On the old paper maps and Rand McNally road atlas, the rural two-lane highways were colored blue, the major Interstates were red.

The ‘blue highway’ mapped by the cartographers identified the more scenic routes, the backroads traveling through small towns. A quick glance at the map told you the blue route was definitely going to take more time then the red one in getting from point A to point B.

That was the inspiration for the 1982 memoir Blue Highways, by William Least Heat-Moon, who documented his cross-country trip avoiding all major freeways.

That too is the inspiration for Backroads, Bars and Blue Highways. Although not all roads were backroads, some were eight lane freeways and some not on a road at all.

But there were always the bars…and the people, whether behind the bar or on a stool.

Before the people, the places and the memories fade was my hope. Too late. Sadly, many of the places no longer exist, and a greater sadness as many of the people mentioned within are no longer with us.

Before the people, the places and the memories fade was the idea behind these pages.

Unfortunately I’m too late as many of the places no longer exist, and a sadness as many of the people mentioned within are no longer with us.

Something went wrong as something always does and the site had to be rebuilt, including this ‘preface’. What I originally wrote has faded from my memory. I do remember it was meaningful and I remember reading it and thinking it was well written. …hell if I can remember what it was, but I think it was something about the bars and the people in them, something good, I would think. Complimentary.