Message of hope from the heartland -- Cool pic

[prolesunited]

I just got back from a bike tour in Missouri along the Katy Trail. Along the way, I rode through these small, sleepy towns that seemed trapped in time. In some, you could see businesses and homes that had been abandoned long ago. In others, you could see people were stubbornly clinging hope and remnants of the past.

I was struck by a number of things. I had never seen such a concentration of religiously themed billboards. Somebody apparently made a lot of money selling red, white and blue yard signs with the words "God bless America" or "We Support Our Troops" because they dotted the lawns in so many of these towns.

Imagine my surprise then when I came across the sign in this yard in Augusta, Mo.



I just had to stop and take a picture. Such a simple and elegant statement. I had so many questions for the person who put it there. What made you decide to do it? What was your intent? How have your neighbors reacted? Have you faced any harrassment?

Just thought I would share this. What would the the reaction in your neighborhood if you put this sign in your yard? Anyone else run across something that struck them lately?

[SoCalDem]

1. Wellllll. I spotted 3 Stars & Bars flags recently, so.....

I doubt that a sign like that would last very long ..

[Syrinx]

3. Did you ever find out the significance

Of those Confederate flags in your neighborhood?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

2. At least the Heartland wouldn't...

vote for an ASS like Arnie S.!!!!

[Safi]

4. I love the Katy Trail

Heya prolesunited,

I'm really glad to hear you enjoyed your trek across the Katy Trail. I live in Jefferson City and go for a ride on it a couple of times per week. I start at the North Jefferson trailhead and go west towards Hartsburg... Some really great scenery on this segment...I still haven't gone any great distance on it yet though.

If you ever decide to do the Katy Trail again, the absolute best time of year for it is the 2nd-3rd week of October. The weather is fabulous and the oak-hickory forests are in their prime fall colors.

Here is a great picture of that time of year:



I also saw a sign of hope here in the flag-waving heartland a few days ago - it was the first Dean "I want my country back!" bumpersticker I've ever seen, right here in Jefferson City.

Regards,

Safi

[mwdem]

5. Hi, Safi!

I live in the K.C. metro area, started biking last fall, and have been wanting to try the Katy Trail ever since. My SO & I will, hopefully, be out there this fall, and October sounds wonderful.

[Safi]

13. Hermann Octoberfest

Another great reason to do the Katy Trail in October is the Hermann, MO Octoberfest. Hermann is an old German town with a lot of wineries and a rich tradition with Octoberfest. The town is right on the trail (well actually across the river). Starting from KC (well, I guess Sedalia heh), you can make it on the third day or so. Start on a Thursday so you can spend Saturday night in Hermann.

I lived in KC for 11 years BTW. There's some pretty good trails there. Check out the Overland Park-Shawnee trail, it was one of my favorites. Other good ones are one out at Longview Lake, and an excellent (but short, only 3.75 mile loop) trail up at Watson's Mill State Park, Highway 92, East of Kearney. To get to the Watson's Mill trail, take I-35 north to Kearney (Jesse James Home Area), go right at that exit (you are now on Highway 92). Just keep going east for like 7-8 miles and you will see the sign for Watkin's mill State Park. Virtually every parking lot there has trail access.

Regards,

Safi

[prolesunited]

6. That was one of my favorite sections

I love how the capitol dome rises up in the horizon. Have you taken the spur trail into Columbia City? That was a very nice section as well.

Here's some of the other pics I took:
http://homepage.mac.com/prolesunited/PhotoAlbum33.html

I'm sure it's really beautiful in the fall. I was really thankful it was unseasonably cool.

That's great about the bumper sticker. I guess there's always hope. I did notice that near Columbia City I was able to get NPR and Democracy Now amid the Hannity, Limbaugh and religious broadcasts.

[Safi]

14. Columbia spur

No, actually the farthest I've ever been on the trail is about 12 miles east and west of the North Jefferson trailhead. I'll get there someday though heh...

Yeah, Columbia has some decent alternative radio programming (alternative as opposed to Clear Channel, aka 93.9 "The Eagle"). Democracy Now!, Diane Rheme, NPR, all good stuff. There's also a really groovy program on at like 7pm weeknights by a lawyer for NORML named Dan Viets. He is really awesome, I listen to him and can hardly believe he hasn't been lynched by the Limbaugh-wannabes. He goes off on Ashcroft/Bush and soundly repudiates the reasonings for the drug war.

Regards :)

-Safi

[Safi]

15. OMG I can hardly believe that picture you took...

This one!



Thats downright hillarious!

This one here I think is at around 148 mile marker(?), one of my favorite scenes there, one of the reasons I choose to ride mostly around sunset :)...



This one is like at the 147 mile marker? I dunno, I imagine a lot of the tressels look alike. If this is the one I am thinking of, I saw a young cougar on this tressel last August.



Thanks for sharing these :)

-Safi

[ikojo]

7. I live in a "liberal" suburb

so a sign like that in University City would not elicit much of a reaction.

Are there any St Louis DUers here other than me?

[bushisanidiot]

8. Not Actually In St. Louis, but I'm just across the river in a small town

I'll be in St. Louis tonight to watch a softball game :)

Speaking of "Dean bumperstickers".. actually, not bumperstickers, but I wore my "I want my country back!" Dean shirt to the grocery store last week and ended up meeting a way cool person standing in line at the check out counter. She decided to stand behind me in line because of my Dean t-shirt! We had a great conversation.. she's a teacher here in my small town and can't stand AWOL. I'm gonna have to wear that shirt more often. ;)

[bloom]

9. Where I moved recently

I found out right off that my neighbors son was in Iraq. So being the new neighbor - I didn't want to cause a ruckus right off. Plus - I'm down a lane where nobody is going to see it anyway.

Right after 911 I lived in a more liberal town on a main street and made a big banner for my porch that read GOD BLESS THE WORLD, mostly in response to all of the God Bless America stuff. It lasted for 2-3 weeks, then was stolen.

[graphixtech]

10. Spent a day,

in Rochefort a couple months ago (publishing seminar) , and met several locals completely against the Iraq war. According to them, the town was dotted with many Peace type signs not long ago.

I would like to bike the Katy Trail, maybe next spring. Getting my spouse to go with is the biggest challenge.

DU's realpolitic has an interesting pictorial web photo album and storyline about his recent biking trip along the trail. He would be happy to share the link, proles.

[prolesunited]

11. Was your seminar with Pebble Publishing?

I used their trail guide and I rode by their store. Rocheport was one of my favorite little towns. Why drag your spouse along? I did it alone and enjoyed setting my own pace. I took my cell phone in case I ran into trouble and there always were friendly people on the trail who always said hi or waved.

I would love to take a look at the other DUers album if you have a link.

[graphixtech]

12. Yes,

actually it was Pebble! Brett Farr did an excellent job sharing a few tricks of the publishing trade. I am interested in publishing a pictorial book of my protest photos (also considering an initial e-book). Complete positive support and feedback about my project from the others in attendance.

I may just take your advice and try the bike Trail solo. That would sure beat waiting for hubby and never being able to experience it. We moved here from Peoria three years ago, so it is an unknown to me. We did go (canoe) caving once near Columbia and it was incredible.

realpolitics link was in my old du mail, which was deleted with the Forum change. I will PM him later for the link to his Trail album later.

I look forward to previewing your own Katy trail link later today, proles. Have to leave for work right now.