Cougar on the loose in the American Mid West!

quite a saga but just drove from Greene, Iowa to Burlington Iowa :)

I got to Greene at 9am, had a look at the car, jumped in an 83 Cadillac Eldorado and went to the Butler County Treasury office in Allison - 10 mile away with Mike. The lady's there assisted ably to get a 30 day Transit permit for the Vehicle, passed the title into my name with the transit registration forms. All good so far.

Then I went to the Insurance agent in Greene and probably 3 hours later I had 6 months Insurance for the vehicle the details of which I don't understand but $489 later I am street legal. Thanks to Bruce.

Back to Coyote Classics a couple of spins around the block with Mike to get used to the left hand steering and road rules and I thought I was away but the power steering dumped its fluid out. Up upon the hoist and the problem was identified so we pulled the pulley off the power steering and this time I was off! I need a new power steering control valve which should be in the 3-400$ range which is easy. The car is lighter to steer than the VH Wagon and with my massive shoulders and arms... it's not a problem.
Mike and Chad from Coyote really helped out as did Bruce from the Insurance Agency in Greene and Loiuse at the County Treasury. Thanks a lot.

So I am basically one day behind where I wanted to be before the missed flight but realistically, given how much time it took to get street legal, I am not that far off schedule. I doubt I would have been able to leave Greene yesterday anyway.

Hilariously I have already been pulled over by an Iowa State Trooper. I still haven't worked out the headlights but had them on through Cedar City. He saw me across a set of lights and said they were flashing, was I in distress or my vehicle faulty? and can I see your license and papers? After producing what I am calling my portfolio of bureaucracy he asked a few more questions then I got out to see what was going on. His tone had already changed to being helpful and I explained I would check the lights, was 25miles away from Burlington and would make sure I didn't have a short or fault. He was cool with that and wished me well. I hope all my encounters are as pleasant. I think it may have been because the hazard switch "may" have been on - there's no real printing to say whats what. I have the original manual that came with the car and goes in the glove box! It's a little moldy but hopefully will have the necessary info.

Burlington looks really nice. I was hoping to get here earlier but arrived just before sunset so didn't really get to see it. I can't believe how flat + rich the land has been so far yet there appears to be a headland or knob with some great old buildings on the West Side of the Mississippi. I really want to check the river out and given the potential headlight problem thought it wise to pull over.

Time to get a shower and food - it's been a long day.

Mason City - the Original River City

Tonight I am staying at the Super 8 Hotel. The airport here was the first airport I have ever been too where there was no Taxi, Bus, or public transport waiting for each plane. I got a card for a taxi service from the Jefferson Bus companies office and it felt like someone's Mum MOM came to pick me up in the family people mover. Quick ride into town and I checked in and arranged transport to Greene, Iowa for $70 with big Earl. Fairly hard to get around here without personal transport.

Went across the road through acres of car park to the largest barn stores I have ever been in. A Target, store some form of Bunning's equivalent, Wallmart and more I have no idea of but all dwarfing anything and selling everything. All articles where large sized. That's a credit card above.

Looking for dinner at this place with the advertising line:

Welcome to Papa’s American Café, known for legendary fine foods in a relaxing atmosphere. Papa’s is a sports restaurant with 35 screens for YOUR viewing pleasure. If you want to watch a particular game just ask our staff and they will get it on a TV near you. If you’re at the bar or in a booth just turn your personal TV with the remote in front of you. That’s right you can get your own TV with your own remote. 

How can I resist?
 -----------------------------------
That was really good. Probably the best cheese burger I have ever had. I still like an Aussie style burger with Beetroot etc but that was great. Note to self: when they say side order of chips they actually mean crisps like Smith Crisps.
That makes up for the free Bigmac I got at the Basketball. That was an obscenity in comparison.

Terminal Nightmare

Well that really sucks. I missed my flight by ohhh must have been all of  at least 1 minute. Unbelievable. They close the gates 10 minutes before and I was at the gate at 7:20 according to the time on my Smart phone synched to a Cesium Atomic clock on a fairly regular basis. I then sat and watched the plane till the ramp was disconnected at 7:32 and then taxi out at 7:37.

I wonder if the pilots can see the Birdie in the window?

So I was booked onto the next Delta flight from Chicago to Minneapolis but the next connecting flight to Mason City, Iowa was a 6 hour wait. Free WiFi in the US has so far proved to be tied to the consumption of Junk food and/or Effluent coffee given exotic names to fool the consumer into believing it's not as bad as it really is. Star Bucks epitomises this.

These are two really large airports with Chicago O'Hare being the main hub for United/Continental and Minneapolis Delta. I think I have been too larger or newer or busier airports but these two seem to have an additional scale to them.
At least I have internet sharing on my phone so I was able to book accommodation in Mason City and will only lose 18 hours or so.

MADHOUSE: Part Deux

One hour early for the game... what am I to do? my seat tonight is in the club level with an excellent view. Rosie is my waitress so keep the beers coming Rosie!

Today started off freezing with 40kmph winds straight of the lake. it was bitterly cold walking around the shoreline. a southerly change came through at around 3-4 PM and its 20c. I was in the hotel getting ready for tomorrow so didn't realise and am heavily over dressed. I have never really seen an Ice hockey game other than news bites on TV so am looking forward to it. From my short time here tonight I would say there is different crowd in.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
wow that was certainly the most stirring anthem so far. I can feel the indoctrination begin

-------------------------------------------------------
just had some "cheesey" fries. Obviously cheesey has a definition different in 'merican. Cheese as in "Cheesie fries" like Burger as in "Burger Rings" yet Burger rings taste better and less like caulking gum.

still its one of these North American games where there are more players off the field than on. 6 on versus 12 fully kitted getting swapped out. have these yokels ever seen a League or Union game? Hawks are loosing 1-0 with 1:10 to go :(

Tampa just scored with 1minute to go and a mass exodus occurred. none of the opposing team players shook hands. the losers did an exit stage right and bailed. poor.

Welcome to the MADHOUSE

out at the United Center, Chicago to see the Chicago Bulls play the Toronto Raptors. Unfortunately its $7.50 a Bud something that tastes watered down to just a hint of fermented grain but the atmosphere is building with 25 minutes to go to the start or .. Bounce off?? too bad Luke Longley no longer plays... it would be good to know of 1 player in either team.

 My ticket was great. I sat next to season ticket holders. The basketball really knows how to pump the crowd into a frenzy. I don't think there were too many Canadians in the crowd going by the disproportionate ratio of cheers for the Bulls. The game stops and starts with the 4 quarters and time outs but each interlude has some form of entertainment particular with the Bulls mascot "Benny the Bull" putting on a good show alongside an ensemble of support crew and cheerleaders.

This capped off a really good day walking through the south side of Chicago and a trip through the Field Museum and surrounds. Tomorrow sees another visit to the United Center to see last years Stanley Cup winning Chicago Black Hawks Vs the Tampa Bay Lightning.

batta batta batta swaiinnnngg batter!

awesome. tried to get a beer and food outside but too chaotic. hopefully the rain will hold off enough for a full game.

 The rain didn't hold of but I think there was about 1cm of light rain over the course of the game. They don't stop play for rain so no time was lost. I guess the ball isn't skipping off a slippery pitch and you can't legally aim at the batter anyway. I couldn't seem to upload the above picture off my camera so waited till I got back to my hotel and cropped it a bit.

Sunny Chicago

Well  was I was wrong and its been quite cold. The news describes it as a "brutal winter". Its actually colder than the air temperature suggests in the CBD (I am staying just down the road from Sears Tower) because of the shadows and wind tunnel effect. After spending an hour and a half in REI I think I am a little better prepared for today which is the opening day of the baseball season. The Chicago Cubs are playing the Pittsburgh Steelers (booo!) at Wrigley Field but it may snow and most likely will rain. It dumped 1 foot of snow in New England so its not all bad here.
Had bad jet lag yesterday after 2 hours sleep the 1st night, that despite 5 beers in a mock English pub, but went to sleep at 9pm last night and got up before the alarm at 5:45AM! I have $20US left as my cash passport isn't serving up US$ from ATM's so am going to sort that out 2nd thing. 1st thing is a diner breakfast. I had one yesterday and must have had 5 cups of coffee as they keep filling it up. People are generally nice here. Paul from Calumet Photography was really helpful. The store seems to be located in a semi industrial wasteland on the fringes of an area undergoing an upmarket yuppie residential rebirth. The "L Train" ride back in was interesting. The track passes amazingly close to peoples 2nd storey back balconies.After that I went up Sears now Willis tower dubbed "The tallest building in the Western hemisphere". The view was awesome