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Borrego Springs, CA

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

When was the last time you saw a Crap Duster?

Well, today was my chance to visit some different sights that I found on Roadside America in and around Carthage, MO.  I decided to go to the most distant one first.  It was listed as a George Washington Carver Talking Bust.

_MG_2066It turned out to be located in a National Monument.  Initially, I had no idea I was so close to a National Park Service site.  That’s always a plus in my estimation, and of course, another stamp in my passport book.  I have to admit that I didn’t remember too much about George W. Carver, so this was a very good learning experience for me.

72 On the way to Tamarac NWR, MN 20134

Born a slave during the Civil War, Carver went on to become famous for his teaching abilities at Tuskegee University, and his scientific work resulting in over 300 uses for peanuts.  I won’t go into all the details about his inspirational life.  Suffice it to say, if you are ever in the Joplin, MO, area, a trip to this Monument will be well worth your time.

Next up on my agenda was a city park in Carthage.  There were several busses of elementary students on a field trip while I was at the Monument, and that also held true for my visit to the park.  Kids everywhere!

72 On the way to Tamarac NWR, MN 20133

I had stopped at the park to see the bronze statue of Marlin Perkins.  I remember the Mutual of Omaha program, Wild Kingdom, so well that he hosted that I couldn’t pass up this chance.  Marlin was born in Carthage, so he is a favorite son of the city. 

I was lucky to get a shot of the statue in the midst of all the kids moving from station to station, but a man in a raccoon cap and deerskins kept them away long enough for me to take a picture or two.  Seems today was ‘Famous American Day’ for this school district.  Besides Johnny Appleseed, with the coonskin cap, I also recognized Abraham Lincoln and Harry Truman giving talks to the hordes of what I’m guessing were fifth graders. Winking smile

_MG_2081

Then it was on to more trivial pursuits in Carthage.  I got a kick out of this elevated ‘Tire Changing Woman’ display for a tire shop downtown.  Yep, “It ain’t no wonder his wives left him”!

Last, but not least, on my iconic Carthage list was the Crap Duster.  If you’ve been around many farmland areas, you know what a crop duster is, but a Crap Duster?

_MG_2084 _MG_2085

Here it is.  A flying manure spreader!  By the colors, I’m wondering if it’s a John Deere Aerial Fertilizer Depositor?  Sure wouldn’t want to be under it as it dropped its load…

I had an enjoyable time today thanks to Roadside America.  My next stop will be an overnighter just north of Kansas City.  Hope the weather holds.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

28 comments:

  1. Brahahaha! I thought it was a typo. Crap duster....too funny.

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  2. We have one of those rusty wagons here in the park and I've always referred to it as a 'politician promises dissemination vehicle'. Marlin Perkins was the superintendent of the St. Louis Zoo for a number of years also.

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  3. Great stuff! We had a spreader of stuff when I was a kid and crap would have been a very polite word for it compared to what my gather called it:)

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  4. Interesting. I always think of crop dusters as being yellow, but the "crap duster" you saw was indeed John Deere green as well as yellow. I have not-so-fond memories of the manure spreaders on our farm. Who knew that it could have been spread from a plane? :)

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  5. What an interesting day. Another great place to learn some history

    I forgot to mention the Flat Joey bust on thr CD hope they enjoy the story.

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  6. Replies
    1. Okay, you made me laugh out loud with that comment.

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  7. Seems like the kids are starting to have their end of the year field trips. We saw one very large group at the grand Canyon and made a quick turn the other way. I like kids, but not in large groups. I guess that goes for adults too.

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  8. I love the Crap Duster (can't help but think of a lot of other names it could be called)... looks like it's right out of a Walt Disney movie.

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  9. had never head of the Roadside America site. . .learned something new today. . .thanks for sharing!

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  10. We have never visited Carthage. Looks like a cool place to stop. Love the Crap Duster story.

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  11. We have had crop duster fly over our house but I don't know if I would want manure falling everywhere. I remember Mutual of Omaha too, one of my favorite shows.

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  12. The crap duster cracked me up! Thanks for the chuckle :)

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  13. I was laughing out loud just at the title of this post. Definitely looks like it should have been in Disney's Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Thanks for the Carver National Monument information. I'd like to go there. He wasn't universally admired by his people during his life time but he was an amazing man.

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  14. Next time I see a low flying aircraft I'm going to be heading for cover!

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  15. I fell in love with biographies in the eighth grade and GWC was one of the first. We are in Pennsylvania...in the rain again!!!! I can't wait to get to Maine!!!

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  16. Only you can find a crap duster. I wonder if the pilot had to wear a mask, to get oxygen or to avoid the smell?

    The question remains, if the pilot crash lands his duster, does he say "Oh Crap"?

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  17. Crap duster! That is great lol.

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  18. I don't want to say it's a crappy subject (but I had to), cause you made the best of this day

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  19. You mean you didn't go to the Precious Moments place??? Haha, just kidding. I like quirky but that place just sounds strange. And not in a good way.

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  20. This is really cool. I remember spreading manure with my uncle on my family's farm when I was a kid. We all got a kick out of doing that, driving the tractor while the manure was being flung here and there. It would have been even MORE cool if we got to fly too! :)

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  21. Awesome post...you find the neatest things to write about! A crap duster of all things!

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  22. You win "Blog of the Day" for the CRAP DUSTER story! It is a classic.

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  23. Wow Marlin Perkins, Sure does bring back memories of him at Lincoln Park Zoo.

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  24. We could use a low flying "crap duster" around here when he have one of our Cave-A-Paloozas...Lots of B.S. all over the place ....Marlin Perkins was my hero..I wonder just how many times he got bitten or scratched????

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  25. Nope, I've never heard of a crap duster. It's gotta be easier than spreading it from the ground. :)

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  26. You find the best stuff!!! Now I want to go to Carthage just to see the crap duster. hehehehe

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  27. Wow! Neat things to see in Carthage. I love Roadside America. You sure had an interesting time there.

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