“How long in time and distance was the Nude Across America Trip?”
Left the first of June, a week or so after DF retired. The time was to be open-ended. Since we were chased by rain so much, much of it was abbreviated. For instance, we would have spent an extra week or more hanging out with John and hiking Vermont. Ohio had more exploratory time planned. The resort in Conn. would have lasted longer.
It was eventually seven of eight weeks before we returned to Tucson. With half of the rain, we would have been out on the road and in the hills much longer. We had fun. I’m planning a trip out of state eastward this year, in spite of the expensive gas. It just felt cut short last year.
It was over 7000 miles on the odometer, about 2000 more than the plan figured. There is a lot of in-between in this vast country.
Watzu is a person holding up in support another, so that one can just float on their back and relax in water, basically. Some are professional about it, but the basic premise is easy to do for someone.
What about the Americana?
Some were active, some just to draw attention. Some just a collection of Americana placed on the side of the road to attract business in the town’s economy, like a local museum.
I’d not call them specimens of a “naive “ advertising era. They still catch attention and patronage. Americana is still out there. The golden arches often have a tarantasaurus Rex out front. One in Tucson had a mask over its gnarly collection of dentures during covid. Jack in the box towering over taking your order may be gone but Paul Bunyans and those large dinosaurs next to green gas stations are endearing and nostalgic and still out there.
There is a street here in Tucson that is lined with the big neon signs from defunct and outdated roadside motels.
When a local miniature golf course closed here, there was public outcry for the familiar statues. One large Easter Island critter was bought and placed in the front of a local bar, which was praised for the preservation of the beloved landmark PR and the funky vibe which it exhumes.
I suppose that Americana is retro, historic. Route 66 is an example. Before the interstate highways, there was a sense of getting out on the road of freedom and adventure, amongst cultures and golden arches. Jack Kerouac. It is pop. It is also, the sense that we took to as DF and I just went for it with naked abandon. It was some of the spirit of getting out to discover America that Easy Rider's characters were after.
The 50’s were a time of expansion, pride, leadership, and newness. While Europe was recovering from the devastating war, America had none of that. Instead, it had had industrial expansion, and a generation ready to pursue their dreams after depression and war’s sacrifice. It is a wide spread mythical belief in a “good ‘ol days” that had at least a very positive spirit on TV and for many many Americans. These are symbols, nostalgia, and childhood memories, along with big floating land boats with rocket fins, atomic “progress” and a sense of modernity. Europe was in recovery, with more elegant older heritage, and culture. Europe had Dior, USA had T-shirts, jeans, penny loafers, and rock n roll. Most of those roadside characters were TV celebrity and TV was a huge culture driver.
As goofy as it sounds, Yogi the Bear waving and pushing burgers is linked to "the American Dream."
Jbee
