Matt waving goodbye to the Coatesville/Fillmore plant employees as the adventure begins about 8 a.m. Monday, April 23.
Traveling Route 66 gets more interesting with each mile we drive aboard the Dixie Chopper LP3000 propane-powered lawn mower.
As we go in and out of little towns that remind us of home, there's a story and a new direction given freely.
We need to thank a number of visitors taking time out of their busy schedules to visit and show support for our commitment to “Clean Cut Across America.” If “The Governator” doesn't know we are coming, our friends met along the way are sending notes and messages to Gov. Schwarzenegger on our behalf. All the governors along Route 66 are on our radar screen too. We’re planning to see some of you, so don't be surprised if you receive a call from one of our friends or we show up looking to cut your grass -- naturally at no cost to taxpayers of your great state. Mayors can make it easy on themselves and meet us at their city limits and welcome us to your fair city.
The story of the environment is real and needs to be addressed. Sorry, soap box time over.
St. Louis on Tuesday was a great stop with a number of media encounters. Matt was live on The Cornbread Show on WIL (92.3 FM), the biggest country station in the area. He also chatted with the local sports talk station (KFNS, 590 AM) earlier in the morning.
Matt at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis Tuesday morning.
KMOX, the voice of St. Louis at 1120 AM, also dropped by and Matt turned the tables on reporter Kevin Killeen, interviewing him in front of the Dixie Chopper video camera -- as recorded by Media Marketing Manager Rick Judy.
Matt is interviewed by Kevin Killeen, a reporter for KMOX (1120 AM, the Voice of St. Louis) on Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis Tuesday morning.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch, the largest newspaper in Missouri with a two-state market covering Illinois as well, caught up with Matt via telephone Tuesday afternoon just as the caravan was preparing to leave from Kiener Plaza beneath the historic Arch.
As Matt winds his way down Route 66, there have been times even instructions didn't help. We’d like to thank the young lady at the grocery store near Fiddle Creek Campgrounds (Fiddle Creek Campground isn't on Route 66; the store is near Pacific and not the ocean). She told us to follow the road that goes in front of the old closed restaurant and don't follow AT. Unfortunately AT is the correct road. The scenery was great but once again we got lost. Not every direction and word of advice is correct, but then again the adventure would be boring if it were.
Driving down Route 66 we were chased down by a horn-beeping supporter named Lou Carroll and his wife. He heard Matt's radio interview with Cornbread, and just needed to say “Hi” in person to relate what a great idea our trip is. Great visit, thanks Lou, hope you find more of those mushrooms.
It rained so Matt didn't need a shower, trust me he was clean as a whistle and even sounded like one when got off the mower. Matt pulled over and tied a bandana around his face, just like Jesse James which brings us to the picture of him standing below Jesse James right before you enter the road to Meramac Caverns. Legend has it Jesse and his gang used it as a hideout. Beautiful setting
We met a great KOA Kampground owner, Dan Ballard, who listened to our adventure and put us up for the night. If you’re out this way and need a great place to stay, give Dan or his wife Barb a call in Stanton, Mo., they were very hospitable folks.
Dan laughed when we talked about trying to find our way. He said historic Route 66 road signs are stolen all the time. It's a shame that people don't realize the historic value of things. (Not to mention the value of being able to go the right way!).
Matt actually pulling onto Route 66 officially for the first time outside Litchfield, Ill.
Dinner was great, made with the highest quality propane gas and gas grill available. Ferrell Gas donated the propane
It's time to go to bed and there are no arguments, tomorrow starts at sunrise. Back on the Dixie Chopper LP3000 with its Generac engine, its White Drive Products and its Lucas Oil Products grease and oil making this extraordinary trek possible.
Plans are to stop for the night Wednesday at the KOA in Joplin, Mo., as we make our way toward Oklahoma.
And as Dixie Chopper has grown -- from its first mowers built in 1980 to more than 73,000 units now in the field -- so has RGT. Consider it keeping up by the Joneses.
We’ll see you on down the road!
Check out propanemower.com for updates on this fantastic journey.
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