Day 7: April 23, 2018 Mary, Mickey, Henry, and Buddy Comment via blog

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I had the location of the Mary Tyler Moore statue in my GPS but had seriously resolved to skip it. At the last minute, I reconsidered and headed into downtown. I think the idea of being abused for being in Minneapolis for the second time and again bypassing the statue was just too much to bear.

Today's massive breakfast was at Mickey's Dining Car in Saint Paul, Minnesota. It's not really a car, you know, despite the neon emblazoned name. It's a Jerry O'Mahoney diner manufactured in 1937. It opened in 1939 and has been serving customers -- at least those who behave -- 24/7/365 ever since. White stripes like those in the third picture can be seen to the right of my meal. I asked if they marked anything special. No, the cook/server told me. They appear to be more or less random and old pictures were consulted to duplicate them as closely as possible when the counter top was replaced a few years ago. The first picture was taken as I approached the diner from the parking lot. After eating, I walked across the street to take the fourth one. I checked on the way back to my car to see if the boots were still there. They were.

In 1876, the James-Younger Gang attempted to rob the First National Bank in Northfield, Minnesota. It didn't go well and the bank is now part of a museum that tells the story. Basically, the robbers were thwarted by stubborn and brave employees, who paid dearly, and angry citizens. One of those citizens was nineteen year old Henry Wheeler who killed one of the robbers outright. The museum displays the rifle he used. Wheeler was a medical student and I got a kick out of reading how his role in foiling the bank robbery actually contributed to his education.

The temperature hit 65s and I hadn't been on any gravel roads for more than a day. I had the sunroof open and the cruise set at 55 when I saw the cloud of dust rise up around the truck in front of me. I quickly found myself in a pavement-free environment and hastily closing the car. It was my last contact with Minnesota gravel.

Although the Jefferson Highway had officially been replaced by the Numbered U.S. Highways in 1926, it was still important to the governors of Minnesota and Iowa in 1930. That's when the met at the state line to dedicate this marker celebrating the completion of the highway across their states.

A train sped by as I pulled away from the marker, and I soon realized that we were headed for the same intersection. My first encounter with Iowa gravel (on this trip!) was delayed for a few minutes. There would be more encounters throughout the day but all, despite warning like this, were dry and reasonably well maintained.

I spotted this a few yards up a gravel road north of Kensett, Iowa. I don't know what it is, or why it is, but I like it and am glad it is.

The first picture is out of sequence but these three belong together. Worth Brewing is in the town of Northwood which I passed through several minutes before spotting the rocket/umbrella man. Fat Hill Brewing and Mason City Brewing are in Mason City and, while neither is directly on the Jefferson Highway, they're close. They're also closed. I was in Mason City last Tuesday. Today is Monday. All three breweries are closed Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday.

Birdsall's was open and it is on the Jefferson Highway. It's been there since 1931. No better way to deal with closed breweries than chocolate ice cream, marshmallow, and pecans.

The Surf Ballroom, where Buddy Holly last performed, is about ten miles west of Mason City in Clear Lake. It reminds me of the performance venues of my youth and it's still going strong.

The site of the airplane crash that killed Holly, J.P. Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and Roger Peterson is about six miles north of the ballroom. In the first picture, you might be able to make out two men returning from the site. Actually, only one had made it to the site. The other decided it was too muddy and slippery and turned back. His wife didn't even start. Neither did I. Instead I asked her to take the second picture which I Tweeted with the philosophical question "Are these glasses half full or half empty?"

When I went out to dinner, I drove by Lake Time Brewery even though I knew it was closed. Unlike the others, it's closed only two days a week but I bet you can guess which two those are.

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