Thanksgiving-Road-Trip-Planning-Bob Davis Podcast 876

Thanksgiving-Road-Trip-Planning-Bob Davis Podcast 876

Mega Road Trip!

I have started the countdown clock for departure for my 2019 Thanksgiving Mega Road Trip. Find out why I only do back roads. In addition, why am I taking a trip through the American Midwest. Learn more in Thanksgiving-Road-Trip-Planning-Bob Davis Podcast 876.

Back Roads Only Please

As far as I am concerned back roads are most noteworthy. I don’t do freeways or toll roads. The back roads are where you learn what is really going on in this country.

Podcasting From The Road

Moreover I really have a passion for podcasting from Mobile Podcast Command, a ‘repurposed’ 2000 ambulance.

Places No One Ever Reports On Or Goes To

On America’s two lane state, county and farm roads, a traveler sees and feels places no one ever goes to or reports on.

“No One Ever Comes Here”

Especially relevant are two Iowa farmers I interviewed last summer. With all the politicians in Iowa you’d think someone would have knocked on their doors. “That’s all up in Des Moines”, they said. “No one ever comes here to talk to us”.

Real America

In contrast I’ve taken the back roads from coast to coast, north and south, east and west. Because of the back roads I’ve learned a lot about America.

Mysterious Ancient Paper Maps

As a result I have learned the value of a mysterious thing called a map. I don’t mean google maps. I’m talking about paper maps. I’ll explain in Thanksgiving-Road-Trip-Planning-Bob Davis Podcast 876.

Exact Route

Above all I’ll give you the exact route I’ll be taking this Thanksgiving across Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia and Virginia. Pretty much all back roads.

RV Nomads

Finally when I started back roading in mobile podcast command, there weren’t very many RV Nomads out there. This podcast is a salute to all the Van Life and Skoolie Conversion people I follow. Now there are millions. Maybe they’re onto something.

Mobile Podcast Command Is Primitive

In contrast I won’t be living in relative luxury in my RV. Mobile Podcast Command is primitive. I sleep in a hammock. Cook my dinners on a camp stove. I Take showers at Yoga studios and Truck Stops. I do have a coffee maker, however.

Real Happiness Through Travel

Above all, happiness is a clean windshield and a full tank of fuel.

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

Thanksgiving-Road-Trip-Planning-Bob Davis Podcast 876

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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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