I went a little out of my way this weekend, so I could drive down Route 66 in Missouri. Best decision I made all week.

 

Beautiful old American Legion Hall on a very cold morning in Iberia, Missouri.

 

100 year old swinging bridge in Missouri. It’s 500 feet long, made of wood, wire and good intentions. It has gravel roads leading to each end. As I drove the car across, you could feel it swing back and forth. The boards are rotten and when you look down you can see the river rushing below. Not for the faint of heart. I recommend looking for videos on Youtube.

 

Abandoned gas station in Anna, Illinois.

 

Abandoned hotel sign in Anna, Illinois.

 

This is the hotel I stayed at in Osage Beach, Missouri. Super nice people, mom and pop owned. I’m happy to recommend it to others.

 

I stopped into Jonesboro, Illinois to visit the site of the third Lincoln vs Douglas debate. It’s a beautiful little town. It’s the sort of place you could talk me into moving to someday.

 

Jon Dee Graham sighting, backstage in Osage Beach, Missouri.

 

You can listen to Mount Renraw in it’s entirety on the player below. Please help us spread the word by sharing this with your friends and/or including Mount Renraw on your next Spotify playlist.

This is my love letter to the back roads and byways of old, weird America. From my new album, Mount Renraw (released January 13th, 2017). Thank you kindly for sharing this with your friends and helping me get the word out.  -Otis

Great American Roadside -Otis GibbsPosted by Otis Gibbs on Saturday, November 12, 2016

Some of you may remember that I recently turned 50. My friends told me to throw a party, but I'm not much of a party guy. I decided to celebrate by doing something creative. So, my buddy, Thomm Jutz brought over some gear and we celebrated my birthday by recording an album in my living room. It was my favorite birthday ever. I pulled together a few snapshots I've taken while traveling the back roads of America and put together this video thingy. The album is called Mount Renraw and it will be released in January, but let's be honest, I'll sell the dang thing to ya right now and get it to ya in time for Christmas. I'll post a buy link in the comments. This is a true grass roots effort, so I need your help getting the word out. Please share this with your friends and please share this with your favorite travel site/group.
Thanks for giving a damn,
-Otis

I visited a church in Bean Blossom, Indiana yesterday. You may have seen the news stories of it being vandalized. This area has always been special to me. I shook hands with Bill Monroe across the street from this church when I was a little kid, (that's another story). The lady in the photo is Phyllis and she volunteers at the church and she couldn't have been more warm and kind to me. The church has a reputation of welcoming anyone regardless of skin color, faith or who you love. I told her that I just wanted the folks who visit this church to know that they aren't alone. I've never had any use for churches or religions, but I'm still in their corner. Anyone who ruffles the feathers of these right wing hate groups must be doing something right. She told me about an older member of the congregation who escaped from Germany in WW2 who was particularly startled when she saw the swastika spray painted on the side of the church. She also showed me a wall filled with printed out messages of support from all over the world. She said they are going to continue welcoming anyone and everyone. It's what they do. Even the people who vandalized their building are welcome to come to their services. I think Phyllis is beautiful in every way and I wish she lived next door to me. I told her that I have more questions than answers and I'm not sure how we get past all of this ugliness, but history will be kind to those of us who oppose bigotry, misogyny and authoritarianism. I think that's what most of us are trying to do.

A photo posted by Otis Gibbs (@otisgibbs) on