Oh, when you’re smilin’
When you’re smilin’
The whole world smiles with you
Songwriters: Daniel Gaston Ash / Glenn Derek Campling
When I travel of course I take plenty of photos of the ‘big’ things I see. The landscapes, the city sights, the famous buildings and monuments, the wildlife, interesting people … The list is, if not endless, at least pretty long. But I’m also on the lookout for quirky details. The sort of thing that would never make it into a guidebook and which I come across by chance. Things that might not even be there if I were to go back tomorrow! Amusing signs, odd juxtapositions, anything a little unexpected.
Those images often don’t make it into my travel galleries because they don’t ‘fit’, they aren’t part of the story of a place. How happy I was then to see Ann-Christine’s call for photos of things that made us smile for this week’s Lens Artists challenge. All the sights below certainly made me smile on our recent California road trip. I hope some of them have the same effect on you!
My feature photo was taken in Tahoe City on the north shore of Lake Tahoe. The remaining images below are presented in chronological order. If interested you can see our itinerary in my previous post, Our California road trip.
Sign on Pier 39, San Francisco (and yes, we bought one!)
Spotted near Point Reyes: an appropriate slogan for our trip
In the car park at Fort Ross State Park
Posing beautifully for me outside a coffeeshop in Point Arena
Small plant holder in a Ferndale coffeeshop; I do love elephants!
(there will be quite a few coffeeshops in this post, they are great places to spot amusing details)
For sale in a Eureka coffeeshop; I loved the slogans on these jigsaw puzzles!
On a table in a café in Tahoe City, Lake Tahoe; I was moved by his missing ear!
Near Lake Tahoe (again, we bought one, naturally!)
One of hundreds of stickers on a barrier at the Mono Lake Vista Point; I loved the message, ‘You be you’!
In a car park near Soda Springs on the Tioga Pass, Yosemite National Pass
(like coffeeshops, car parks can be a fruitful source of smiles)
In a car park in Yosemite Valley: an important message conveyed in a fun manner!
Signs in a coffee shop in Fresno
The key to our cabin at Grant Grove, Sequoia / Kings Canyon National Park
In a car park in Ridgecrest: ‘Live long and prosper’
In a gift shop in Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley; I asked this sales assistant to pose for me as I loved her hair, and she pulled this face as I took the shot!
(She also posed sensibly for a second shot but this version made me smile more)
Service station toilet door near Indian Springs, Nevada, on what is badged the ‘Extra-terrestrial Highway’
Ladies’ toilets in Caesar’s Palace, Las Vegas
Entrance to the toilets at the car hire drop-off, Las Vegas Airport
(oh dear, there are suddenly a lot of toilets here too!)
Spotted in the departures area at Las Vegas Airport; Hello Kitty seemed an incongruous choice for this young man!
I visited California and Nevada in September / October 2024
64 Comments
grandmisadventures
A very joyful collection of pictures. I can’t decide my favorite- the cute puppy out the window, the hot mess desert card, or that fetching wig 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Meg 🙂 I have a feeling that is the sales assistant’s real hair!
Autumn
Awesome!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you 😀
Patricia Moed
Wonderful captures, Sarah! I’m still smiling!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Patti, I’m glad you enjoyed them 😊
Teresa
I love your finds Sarah, really did make me smile, especially the last shaved head haha
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Teresa – that guy’s hairstyle certainly made me smile when I saw it!
sheetalbravon
The first ice-cream sign reminded me of Gene Kelly dancing in the rain. Super cute. Like your purple hair girl. Great selection to bring on smiles, Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Sheetal – I hadn’t thought of Gene Kelly but I do see what you mean 😀
Ritva Sillanmäki Photography
Great post, it made me smile
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you again Ritva – pleased this had the intended effect 😀
Image Earth Travel
A very eclectic mix, Sarah. The sales assistant and your last photo of the guys head are my favourites.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Nilla 🙂 I was really surprised at that guy and his choice of ‘hair-do’ – he had Hello Kitty scattered all over his head!
norasphotos4u
These are great – I have 2 favorites – the coffee sign and the Family Restroom
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Nora – I always like to know which ones stand out as favourites for different people 🙂
equinoxio21
Lots of fun. I like your “loos series”.
Sarah Wilkie
I hadn’t realised how many loo photos I’d taken until I came to put this post together! I have several more from the Extra-terrestrial Highway one but that felt like overkill 😉 Maybe another time …
equinoxio21
They’re funny breaks in a post… Few people hardly ever take them… Yet, everybody uses them… Sometimes with great relief after hours of driving. 😉
Rebecca
Lovely! I haven’t been to Lake Tahoe before, but I’ve heard great things about it, and now I’d love to check it out! Sounds like a great time spent in this part of the US. Thanks for sharing, Sarah! 🙂
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Rebecca 🙂 We enjoyed the Lake Tahoe area although it wasn’t one of the top highlights of the trip. It seemed more geared towards boating people etc. But there were some fabulous views!
Sofia Alves
The jigsaws are the winners this week, Sarah, although I have to say the Jesus sticker is a very, very close second 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Sofia, glad to hear you liked those jigsaws too 😀
Leya
Oh my, you do spot so many fun things! I fell in love with the little earless bear of course, and all the ice creams – especially the first one. Then the dog in the car – I always photograph them too. Favourite? The skeleton on the ‘Extra-terrestrial Highway’!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Ann-Christine 😊 Always interesting to hear people’s favourites! That pit-stop on the ‘Extra-terrestrial Highway’ threw up lots of photo opps – I may share some more in due course …
Tanja
funny images
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks Tanja 🙂
Yvonne Dumsday
Thanks for the smiles. Love the quirkiness.
Sarah Wilkie
Pleased to have made you smile Yvonne – thank you 🙂
Leanne Cole
So many great images to make me smile Sarah, they are fantastic.
Sarah Wilkie
Very glad you enjoyed them Leanne, thank you 🙂
bushboy
You had me at the first ice cream sign Sarah 😀
Sarah Wilkie
Haha, thanks Brian 😀
Terri Webster Schrandt
Well, your road trip through California brought you endless sources of smiles and happiness, Sarah! You and Brian and Bushboys world are two-of-a-kind in finding quirky shots. Lots o’fun to read today!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Terri, I’m pleased you enjoyed these 😀
Anabel @ The Glasgow Gallivanter
I do like photographing the quirky details too! Even if they never get used in a post I always smile when I come across them again.Some good ones here.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anabel 🙂 It’s true this sort of shot rarely gets into my posts so it was good to have a reason to share some from this trip!
Mick McCann
Nice collage. My favorite is the Pika on the keychain. Can’t ever see one without smiling.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you for identifying! I’d thought it might be a gopher as we saw one there 🙂
Monkey's Tale
Thanks for the smiles 😊
Sarah Wilkie
Glad you enjoyed them Maggie 😀
Tina Schell
Oh my goodness Sarah, so happy you got a chance to share these! They’re great from start to finish. Especially loved the skeleton in the bathroom and the star trek boys. And I love that you stop for ice cream!
Sarah Wilkie
Thanks so much Tina 😊 Oh yes, if the weather is suitable we always enjoy ice creams on holiday, and will happily keep lunches to a minimum to save room for one!
Easymalc
You did give me a smile with these Sarah.
Sarah Wilkie
Glad to hear it Malcolm 😀
restlessjo
Sunday smiles, Sarah! I’d have to take that bear home, and the Star Trek duo are fun, not to mention the lady with the hair.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Jo 😊 I could certainly have fitted that little bear into my bag had I been tempted, but I think he’s probably happier there!
photobyjohnbo
A wonderful collection of smiles, Sarah! What a great follow-on to your post about your western states journey!
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you John 🙂 Yes, those two posts complement each other I think, with the contrasts between landscapes and small details.
Egídio
What wonderful choices, Sarah! Each photo kept me smiling. Middle-of-the-road restaurants and cafes are indeed great places to find fun signs.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Egidio, glad you enjoyed my selection of smiles 🙂
thehungrytravellers.blog
Yep, plenty of smiles in that collection, Sarah! Even the song you chose has special memories for me…but that’s another story…
Sarah Wilkie
One for the Marquis of Granby perhaps?
thehungrytravellers.blog
Indeed so! It’ll stop you doing that movie quiz 😃
Sarah Wilkie
🤣🤣
satyam rastogi
Nice post 🌺🌺
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you
satyam rastogi
Welcome 🌺
Anne Sandler
Thanks Sarah! This post put a smile on my face this morning. I like the way you record the small details with your camera.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you Anne 🙂 I’m always on the lookout for this sort of thing as it adds variety to my photographic record of a trip!
Ana
Very nice post, Sarah!!! I had a lot of fun and it made me smile.
Sarah Wilkie
Thank you – I’m glad these shots had the desired effect!
margaret21
Well, your holiday delivered fun in spades, as well as a whole range of emotions as detailed in previous posts. What a hol!
Sarah Wilkie
Yes, lots of fun indeed 😀