Down the Road

Photographs and stories by Jim Grey

Life is a highway: Down the Road turns 5

Jim Grey
31 comments on Life is a highway: Down the Road turns 5
1 minute
Down the Road, v. 1.0

I started this blog on impulse five years ago this month. I wasn’t sure how long I’d stay with it. But as you can see, it’s stuck.

I gave it the tagline, “Roads and life and how roads are like life.” I had been on a very bumpy road, but I was determined that things would get better and that I would come to enjoy the journey. In case you haven’t figured it out yet, this blog has been all about chronicling that journey.

To celebrate Down the Road’s fifth blogiversary, throughout February I’ll be reaching into the archives from the first two years. I told some of my favorite stories during that time, but I had few regular readers with whom to share them. I’ll dust them off, freshen them up, and share them again. I hope you enjoy them.

My first post was on February 7, 2007. Read it here.

Comments

31 responses to “Life is a highway: Down the Road turns 5”

  1. Lone Primate Avatar
    Lone Primate

    Congratuations, Jim, and many more anniversaries to Down the Road. :) Thanks for everything you’ve given us so far.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      I’m glad and grateful to have you as a reader!

      Reply
  2. Lone Primate Avatar
    Lone Primate

    P.S. I hadn’t realized you changed mastheads. Seeing the single two-lane highway replaced by parallel double-laners immediately put the Schoolhouse Rock tune “Elbow Room” in my head. I guess that means next you have to put a shot of a giant interstate in the masthead. :D

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      The chance of me using an Interstate shot is mighty slim! It’s all about the back roads, baby!

      Reply
  3. ryoko861 Avatar
    ryoko861

    Wow, 5 years! That’s quite a milestone! Congratulations! I always look forward to your posts and I look forward to many more!

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks Irene! I’m glad you’re here.

      Reply
  4. Dani Avatar
    Dani

    And here’s to many more. Cheers!

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks Dani! You’ve been reading since the beginning — I’m sure this month of reruns will be less than exciting for you!

      Reply
      1. Dani Avatar
        Dani

        More time to spend reading provocative foodie blogs!

        Reply
  5. Brian Proffitt Avatar
    Brian Proffitt

    As a (very briefly) fellow traveler, many congratulations on the milestone–which isn’t buried in grass at the side of the road this time!

    If there is one thing you and your writings here have taught me James, it’s to pay attention to the world around us. Noticing how things were can help shape the direction of what’s to come.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks Brian! Maybe we can make another road trip together one day. I’m glad you’ve gotten something good from my blog!

      Right-of-way

      Reply
  6. Mike Avatar
    Mike

    Congratulations on five years, Jim!

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks, Mike!!

      Reply
  7. Kaitlin Avatar
    Kaitlin

    Woohoo! Five years! Awesome. Preservation in Pink has been around since then too. Took our blogs a while to cross paths, huh. I’m glad they did. Keep up the great work.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      I’m glad we crossed paths, Kaitlin. I found you via the Historic Indianapolis blog.

      Reply
  8. Kurt Avatar
    Kurt

    Congrats! HH will be 5 in July-but you’ve managed to be a more steady writer. I just get into a groove now and then.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      I set my mind to a twice-a-week cadence about 2.5 years ago. I like the discipline of it.

      Reply
  9. the domestic fringe Avatar
    the domestic fringe

    Happy 5th anniversary! That’s awesome.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks! The years have really flown by.

      Reply
  10. Ted Kappes Avatar
    Ted Kappes

    Congratulations Jim, You do give me inspiration to keep up my own writings..

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks Ted! I’m enjoying your blog very much.

      Reply
  11. nabi Avatar
    nabi

    congratulation jimMay I wish the best time for you in your life

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Why thank you!

      Reply
  12. mj monaghan Avatar
    mj monaghan

    Congrats on hitting that landmark, Jim. That’s quite an accomplishment.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks MJ! Or is it just stubbornness? :-)

      Reply
  13. zorgor Avatar
    zorgor

    Five years?!? Wow! Congratulations!!

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Yeah, it kind of snuck up on me there.

      Reply
  14. Matt Murphy Avatar
    Matt Murphy

    First, congratulations on “Down the Road’s” anniversary. This is a great resource for any roadfan.

    Second, thanks for your support on my blog! Your coverage of the National Road is phenomenal, and will certainly give me an idea of what to look for once I make it back toward the Midwest!

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Matt, I am simply delighted that you will get good use from my National Road coverage. I’ve now driven the road from Cumberland to Vandalia (and the bank road from Baltimore to Cumberland), and have documented much of it here. You can also check out my static roads Web site for additional information at http://www.jimgrey.net/Roads, as it has details my blog lacks. I’m writing up my Ohio trip from last year now and hope to post it there in the coming weeks.

      Reply
  15. Denny Gibson Avatar
    Denny Gibson

    Congratulations, Jim. Looking forward to the next five.

    Reply
    1. Jim Avatar
      Jim

      Thanks Denny — I’m just amazed the well hasn’t run dry already!

      Reply

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