Jefferson to Ottumwa, Iowa
August 12, 2006
From Jefferson we headed S.E. to visit Gil Knudsen in Des Moines, Iowa.
Gil is the metal craftsman I mentioned yesterday. I have wanted to visit Gil's for a long time to see the tools and machines he uses to shape metal.
You can guess what I learned, it is not the tools, it is the talent that turns out the parts.
While at Gil's we borrowed some tools to install the exhaust clamp to get rid of an aggravating exhaust leak. The clamp did not help. I think it is a broken flange on the pipe.
We continued south from Des Moines with plans to stop at Chariton on Rt 34 for the evening.
We don't have Sonic drive-ins back home so I told Howard I would like to have dinner at the drive-in. After spending 4 days in the Model A, we did not want to eat in the car so we chose to "dine" on the patio. All ordering is done at the speaker on the menu boards near each car and table. The speaker is mounted about belt high!
Can you picture Howard bent over trying to talk into the speaker? And worse yet trying to understand the fast-talking, squeaky voiced teenybopper on the other end asking what he wanted on his chili dog? Too bad I left my camera in the car.
It was too early to stop when we got to Chariton and like an old horse that catches sight of the barn, we were pointed toward home. Howard lives on Rt 34 and the urge is strong to make tomorrow the last day of "our great adventure."
Today was one of our longer days at 241 miles. We have logged 687 miles so far with about 250 miles to go. We are in Ottumwa, Iowa tonight. Unless we chance into something interesting tomorrow or have a serious breakdown, this will be our last night on the road.
Rainmaker Ron Cloat
August 12, 2006
