BajaNomad

The End of Civilization?

Pompano - 2-13-2013 at 09:59 AM

A bit of Americana folklore.


I recently came across yet another one of the many 'shoe tree' events so common around America. This one was in the Arizona desert, but over the years, we've come across similar sights on wires in New York to trees on Nevada's Hwy 50, nicknamed, 'The Loneliest Highway in the World.'

There are tons of ideas on why these are so popular and when this custom got started.






Is it folk art, a harmless prank, a rite of passage, a way to air out smelly sneakers, or a sign of the end of our civilization? You figure it out.

All these shoes trees remind me of the movie, 'Wag the Dog', with Robert De Niro and Dustin Hoffman.

nbacc - 2-13-2013 at 10:16 AM

I love it!

Howard - 2-13-2013 at 10:38 AM

I wonder if there are any size 11s in there?

I hope the Shoepecker bird doesn't spot that tree.

24baja - 2-13-2013 at 11:20 AM

"Wag the Dog" was a good movie....."Shoe", what a concept!

There's one on Amboy Road,

neilm81301 - 2-13-2013 at 11:25 AM

East of Amboy, on the south side.

Across the road is the 'Lingerie Bush'.

Sorry, no pics.

Neil

is it folk art? well, it was done by folks, but not conclusively determined to be art

mtgoat666 - 2-13-2013 at 11:31 AM

is it folk art? well, it was done by folks, not yet determined if it is art

some people throw shoes into trees because some people before them did the same thing. some people get tatoos because all their friends got them too. herd mentality as art?.

p.s. i like the "gum wall" in central CA (forget which town) where everybody sticks their gum to wall

KurtG - 2-13-2013 at 11:44 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by mtgoat666
is it folk art? well, it was done by folks, not yet determined if it is art

some people throw shoes into trees because some people before them did the same thing. some people get tatoos because all their friends got them too. herd mentality as art?.

p.s. i like the "gum wall" in central CA (forget which town) where everybody sticks their gum to wall


That would be Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, one of the more, if not the most, repulsive "tourist attractions" in our otherwise quite lovely area.

durrelllrobert - 2-13-2013 at 09:36 PM

If that tree was anywhere in Baja every pair of shoes would be gone in a millisecond and on some deserving feet :lol:

acadist - 2-13-2013 at 09:55 PM

It reminds of the big cactus with the tires on them, how did they throw those tires that high to get them over those branches:light:

Skipjack Joe - 2-13-2013 at 11:42 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by acadist
It reminds of the big cactus with the tires on them, how did they throw those tires that high to get them over those branches:light:


And then there's that semi truck on hwy 80, sitting on a pole 40 feet above ground in the middle of nowhere. It's somewhere between Nevada and Utah, as I recollect.

RnR - 2-14-2013 at 07:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe

And then there's that semi truck on hwy 80, sitting on a pole 40 feet above ground in the middle of nowhere. It's somewhere between Nevada and Utah, as I recollect.


The Truck Inn truck stop in Fernley, Nv.

bajaguy - 2-14-2013 at 07:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Skipjack Joe
And then there's that semi truck on hwy 80, sitting on a pole 40 feet above ground in the middle of nowhere. It's somewhere between Nevada and Utah, as I recollect.





I didn't think there was room to squeeze anything in between Nevada and Utah :lol: