Humor on the trail

Along the way in our travels we have spotted signs that make us laugh. My guess is that humor is not the intention when the sign was put up. May it’s just our wacky perspective on life, but whatever the cause, these signs have made us stop, think, and often giggle. I share these photos with you in the hope that they will bring a smile. Perhaps you’ll spot some humor on the trail in your travels too.

You may have seen a sign like this in your travels. You may even have heard my story about me arriving as a college student from Florida, excited to be in New England for the first time, eagerly awaiting my first glimpse of snow. As the van drove us from the airport on our way to the North Shore of Massachusetts, I saw a sign like this, and was puzzled. I had never seen warnings (was it a warning?) like this. What did they mean? Perhaps they were referring to the trees? Trees were all I could see. After living in the tropics, the deciduous trees of New England looked strange to me. Everything was new. Who knew what these New Englanders had in mind with their signs?

It took some careful questioning to learn that these signs were intended as a warning for drivers to slow down, since the roads where they are typically posted are residential areas. Ahhhh. These signs still makes me laugh, but now I understand. and it still seems to me that they get posted in places with lots of trees.

This sign was posted in a park we visited in Newfoundland. Perhaps the person who hammered in the post did not grasp the concept of irony. Or else they did, but the boss said, just do it. And so they did.

Not to make fun of Newfies (we love Newfoundland and cannot wait to go back!) but here’s another fun sign that made us laugh. This photo now has a place of honor in our home. I smile every time I see it.

Here’s another feature along the trail that made me smile. Not a sign, just a fun place to stop and take in the scenery. It’s one more great find along the way, also in Newfoundland, at the top of a long set of stairs offering access to stunning cliffs overlooking the ocean on Newfoundland’s western shoreline.

It may have been my husband’s broad smile, his knowing look, and eagerness to get me right next to the sign for this photo. Some people may have implied that I might have something in common with loons. I am not sure that this is true. Despite its important information attempting to educate the public about caring for wildlife, the juxtaposition of me with the sign still makes me laugh.

Have you seen any signs along the way that amuse you? Let me know, and happy trails.

Marjorie

Marjorie Turner Hollman is a writer who loves the outdoors, and is the author of Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, More Easy Walks in Massachusetts, 2nd edition, Easy Walks and Paddles in the Ten Mile River Watershed, and Finding Easy Walks Wherever You Are. Her memoir, the backstory of Easy Walks, is My Liturgy of Easy Walks: Reclaiming hope in a world turned upside down.