American Road Trip Talk

You only have to mention the words “Route 66” and people all over the world begin to conjure up their own visions of this nostalgic ribbon of American highway. I seriously doubt, however, that many if any of you would identify pigeons with that same stretch of asphalt. However, for our guest in this two-part American Road Trip Talk podcast, Route 66 is a feathery racetrack. Randy Goodpasture is the owner, loft manager and organizer of the Route 66 Race in which the contestants are the noble carrier pigeons capable of speeds for hundreds of miles that will blow your mind. In this second part of our conversation Randy talks about the unique nature of these powerful pigeons and how he builds a relationship with them that turns out winners. There is even an American Pigeon Museum in Oklahoma City where you can see some of the high flying and decorated war heroes of the flock.

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Like any good fish story, the tale of the National Freshwater Fishing Museum located in the wooded Lakeland of northwest Wisconsin is about a big one…that didn’t get away. Emmett Brown, the current director of the Museum, takes us on a two part tour of this remarkable and growing collection of freshwater fishing memorabilia, hall of fame for the greatest fishermen and women and even home to over 100,000 lures, rods and reels. For a full article about the museum and a collection of photos, check out our Winter 2014 issue of American Road Magazine. In this first of two parts, Emmett tells us how a famous distillery was behind the opening of the museum and he’ll describe a part of the display that might even make old Noah step off the ark for a look!

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Like any good fish story, the tale of the National Freshwater Fishing Museum located in the wooded Lakeland of northwest Wisconsin is about a big one…that didn’t get away. In this second of two parts, Emmett Brown, the museum director, gives some of the vision and mission behind the Hall of fame. It is very much about protecting our valuable fish stocks and educating the public about ways to keep our freshwater resources healthy. Emmett even has a story about the big one that got away…deliberately. For a full article about the museum and a collection of photos, check out our Winter 2014 issue of American Road Magazine.

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The movie The Help took viewers behind the scenes of a post WWII southern society in the midst of change. It was filled with wit, insight and mouth-watering southern fried dishes. When Hollywood location scouts for the movie found Greenwood, MS, they knew that had struck gold. The architecture, cotton fields, fabulous food, and residents who welcome everyone with open arms were enough to convince producers that Greenwood was the perfect place. Here to give us a guided tour of Greenwood is Paige Hunt who directs the town’s convention and visitor’s bureau. She’ll tell you all about the rich blues and southern cuisine that make a trip to the Delta Country well worth your while.

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For many of us this has been a hard winter that has kept us cooped up. Good news, there is an event taking place during the first two weeks of February that is guaranteed to get you out of the house. The scenic Hocking Hills area of Ohio just 40 Miles southeast of Columbus, Ohio is hosting a Comfort Food Cruise Feb. 1-2 and 8-9. Karen Raymore, the Executive Director of the Hocking Hills Tourism Association has all the details about this wonderful opportunity to visit a winter wonderland and to sample local comfort food for just $15. It’s a feast for the eyes and the tummy. You can find full details and get your tickets online at www.explorehockinghills.com.

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If you have been a frequent listener to these podcasts you will know me as the host of American Road Trip Talk but most of the time I wear an entirely different hat. For 40 years I have been a radio broadcaster in the Detroit Metropolitan area and for the last 16 of them I have hosted a weekly show called the Internet Advisor where we help people with their computer problems and introduce them to experts in the field. So what has that got to do with traveling the open road? Glad you asked. On the first show of 2014, I interview Mike Wendland, a nationally noted tech reporter on radio and CBS TV Network. Mike recently retired and, like some of you, decided to take his considerable talents on the American Road in a small RV. Mike has turned this new chapter in his life into a whole new career called Roadtreking. You can find stories and pictures of his adventures at http://www.roadtreking.com. Mike now handles all sorts of topics from repairing your generator to dealing with sitting disease and knowing when it’s too cold to RV, This interview is brought to you by the Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway--Where the Mother Road Begins. From famous road-side restaurants to hidden gems, Route 66 in Illinois offers a journey back in time.

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For many years now Erika Nelson has been like a big game hunter stalking her elusive prey all over the continental United States. The major difference is not the size of her quarry but that they stand still so patiently waiting to be captured. I am referring of course to the World’s Largest Collection of the World’s Smallest Versions of the World Largest Things. Erika is a peripatetic artist who has scoured the American Road for the Largest Coin, Biggest Ball of String, Biggest Bank Vault Door and most recently the World’s Largest Baseball. During this interview we will catch up with our busy copyist as she was home for a short break before heading out to capture another one of the American Road’s Largest Roadside Attractions.

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Collinsville is a little town in southwest Illinois with a big roadside attraction that’s hard to miss and that will be even harder to miss this Christmas season. Towering over a hundred feet above the town’s main road stands the world’s largest catsup bottle, a symbol of both the town’s proud past and valiant efforts to save the landmark during the 1990’s. In this podcast Mike Gassman, President, CEO and Big Tomato of the non-profit World’s Largest Catsup Bottle, Inc. tells how they got Jolly Old St. Nicholas to climb 70 feet up that tower.

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Sometimes the best visits you make during a vacation are those unique, hidden attractions that aren't on the big maps. It's a special little cafe, a unique overlook or a remarkable museum that is full of extraordinary displays. Such was my experience when I visited the Indiana Medical History Museum off US 40, the National Highway, just outside downtown Indianapolis. There I met Mary Ellen Hennessey Nottage, the passionate curator of medical history in Indiana. We conducted the interview as we strolled through what had been the pathology lab for the state's main mental health hospital for more than a century. This interview was not only remarkable because of the historical artifacts and history of the institution but also because it traced the early efforts to hunt down a cruel disabler and often killer, mental illness. In Part 2 of our interview you will find out how death provided both a valuable resource in medical study and a compassionate benefit to the deceased's family.

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Nothing evokes the magic, the tainted/painted history of the showplace of the west Las Vegas, Nevada like the gaudy brilliance of its brash neon signs. Our summer 2013 issue was entitled Electric Avenue and dedicated to the neon signs that pointed the way to lodging, lunch and lots of roadside attractions but none could quite match Las Vegas for pure size and scope of magnificent displays of gas and glass. One of our Tunnel Vision articles in that issue focused on the Neon Boneyard of Las Vegas, also known as the Neon Museum. In this podcast Danielle Kelly, executive director of the museum, fills in some of the history of the display and shares her own artistic passion for preserving these unique works of art.

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