Thanksgiving-Backroad-Bliss-Illinois-Indiana-Bob Davis Podcast 878

One Of My Best Trips

I am willing to say now this is one of the most noteworthy roadtrips I’ve taken yet and I have taken a few. Time to talk about this route. Let’s discuss what it’s like to drive and create on the road as well. Learn more in Thanksgiving-Backroad-Bliss-Illinois-Indiana-Bob Davis Podcast 878.

Back Roads Rules

First of all I am obsessed with back roads. I would rather take a back road anywhere than save some time on the Interstate. Especially anywhere in the mythical Midwestern United States.

Fields Like Oceans

In the fall the skies and fields seem to open up. It’s like being on an ocean of brown and black, set against blue skies. Certainly the sunrises and sunset pastels of orange and red are unforgettable.

Why I Do This

Above all in Thanksgiving-Backroad-Bliss-Illinois-Indiana-Bob Davis Podcast 878 I take a moment to reflect on why I do this. In addition I’ll make some special notes on very inviting towns in the Land of Lincoln and the Hoosier State.

Rust Belt? Downtrodden? Don’t Believe It!

These days you can’t turn on the TV or read political commentary without some reference to the long suffering ‘rust belt’. The downtrodden in America’s ‘former’ industrial centers. Most of the time the people making those observations have never been here.

Good Old Days and Changes

Even more, sons and daughters of Chicago, Indianapolis, and place like Fort Wayne may pine away for the good old days.

I like to get the feel of what’s going on in these places.

For example Peoria has always been a hard bitten industrial town.

Moving Caterpillar’s corporate HQ to Chicago was a blow, but the plant is still there.

Some Of The Best Secret Small Towns In America

Especially relevant are Logansport and Peru Indiana, as well as scores of little towns along the way.

I wanted to shack up in every one of them.

Back To The WalMart Parking Lot

Finally I think the most challenging thing dealing with the stress of travel and creating at the same time. Sometimes just finding a place to shut down and get some sleep can be frustrating. Especially when you don’t stay in hotels and cook your dinner on a camp stove in the WalMart parking lot.

Challenging and Satisfying Work

In conclusion this kind of travel and creating is some of the most satisfying work I have done. After about a thousand miles, you start settling in and having a good time.

That’s when the trip begins.

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

Thanksgiving-Backroad-Bliss-Illinois-Indiana-Bob Davis Podcast 878

 

 

 

 

 

 

Parting Shots-Backroads-Roadtrip-Bob Davis Podcast 845

Cooking Dinner

Join me while I cook dinner and talk about the mega trip I just took. These days no one does anything alone, and I have a lot of people to thank in Parting Shots-Backroads-Roadtrip-Bob Davis Podcast 845.

Thanking Sponsors

First of all I have to thank the sponsors. Ryan Plumbing and Heating of Saint Paul and Reliafund Payment Processors.

Thanking Subscribers and Supporters

In addition many people donated cash to the Bob Davis Podcasts through the donate button, over there to your right under the pic of Mobile Podcast Command.

Critical Help

These contributions are most noteworthy because they meant a fill up at critical times. Especially relevant is how those contributions became critical, when I lost an alternator and had to pay for service calls. Learn more in Parting Shots-Backroads-Roadtrip-Bob Davis Podcast 845.

Travel Layers In Lessons

Moreover lessons learned from travel do not live on the surface of our minds. Perceptions of reality change because of overall experience. I do these travel podcasts, and travel this way, because we’re drowning in a sea of partisan persuasion. Someone needs to take the time to travel and experience America without judgement. I don’t think too many analysts or commentators are following this path. It’s time consuming, expensive and it is not a vacation. But so worth it.

Antidote To Motivated Reasoning

I have learned getting out there on the back roads goes a long way to break down motivated reasoning processes about what is actually happening out there.

New Shakedown

It’s been awhile since my mega trips of 2016 and 2017. Mobile Podcast Command needed another shakedown. All this in preparation for the mega trip of all time which will be to run the border between Brownsville, Texas and San Diego, California.

Shameless Pitches

To a certain extent this podcast is a shameless pitch for businesses to sponsor that trip. For the record, the travel podcasts I do have great demographics and interest. A great platform for advertisers. Direct Message me through this website if you’re interested.

Home

Truth is it’s nice to be home pan frying a steak in an iron skillet on my own stove.

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

Parting Shots-Backroads-Roadtrip-Bob Davis Podcast 845

 

 

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