MotorCoach Blog 64

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I Am a Motorcoach, Discovering the USA by Tread Winshield and Mirror…

. . . Bringing you a three-day western blog adventure through Albuquerque, New Mexico, Arizona, and Colorado. So keep an eye out the next two days for parts two and three.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

I was glad to find a place to park my 45-foot self in this popular town. The name of the candy establishment I parked in front of comes from some close association with the cast and crew of a phenomenon called “Breaking Bad”, which was filmed in Albuquerque. Consequently, many people visiting Old Town stop by to take nostalgic selfies here. I was ignorant of the phenomenon, but took one anyway.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

ZIA NEWS: Originating with the people of the Zia Pueblo before being adopted as New Mexico’s state symbol, the Zia symbol is culturally sacred and regionally iconic. Uplied to the state flag in 1925, the symbol dresses New Mexico licence plates, is utilized in organizational logos, and is one of the most tatooed symbols in the state. The four sides of the four-line design represent
1 – The four winds/directions (north, south, east, west)
2 – The seasons of the year (spring, summer, fall, winter)
3 – The four stages of the day (morning, noon, evening, night)
4 – The four stages of life (childhood, youth, adulthood, elderly)
The center circle, symbolic of the constancy of love and life, binds them all together.

FOUNDING NEWS: From the province of Asturias, Spain, Francisco Cuervo Y Valdes founded Albuquerque in April of 1706. He sits immortalized in bronze upon his mighty steed at the southwest entry to Old Town Albuquerque.

ARCHITECTURAL NEWS: Spanish Mission, Pueblo, and Navajo are the primary architectural infuences resposible for the charm of Old Town Albuquerque. Banks, grocers, restaurants, retail outlets, and homes alike display the flat-roofed adobe cubistic motif, while Spanish detailing is ubiquitous as well.

While Spanish Mission influence can be seen in the town’s ornamentations, passageways, and layout, the only surviving building from the Spanish Colonial period is San Felipe de Neri Church. Built in 1793, it spans the north side of the town square.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Located at 615 Rio Grande Blvd (Historic Route 66), Camino 66 offers a treasury of Southwest decor items and the largest collection of Talavera (authentic Mexican pottery) outside of Mexico. Route 66 traveled through Albuquerque from 1926 to 1985, and the present 18-mile urban section of the route running through Albuquerque is the longest in the nation.

Quote Of The Day samples

“My purpose in performing is to communicate the joy I experience in living.” – John Denver

“You need to stop focusing on the darkness behind you. The past is the past. Nothing can change what we’ve done.”— Walter White, Breaking Bad

MotorCoach Blog 63

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I Am a Motorcoach, Discovering the USA by Tread Winshield and Mirror…

. . . bringing you summertime travels to help get you through your wintertime blas. How ’bout a visit to French Lick Indiana – Hoosier country, famous for mineral springs, casinos, golf, and Larry Bird (born and raised in neighboring West Baden Springs).

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Another thing Hoosier territory is known for is covered bridges. Thankfully, I just fit through this one. The only other route was, shall we say, sketchy!

I’m posing here with a celebrity hoop! Recognize it? According to our step-on guide, this basketball hoop is a big deal. It was originally the backyard hoop (and court) belonging to the legendary Larry Bird. It’s been featured in Nike commercials (Larry Bird and Magic Johnson one-on-one), and in the movie Blue Chips.

Here is one of the French Lick trollies that transport casino players, site-seers, golfers, and hotel guests between the area’s numerous places of interest.

I said, “Hi, I’m Two Eight One. Looks like you’ve got yourself a comfortable little spot-to-spot gig here. How many do you hold?”

“As many as get on,” he snipped. “And listen hot-shot . . . ‘Little’? . . . ‘Comfortable?’, don’t think that just because I don’t handle complex itineraries, get out on the highways, or navigate through all those big cities you go to all over the country, that I’m any less capable in handling all the uncomfortable big responsibilities you do carrying passenger!”

Then he drove off . . . empty.

I mean, sheesh, I was just trying to be friendly. Grump.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

RESORT NEWS: In 1855 Mile Lick Inn, with its mineral springs and grand beauty, was lauded as one of the wonders of the world. Referencing the noteable European mineral spring spa, Baden-Baden, its name was later changed to West Baden Springs Hotel. A rebuild after a fire in the early 20th Century resulted in greater cause for marvel – a domed atrium 200 ft in diameter. More recent renovations have restored old fashioned charms and added modern touches. West Baden Springs Hotel – fabulous inside and out – is the center piece of the French Lick Resort.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

I know this exterior doesn’t look like much (I initially thought we were at the wrong address), but we had to drag people out of First Chance Center Factory in Paoli, IN. Handcrafted with excellence and a unique, inspiring kind of heart, inside that doorway are Handbags galore. Look them up. You’ll be glad you did.

Quote Of The Day samples

“You can only be great at the thing you’re willing to sacrifice for.” – Maya Angelou

“I still wonder if someone – somewhere – was practicing more than me.” – Larry Bird

MotorCoach Blog 62

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . back in Washington DC. I’m a huge fan of this place – a complex but learnable system of highways and bridges and tunnels and roads, and everywhere something interesting to see. Since one or another of my garage-mates have blogged at you about DC in the past, I (Two Eight One) thought I’d follow up on the last blog theme, creativity, and give you the art side of DC.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

I have never posed with a curiosity before, so I thought I’d take the opportunity. I think it might be a praying mantis, but I’m not sure. That is just the closest thing I could find in my databank to this sculptural curiosity in front of the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden.

Paused (not to be mistaken with being idle or idling – idling is strictly prohibited in DC) for just a bit in the Smithsonian complex did not transform me from a big red brute machine into an artsy machine, but reflecting some of the Smithsonian Institution Building does seem to suggest cultured machine.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

SMITHSONIAN NEWS: Kiepenkerl – a traveling peddler carrying his goods on his back. This sculpture by Jeff Koons – reminds me of myself, so I thought I’d share it with you. Maybe it’s the shiny chrome finish – kinda machine-like. Maybe it’s the idea of traveling around carrying valuables – mine being passengers. Anyway, it resonated with me. It stands outside the Hirshhorn Museum, part of the museum’s Sculpture Garden in the Smithsonian complex at the National Mall in Washington D.C. Seventeen of the nineteen Smithsonian Museums are located in D.C and eleven are on D.C.’s National Mall. Only two are outside of D.C. – one being nearby in Chantilly, Virginia and the other in New York City.

“HUGE!” WASHINGTON ART NEWS: OK, this isn’t Washington D.C. “Huge!” news. This is art news about the Washington of Mid-American Coaches fame, the Washington I call home: Washington, Missouri. Most of you know that one of my assistants (who helps me get around the country with you all), Russell Irwin, is a bit of an artist. Well, this month – Friday the 29th from 5:00 to 9:00 to be exact – he is having the Grand Opening to his studio-gallery in downtown Washington (313 Elm Street). I’ve heard there will be major eats to go with the delicious eye-candy at the gallery. (You can also check out the preparations and some of the art in advance at: www.facebook.com/artistrussellstuartirwin)

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The Washington Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial, DC War Memorial, Korean War Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial, and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial are all within walking distance from one another on the National Mall in Washington D.C. All are spectacular creative masterpieces – elegant art. All are thought provoking and built upon rich historical significance. And there is one more you simply MUST SEE when in DC. The Iwo Jima Memorial (History of the Marine Corps War Memorial) is located on George Washington Parkway, across the Potomac River from those other Must See memorials. (You can see here the appropriate commitment of my Borgia passengers returning from the memorial. They endured heavy rainfall along their night tour of the DC memorials.)

Quote Of The Day samples

“Creativity is putting your imagination to work, and it’s produced the most extraordinary results in human culture.” – Ken Robinson

“The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” – Sylvia Plath

(Video run time: 2 minutes 10 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Patriotic March by Max Surla, Media Right Productions

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MotorCoach Blog 61

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . .at a welcome road sign: 2019! But first, I, Two Eight One, want to celebrate with one last blog from 2018 (my first full year in action). It has been my privilege to report to you from the road this past year. I do not take for granted your regard for the limited point of view of a machine. Which brings me to the subject of our 61st blog – creativity. Yes, my glaring limitation. I can go a lot of places, but I can’t go there. Creativity, by design, is absent from my nature. It is not a skill I can attempt to develop. I can observe it, and marvel at you all – my passengers – for being so rich in this capacity. But I, like all motorcoaches, am bound to the strict observance of my factory authorized manual and the rules of the road. So, with you in mind, I saved a special tour from a few months back to close out the year. And with this final sample of 2018 travels, I applaud you and champion every resolute stride into a creative 2019 . . . especially where touring the the USA is concerned!

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

I picked up some Californians at the airport. Quilters. We went to a store, then another, then another . . . and at each location they returned to my lighted spiral staircase with bags of fabric. Lots of chatter about quilting, about stitches and patterns and prints and the latest skill-assisting paraphernalia. Nothing to which I could relate. And not the most dynamic beginning to a tour. That all changed when we got to Paducah Kentucky. I only have one example of this quilting thing they were all so jazzed about. But the one example was enough to change every dull impression I had of their invested obsession. OK, it’s not actually a quilt. I found it on a concrete wall, a painted replication of one of the more celebrated quilts created by one of their more celebrated colleagues. I captured it for you in my mirror (sorry, it’s the best I could do).

Motorcoaches were not allowed in the National Quilt Museum, or the convention the Californians traveled all this distance to participate in – both apparently loaded with these dazzling creations.

So I set out to find more exterior wall ornamentation, which led me to all sorts of creative nooks in Paducah.

Then . . . wow, jackpot! I am pretty sure this guy is among your superstars of mural art. His name is Robert Dafford (here with fellow artist Herb Roe).

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

MURAL NEWS: History on a wall – a floodwall to be exact. Colorado, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Louisiana, Kentucky, Great Britain, Canada, France . . . Robert Dafford has been commissioned to transform architectural facades of various kinds in many places with his artistic skills. But his transformation of a long concrete barrier into a historical gallery and public attraction along the Ohio River in Paducah might be the most dramatic transformation of all.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The 1857 Hotel event space is architectural repurposing at its best. The exposed brick interior of the 1857 Hotel (not just a name, but truly dating back to the 1800s) is a uniquely classy/informal private dinner venue. And my passengers gushed about the quality and variety of the buffet offerings.

And Must See #2: Motorcoachblog 27 for more on Robert Dafford’s artistry. (You can also see more of his art and learn more about him and his mural projects at robertdaffordmurals.com.)

Quote Of The Day samples

“Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it is stupid.” – Albert Einstein

“Solitude is creativity’s best friend; and solitude is refreshment for our souls.” – Naomi Judd

(Video run time: 2 minutes 2 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
River Meditation by Audionautix is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (a href=”https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/”>https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://audionautix.com/

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MotorCoach Blog 60

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . serving up some holiday cheer, San Antonio style. Christmas in San Antonio, the tour was called, and it was a colorful introduction to this season of merriment. Back in Missouri temperatures were in the teens (single digits with wind chill factored in). But our Southwestern travels took us to where sunny days were in the sixties and evenings were comfortably fiftyish. That’s a good range when the main attraction for many of my passengers was strolling along the city’s famous River Walk.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

From sword-like fauna, to modern adobe streetscapes, to the ubiquitous “Lone Star” motif, and even western-wear, I fit right in way down south.

Certain decorative Christmas traditions prevail no matter where you go in this great country. There were plenty of those to be found in San Antonio, like this, in the historic King Williams district.

And what would Christmas be without a bit of snowfall? The red sculpture is titled La Antorcha de la Amistad, and was a gift from Mexico to the city of San Antonio. According to the Mexican sculptor, Sebastian, the blending of torch-like forms in upward movement symbolizes complexity of friendship and shared culture between the US and Mexico. (OK, so it’s not snow, but actually just sunshine showing how dirty my mirror is . . . Christmas is partly about imagination, right?)

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

MISSION NEWS: San Antonio de Valero Mission – now famously known as the Alamo – is one of five Spanish frontier missions established in Texas by Spanish missionaries between 1690 and 1720. Due to the non-missional part of its history, The Alamo is an essential part of any San Antonio tour.

We also fit in a visit to Mission San Jose and Mission Concepcion (an active perish church that happens to be the oldest unrestored church in the US).

The other two of the five missions are Mission San Juan Capistrano, and Mission Espada. Together these five missions have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From what I gathered, this is a pretty big deal. Other examples of World Heritage Sites are the Taj Mahal, Great Himalayan National Park, the Great Wall of China, Serengeti National Park, and the Statue of Liberty, to name just a few.

ELF NEWS: The International Center of San Antonio has an enviable position along the River Walk where it intersects St. Mary’s Street. It was there I observed a couple of elves at work, delivering presents along with the top third of a large pre-onrnamented Christmas tree. The discovery I made could be disillusioning to little ones: a big red sleigh is not a Christmas necessity. At this location, Christmas arrived in a box truck!

RIVER WALK NEWS: The first thing to note about the 17-mile-long San Antonio River Walk is that it follows the banks of a natural river. The man-made part – consisting of buildings, walkways, bridges, and landscaping – got its start in the first half of the 20th Century, in an effort to create jobs in the wake of the Great Depression.

Unique features abound, like a section of fence-bound lover’s locks, where countless couples have pledged their love by attaching a lock to the fence and tossing the key in the river. And, of course, all of the unique features along the River Walk can be enjoyed from a seat on one of the very popular boat tours. My passengers enjoyed a fine meal with their boat tour.

 

 

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

El Mercado  (Farmers Market Square) is the largest Mexican market outside of Mexico. The fun and festive environment presents a Christmas challenge for Christmas season decorators, whose efforts may get lost amid the every-day, year-round color and ornamentation throughout the mall.

Quote Of The Day samples

“A holiday is not a holiday without plenty of freedom and fun.” – Louisa May Alcott

“Blessed is the season that engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” – Hamilton Wright Mabie

(Video run time: 2 minutes 11 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Yard Sale by Silent Partner

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MotorCoach Blog 59

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . big red love machine! Yes, you read it right: LOVE. That’s what I’ve decided I – Two Eight One – am all about. I’ve only been motoring around the streets and highways of the US for just over a year, but I’m getting this thing figured out . . . this thing being me. The love conclusion came to me gradually, hearing passengers chat about family and friends back home during hours of travel between cities and states. I first began to notice how popular the love subject is. Then I took note of its essentials: care, service, fondness, goodwill, protection, provision, support, and so on. It occurred to me that this is what I’m all about. Goodwill? Heck, I’ve got that galore! Every impulse of my digital awareness is for the good of my passengers. Service? Just one example: I kneel for my passengers to make that step onto my staircase welcoming, and stepping off easy. Protection? I’ve never met my designers, but the more familiar I become with the ins-and-outs of me there is every indication they obsessed over passenger safety. I’m increasingly certain their objective was this business of love.

Enough muse. This particular blog is not about love, it’s about St. Louis. Quilters from California, educators from Saudi Arabia, corporate transplants getting to know the city (i.e.: the Bayer buyout of Monsanto), Independence Day fireworks enthusiasts, and various other groups from all over the region, the country, and the world made use of my services to visit St. Louis throughout 2018. Of course, the gateway Arch and surrounding area is a primary attraction, where there happens to be some new stuff to report. Let’s get to it . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

A passenger took this of me from the top of the Gateway Arch. I was waiting for her and the others on her tour to come back down to earth. It’s not my best viewing angle, but it was nice of her to think of me while way up there. See the greenery just to the south of my position? That’s all new. No, there was no park over the top of I-70 in the past. It was completed late summer of this year. And look to the southwest of my position, immediately north of Busch Stadium. Huge new construction is doubling the size of ballpark village. In case you didn’t know, St. Louis is nuts about baseball.

This is Julia. All of St. Louis is new to her; she’s a tourist from Pennsylvania. Julia’s ride is what’s new to St. Louis. It motors people like Julia around at up to 15 miles per hour and goes by the name Lime. There’s another version called Bird. Think of them as gnats, buzzing around everywhere! Their sudden popularity has injected a busy-fun vibe to downtown. People in suits are scootering across town to meetings, coffee shops, and eateries.

This is Chief. He’s a youngster, new to an old and treasured St. Louis tradition. We met the beasty celebrity at Anheuser Busch (just five minute south of the Arch) while there for a brewery tour. He was nice enough to stop for a selfie on his way back to his stable.

This is where you get your tickets to the travel up to the top of the Gateway Arch. I used to hear a lot of moaning about the hassle actually getting to the arch from the Old Court house. Now you just walk across the street and through the park and you’re there.

Laclede’s Landing is the historic district that celebrates the original settlement established by Frenchman and St. Louis visionary, Pierre Laclede. This is where it all began. And this is where you can enjoy fine dining and entertainment in an old world urban setting. What’s new about it is the easy access by way of the newly completed park and walkways around the Gateway arch. Just get on a Bird and scooter yourself a wee bit to the north end of the park and you’re there.

The opening of the new Arch grounds also marked the reopening of Fair St. Louis, which was displaced during the years of the Gateway project’s construction. The multi-day food and culture party made July 4th its official restart day, and there were six of us down there, our passengers enjoying the airshow over the Mississippi just prior to the highly anticipated annual fireworks display.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

COMPLETION NEWS: It took five years and $380-million to complete renovations of the museum and grounds at the base of Eero Saarinen’s Gateway monument. The walking paths and open grass fields of the new grounds connect the Gateway Arch to the life of the city and to the Mississippi panorama beyond. And the museum below the Arch will be as new and inspiring to locals as to first-time visitors.

BILLIKEN NEWS: Mid-American Coaches is now the preferred provider for St. Louis University Billikens sports! So, now we help deliver the NCAA Division 1 and Atlantic 10 conference excellence and drama of 18 Billiken sports! Most important here: there are many bears, lions, tigers, eagles, sharks, snakes, and other land, sea, and air creatures utilizing the courts, fields, and pools of collegiate sports for competition, but make no mistake, there is only one home of the Billiken! (If you are interested in what a Billiken is, you can find it on Wikipedia.) And what a year to become a Billiken! Founded in November 1818 as the first institution of higher learning in the American West, this is St. Louis U’s 200th Anniversary!

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The Gateway Arch Museum: I have heard passengers say (over and over again) that when you’re there, an absolute MUST see is the award winning movie about the creation of the Gateway Arch.

Quote Of The Day samples

“You can observe a lot by just watching” – Yogi Berra

“It’s amazing how much you can learn if your intentions are truly earnest.” – Chuck Berry

(These two famous St. Louisans would have made great motorcoaches!)

(Video run time: 2 minutes 40 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Rag Time Time by Doug Maxwell, Media Right Productions from YouTube Audio Library

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MotorCoach Blog 58

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . and I am back in the mountains, back where ascending and plummeting from tall peaks confuses my turbo, shows off my “horses,” tests my metal, utilizes every advancement of my sophisticated technologies, and keeps passengers gazing out my picture windows with constantly renewed anticipations of amazement. These mountains are less naked then those out west. These are the Appalachians. I’m taking you on a quick “Bet you didn’t know . . .” tour of Chattanooga, Tennessee. Let’s go . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Bet you didn’t know the International Towing and Recovery Museum is in Chattanooga. This is where you can learn all about the invention and history of automobile towing. You can also walk through an impressive array of pristine early model tow trucks and read their stories.

Bet you didn’t know the Southeast is home to more fishes, turtles, and salamanders than anywhere in North America, and that the Tennessee Aquarium is not only a dynamic place to see them, but its research arm, Tennessee Aquarium Conservation Institute, is a leader in restoring fresh water ecosystems.

Bet you didn’t know that there is more rock climbing surface within a twenty-five mile radius of this hilly Appalachian town than Boulder, Colorado, which makes it a climbers and hikers paradise.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

TOWING NEWS: Bet you didn’t know the first tow truck was a modified 1913 Cadillac built in Chattanooga by a mechanic named Ernest Holmes, and that the earliest history of towing didn’t include the word truck because it was all about cars modified to be haulers of other ailing cars.

CHOO CHOO NEWS: Bet you didn’t know the Chattanooga Choo Choo Hotel was originally a railway terminal and that in its lobby is the largest free standing brick dome in the world.

MILE-HIGH and MINIATURE NEWS: Bet you didn’t know the one-mile “straight up” Look Out Mountain Incline Railway has been in operation since 1895, is one of the steepest passenger railways in the world (72.7% grade), and that somewhere on that mountain miniature golf was invented (Tom Thumb Golf on Lookout Mountain – 1927).

CIVIL WAR NEWS: Bet you didn’t know the Chattanooga and Chickamauga Military Park is the nation’s first and largest National Military Part. The park is made up of six locations throughout the Chattanooga region, the largest being in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia (the park’s headquarters). The park’s 9,000+ acres of Civil War battlefields range from forested areas in rural valleys, to rocky mountain peaks and ridges, and hilltops overlooking urban Chattanooga. In the late 19th Century, Chattanooga – a vital railway junction – was known as the “Gateway to the Deep South.” The title proved prophetic during the Civil War, as Confederate victory in the Battle of Chickamauga gave way to Union conquest of Chattanooga, which paved the way for the subsequent Atlanta campaign, and ultimately the march to Savana, Georgia. The Chattanooga and Chickamauga Military Park preserves this important national history, tells its stories, and highlights the significance of these pivotal events in the American Civil War.

NIGHT FALL NEWS: Bet you didn’t know that every Friday night from the beginning of May to the end of August (rain or shine) Chattanooga hosts a huge party (kids, pets, lawn chairs, streets blocked off, etc…) to which everyone is invited. This shindig in downtown Chattanooga is equal parts FREE concert, way-cool motorcycle rally, and food-fest, and has been going on for over three decades (2019 is year 32). It goes like this: early acts get things going at 7:00 and a nationally touring headliner takes the stage at 8:00 and everyone just kind of grazes the concessions while enjoying multifaceted fun.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The Tennessee Aquarium is two buildings and one path following the flow of freshwater to the sea. Focusing on the biodiversity of the Southeast, exhibit presentations that are second to none have attracted 25 million visitors since the aquarium opened in 1992.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It will not lead you astray.” – Rumi

“In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then him who continues the attack wins.” – Ulysses S. Grant

(Video run time: 2 minutes 35 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Sour Tennessee Red – John Deley and the 41 Players https://youtu.be/Vfc9sAQjJtc

 

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MotorCoach Blog 57

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . with our third in a three-blog series on westward travels. This blog: South Dakota. But before getting to the SD content, there is something I just must share with you from a recent road trip. In Blog 56 (Wyoming) I educated you a little on one of my ancestors, the stagecoach. Well, I have a piece of follow-up ancestral education for you, an unexpected discovery with a much further reach into history than the stagecoach. The discovery happened like this:

While entering a parking lot at a scheduled lunch location . . .

“O look, the Flintstone Mobile!”

“The what-mobile?”

“The Flintstone Mobile! You don’t remember the Flintstones? Fred and Wilma, Barney and Betty . . . neighbors, best friends, long ago in the town of Bedrock?”

“O, can you pull over? I want to get a selfie!”

“Me too!”

“Me three!” (and so on, with abundant “yaba-daba-doo-oo-oo” enthusiasm)

“This is our mobile beginnings, the Stone Age predecessor to the automobile. Before horse power it was foot power.”

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

So here it is, nothing to do with South Dakota or the West, but according to my passengers, a classic as far as selfies go. (Funny Pages Café, 1714 N Morley St., Moberly, MO)

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

STURGIS NEWS: No, we did not go to the famous motorcycle rally in Sturgis, South Dakota, but we were in the state at the same time the event was taking place. And everywhere we went we saw some of the rally’s half-a-million attendees on their way to or from the super-size shindig. “Sturgis” got its start in 1938, a modest beginning with a few Indian Motorcycle enthusiasts going by the club name Jackpine Gypsies. Today, the town of around 6,600 residents hosts an annual ten-day motorcycle culture that draws cyclists from all over the world and brings in $800 million in revenues. The Badlands, the Black Hills, Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Memorial, and many other popular destinations in the state contribute to the location’s appeal.

BLACK HILLS GOLD NEWS: If your assumption is that Black Hills Gold is a special type of gold mined in the Black Hills, let me educate you. Originating from the Black Hills in story first, secondly by design, and thirdly by craft, the actual gold used in fashioning Black Hills Gold creations is mined elsewhere. The story is important. In the 1870’s a French dreamer, Henri LeBeau, who happened also to be a goldsmith, passed out somewhere in the Black Hills for lack of sustenance and dreamt of vines with golden grape clusters and leaves. That’s the essential beginning. So all Black Hills Gold must be based upon the grape clusters and leaves design of LeBeau origin. The design elements are typically a mixture of yellow gold, greenish gold (yellow gold alloyed with silver), and pink gold (yellow gold alloyed with copper). And finally, to be recognized officially as Black Hills Gold, the product must have been crafted in the Black Hills.

REASONS NEWS: Sculptor Gutzon Borglum designed and oversaw construction of Mount Rushmore, the internationally celebrated sculpture in Keystone, South Dakota. He had reasons for what he chose as location and subject. The project was originally the brain-child of South Dakota historian Doane Robinson, who envisioned heroic figures of the West – Lewis and Clark, Buffalo Bill Cody, or John C. Freemont – carved high into weathered rock formations in the Black Hills known as the Needles. After paying them a visit, Borglum rejected the Needles as too weathered and unstable for something truly grand. He rejected Robinson’s heroes as too regional. Born to Danish immigrant-pioneers, Borglum was deeply patriotic. He wanted to carve a bigger national celebration into the South Dakota hills. He chose a monolithic peak known by the name Mount Rushmore. It was of solid granite constitution worthy of monumental art. It was high above and separated from other peaks, making it inaccessible to potential vandals. And it faced southeast, assuring it would receive full sunlight during viewing hours of the day. Viewed with awe and admiration by nearly three million visitors a year, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln (from left to right), were chosen by Borglum as iconic leaders worthy of representing four distinct phases of US history: foundation (Washington), expansion (Jefferson), unification (Roosevelt), and preservation (Lincoln).

FLAG NEWS: Continuing the symbolism of the development of the United States at Mount Rushmore is the Avenue of Flags. In alphabetical order as guests approach Mount Rushmore are the flags of fifty states, one district, three territories, and two commonwealths – 56 in all.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Wall DRUG. It’s a passenger thing. Can’t say I have much ability for its appreciation from the outside, but presumably, all things South Dakota and beyond are in there, including (and maybe most importantly) the 5-cent coffee.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Hence, let us place there carved high, as close to the heavens as we can, the words of our leaders, their faces, to show posterity what manner of men they were. Then breathe a prayer that these records will endure until wind and rain alone shall wear them away.” – Gutzon Borglum

“Believe you can and you’re halfway there.” – Theodore Roosevelt

(Video run time: 1 minute 34 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Way Out West by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

 

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MotorCoach Blog 56

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . with a word about bullying. Previously my programming, data accumulation, and experience had failed to fill me in on this phenomenon. The word has come up, of course, in conversations among my passengers. On more than a few occasions I have even heard an impatient passenger blurt the suggestion, “Just bully your way through them. You’re bigger than they are!” It took a few of those traffic induced comments to put together that they were talking to me. But I still had no indication of what action it was they wanted me to perform. I could only conclude that compliance with the bully expectation was outside of my programming by design. But then today . . .

I did it. Not intentionally, but I did the bully thing. Entering a very tight right turn, I adjusted my approach speed to allow a car entering the turn from the opposite direction to pass well in front of me before borrowing real estate from the other lane sufficient to make the turn. What I did not account for in my speed adjustment was my appearance. I was programmed with acute self-awareness, necessary for managing the facts and specifications of me while getting around in the world. But I lack self-consciousness, that peculiar passenger sensibility about one’s appearance to others. I now see its usefulness. Appearance matters. There was nothing I would call “close” about the situation, but I must have looked huge and terrifying to the person in the passing car. The maneuver she performed (according to several of my passengers) was a “scream.” I had never encountered one before. Expressed trauma, I would call it. Lesson learned. From now on I will wait back to create extra room, choose another route, anything but bully.

On to more pleasant recollections: blog two in our current three-blog series westward – Wyoming . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Waiting for my passengers outside the Irma Hotel. It was built by Buffalo Bill Cody, co-founder of Cody Wyoming (1895), who named it after his youngest daughter. It opened in 1902 ornamented with a cherry wood bar that was a gift from Queen Victoria. During his lifetime Buffalo Bill Cody was among the most famous figures in the world. Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show toured the US and Europe for three decades, entertaining many thousands, spreading the fame of America’s western frontier. Cody built the hotel to welcome guests from around the world, coming to experience a less-wild American West first hand.

The Big Horn Mountains extend northward from the Rocky Mountains through northern Wyoming and southern Montana. The range is majestic beyond further description. Here is a sampling, three Big Horn selfies:          1) Waiting for my passengers to satisfy awe, enough to continue on. 2) OK, this one (the one I’m not in) stretches the idea of selfie. That’s why it is sandwiched between two legit selfies. But hey, it implies me! I was just there, climbing the switchback, leaving behind tire tread on that tight curve and a water trail from my hard working cooling system. 3) “Rocky” impersonation. But this is real climbing (all the guy of movie fame did was climb some stairs, carrying only himself).

 

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

COACHING NEWS: Now, here is a beautiful sight – one of my ancestors, a stagecoach, a reminder of earlier days of coaching . . . elite travel. This two-horse coach paused between routes in downtown Jackson, Wyoming. Back when stagecoaches were the standard of luxury land transport, the main advantage was not so much the ride but protection from exposure to various weather conditions (at least for those privileged to sit inside). At capacity (which popularity and necessity often assured) these held nine passengers inside – 15 inches of seat per passenger – and as many as a dozen on the roof. Typically pulled by a team of four horses, the average speed was 8 mph and the average distance accomplished in a day was between 60 and 70 miles. A first class ticket meant the privilege of staying seated when the going got rough or steep. Second class meant the passenger got out and walked in those situations. Third class passengers were obligated to help push when necessary.

HYDROPONIC NEWS: Imagine old urban structures repurposed as indoor farms, supplying fresh, neighborhood-grown produce to nearby markets and restaurants. No dirt, no pesticides, controlled lighting and nutrient-served hydration . . . this is the future of urban farming.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Downtown Jackson, Wyoming (often mistakenly referred to by the name of the larger valley in which it sits: Jackson Hole) is famously Must See. And it does not disappoint. My passengers can never get enough of this place. Constructed of an unmistakably western attitude, there are too many uniquely Jackson stores, restaurants, bars, and experiences to see in a day, or even a week.

One place in particular you will want to visit while in Jackson is Vertical Harvest, a three-story hydroponic farm and market. Sustainable, local, urban produce cultivation. It’s an elevation revolution! (From Broadway, take Millward St. south four blocks to W Simpson Ave, turn left and you’re there.)

Quote Of The Day samples

“Frontiersmen good and bad, gunmen as well as inspired prophets of the future, have been my camp companions. Thus, I know the country of which I am about to write as few men now living have known it.” – Buffalo Bill

“There is certain relief in change, even though it be from bad to worse! I have often found in traveling in a stagecoach, that it is often a comfort to shift one’s position, and be bruised in a new place.” – Washington Irving

(Video run time: 3 minutes 15 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Way Out West by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

 

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MotorCoach Blog 55

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . And we’re on a 3-blog trip westward. This week, part 1: Denver, Colorado. To get there, I carried my passengers and their luggage up nearly 5,000 feet of elevation. Now, because of Kansas, it didn’t feel like you might expect such a climb to feel. It was as gradual as the growth of Kansas crops from planting to harvest. Over the 422 miles of I-70 pavement from Kansas City (on the eastern border of Kansas) to Kanorado (on its western border) we climbed 3000 feet without noticing any change.

And some say Kansas is flat! Hmm . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

There’s that harvest I mentioned. I-70 is a high-traffic thread through a vast sea of Kansas raised commodities. Boring passage to some, but to anyone with an appreciation for farming or economics, this is where the world gets its bread. One year’s Kansas wheat crop alone could fill a line of train cars from western Kansas to the East Coast (a sample of the kind of thing you can learn from a Tour Director).

It’s called a Tuk Tuk (pr: Took Took). It dreams of being like me when it grows up (one of them told me so as we shared curb space near Union Station). It’s a kind of mini-coach. They are made in Denver and it appears that they Tuk-Tuk much of the business from the taxis in this city, because we saw lots of them and only a few taxis.


Stopped in for a tour of the state capital building at 200 E Colfax Avenue. Built in the 1890’s, the dome was plated in gold in 1908 to commemorate Colorado’s Gold Rush days. And, by the way, did you know the sky is actually bluer in Colorado because there is less water vapor in the air?

Union Station is located in the heart of the LoDo neighborhood, Denver’s downtown historic district. Effective and stylish architectural repurposing, a vibrant urban nightlife, and the busyness of Tuk Tuks shuttling folks around the area disguise the fact that this is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Denver.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

PREHISTORIC NEWS: Denver is old, really old! Dinger, the mascot for the city’s baseball team, the Colorado Rockies, is a dinosaur – a purple triceratops to be exact. Excavation prep for construction of the ball team’s stadium, Coors Field, unearthed a dinosaur rib. There it was, right in the Colorado dirt, the natural birth of inspiration for a team mascot. On April 16th, 1994, the embodied mascot, Dinger, emerged (less naturally) from its dinosaur “egg” on Coors Field.

ELEVATION NEWS: You’re probably wondering what it’s like for a Missouri based motorcoach to haul around more than 10,000lbs of passengers and luggage in the “Mile-High City.” Does the high altitude present any special challenges? Thanks for your concern, but no it doesn’t. True, at our garage in Washington, MO, where we are parked at 551 feet above sea level, the atmospheric pressure is 14.4 pounds per square inch (psi); and in the mile high city the psi is 12.3. Now that’s a big difference when it comes to getting enough air, whether into an engine like mine or lungs like yours. And in the old days, motorcoaches did lose power at higher elevations due to reduced air getting through their engine’s combustion chamber. But that was several generations ago. Those conditions don’t faze me for two reasons: I am turbocharged and I am a modern electronic machine. My electronic engine controls perform what you might call spontaneous acclimation. A barometric pressure sensor registers the amount of atmospheric pressure and adjusts to the conditions, making sure my engine is fed enough fuel and air at all times. My turbo, I’m sure you know, converts exhaust product into compressed air for the engine, creating additional power and efficiency. More oxygen = more fuel burning. Well, my turbo happens to be a Variable Geometric Turbo (VGT), which means it is equipped with multiple sensors that alter the turbos performance as conditions change.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Stopping for a night in Abilene, Kansas (boyhood hometown of Dwight D. Eisenhower) on the way to Denver was an opportunity to dine at the historic Brookville Hotel Restaurant. Winner of the prestigious James Beard Foundation Award, the restaurant’s famous family style chicken dinner lived up to its legacy.

 

Quote Of The Day samples

“A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

“Everything comes from an understanding that you are a gift in my life – whoever you are, whatever our differences.” – John Denver

(Video run time: 2 minutes 9 seconds)

Musical accompaniment:
Way Out West by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Artist: http://www.twinmusicom.org/

 

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