Rick: How we gonna advertise this place?
Carl: Truck on a pole.
Rick: Obviously. But how we gonna make our truck stick out?
Carl: Owls.
Rick: I like it.
Day 117
Here’s how this happened
July 21st, 2010
I'm walking across America.
That's the idea, at least. I'm walking westward from New York City for nine months or so. If everything goes according to plan, I'll be in Oregon when the clock runs out. If nothing goes according to plan, maybe I'll end up in Peru or Mongolia or Pennsylvania. You can read all about the details of my trip if you're so inclined.
Email me at matt@imjustwalkin.com
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Here's my progress so far:
The owls are there to scare off birds, so the truck doesn’t get all dirtied, but I like your version better.
And I thought the owls were on the look out as “guard owls”. Or owls looking out for predators? Keeping the mice away? WHOOO knows.
Interesting that you should see this. An old junk yard on 301 in Hanover has had one of these for years as advertising and now the place is changing hands and the county doesn’t want to allow the car on a stick to remain. People are protesting that it’s part of the culture of the place. I’ll bet it stays.
I worked for that old guy back in the mid 70’s. Besides the junk yard he sold satellite dishes that I Installed for him.
Hay Mom. Nice to see *(your name) you. Hope all is well. We are getting ready to release Matt back to you and your family soon. We have a couple more places we want to see if he can make it too. I promise he has not been harmed through this entire experiment of ours. He is more powerful then superman. Can make a single pair of boots last 1000 miles and can meet the nicest people this land has to offer. Thank you for sharing him with us all. The Hobo Nation sends warm wishes….
Wonder if these owls went to HOOTerville High?
Nice.
Did you check to make sure that Hans Moleman from The Simpsons isn’t sticking his head out the window, feebly crying “Helllp!”
The owls are to keep the paint job from turning white from the birds that are sure to want to visit that nice perch.
Glad to see our Matt is bear proofing his food…..raccoons are the worst I have experienced back east.
“Put one foot in front of the other………”
Oh raccoons! One year camping I left my buns out on the picnic table and the raccoons dragged my buns all through the woods. My friends made jokes about it for years and some still do.
And I’m wanting to now!
Candice, LOL…
to bad he didn’t take a picture of the otherside ? I’ll have to get for ya – will make it even more interesting…..to be continued
the suspense is making me curious…. what can it be on the other side??? don’t forget to post it… we await…
Honey I told you this 4 wheelin’ in the truk was fun. We be so fer up in the mountains that even the owls are happy to br hanging with us. Hunker down baby we are about to start flying! What do you mean you think I am high on something-everything is cool baby! I think it is time to start hootin’ and hollern’.
Where is my RED MAN!
The truck had a mannequin’s legs hanging out the window for the longest time….
Oh…that is awesome! If those had stayed, then Michael’s comment would have REALLY fit (more than it already does). Hee hee! :)
Oh man! Too bad they weren’t still there. That had to be hilarious. I bet it looked real like someone was really stuck up there. Funny.
A used car lot in Cedar Rapids had a Corvette on a stick with lights on it that caught on fire!!
ha ha ha ha ha!!! Now that is funny. What a sight that must have been. A flaming corvette on a pole. Awesome. (Hope no one got hurt, that wouldn’t be cool). thanks for sharing that one with us.
hehehe I love red neck art work!
Are those live owls?
Guess not (or as I am informed from the many comments). :)
“owl” see ya’ll on the next page!
“Obviously.”
Snork! You slay me.
The legs are still there. People here got offended because the legs needed to be clothed so they managed to put some jeans on the legs which have basically become so wind tattered that they are daisy duke shorts now. It was my favorite thing to drive by when I was a little kid. We would always beg our dad to drive the “long” way home from camping just to see them.
Here in Michigan we put these owls on our lake rafts to keep the local seagulls from feasting on their catch of the day. Really works, too. The shared raft at our lake cottage was beginning to attract such seagulls last weekend; one of the neighbors put a plastic owl on it, and we haven’t seen a seagull (nor his poop or dead fish) on it since. I wonder if I should put one on my car right after running it through the carwash to keep the birds from pooping on it? Hmmm….
Plastic owls are a common site around harbors…my problem these days is bug poop because I have to park so close to light pole. Maybe I should try baby owls…
Do owls also scare off Canada geese? We have so many of them around here. Would be nice to keep them at bay.
Of course that’s how it happened. Makes perfect sense!
Hello to Matt’s Mom. Nice to see you here.
Admit it, Matt, you cracked yourself up when you thought of this one.
Too funny.
I have so enjoyed your pictures and comments, they often make me laugh out loud, and leave me wishing I was walking down the road with you. Thanks for sharing with all of us, it has been refreshing to see how kind and giving strangers can be.
And I love your parents!
Safe travels, Matt.
From Michigan
Dang! I missed everyone the last few days. I really missed checking in with Matt and his adventures. I was in Kilgore for a funeral and had a nice time hanging with family. I have some catching up to do!! Look how far he’s gone in just a few days!