Travels with otis (apologies to Faulkner)

Got home yesterday at 330 am from my 30 hour trip to chrisman Illinois. First car trip west of the new york border in 40 years. Thought i would share some thoughts

1. I new york every third farm has every piece of equipment they ever bought still in the weeds around the half fallen over over barn. The one that hasn't seen paint in 40 years. Every farm in ohio and indiana looked like it could be on a calendar.

2. Ohio and Indiana roads are a million times better than new york state.

. Why don't you have any road kill. I think i saw three dead animals on the road outside of new york and no dead deer.

4. If there was a Culver's restaurant in new york, i would weigh a lot more.

5. No matter how many tools you bring, you will forget one.

6. I am not smart enough to realize if you are buying equipment that has been sitting outside, a can of wasp spray is essential. There us a mower gearbox that remains.

7. On a related note, thought i had a good supply of medications in my glove box. Need to put some benadryl in there so when you lose in your battle with Hornets you don't end up with a face like a blimp.

8. Liberal media doesn't do a good job explaining just how bad the decline of small towns has become, especially in Indiana. I can't recall how many small towns i went through that where completely boarded up. Are there any jobs left out there?

9. Many how many times you search your worksite, you are going to leave a tool behind.

10. If a hotel changes 50% extra to have your dog in the room, he is going to sleep in the bed, get a bath in the tub and pee in your bushes.

11. In new york state, if the dog has been in the car too long and you need to find a grassy field to play fetch in for 20 minutes, someone will stop to complain your dog isn't on a leash. In the midwest, someone will stop, admire your dog and ask if he needs a drink.

12. Tattoo ink must be really cheap.

13. Before you soend an hour trying to get to get a rusty machine apart, make sure it is a plow for a wd , not a ca.

14. Don't tell the east coast, but there are kind generous people out there who raise their kids right, honor their wifes work hard for a living and not agree with the liberals in Washington. They are not evil.

15. Funniest t shirt seen. " if guns kill people, then spoons make you fat"

16. Allis Chalmers clearly had a marketing ploy with its disk plows with the dealer: " not only will you sell the plow, but there is special piece for the toplink, that most people will lose every five years." Somewhere there is a guy with a junkyard wondering why there are funny clamps on this top link. Still have yet to see an original.

17. Every load day after an auction is the same. There is one crew who just wants to get there stuff out and damn everyone else there and four or five guys who work together, help each other out and have laugh or two. Special thanks to the guys from Missouri who got the plows and the guy ever more nuts than me who drove 11 hours to get a two row planter because the press wheels were rubber.

18. I sweat a heck of a lot more than i use to. Especially on a humid day when i need to swing a slege hammer for an hour.

19. Google maps works great on a nice rural road but when you are in a city in the middle of the night, that happens to be filled with drunken college students, it is worthless.

20. We all remember that mistakes we make at auctions but forget the little blessings. Found the nos old style plow shares i bought for 10 bucks off a fuzzy photo fit my rollover plow.

Love #12 . Also think I've been stung by everything except a hornet. Heard they'll about knock you down.

I think you needed more beer!

Sounds alot like trips my dad and I have gone on, spend money for gas, food, lodging, what you are chasing, etc. But the memories..priceless. Dad always wonders how I find the most interesting places to eat along the route cause I figure we're road tripping and why eat clown food or stuff we can get back home, I ask for recommendations from the person we are purchasing from or take a drive down small town main street and look where all the farm trucks are. Lots of good times and memories over the miles. Glad you made it home with your load and met alot of good folks.

Dr P…you made my day / week! I read your post out loud to my wife and 2 springers. I have laughed out of control for most of your 20 rules of the road. Thanks for the uplift! I feel your pain!

Some very great observations there, Dr P!
Darrel

When were really active on the Harley for road trips, tried to remain on US Secondary roads much as possible.  As noted some great small eateries, fun one was All Gon Diner, and No I did NOT forget the E, Ft Garland CO on US 160.  Mexican and Pizzaria!!

We managed to avoid the clown food but i really missed not finding one of thoae family diners with the hot roast beef sandwich and the slice of pie. Also found out why my tire pressure wouldn't stay up in in one tire since the trip. Nice old carriage bolt. Still had po1 on it. They live forever with the lead based paint. Otis keeps jumping in the truck every time i open the door. Sounds like he is ready for the next trip!