Missing Ike

Bumper Sticker seen in a parking lot the other day... it was night so I couldn't take a photo, but it was pithy so I remember it.

"I miss Ike. Hell, I even miss Harry,"

Politicians, Pumpkins and Pillsbury

The Kansas State Fair opened in Hutchinson today. I went out for a couple of hours tonight, just to look around a bit. I enjoy the fair, and it's especially fun during an election year.

I ran into a ton of people I knew, including Robert and Marcella from Ellinwood. That was an unexpected treat. I was chatting with John Doll, who's running for congress, and who I wrote about on the blog previously, when I ran into them.

I went over to John's booth later, and got to meet his wife, who is just delightful.




Jan Pauls was working the democrat's booth. It was good to see her. I visited with her a little bit but there were a lot of people stopping by so I didn't want to monopolize her time.

I also visited with Sue Darby who was working the HCC booth. It was really good to talk with her.

I also stopped by the Governor's booth to see what her schedule is for the fair. I know she's going to be there tomorrow for a debate, but don't know if she will be sticking around much after that - hopefully so.

Of course, there was the usual assortment of fun stuff at the fair - including a giant pumpkin weighing 680.5 pounds.

I just love the fair where you see everything agricultural thing you can imagine. That's something I love about the Kansas State Fair - it still honors its roots. Those that do are few and far between now.

But, you can look at sorghum varieties, champion tomatoes and rye seed. It's all a bit of Americana and I love it all. Just in case you weren't able to visit tonight, I thought I'd share some pix so you can enjoy it nonetheless.



















There are also scarecrows of various sorts - some of them quite inventive. I'm not sure where the Pillsbury Doughboy fits in, but when you see a giant Pillsbury Doughboy you have to take his photo. It's a rule.













And, there's something new this year - a big cut out where they are tracking brown recluse spider bites of people who stop by the booth and talk about having been bitten. I'll have to tell Diana to go get her spot logged. My hope is to take some photos every time I'm out to see how his tag collection grows. This is the tally of just this one day, although they are putting the ones from the back of the body on the front of the model as well. What I've learned is that your legs are in great danger.

Route 66 Minute #13 - Jack Rabbit Trading Post

Click here for Route 66 Minute show #13 and it will automatically download for you. You can listen to podcasts on your computer. You don't need an iPod or any additional software.

The Jack Rabbit Trading Post in Joseph City, Arizona is a Route 66 mainstay. The distinctive bunny has been welcoming travelers for decades.

It became famous because its founder was a great marketer who teamed up with another business man to plaster billboards for 1000 miles along Route 66. This was after Mr. Taylor has turned loose the snakes that were the main attraction at the snake farm he took over.

When you see the hopping bunny and the bright yellow sign saying, "Here It Is," you know you've arrived.

Inside find lots of Route 66 memorbilia, as well as other bits you can take home with you.

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Route 66 Minute #12 - Fantastic Caverns in Springfield Missouri

Click here for Route 66 Minute show #12 and it will automatically download for you. You can listen to podcasts on your computer. You don't need an iPod or any additional software.

Fantastic Caverns was discovered in 1862, but not explored until five years later - and that was by an unusual group.

You can ride through the cave, so it's perfect for people who can't walk a long distance.

When you're exploring 66, don't forget to venture a bit from the road to see the sites along the way, and Fantastic Caverns is one of them.

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Bottle Tree Farm near Oro Grande California - Route 66 Minute #11

Click here for Route 66 Minute show #11 and it will automatically download for you. You can listen to podcasts on your computer. You don't need an iPod or any additional software.

The bottle tree farm north of Oro Grande, California is an oasis of color in the desert.

Artist Elmer Long has been working on it for some years now. It is a way to display the bottles and other things he collected with his dad when he was a kid, as well as the other treasures he found as an adult. Some of the things are more than 100 years old.

It is right along Route 66. It's fenced, but you can see the various things and get some great photos despite that.

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Standin on a Corner in Winslow Arizona - Route 66 Minute #10

Click here for Route 66 Minute show #10 and it will automatically download for you. You can listen to podcasts on your computer. You don't need an iPod or any additional software.

The Eagles made Winslow, Arizona famous with a line in "Take it Easy," about Standin' on a Corner there. Decades after the song's popularity in 1972, townspeople in Winslow decided to make a park to remind everyone of the tune, as if it weren't permanently tattooed on our brains already.

Just in case you're not sure of the words - don't fear - it is played in a continuous loop at the corner. The corner is right on what was once Route 66.

The burning question I had was "Why Winslow?" Apparently it involves Jackson Browne having car trouble on his way to a cosmic destination. I just knew there would be a good story.

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Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma

The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma has some fascinating artwork on the walls of the bathroom. Graffiti is encouraged, I should make clear.

The Pixar team was there in 2001 on a research trip for the movie, "Cars," and John Lasseter added some graffti to the wall that is far superior to everything else there.