U.S.A. Rx Leaf Obsession Tour Finale & Interview On Columbus Day…Yay!

10.13.2008 by Savvy Suzy

Click ~ Seattle Clock ~ ohad*

With who, you might be saying? Well, I’ll reveal who in a bit, but first we have to complete the tour. In honor of Columbus Day I’m doing my finale with a twist. So stick around. The clock is ticking over there from Pike Place Market, which is located in the state we’re heading to. We’re moving on, because we’re running out of time and states! So let me and my little avatar get going, because we’ve got more leaf peeping to do, if you’ve been keeping up, and as an update for you newbies, who just joined us. Moving on to…

Click ~ A Boy And His Bike

Washington (46) ~ is the furthest north of the continental United States, (or a new word for me) of the contiguous 48 states. It’s home to Mount St. Helens, which I remember when it blew it’s stack, back in 1980. The ash was showing up all the way down where we were, in California.

Another well known destination for a lot of hikers, is Mount Ranier, and Glacier Peak, including others. Mountain climbing is definitely something I never fancied doing. I have enough challenging events in my life, Thank You!

Click ~ A Boy And His Bike

People have sung about and made movies about, one city in the Pacific Northwest, called Seattle. I haven’t been there, but I’d sure like to go there when my financial situation gets better. It’s a place that is known for it’s wet weather, coffee, and here most recently, for one of it’s well known banks, WaMu, which was part of the Financial Crisis.

Here’s a little food for thought, to chew on: I was laid off from both banks (after short stints), that went belly up, WaMu and IndyMac. I wonder what does that mean? It means, they did me a favor. It’s all quite ironic!

Click ~ ohad*

As much as we’d like to stay and check it out more, we need to travel back across the country to the likes of West Virginia (47) ~ which was formerly part of Virginia, but during the Wheeling Convention, became what it’s known as today. It was the only state conceding during the American Civil War.

West Virginia, is the only state totally within the Appalachian Mountain Range and 75% is part of the Cumberland Plateau and Allegheny Plateau. The Pontomac and Ohio Rivers are part of the borders.

Isn’t that a breathtaking view on the left, above, of a state I’ve haven’t been to before. I’d like to stay and check out more, however, the clock is ticking, so we’re…

Click ~ Luiz Castro

…moving back over to the mid-west again, (it’s been a while) to the state of Wisconsin (48) ~ in the north central part of the country. There is a section with sandstone rock formations called, Dells of the Wisconsin River, and a nearby tourist area called Wisconsin Dells.

It’s also home to the legendary football team, called Green Bay Packers (one sport I really don’t get), Miller Brewing Company (Yuk!), and is the nation’s top cheese producer. I’ve been to the city of Milwaukee and their Summerfest. Oh, so little time…have to move on to…

Wyoming (49) ~ a wide open country, that the term cowboy comes to mind, probably, more so, next to Texas, than any other states. It has the Great Plains and various other ranges, including the famous, Rocky Mountains, which is part of the Great Divide. This state is home to numerous tourist destinations, besides the Rockies, such as Old Faithful in a national park called Yellowstone.

Click ~ Stephan Mendelsohn

The photo on the left is looking toward another tourist favorite, the Grand Teton and the wide open country. The grass is more into autumn, than the leaves in this stretch of land.

I was at the wheel driving through that wide open state, on our way to Illinois, in years past, when we saw a yellow Biplane flying overhead. It was easily noticeable, because there was only our vehicle, the road, scenery and the plane in the open sky. When we returned home from the trip, I was greeted with a souvenir from the state: a ticket for something like $75.00! Thanks a lot for a ticket at any time!

So we’ve made it to the end of the states. Hooray! I’m tired! But in a good way — it’s been lots of fun! I hope you enjoyed too! Did I get my leaf peeping fill you might ask? Yes, for now, and then some. But we’re still not done with this leg of the tour, because I have a surprise interview:

What does this have to do with Columbus Day, are you saying? Well, Columbus toured the high seas and discovered America, and this person has toured the back roads of America and discovers treasures, and me and my little avatar have toured the USA, virtually, via cyberspace to sooth my leaf obsession, and have discovered so many other interesting ideas and things. Remember, the segment I did on Lincoln Highway? Well, I received a comment from the person that authors the site that I had listed: Lincoln Highway News, by Brian Butko.

Brian, as it turns out, has done lots of traveling not only of Lincoln Highway, but throughout the United States, and he has written about them in a series of books. The big surprise: He’s agreed to being the guinea pig for my first interview. The cool thing about it, is that it all happened by serendipity! I love when that happens! Let’s find out what he’s got to say, shall we:

INTERVIEW WITH BRIAN BUTKO of Lincoln Highway News:

Hi Brian! I want to again thank you for initially commenting on my article, and then agreeing to do this interview. My first question to you is: Where did this fascination with America’s roadways, diners, and unusual attractions begin?

Traveling with my family, especially my dad, who always took different roads just to see what was out there. We didn’t go far but saw a lot. Just going to Ohio from Pittsburgh gave a sense of being somewhere different and not ordinary.

Your father sounded like an impromptu adventure seeker, and it must have rubbed off on you. Did you grow up in a big family?

No, a brother and sister.

I suppose that made it easier for your parents to get up and go places, with a smaller family.

Doing all of this hard work of traveling for research (Someone has to do it!) — is this how you make your livelyhood or do you research other historical places, too?

I edit Western Pennsylvania History magazine and oversee a small book program here too. My books are all in my spare time, combining vacations with research. They’re fun but they involve lots of work.

Do you have formal education as a writer and historian or is this something that you discovered you liked to do later on?

While getting a degree in electronics I realized I liked antique radios best, so combined that with my interest in history and travel. And I was starting to like “roadside” things like diners and drive-ins and started thinking the best way to help document, preserve, and promote them was to write about them. No real training, just write what I would want to read.

So it sounds like this is something that you’re passionate about. It would be difficult to do it otherwise. How many times have you driven Lincoln Highway?

Never non-stop but constantly in parts for more than 20 years.

You’ve already hinted to the next question, but I’ll ask it anyway. Do you ever get bored with traveling?

No way, there’s far more to see even along the LH than I could ever properly visit in a lifetime. As is, we zoom between places so we can make a few hundred miles per day. Then there’s the whole rest of the country….

Yes Lincoln Highway appears to be a treasure trove of places to go. Do you have a fascination with Route 66, as well?

I read about it for years back in the 80s, before it went big-time, but didn’t drive it till a few years ago. It’s neat that it has such a high profile and recognition from town to town, but also a bit odd that everything seems familiar from being so well-documented.

Why haven’t you written about it?

We devote a chapter to it in Roadside Attractions – though it’s short, I think it’s very insightful since we try to balance enthusiasm with information and accuracy.

You probably have more than enough items on your plate with LH. Do you travel in an RV when you do research?

Family minivan for most trips.

Keeping it simple. Now that’s the way to travel! Are there places along Lincoln Highway that you still have to visit?

Lots – it’s hard to get too far if you stop a lot so I may stop say every dozen miles at whatever interests me, but that leaves lots unvisited, plus there were many re-routings.

Are you a collector of souvenir memorabilia from all the varied places?

I was but am now trying to clear out by donating or selling to museums. But yeah, I still pick up cool stuff along the way.

I can just imagine all the cool collectibles. Have you traveled all the 50 states before, and if so, is it usually driving some kind of vehicle or do you sometimes fly to get from place to place?

I’ve been to maybe 2/3 of the states, driving almost all the time except for a couple conferences years ago. For me driving doesn’t take longer due to cars being slower, it takes longer due to always wanting to drive the 2-lanes and then seeing places to stop.

Wow, that’s a lot. I’m thinking, I’ll need to get your book to see which ones those were. Of all the places you’ve been, which place made the biggest impression on you?

Yikes, not sure. Hmm… The Badlands of South Dakota are haunting, and then nearby is the zany Wall Drug. I can like nature and roadside things without seeing a contradiction!

It seems like a really wacky place, and the Badlands look pretty austere to me. It sounds like you have a diner obsession too — do you have a favorite diner that you like to frequent?

We saw a lot of diners researching for our PA book, which really details the entire industry. Hard to pick a favorite. The Wellsboro Diner in Wellsboro PA is a neat style in a cool-looking town.

Do you have a favorite diner food as well?

Home fries with onions (ie, Lyonnaise potatoes) topped with cheese.

Sounds like comfort food, to me — although sparingly. I read that you have a new book coming out, called “Roadside Attractions”, that was written with your wife, Sarah — how was that?

Already out, and had tons of fun writing it – we were always stopping and photographing all these places so figured we’d organize our thoughts for our own sake and others’ enjoyment.

That’s great! Does she normally travel with you, and what about little ones?

Yes, and the little ones are becoming teenagers, but they love it since we stop at lots of cool places.

I’m sure they do! Do you normally travel with family, friends or with a crew when you go out doing research?

Crew?

Hah! Just me and my camera and family.

That sounds like the way to do it. Keeping it really simple. How long does it take to research for a book?

A couple years but the research is on going so I’d say about 10 years per book, overlapping.

That’s a lot of homework, but the best kind. Did you help with the production of the upcoming PBS show, A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway?

Yes, it was originally intended to be a coordinated effort with my LH Companion book, but both producer Rick Sebak and I hit delays, so the show is out at Halloween and my book in the Spring. They complement each other but are very unique in their own ways.

Well, I’m looking forward to seeing it. Are you actually in the show?

Yep.

Really! How fun was that?

It’s tons of fun, but again, just like the books, it is equally lots of work.

I’m sure it was. Have you ever considered traveling out of the country in search of quirky places abroad?

No, nothing against it, but I’m mostly interested in US history and attractions.

Each of the United States are like individual countries. Also, read that you were doing a follow-up book about Lincoln Highway?

LH Companion, a guide to places to eat, see, and stay, and then in 2010 a book about the SS Grand View Ship Hotel, it’s greatest roadside attraction (but burned down).

Sounds like you’re going to busy traveling. I was a fan of Route 66, because it’s been a part of my life, not only in Illinois, but living near and riding on it frequently out here in California (I have a Route 66 sign hanging in my garage, also.) But not until I did the article about obsessing over leaves, did I come across the realization that people, like yourself, are fascinated with Lincoln Highway, as well, and that it had been a part of my life, too, back in Illinois. My final question is, are the roads becoming more popular with not only Americans, but people from other countries and why do you think that is?

Yes, I think because they embody things and values like friendliness, interesting history and geography, simpler times – but that said, we seem to like them in small doses, and a road trip has boundaries for people, whether it be the number of days on the road or nights at a chain motel.

Thank you Brian, for being such a great sport and allowing me to bombard you with questions. You get to make a living doing something that some of us kind of wistfully think about doing, but you’re actually living it. That’s great!

I did grow up thinking, for some reason, that being an adult meant I could always be on vacation. Of course, I learned differently so maybe I’m trying to make the dream real.

Thanks again Brian for going out on a limb with me, and agreeing to be my first interview, ever! Okay, I did get carried away with the questions, but I was getting into it and really having fun, playing the interviewer roll! Hope you all enjoyed it too! Thanks for coming. It looks like these books are not only some fun reads, but collectible and useful too. I’m going to have to check them out. Who knows, maybe I’ll get to check out some of the places showcased in the book someday. Right now I’m having fun going places virtually. Hope you enjoyed the interview and will check them out, too. Thanks for coming.

Dont forget to check out Brian in the PBS show:

A Ride Along the Lincoln Highway,

on October 29th, 2008

( Mark your calendars)

Also at these other places:

babutko@hswp.org

http://www.pghhistory.org/publication_guidelines.asp’

For more on my books, visit http://www.brianbutko.com

And visit http://www.lincolnhighwaynews.com

This is the end of the Rx Leaf Obsession Tour for the U.S.A. I’m taking a break for a week, and gearing up to check out some places around the globe, for a couple of weeks. Check back then. So while I’m away you’re welcome to continue reading this and the rest of my fare. Also, some of the Rx Leaf Tour posts will be updated with new info. and pictures. You’ll have to go through and see which ones they were. Thanks again for coming on this leg of the Leaf Rx Obsession Tour, with me and my little avatar.