Travel-Setbacks-Breakdowns-Backroads-Bob Davis Podcast 844

Travel-Setbacks-Breakdowns-Backroads-Bob Davis Podcast 844

Back Road Breakdown

One most noteworthy thing about back roads travel is what you do when you break down. These days the more travel on the back roads in a twenty year old truck means more chances to break down. Join me real time in Travel-Setbacks-Breakdowns-Backroads-Bob Davis Podcast 844.

Didn’t Think About That!

Especially relevant? You just can’t predict when something you didn’t think about will put you on the side of the road. Then what?

Close To Home

Moreover I always wonder why breakdowns happen close to home. On this 8 state tour of the Mid Southern and Midwestern states I have traveled more than three thousand miles. Almost all back roads.

Now, less than two hundred miles from home, it’s an alternator.

Even more Mobile Podcast Command has two alternators and three batteries. For more than a hundred miles it ran until it sucked power from all its batteries.

Cover A Lot Of Ground

I cover a lot of ground when I travel. Driving 12 hours a day. Hence my drive to make it home.

Flashers

When it all goes down, I am left with barely enough for flashers.

Give Thanks

First of all while I am on the side of the road I remember to give thanks I am still alive. One time I came close to not being alive because of a breakdown by the side of the road.

Look For The Lessons

What’s the lesson here? Above all it’s important to know when a problem is serious enough to stop in a town and wait for service.

Stop and Smell The Weeds

On the other hand I got to meet some great people from HABHAB towing in Ames, Iowa and State Farm Insurance. In addition I got to stop and smell the roses. Or, in this case prairie grass and weeds.

Life On The Road

Finally I follow a lot of people doing with van life thing. Living on the road in a converted school bus or whatever. Most of the time Instagram and Facebook posts make it look like a blast.

Unpredictable and Without Warning

Truth is, almost all of us out here encounter set backs and breakdowns, usually unpredictable and without warning. Doesn’t matter if you checked everything out before you left, you’re still going to have unpredictable problems.

Smile

In conclusion I’ve learned to bear it all with a smile and to be grateful for the opportunity to learn something.

Even if you’re by the side of the road in the middle of the night.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors and Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

Travel-Setbacks-Breakdowns-Backroads-Bob Davis Podcast 844

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Backroads-Iowa-Real-Farmers-Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 843

Backroads-Iowa-Real-Farmers-Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 843

Time For Real Talk

I think it’s time to talk to real farmers. I want to know about the issues effecting their lives and businesses these days. Time for a trip to rural Iowa in Backroads-Iowa-Real-Farmers-Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 843.

People Media Doesn’t Have Time For

Moreover farmers know big city media doesn’t have time for them.

Beware 2020 Political Coverage In Iowa Focused On The Cities

As a result most political coverage for 2020 is already coming out of the urban centers in the state.

Staged Events

I covered the Iowa Caucuses in 2016. Most of events were staged toward network television.

Operatives and Activists

In addition the crowds portrayed in the news as ‘grassroots’ were in fact political operatives and activists.

Truth is nobody is talking to real people. Moreover farm institutions don’t always speak for them either.

Family Farmers

Meet Mark Haselhuhn. Mark and his family have been farming in Iowa for generations. What’s most noteworthy about Mark?  He’s not a big corporate farmer.

Trade and China

Especially relevant are his opinions concerning trade issues and the recent dust up with China over Tariffs. Later we’re joined by Mark’s recently retired friend and helper, Leo.

Real People

While media continues to spend it’s time telling us all what to think, seems like we should listen to some real people for once. That’s what I do in Backroads-Iowa-Real-Farmers-Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 843.

Unvarnished Opinions

From economics to immigration the unvarnished opinions of real voters and influential family farmers might surprise you. Above all it isn’t surprising that in this neck of the woods, politicians aren’t knocking on doors or walking through fields to ask farmers what they think. Even more the media isn’t either. Until the Bob Davis Podcasts came along.

Quit Bickering

Finally one of the key points of our conversation involves the desire for these two farmers to see politicians quit their bickering and work together. They don’t like the ‘My Way Or The Highway’ approach of either side of the so called political spectrum.

No Illusions

In conclusion it’s sad that Mark and Leo don’t have any illusions about whether politicians will start working together anytime soon.

Sponsored By Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul

(Editor’s Note: Special thanks to Mark’s daughter Emma for arranging this interview on a moment’s notice. In addition, guiding me to the farm via Facetime in real time! I know your time is precious, and I really appreciated the opportunity to talk to Mark and Leo. We’ll check in with them early next year.)

Backroads-Iowa-Real-Farmers-Talk-Bob Davis Podcast 843

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Road-Trip-Back-Roads-Only-Bob Davis Podcast 839

Road-Trip-Back-Roads-Only-Bob Davis Podcast 839

Whenever I feel like I am in a rut these days, a road trip is always the best medicine. Even more a road trip on the back roads. I’ll tell you all about it in Road-Trip-Back-Roads-Only-Bob Davis Podcast 839.

Mobile Podcast Command has been up and down both coasts. I’ve traveled in this old ambulance across the Midwest, out west, out east, around Florida and the gulf coast many times. Lately though I have become a back roads snob.

Especially relevant is my new mantra. Unless it is absolutely necessary, I prefer the old National Highway system, state roads, county roads or even rural routes. I feel this is where you really get a feel for what’s going on in this country.

Moreover big city people and especially big city media people seem to harbor a belief that there is something sinister and dangerous about rural America.

In Road-Trip-Back-Roads-Only-Bob Davis Podcast 839 I wonder whether some people can travel back roads, and see small town and rural America for what it is, without judgement. Because there is a lot to like about some of the places I have been.

It’s most noteworthy that the lessons you learn hitting America’s back roads seem to coalesce in your mind a few weeks after the trip is over. In addition, I have crisscrossed parts of this country so many times I’ll remember an experience I had, but forget just exactly where it happened.

What’s important in rural America? For one thing, small business and local business.

As I blog I am sitting in a shopping center parking lot about fifty miles south of Roanoke. I’ve rolled through Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and now Virginia.

Truth is some of those back roads are really back roads. Switchbacks through the mountains.

In conclusion, the best part of it all? You get to enjoy all this amazing scenery without being bothered. Usually you’re the only vehicle on the road.

It’s been that way most of this trip, and it’s well worth the effort.

Sponsored by Reliafund Payment Processors

Road-Trip-Back-Roads-Only-Bob Davis Podcast 839

 

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