Ominous Roadsigns: London Edition

So, as some of you are aware, one of my hobbies is collecting photographs of ominous road signs. I recently was in London, a trip that I will probably describe in a few future entries, and while there, I was astounded by the sheer volume of ominous road signs. So, here we go:


I'm not sure why this road is named as it is, but I'm guessing it has to do with a wharf breaking...




Not ominous from a flavor standpoint...but very ominous from a halitosis standpoint.



Then there's this pair:


So, a bit of background. The term "cheap" comes from a word that meant "traffic, bargain, a purchase", and is the root of the modern word "cheap" (meaning poor quality, stemming from another modern usage meaning low-cost), as well as the root of the modern word "shop". Still, given the modern usage of the word, it seems like a strange name for a street. And "The Ward of Cheap" sounds like a euphemism for Wal-Mart.

...and then there's this, an argument in favor of why a location should never be named for the dominant object found in said location:


On the other hand, it is a wonderful counterpart to Brown Material Road.


....And now, these aren't ominous road signs. But they are amusing and/or surprising business and organization names. Unlike the amusing business names in Japan, these were written by someone with a command of the language. Some of them make sense given their location (such as the pub located near a major Freemason's hall, or the church that was once located in a Jewish neighborhood), while others are just clever names:


I think that this one got grandfathered-in past the appropriateness police.




Soon, on Vixen Video DVD, Jenna Jameson meets the Honest Sausage!




Contrary to what you may think, this pub is really not significant.




Not content to merely control the world, the Freemasons also want to control your drinks!

And in case you think I'm being alarmist, here's more proof of the grand, world-wide alcohol conspiracy:

Quick, someone call Mr. Icke!




This was advertising a play about Enron, but it was still odd to be walking down the street in London and see a large, lit-up Enron sign.




I tried checking out, but they wouldn't let me leave.



And, the best name ever for an eatery...or, wait, no that's not a very good name at all:


Really, there's only one type of slug worth celebrating:

...Just sayin'

More Ominous Road Signs

So, I have previously shown you one set of ominous road signs. The time has come for another set.

These first ones are from Santa Barbara...


Like many of the roads in Santa Barbara, this one has a Spanish name. Canon Perdido translates into "Dangerous Canyon" - yeah, just the sort of place you want to raise your kids. It's certainly a step up from Deadly Plateau Drive.

And, who can forget this classic street name:

Yay for cognates - "Quarantine Street"...just down from Smallpox Lane, no doubt.


And, of course, there's this gem:

Which translates into "Leave if you can." A few blocks over is Get the Fuck Out of Here Road.

The photo I took didn't turn out, but there is also a Indio Muerto Street in Santa Barbara...yeah, "Dead Indian Street." But, don't take my word for it, here's a link to a map!.

And then there's this one, from Sacramento County.

Now, I know that this doesn't look too ominous, but consider that we were unable to get a photo of the preceding sign, which simply says "West Texas, next exit". So, there you are, on your way to the state capitol, and suddenly you think you've taken a wrong turn and are on your way to Lubbock.

Here's one that I recently took a photo of in Kern County, it really kinda' speaks for itself.

Ominous Road Signs - the Beginning

So, I think I'm going to start posting pictures of some of the ominous road signs that I come across. If you happen to have pictures of ominous road signs, please note it in the comments section.

The first two here come from eastern California. First up, we have a photo of "Reamer" street in Auburn. Do you really want to know what happens on Reamer Street? Neither do I.



Here's a sign pointing towards my usual destination. In case folks didn't believe me when I told them that I work in a Hell Hole.



Oh, and while not technically a road sign, this one, also from Auburn, is pretty entertaining:



Given that "endurance" usually means putting up with pain or discomfort for an extended period, one has to wonder why any place would wish to be known as the "Endurance Capitol." Then again, I have been there in the summer...it's hot enough to...um...be really, really hot?