MotorCoach Blog 44

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . Two Seven Eight with you this week, with a long-over-due Logo-Rubbing blog. For those passengers who only recently came aboard, Logo-Rubbing is the motorcoachblog version of “rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous.” It’s all about brand schmoozing, hobnobbing with the fabulous and iconic of roadside pop culture. More important, Logo-Rubbing lets you the passenger in on some essentials of motorcoach identity. I am a commercial entity, part of a larger commercial endeavor, the name of which I boldly bear like a tattoo on my red skin while getting around in a dynamic world of interacting enterprise. And that, for a motorcoach, is most important of all: being out in the mix. The following are more than just famous brand selfies; they are commercial encounters in specific places along my travels.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

NASA! Wow, I’ve been looking forward to this photo-op since my odometer was in double-digits. Travel with a mission, space-age sophistication . . . I rolled off the assembly line with that attitude! I didn’t actually go to a NASA facility for this one. I was in Cleveland Ohio, along the shore of Lake Erie at Great Lakes Science Center.

Right next door to the Great Lakes Science Center is the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Appropriately right out front, adorning the very classy motorcoach that served the travel needs of Johnny Cash, is the original MCI logo – my own make of course. My passengers gathered round and gawked, perhaps some imagining they could hear the strumming of Johnny’s Martin D35 coming from the coach. Meanwhile, my admiration focused on a proud legacy of fine motorcoach manufacturing.

Football season is here! And here I am in Ada, Ohio, at the Wilson Sporting Goods football manufacturing plant. Yes, right here is where Wilson makes the official footballs of the NFL, along with footballs for the NCAA, the CFL, and many other leagues. Here also, let me point out, we have the first ever Logo-Rubbing photo-bomb. Along with the intended pose featuring the Wilson logo and my garage family logo, in the foreground we have the updated (and somewhat football-shaped) MCI logo.

At a Holiday Inn – Ontario, Canada – part of my branding is reflected in that of the hospitality giant. Here are two industries that serve one another well: transport and hospitality. We bring them travelers; they provide a home away from home for a night or two.

And for those who prefer their own home on the road . . . Airstream. A common experience on the highways of America, this Airstream and I pass one another in the parking lot at the Airstream manufacturing plant in Jackson Center, Ohio.

You may recall the English Bulldog with the name of international prestige from a few blogs back. Here is the logo of the company after which he was named. Also at the Airstream lot in Jackson Center, Ohio, this Mercedes camper had just received its deluxe Airstream interior.

Where there are campers, there are people into fishing and other outdoorsy stuff. And almost assuredly they have something in their camper or tackle box purchased at this place. Bass Pro Shops are often part of tour itineraries. This visit was part of a tour with destinations throughout Arkansas.

And finally, high quality products as useful in the home as in a camper are made in this manufacturing facility in Greenville, Ohio.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

FOOTBALL NEWS: The official NFL football has been made by Wilson since 1941, originally at a Wilson plant in Chicago and at the Ohio plant since 1956. Every Wilson football has tiny W logos embossed in the hide, distinguishing them from counterfeits. Twenty footballs are made from a typical cowhide. NFL and collegiate footballs are made from the area along the backbone where the hide has been sun and weather toughened. Youth league footballs are made from the softer underbelly part of the hide. U.S. high school and collegiate footballs have a thick white line that goes half way around the ball at both ends. On CFL (Canadian Football League) footballs the line goes all the way around the ball. NFL footballs have no line.

AIRSTREAM NEWS: The distinctive Airstream rounded aluminum design has aviation origins. It was the brain-child of aircraft designer William Hawley Bowlus, previously the Construction Superintendent of the Spirit of St. Louis aircraft famously piloted by Charles Lindbergh. Airstream’s association with famous flights does not stop there. In 1969, after completing the first trip to the moon, Apollo 11 crewmembers were quarantined in an Airstream until it could be determined that they had not returned as “Lunar Pathogen” carriers. And NASA utilized Airstreams for decades in transport of astronauts to launch pads.

ORBITAL NEWS: Speaking of NASA: have you ever wanted to feel like part of the team at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration? The International Space Station is the third brightest object in the sky, and NASA will notify you by text or email when its orbit combined with favorable conditions make for good sighting opportunities in your location. To sign up, Just Google: Spot the Station.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Part of a “Made in America” manufacturing plant tour, the Clabber Girl Baking Powder plant and museum tour in Terre Haute, Indiana scored high marks with passengers. The highlight of the visit was the cooking class, complete with tasty instruction handouts and samples of each step-by-step creation. (Location: 900 Wabash Ave., Terre Haute, IN; and for tour and cooking class scheduling: 812-232-9446)

Quote Of The Day samples

“Football is like life – it requires perseverance, self-denial, hard work, sacrifice, dedication, and respect for authority.” – Vince Lombardi Jr.

“We’re all in this together if we’re in it at all.” ― Johnny Cash


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MotorCoach Blog 43

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I Am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . here to tell ya, I’m all about respecting my elders. Not only are Two Six Four and Two Six Zero (last week’s blog) among the most experienced and accomplished of the coaches in our fleet, they evidently have a whole bunch of clout as well. ‘Cos that Two Seven Three fella they were unhappy with is nowhere to be found around our garage anymore. The big news is . . . ya ready for this? The big news is: Two Seven Three has been replaced . . . drum roll . . . BY ME! That’s right, Two Eight Zero here, and proud to be here. I’m the newest of the new at the garage. Four weeks from fresh paint and first treads. You can’t imagine the relief and excitement of passing MCI’s rigorous quality control tests and finally getting the OK to wear my super cool Mid-American Coaches decals. And yes, I REEK of new motorcoach smell! Ha ha-a-a-a, the beauty of it! And no, I’m not the least bit self-conscious about being the only non-red coach in the fleet. Heck, when you’re brand new like me, you’ve got so many design updates and fancy features, what’s a little thing like color? Besides, I’m still plenty red inside where it counts . . .

Now, I may be new, but I’m not lacking in smarts. If Two Six Four and Two Six Zero think it’s important to make something of old-school stuff, I’m on it. Here’s some way-back reflections from one of my first road trips . . .

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Arrow Rock, Missouri was founded back in the days when things west of the Mississippi were still being settled old style.

That was back when folks got real mail, something called “letters.” But they weren’t delivered by the Pony Express, at least not in the early going. This town predates the Pony Express.

One of the main attractions in Arrow Rock is the Lyceum Theater. An abandoned church building from “back in the day” was fixed up for Broadway caliber shows, now over half a century running.

I was checking out the town when . . . “OK, who’s the runt sniffin’ my factory fresh treads? Look, buster, resist any of those mongrel ideas inspired by the scent of petroleum product.”

“Name’s Benz, not Buster. I am no mongrel and wouldn’t think of marking your pretty rubber shoes. You are looking at a beast with class.”

“Benz, like the car?”

“You got it. But in my case, English make with a name of German prestige. Have a gaze at this stout suspension system. Impressive, Eh? Hey, I hear my walking partner’s whistle. Gotta run.”

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

LANDMARK NEWS: In 1963 the village of Arrow Rock was designated a National Historic Landmark by the Department of Interior, National Parks Service. Located in Saline County, Missouri, Arrow Rock has important historical ties to the westward expansion and the Santa Fe Trail.

FRENCH NEWS: The name Arrow Rock refers to a flinty bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The region’s two prominent Indian tribes, the Osage and the Missouri, made use of the flint in crafting arrowheads. “Pierre a Fleche” (Rock of Arrows) was the name given by French traders in the early 18th Century.

FERRIES IN THE NEWS: Like so many river towns, Arrow Rock began as an ideal site for a ferry (1815) as settlers crossed the Missouri heading westward. In the early 1820s, Santa Fe trading caravans began making use of the ferry at Arrow Rock. And like many other ferry sites, where the ferry landed the saloon, the mercantile, and the bank soon made a home.

ART NEWS: George Caleb Bingham (1811-1879),”The Missouri Artist,” made Arrow Rock his home from 1827 to 1857. Renowned for his paintings and drawings depicting all facets of life on the frontier, Bingham was also an influential voice in regional civic affairs.

BIGGER NEWS: Ya ready for this? The bigger news is . . . drum roll . . . Two Eight One is on the way! Yes, a few finishing touches at the factory and Two Eight One – model year 2018 – will be making its way to our garage. And just like that, I will already have some seniority!

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Arrow Rock is home to Theater production professional from all over the country six months of the year. They in turn make Arrow Rock and the Lyceum Theater a travel destination for many other out-of-towners.

Thirteen miles from Arrow Rock, where hwy 41 meets I-70, The settlers Inn, according to my passengers, is home style (“Pass the potatoes please”) and DE-lish!

Quote Of The Day samples

“I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list.” ―DJ Koze (Lyric)

“New beginnings are often disguised as painful endings.” ―Lao Tzu

“I love the sweet smell of dawn – our unique daily opportunity to smell time, to smell opportunity, each morning being a new beginning.” ―Emme Woodhull-Bache


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MotorCoach Blog 42

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I am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . well, two motorcoaches for this blog. Two Six Four here, with my long-time travel cohort, Two Six Zero. We want . . .

Thank you Four. A big hello to all you motorcoachblog passengers. And let me underscore what my distinguished garage-mate stated in my introduction there: long-time! In the passenger service industry long-time is an honorable qualification.

“Uh, I actually wasn’t meaning to introduce you, Zero. Just giving the usual opening to the blog. So, if I could continue without interruption . . . As I was almost saying, we want to address this distasteful business about end of service dismemberment – as in buckets of “spare parts,” and “basket cases” – and all such matters inappropriate for a coach industry blog but tastelessly mentioned at length by that youngster, Two Seven Three, in the previous two blogs.

Well stated Four.

Thank you. Now, admittedly, Zero and I are among the elder coaches in our fleet. But we take great pride in things like much experience, many miles, many passengers served, and many compliments on how well we still do all of this.

Amen to that! Heck, Four and I helped grow this industry to the proud, prominent place it now enjoys on the roadways of America.

Yes we did, we’ve been a part of that for sure. But, back to our point . . . which we thought we would demonstrate by sharing with you a couple of places famously esteemed for agedness to which we have delivered passengers recently.

And looked fabulous doing it!

Indeed!

But, I do prefer ‘time-honored status’ over ‘agedness.’ That is the point we’re making isn’t it Four?

You’re right. Time-honored Status . . . here it is:

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Me (Two Six Four) at Mark Twain’s boyhood home in Hannibal, Missouri. Long before becoming a famous author, Samuel Clemens lived here in this house built by his father in 1844. That white fence calls to mind Tom Sawyer getting his friends to do some whitewashing for him in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer – vintage 1876. Look how nice and white they’re still keeping Aunt Polly’s fence. A clear case of values standing the test of time: “Does a boy get a chance to whitewash a fence every day?”

Just down the road, and just outside the entrance to the Mark Twain Cave, stands a Burr Oak the Department of Agriculture listed among Famous and Historic Trees of the United States. It was a seedling in 1731.

And here I am (Two Six Zero) in Cole Camp, Missouri, where German heritage is inseparable from town identity. The layout of the town dates back to 1857, but it was in the early 1830s that German Immigrants – mostly “Hanoverians” (from Lower Saxony) began leaving their homeland and making their way here. This Immigrant Memorial at the center of town tells their story.

The districts that made up the province of Germany from which most of the immigrants originated are recalled here by thirty-eight district crests on the wall of the memorial. Across the street from the Immigrant Memorial my passengers (members of the Chor Des Deutschen Kulturvereins of St. Louis) participated in the annual Sangerfest (singing festival), celebrating time-honored German heritage in song.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

SPOKEN NEWS: Plattdeutsch, spoken mainly in northern Germany and with beginnings documented as early as the 9th Century, is still spoken in Cole Camp, Missouri.

RELEVANT NEWS: The Wabash Bridge (most distant) is a vertical lift railroad bridge. It carries trains across the Mississippi River between Hannibal, Missouri and Pike County, Illinois; and when raised, it also allows river traffic to move up and down the river. Originally built as a swing span in 1871, the Wabash served trains, pedestrian traffic and wagons, later adding automobiles. It became a rail-only bridge in 1936 with the opening of a new highway bridge downstream. Renovation in 1994 converted the Wabash to a vertical lift bridge (that’s one year after I – Two Six Four – rolled off the MCI assembly line, and three years before Two Six Zero put tread to pavement exiting the Prevost assembly plant).

COMET NEWS: “The heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes,” wrote Shakespeare in Julius Caesar. Perhaps that is why the later penman, Mark Twain, passionately wanted Halley’s Comet to escort him from this life. That Mark Twain was born in a year of Halley’s passing (1835) was certainly a contributing factor to his wish, which came true in 1910. From the first recorded observation of the Comet in 240 B.C. by Chinese astronomers to the identification of the comet’s orbit by Sir Edmond Halley in 1705, it has shown up every seventy-six years, with little variation. All those orbital travels (trillions of miles) . . . still dependable, still on time!

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

If you are into “fests,” Cole Camp, Missouri is the place to be in May for Mayfest, early June for Sangerfest, September for the famous Cole Camp Street Fair, October for Octoberfest, and late November for Christbaumfest. And when in Cole Camp, (a half hour south of Sedalia on 65), the town museum is a treasury of regional history.

The Mark Twain Museum is a must see for its Mark Twain and Hannibal history as well as its many Norman Rockwell originals, illustrative of Mark Twain’s 19th Century classics about life on the Mississippi River.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter.” ― Mark Twain

“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.” ―Mark Twain


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MotorCoach Blog 41

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I am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . Two Seven Three, following up the Florida Spring Training trip with a local “Famous Firsts Tour” and sharing with you a bit of education on aviation. The location is the humanitarian aviation organization, Wings of Hope, at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri.

Do you recall from the last blog the unpleasant business about buckets of spare parts? Well, I discovered there is a dreaded spare-parts condition for aircraft as well. It is referred to as “a basket case.” When an aircraft is no longer flight worthy, it can be reduced to baskets of spare parts doled out for keeping other aircraft flying. An airplane in such a condition can be donated to Wings of Hope and auctioned to raise money in support of the organization’s many charitable endeavors around the world. It is one of three ways donated aircraft can have an impact on the Wings of Hope mission. Another is filling a humanitarian service need in one of the Wings of Hope overseas locations (such planes are typically high-wing models due to the rough terrain in those environments). The third function of donated craft is raising money through auction to a business or individual in the market for an airplane of that type.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Here are a few details about why Wings of Hope was included in this Famous Firsts Tour. In 1959 there was an extended famine in the Turkana desert region of Kenya. Getting provisions to where people in need were located was a huge challenge. In 1961, as Catholic Missionaries traveled to the area with whatever help they could provide by whatever means they could get there, some folks got busy on a solution that would transport people and supplies efficiently. Soon they were raising money to buy a small airplane. The plane would need a pilot, so the first trainee was Sister Michael Theresa Ryan. She would, on first try, become the first Catholic nun to pass a pilot exam. In 1963 this “flying nun” was partnered with a newly purchased Piper Cub and they began flying mercy missions in Kenya together. Flying further and faster than the unlikely team, their story whipped up a storm of requests for small aircraft desperately needed for similar remote missions (New Guinea, India, Cambodia, Alaska . . .). Behind the championing of two St. Louis businessmen, Bill Edwards and Joe Fabick, and the heroic efforts of many others, this humanitarian aviation organization was formed.

Waiting for my passengers to return from their Wings of Hope tour, I decide to see what might be of interest around the exterior of the organization’s headquarters. Without wandering more than fifty yards from the front entry, I came upon a lone craft outside the main hangar.

“Hey little fella, how goes it?”

“Who you callin’ little? I’ll tell ya who’s little when I get up in the air again where I belong . . . say, no more than a thousand feet, at which point your boxy red self will be neither red nor boxy, but just a hard to see speck. And that says nothing of 20,000 feet, from where you’ll be invisible down here on the ground.”

“Whoa, whoa there partner, I meant no harm. No need to get defensive and cranky. Let me try a do-over. Hi, I’m Two Seven Three. And you are . . . uh, that’s interesting, you’ve got letters in your name. You got a foreign background?”

“No, the N should tell you my name’s not of foreign origin. The FAA gave me my name and all U.S. aircraft start with N.”

“I’ll keep that in mind for future encounters with airplanes. As you can tell, I have a lot of those. So, what’s with the edgy attitude?”

“Yeah, I apologize for that. Just not dealing well with change this time around. Years ago I was the property of an aviation navigation and radio equipment company, just used for demonstrating their stuff for prospective buyers. I was glad for a change of owners back then. And the new owner, Howard, did turn out to be super! I mean, we quickly became a team and it’s been that way for fifteen years or more. Right from the start I could tell he was proud of me. He has always made me feel appreciated for all my special qualities. But the new owner then is my former owner now. I’ve been “donated.” Now I’m just grounded, waiting around for . . .”

“Uh, maybe we should keep your mind off of whatever changes you imagine you’re waiting around for. Tell me about those special qualities of yours.”

“OK, sure. To start off with, I’m a Mooney 231, with a 6 cylinder, 210 horsepower turbo charged engine, known throughout the industry as one of the most efficient and fastest performers in my class of aircraft. The turbo makes all the difference. That’s what enables me to reach that altitude of 20,000 feet I mentioned earlier.”

“Really? How so?”

“Well, the higher you get off the ground the thinner the air gets. For example, at eight thousand feet you’ve got half the atmosphere as at sea level. At the higher altitudes the air gets too thin for regular internal combustion engines to maintain the necessary air-fuel mixture. The fuel runs too rich for the engine to produce ignition, which I’m sure you know is where the power comes from. My turbo charger compresses air so that it has the necessary density to sustain efficient air-fuel mixture even at 20,000 feet. My efficient engine combined with my sleek aerodynamic design made flying from St. Louis to Howard’s place near Little Travers Bay in Northern Michigan a quick and easy three hour trip.”

“I’ll have to agree, those are some special qualities. I can see why any owner would be proud of you. But what makes you so attached this Howard fella?

“O, where do I begin . . .? He was thorough, thoughtful, always prepared, never put me in situations of unnecessary risk, and pampered me with excellent maintenance. Even the way he opened and closed my doors and compartments conveyed the regard he had for me as an elite machine – no slamming or jerking things around.”

“Now, I’m just a “boxy red” ground dweller, but even I can appreciate preferential treatment in my day-to-day experience. Can you give me an aviation-specific example of how that looks in your day-to-day activities?”

“Well, Yes, of course. As big and strong as you are, you probably think nothing of loading up with luggage and passengers galore and heading out on your adventures. But every aircraft has its particular weight constraints. You start with your Empty Weight, then you’ve got your fueled weight, and finally what’s called Useful Load – people and cargo. All of this is important because excess weight can prevent liftoff by the end of the runway, or, at the other end of the flight, it can stress the landing gear. You can make adjustments in fuel weight to make room for more useful load as long as you have enough fuel to get to an alternative to your destination airport, plus one hour. So, you see, in my world load weight is a big deal with lots of details requiring the thoughtfulness and thoroughness I mentioned. And weather is another example. It can be fifty degrees on the ground at liftoff and below zero at 10,000 feet moments later. Any sign of precipitation and you’ve got a chance for icing. Stormy weather is nothing to mess around with either, especially for a “little fella” like me. Howard always planned in at least one extra day for every trip, just in case a change in weather pattern introduced unsafe conditions.”

“Sounds to me like someone as thoughtful and thorough as your former owner would make sure of a safe landing for you with a new owner worthy of inheriting his delight in you. Hey, I see some of my passengers heading toward the front entrance. Gotta get back to my post. Happy travels.”

“You as well. Thanks for dropping by.”

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

CELEBRITY NEWS: What do Harrison Ford, Roy Clark, General Colin L. Powel, Brig. Gen. Chuck Yeager, Kurt Russell, Elizabeth Dole, and pioneer pilot Barrington Irving have in common? They are all members of Wings of Hope Honorary Council.

IRONY IN THE NEWS: Having begun in the United States in the 1960s, the global reach of Wings of Hope finally reached the U.S. when the organization launched its Medical Relief and Air Transport (MAT) Program, a U.S.-based free transport program.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Twice nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, Wings of Hope offers a tour of its facilities you will want to make room for in your travel itinerary when in the vicinity of West St. Louis County.

Quote Of The Day samples

“There is always somebody isolated and forgotten who needs help gratis . . . who needs hope peace and life.” ― Guy Gervais, Wings of Hope volunteer pilot.

“Our future, all of us, will be determined by the clamoring of those who have no hope in their lives. By sharing what we have, we can change their future, and subsequently ours.” – Harrison Ford, Wings of Hope Honorary Council

“Making the world a better place is not easy work. Organizations like Wings of Hope allow us to do our part.” – General Colin L. Powel, Wings of Hope Honorary Council

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MotorCoach Blog 39

Posted on    by

I am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . Travel South – Fam touring throughout Southwestern Missouri and Northwestern Arkansas – the heart of the Ozarks. Travel South you might think of as a tourism co-op made up of a dozen or so southern states. Fam is short for Familiarization. Fam tours are opportunities for tour companies from throughout the U.S. to become familiar with attractions throughout the regions surrounding the convention location – this year Branson, Missouri. The IMG, UMA, and NTA conventions (see blogs 37 and 38), at which I served immediately prior to these tours, were primarily about the motorcoach and destination side of the industry. Fam tours are about the tour operations. These tours move at a motor-sport pace, some days including a dozen locations. A small selection is all I can fit in here.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

Some of the locations we visited were intentionally outside-the-box ideas that might be incorporated in a mystery tour package. One of those was – in the humble opinion of this luxury motorcoach – way outside the box! We visited a landfill in Jefferson City, Missouri. Here I am atop the landfill. On-board sanitation managers provide an education about the process of trash distribution, tamping down the deposits, sealing the deposit layers for prevention of gas leakage, and converting waste gases into a clean, renewable fuel source.

One of our stops was the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Passengers descended my spiral staircase, left this glossy red modern machinery, and entered the weather stained stone of the vacated prison. But a greater contrast was that of tour “itinerary” verses a real history of “incarceration” – one, a celebration of freedom, the other, a long endurance of its loss. Some have called the Missouri State Penitentiary at Jefferson City the Alcatraz of the Midwest. More than 33,000 visitors took prison tours here in 2016 (history tours, ghost tours and hunts, and photography tours). Built in 1836, it was overburdened in its role as the only federal prison west of the Mississippi. Receiving all convicted criminal in the western territories, at one point there were nearly 5,300 inmates at MSP. Riots in 1954 inspired inspection by the federal government, which found the prison to be obsolete, overcrowded and worthy of immediate closure. Yet it wasn’t until 2004 that it was shut down. While imprisoned at Jefferson City Sonny Listen learned how to box and went on to become the World Heavyweight Champ. James Earl Ray escaped from MSP almost a year to the day before assassinating Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Another piece of historic infamy is here in my rearview mirror: Miss Laura’s Visitor Center in Fort Smith, Arkansas. It is a house of many stories – most of which are supplied with embellishment, grin, and wink by Miss Laura herself. As proprietor of the house, she is a most ardent and creative champion of Fort Smith. Ahead in the distance, my tour group enjoys a lunch-by-rail experience bound for Van Buren.

There is history galore at Fort Smith. This is where the mythic and romanticized “wild wild West” and “cowboys and Indians” meet their sad demise by true story. It was here that the Trail of Tears ended on the eastern banks of the Arkansas River and “Indian Territory” began on its western banks (later to be called Oklahoma). It was here that a jail room (white lower level at near end of the courthouse) made to hold a dozen prisoners often housed over two hundred, and whitewashed gallows (in the distance beyond the courthouse) saw common use, all in the chaotic cause of settling the west.

Fort Chaffee is where Elvis Presley received his military hair cut on March 24th, 1958. Time Magazine was there. Dozens of photographers were there. And The Chaffee Barbershop Museum in Fort Smith celebrates the snips heard around the world. But there is more to Fort Chaffee’s 72,000 acres than Elvis. For starters: this is where the movies Biloxi Blues and (Academy award-winning) A Soldier’s Story were filmed.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

NEWS OF OZARKS: A rugged region encompassing 50,000 sq. miles, the Ozarks sprawl primarily between the Missouri and Arkansas Rivers. Beyond those general confines they touch parts of Illinois, Oklahoma, and Kansas. The tallest section of the region is the Boston Mountains in Northwestern Arkansas.

EXECUTION NEWS: Set apart from the nearest of the buildings at the Missouri State Penitentiary by a hundred yards or more, a small stone structure was singular in purpose: 39 prisoners were executed there by cyanide gas and one by lethal injection. And at one time the Western District of Arkansas handled the largest criminal jurisdiction of any federal court. Consequently, over a twenty-four year period when executions took place in Fort Smith, 87 men died on the gallows behind the courthouse.

ROUTING NEWS: There is no direct (or more to the point: straight or level) route from Bentonville, Arkansas to Branson, Missouri. It is something to keep in mind when planning a trip to various locations in that part of the Ozarks. If you prefer a fun and beautiful drive, there are several entertaining options for traveling between those two towns. But if “keeping your stomach” is at all a concern, you might consider a travel itinerary that includes access to one or the other by interstate via other towns.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

You know you’re in Arkansas when the mermaids are hogs. This one proudly welcomes visitors to Mermaids Seafood Restaurant. Based on the unanimous double-thumbs-up of my passengers, Mermaids is a Must when in Fayetteville. (2217 N College Ave.)

Simple Pleasures in Bella Vista, Arkansas is a place where vintage cars are pristine, the food is delicious, and the landscape is picturesque. A totally unique events venue, Simple Pleasures is simply about an old-fashioned good time (13718 Rothbury Dr).

Quote Of The Day samples

“Though we travel the world to find the beautiful, we must carry it within us or we find it not.” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” – Rosalia de Castro

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MotorCoach Blog 38

Posted on    by

I am a Motorcoach . . .

. . . finishing up service of a trifecta of industry conventions. The first two were specifically motorcoach focused: IMG and UMA (last week’s blog). Running alongside those and extending a day or two beyond them was the National Tour Association (NTA) convention. The close relationship between IMG, UMA, and NTA is the fact that tourism is a moving experience. The measurable value my fellow coaches and I contribute to the tourism industry is conduction of its life energy: PASSENGERS.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

They were my first NTA passengers – a half hour early. Like master chess players at opposite ends of a board encompassing the Unites States, Vinette DiGregorio (the East) and Cathy Donahue Parrott (the West) know the board intimately. They see the board, the decisions, the connections, the movements that make up a winning strategy for their touring clients. They are on the same team: Collette – a tour company with nearly a century of experience and products spanning all seven continents. Their opponent you might say is the 24 hour day – how to conquer it, how much to fit in, how to convert it into an itinerary that best suites the needs of the tour participants. Efficient routes with the best sights along the way, hotels with the best accommodations and views, attractions, restaurants, modes of transportation, knowledgeable tour guides, stretching the value of every hour and every dollar, and all things equating to the best travel experience is their craft. It sounds like the where, what, when, and how of getting from here to there, right? Well, it’s actually all about the who. Behind every detail related to this vast diversity of places and activities is a person.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

NEWS IN THE NETWORKING:
“Hi, Travis Lasher.”
“Nice to meet you Travis, Renee Wilson. What part of the industry do you work in?”
“Group Sales Manager, Hotel Edison, New York.”
“No way! I’m right around the corner – Eighth Avenue, between Thirty-Eighth and Thirty-Ninth. Director of Sales for TheRide.”
“TheRIde . . . Oh, wow! You really are right around the corner. We’re at Forty-Seventh between Eighth and Boadway, Times Square.”
“I know where you are. Are you kidding? Hotel Edison . . . legendary! I heard Thomas Edison originally turned the hotel lights on by remote from his home in New Jersey.”
“True story, absolutely. And I’ve been meaning to get over to see you guys and check out TheRide. I’ve heard there’s no better way to see New York City . . . everybody’s talking about it.”
“Definitely. But don’t just listen to everyone else. I’m a little biased, but you have to do TheRide yourself to know how cool it is.”
“Excuse me, but did I hear someone say Times square? Hi, I’m Roxy Cade, Trade Sales Manager, Ripley’s New York, Forty-Second Street.”
“Really . . ? All of us new Yorkers from the same neighborhood had to come all the way to St. Louis to meet.”
“Hey, that’s what I love about NTA events. This is my third one, and it’s always like this.”

Actually, the world is smaller than that. It was one motorcoach in St. Louis that brought them together: me . . . Two Seven Two! For many NTA members, networking is on a par with breathing. And with every introduction I learned about something else worthy of passing along to you. Though they were here representing attractions to which I might deliver passengers, in this case they were my passenger. Here, I’ll introduce you to a few more of them:

Tony Swiecichowski – here from Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco – Sales Manager for Hotel Zephyr, an upscale Industrial Maritime experience with fabulous views of the city by the bay.

Christopher Siravo – Group Tour Coordinator for Newport Mansions and the Newport Preservation Society in Newport, Rhode Island, dedicated to the preservation and presentation of architectural heritage dating back to the Colonial era.

Charlotte Finnegan – Director of Group Travel and Leisure Sales for Visit Spokane (visitspokane.com). Paddling, skiing, hiking, shopping, dining, entertainment . . . the rolling hills of the Inland Northwest.

Karen Dodson – The Strong, National Museum of Play, Director of Group Travel and Leisure Sales. Located in Rochester, New York, The Strong is an interactive collections-based museum attracting over half a million visitors annually through its dedication to the history and exploration of play.

NEWS IN THE CURTAINS: “We’re here before anyone else arrives and after everyone else has gone. We put the curtains up and the convention is officially over when we take them down.”

It was fitting that these were my last two passengers of the week-long convention trifecta. This is what “industry” is, how far it reaches, how many it touches. Because there is an industry there is need for conventions and expos. Thus there is the need for convention producers, Like Modern Expo and Events (Salt Lake City, Utah). Modern Expo and Events employs Guy Stones and Becki Erickson. Becki is the Account Executive who creates the event conceptually and sees it through to the end – from initial sale to all of its unique design and management requirements. She hands the physical construction of the event off to Guy. A convention is an interior decorating endeavor. It is everything from carpet laying and electrical infrastructure to overseeing the work of local contractors or tracking down a missing parcel, and, of course, taking down the curtains when it’s over.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Yes . . . when it’s over . . . another part of the event that requires the services of a motorcoach: getting all of those out-of-towners to the airport. Then, the sad time comes when the door is open and there are no more passengers. That’s when it’s really over. I do hope they invite me to next year’s UMA, IMG, and NTA events, wherever they are held. In the meantime, having transported hundreds of out-of-towners and overheard many laudatory comments about this river city over the past week (and much credit for that goes to the event organizers), I am affirmed in my bias toward St. Louis as a MUST SEE destination. As the sign indicates, we all have something important in common:

Quote Of The Day samples

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence” ― Helen Keller

“No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rest his head on his old familiar pillow.” – Lin Yutang

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MotorCoach Blog 37

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I am a motorcoach…

. . . normally a servant within my industry. But for the past week I have been out ‘n about providing service directly to my industry. My passengers have been fellow motorcoach industry servants. They are in St. Louis for back-to-back events: the IMG (International Motorcoach Group) Maintenance and Safety Forum and the UMA (United Motorcoach Association) Expo 2017.

One of my passengers, Gil, is the director of Fleet Maintenance for Ambassatours (Halifax, NS Canada). The Ambassatours company motto, “We live it, We love it, We know it,” could double as industry motto. Another passenger, Rich, holds the same position for Royal Hyway Tours, a 120-motorcoach operation more than four thousand miles west in Juneau, Alaska. Yet another, Steve, keeps a similar fleet running in California at . . . uh, I didn’t get the name of Steve’s company because I was distracted by an unfamiliar noise when I applied my breaks at that moment. Awkward noises . . . part of the life of a motorcoach. Or, maybe I’m just overly nit-picky. Perfectionism issues prevail when you’re the brainchild of engineers (like Rudy, an electrical engineer, and another of my passengers, visiting from Belgium as a representative of Van Hool). Anyway, hearing these world class mechanical nerds talk shop is an education in the nuts and bolts of “We live it, We love it, We know it.”

Of course, the love part of the equation is a many-moving-parts, diesel-driven kind of love, which often means love/hate. John Sieve is head of fleet maintenance at our Mid-American Coaches garage. I know he and his staff are never at a loss for things demanding their attention . . . some minor, some major. But these are the unseen heroes of the industry, the ones who keep mobilization fluid. I am glad to be in their care and never far removed from appreciation that I am on the road doing what I was made for because of them.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

The downtown Hyatt (at the Arch) was this year’s IMG forum headquarters. From there, it was off to the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park for an MCI sponsored event one evening and the Moto Museum for a Prevost sponsored event the next. Of course, I dressed appropriately on both occasions. The garage staff doesn’t just keep us running, they make sure we look our best.

At the Anheuser Busch Visitor and Tour Center, we were packed in mirror-to-mirror with friends from Cavalo and Vandalia Bus Lines. Nearly forty motorcoaches filled to capacity delivered the passengers and then waited for orders to return them to their hotels. In the foreground are (from left to right) 2017 Setra, Prevost, and Caio demo coaches. (See below for a closer look at these latest edition luxury coaches)

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

NEWS OF SUSTAINABILITY: Passenger, Dave Kestenbaum, was one of the event speakers. Dave is Director of the Certification for Sustainable Transportation, a program developed by the University of Vermont. Driven by research and innovation, CST strives to match information with technology to effectively reduce harmful emissions and increase energy efficiency in the passenger transportation sector. Utilizing a personal approach, CST has worked with over 7,000 drivers from companies in 42 states to increase awareness and elevate professional standards in energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The program also employs research-based criteria to evaluate and rate vehicle efficiency.

NEWS OF NEW: I was glad to be a machine (insecurityproof) when a passenger came aboard gushing over pictures taken of 2017 display coaches: Caio, Prevost, Setra, and MCI.

NEWS IN THE CHATTER: “In 30 years of attending UMA events, this is the best shuttle experience I’ve had,” was one of the many affirming comments in the chatter of passengers. I will add from my experience: it was a pleasure working alongside coaches from neighbor garages Cavalo, Vandalia Bus Lines, Huskey, Central States, and southwestern Illinois Bus Company to serve our visiting friends from throughout this noble industry.

NEWS OF VITALITY AND NEED: There was lots of passenger conversation suggestive of a thriving industry. “We grew by thirty percent last year and expect to better that this year.” “We added six new coaches in 2016 and are looking at that many or more again in 2017.” Consequently, there is a nation-wide need for more drivers. In other words: lots of great jobs out there!

NEWS OF AWARDS: Alex Roman, a passenger visiting from California, is Managing Editor of Metro Magazine. Among numerous awards given during the event, Metro Magazine awarded Pacific Coachways of Garden Grove, California the Motorcoach Operator of the Year.

“If there is one more person out there who still believes scheduled coach service is for people who don’t own cars, or can’t afford to fly, our recipient for 2017 puts one more shovel of dirt – hopefully the last – on that ill-conceived notion.” With those opening remarks, David Hubbard of BUSRide Magazine presented Mark Richardson, President, LimoLiner Inc. (NYC/Boston), with the BUSRide Motorcoach Industry Achievement Award.

Congratulations to these and all award recipients!

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

Voted one of the Top Ten Playgrounds in the World, City Museum offers one-of-a-kind fun for all ages.

Quote Of The Day samples

“The journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.” ― John Steinbeck

“There are no foreign lands. It is the traveler only who is foreign.” – Robert Lewis Stevenson

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MotorCoach Blog 36

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I am a motorcoach…

. . . with, as promised, blog two of Washington, D.C.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

The White House is undeniably the most visited house in the world. I waited along 15th Street NW as my passengers walked a few blocks to get a closer look at the Presidential residence. Across the street was the U.S. Department of Commerce. Down the street (seen here at the far end of my viewing glass) is the famous Willard Hotel. There, President Elect Lincoln was hidden for a time when an assassination plot was uncovered prior to his inauguration. And it was here that Julia Ward Howe, a guest of the hotel on November 18, 1861, awoke in the middle of the night to write the lyrics to The Battle Hymn of the Republic.

Across the Potomac River from Alexandria, Virginia, just beyond the southern boundary of D.C. (Fort Washington, in Prince George’s county, MD), National Harbor offers a cornucopia of recreational options that make it a destination of increasing popularity.

In contrast to the historic feel and old order of Capitol Hill, the newly opened MGM National Harbor (December 2016) is 23 acres of ultra-modern. It turned out to be a good place for a few sunset selfies.

Leo, the MGM lion, thought it would be cool to pose for a pic atop my roof. I was willing to risk him caving it in for permission to use the pic of one of the most famous cats on the planet in my blog.

 

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

MOTORCADE NEWS: something that is common in D.C. and rare elsewhere is the sudden appearance of the presidential motorcade. As was the case in this situation, everything in the traffic world I live in stops. The presidential motorcade has a minimum of twelve vehicle, but can have as many as forty or fifty vehicles carrying one hundred people or more. It can reduce what is typically a thirty minute route to an eight or ten minute sprint. Amid vehicles carrying Secret Service agents, the press pool, a counter assault team, and various sophisgicated defense, surveillance, and communications units, are two identical limos, one of them transporting the President (well, there is always the possiblity the President is not actually in the motorcade at all).

NEWS OF GEORGES: Washington, D.C. is more than a sea of buildings housing museums, history, and government institutions. It is home to a variety of locations in which dining, shopping and recreation offerings are inexhaustible. Georgetown is one of them. Predating D.C. by fifty years, Georgetown was named not after George Washington, but in honor of King George II of Great Britain (alternatively, some hold that it was named for the two Georges who founded it: George Gordon and George Beall).

LOCATION NEWS: Predating Washington D.C. by four to five decades, Georgetown to the north (blue) and Alexandria to the south (purple) developed on opposite banks of the Potomac River.

Originally, the nation’s capital was laid out as one hundred square miles – by N/S and E/W orientation, a diamond shape – upon land donated by Virginia and Maryland for the federal district. The city of Washington D.C. (green) was founded in 1791, beginning its service as the nation’s capital.

In 1846, the land donated by Virginia was returned, leaving the current partial-square shape of the federal district, the Potomac River defining its western border.

NAVIGATION NEWS: Keeping things simple in the complex and congested is a key to navigating busy urban streets. The first thing to know about D.C. is that it is divided into four quadrants: SE, SW, NE, and NW. This is critically important related to street names (North Capitol St. NW or North Capitol St. NE?) and addresses.

Secondly, N/S and E/W bearings make all the difference. In DC, if the focus of the visit is sightseeing, the National Mall is where you want to be. It is contained within two primary E/W corridors (red): Constitution Avenue and Independence Avenue. A main N/S artery to keep in mind is 7th St SE and SW (orange). If you wander from the mall and need to find a straight route back, 7th street is your ticket. If you wander really far from the Mall northward, however (say, north of New York Avenue), 7th becomes US 29 and Georgia Avenue.

Continue reading “MotorCoach Blog 36” →

MotorCoach Blog 35

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I am a motorcoach…

. . . Two Seven Six, passing on to you some of my education on the wheres and whats of a great city: Washington DC. Navigating the unique layout of the streets of DC is a bonus education not so easily shared – but I will try. The mission is transport of participants in the annual march to save the lives of human babies. As great of a city as this is, I will not attempt to represent it in one blog. This will be part one of two DC editions.

Selfies

(which by definition means I’m in them . . . though you might have to look for me)

DC is one of those cities in which a view in any direction from just about any intersection is layered with sights of historic and current societal significance. Let me demonstrate. Do you recognize any fame in this location: the southeast corner of 6th and C Street SE? Of course not. You likely have never heard its mention. Let’s take a look.


The building in the foreground of our view eastward down C Street houses the United States Department of Education. Follow the top of that building, and about two-thirds of the way down we get a peek at none other than the fine lady, Freedom, topping the dome of the US Capitol. To her right is another dome, that belonging to the Thomas Jefferson Building, the oldest of the Library of Congress Buildings, completed in 1897 – a Renaissance Revival masterpiece! Just below it, in this view, is the home of the Department of Health and Human Services and The Voice of America.


Across the street from the US Department of Education, our position can be viewed through the FEMA Federal Center Plaza – FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) being an agency of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for coordinating response efforts in national emergency situations.

Here I am traveling down 6th and approaching C Street SE from the north. Across the street to our right is the west end of that US Department of Education building. Behind me and down the street is the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Among the many architectural toppings to be seen in the layered horizon beyond it are: the National Gallery of Art, the Federal trade Commission and Library (orange roof), and the US Navy Memorial Plaza.

   

Figuring you’d probably like more than that previous teaser view of the top of the US Capital, I drove around the block to give you a couple of other looks. The first includes a little of the purpose for our being in DC to begin with: the annual March for Life. The second is a view down S Capitol St. SE – a taste of getting around fashionably in DC.

Here Is The News!

MEETING THE NEWS on the roadways of America, first-hand, real time, real world news—going out and discovering the news . . .

FREEDOM IN THE NEWS: I mentioned Freedom, the proud lady atop the Capitol Dome. Did you know she’s dressed in a toga-like robe? Well, she did come from Rome – created by American sculptor Thomas Crawford in his stuio in Rome. She is over 19 feet tall, is made of bronze but bears platinum protection (agaist lightning), and she stands on a ball, on which is written in Latin the national motto of the United States of America: E Pluribus Unum (Out of the many, one).

NEWS OF A STATELY STATEMENT: Architectural domes are there to make an impression. That is the nature of a domed capping. But the statement made by the domed completion of the US Capitol was directly linked to the time in which it was completed. The year was 1863, right in the midst of the Civil War. Normally all funds and focus at such a time are committed to the war effort. But President Lincoln wanted to send a message to everyone far and wide that this country was not in shambles – it was a strong and vital nation.

MUST SEE...

(Unlike selfies, these are not about me, but about travel discoveries I think you’d like to know about.)

The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is located along Michigan Avenue in the NE quadrant of the nation’s capital and is one of the many national treasures to be visited in the city. At night its glowing beauty can be seen for miles.

Quote Of The Day samples

“Commerce defies every wind, outrides every tempest, and invades every zone.” ― George Bancroft (on the west façade of the Department of Commerce building).

“Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.” – George Washington

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