Independent America

NOLA reacts to Rising from Ruins

New Orleans’  Times-Picayune (one of the best, and most vital newspapers that still stands strong), featured “Independent America: Rising from Ruins” in an op-ed article today.

I guess that bike interview we conducted with Dr. Blakeley is getting some attention...watch the film trailer to see what I'm referring to.

I'm just thrilled that I'm mentioned in the same edition as my favorite band (and fellow Canuckians), Rush.  Now there's a set of artists who understand the meaning and value of "independence" and "self-sufficiency."

Safe and Sound

We made it back safely yesterday, after three and a half days of hard driving.  Resorting to interstates and doing business with corporate chains was nowhere near as pleasurable as doing the opposite on the way down.

In exchange for shaving a full day off of our travel time by choosing this quick and dirty route, we also took a great less deal of delight in the journey.  I could tell that my travel companions were also less interested, as we stopped for photo opportunities far less than in our trip from Seattle to New Orleans two weeks ago.

Mom & Pop...despite ourselves

Try as we might, now that we're back in the sparsely populated, fiercely independent High Country of the West, it's hard NOT to do business with Mom & Pop.

Here in Rawlins WY, independent motels line main street. And in our search for a chain restaurant breakfast, we've ended up here, at the popular Square Shooters diner ("a great Mom & Pop" the woman at the gas station told us). The tables are full with old-timers talking about hunting and real estate.

Funny how, now that we've resolved to only do business with chains, Mom & Pop are proving to be better options.

On the Road with Independent America: day 10

Click To Play

The Midwest Search for a Decent Meal

Maybe the road is wearing on us. But even while we were shooting the first film, we easily declared that our worst meals were had in the heart of the country - America's so-called breadbasket. Tasteless, uninspired, processed, it's really the Enterprise's food replicator run amok.

We just stopped for lunch in Russell, Kansas, actually breaking our reverse road rule by stopping at an independent restaurant across the street from a McDonald's.

I nearly opted for the $4.99 buffet until I saw it. The salad bar had exactly ONE vegetable: that Midwest staple that seems to make people think they're actually eating their greens -- iceburg lettuce. No tomatoes. No carrots. Not even cucumbers. Everything else was designed to make the lettuce easier to go down: several types of heavy dressings, lots of shaved cheese, bacon bits, and even chocolate pudding.

I can't wait until we pass that invisible border that brings us back into the Pacific Northwest's proper greens, "clean" food with a light touch. Louisiana cuisine was terrific, but meals there were heavy, and often fried. I hope we don't have to stop for food again out here on the plains.

Middle of the Road

OKLAHOMA CITY: It ain't pretty, but it's clean, comfortable and available.  Here, in the middle of the country, after 12 hours of interstate driving, our team found it reassuring to be able to roll into a Comfort Inn.  Dinner was another matter: a 9 p.m. dinner at Sonic was not only disappointing after our independently, well-fed journey so far, but depressing.

We need to put in at least 14 hours today if we're going to make it back to Seattle by Saturday evening (my Mom's birthday -- she's there taking care of pregnant Heather).  Salt Lake City or bust?

Interstate 20 Update

Anyone remember the "punchbuggy" road game when you were kids and VW  Beetles were still a novelty? Now that we're on the interstate, racing back to Seattle,it's hard not to count all the Wal-Mart trucks. After 6 hours on the road, nine so far.

Our first stop in the deliberate breaking of our road rules was Louisiana's  own Popeye's.  Service was fast, the red beans were brown mush, the chicken dry. Our last meal in the state was in stark contrast to our first, at the Palace Cafe in Opelousas (delicious, fresh, a sense of place). But we're now in Texas, aiming for north of Dallas before we stop tonight, and I know our best, independent meals are behind us.

Still, we're making great time. Think I'll stick to salads for the remainder of our trip...

NY Times: slow progress in New Orleans

Yesterday the New York Times published this story: "Big Plans Are Slow to Bear Fruit in New Orleans". The article focuses on the big picture of New Orleans by taking a high-level view of the situation of the city.

As Hanson has witnessed, indeed the recovery is quite uneven in New Orleans (specially in the lower ninth ward). However, the article doesn't quite get into is the city doing to remedy this a,d whether those measure are the right strategy. The Times featured Edward Blakely as the main figure in the reconstruction -- to the point of questioning the role of Mayor Nagin. Hanson interviewed Blakely while he was on his bike tour (good thing Hanson likes to bike as well!). I think this will provide some more insight into an incredibly accredited man whose been bestowed with such immense responsibility -- and probably his biggest challenge.

Bizarro IA

We're sitting in a suburban Nissan dealership right now, waiting for an oil change and tire rotation before we hit the INTERSTATE for our return trip to Seattle.  Heather is now 37 weeks pregnant, and I've got to get back as soon as possible.  Since we're breaking one IA rule, we figured we may as well break the second.  So for the sake of research, we'll ONLY be doing business with corporate chains on the drive home.  I think it'll make for an interesting contrast.

We'll be blogging from the road -- I'll take advantage of my new Typepad application on my Nokia E61i to pretty much "go live" with words and images.

And for those who are new to IA, here's a good article that was published in the University of Washington's "The Daily" today.

Second Life for Chains

The Lower Ninth Ward is New Orleans’ poster child for Katrina’s tragic legacy.  Much of the population has yet to return, it reminds me of many of the war zones I’ve covered in my career as a journalist.

There are signs of life, as we discovered with the brave entrepreneurs who have decided to open the odd gas station or diner.  Meanwhile, every single corporate chain that we could see: from Popeye’s to KFC is shuttered, and sold.

Next to Holmes One Stop restaurant, the Walgreen’s has abandoned all hope.  The corporate logo has been removed, leaving behind a shadow of its imprint upon the facade.  An Anglican church will soon take over the building.  Yet it preserves the community landmark, by renaming the new facility as “Walgreens Sanctuary.”