it's never what I consider a relaxing experience. 

I live near I-85 here in the upstate of South Carolina between Greenville and Spartanburg and I cross it on my way to and from work.  It's always fun to guess if today is going to be one of those days where the traffic is somewhat following or if one or both directions are going to be at a standstill. 

When I have time to get somewhere, I really prefer driving along the backroads.  You get glimpses into what life was like before the interstates, without so many trucks and all the stress of the main roads. 

On the outskirts of many towns, you'll find old motels.  Some of them are still in operation but many more are abandoned or have been converted into cheap longer stay apartments.  

Their signs can be fascinating and I always wonder what they would have looked like when the neon still glowed to call the travelers off the highway. 

This is a favorite of mine near Cordelle, Georgia on US41.  Over the years, the brush has covered it more and more, but on this trip I was able to capture a photograph which gives a hint of the past. 

Next time you are not in a hurry, I suggest finding a backroad and enjoying the drive.  You won't get there as quickly, but you'll have more fun doing it!