1979 >> November >> Did This Ever Happen to You Part III  

Did This Ever Happen To You ? - Part III
by The Travelers

Reprinted from "INSULATORS - Crown Jewels of the Wire", November 1979, page 30

We keep recalling and experiencing more unusual and humorous incidents that have happened to us, and once again would like to share them with you. We are most appreciative of Charlie Allmon's kind words in the Letters To The Editor section of the July 1979 issue of Crown Jewels. We'll try to keep the articles coming, Charlie! 

Traveling to Denver put a few miles on the wagon....4500 miles or so, round trip, brought us into contact with many non-insulator collectors, like the young man at a gas station noting the crowded condition of the wagon, said, "You collect insul-whats!" 

Getting to a show is part of the pleasure and seeing some of the beauties of nature, such as driving through Tennessee and, seeing a newly born, all legs colt lying on the grass being nuzzled by its proud mother. 

Arriving at Denver we have the exciting time of greeting old friends, meeting new friends, plus the unforgettable experience of seeing the Rocky Mountains for the first time. 

Have you ever seen Pikes Peak from an almost prone position? One of the Travelers has. Shall we call the malady the "Rocky Mountain Mazurka"? Daughter wanted to know if we own stock in the Pepto-Bismal Co. 

Your grown-up children had requested some Coors Beer from Denver when you attended the National there, and since it was so warm, you decided to get closer to home before you bought the supplies. Just before crossing the Mississippi River into Memphis, you tried to buy the desired brew, but they don't sell Coors in Arkansas. Oh well, next trip West for sure. Boss Traveler said we will definitely have to make a run out that-a-way again to get some of that smooth 'Colorado Cool-Aid'!!!!!!!! 

Another delightful pastoral scene driving along through Kentucky you observe a husky little black calf busy having lunch at mama's built in "snack bar". Do you suppose he ever gets to invite a friend over for lunch? 

You can't believe your ears when you hear yourself tell a gentleman at the Denver show that your favorite insulator in your display is not for sale not even for the thousand dollar figure that is mentioned!!! 

Loading up at the close of the Denver National, you muttered to yourself about the 'Dog Show' station wagon that blocked the sidewalk, making it necessary to make 'umpteen' trips out around two cars to load. On the next to last load, you spotted an ignition key lying in the dust and picked it up. Shortly, a very perturbed driver (female) started frantically searching for the key, and you were happy that you could help her, until she got in 'that' station wagon and drove it away, thus making your very last trip to the car ...... a short one! 

Did you ever believe that you'd be happy to buy gas at $1.00 a gallon? You were, though, because it was 2:30 a.m., and you're headed for Denver with the needle at the red line! No stations had been open for miles and miles. And how about the fifty cent service charge just for pumping the gas? And to add insult to injury, they didn't have a self-serve pump! 

Driving through Memphis we noted a sign on a plumber's truck that read: "HAVE WRENCH. ..WILL MONKEY!" 

At another gas station a few states further west, after the owner finds out what it is that you collect, he states that his Uncle Ned has several bushel baskets full of insulators out in his barn. How many times have you heard that one? But the thought lingers ...... he just might have one good one 

The aforementioned insulators are never for sale, though; and if they were, they would no doubt be down at the end of an old mud lane in the height of the rainy season.

Incidentally, those pretty SCA Whitall-Tatum No. ones are still on that old line in full view of 1-75 in Georgia.

This brings the Travelers up to date for now. Suppose we could have taken a plane to Denver, but would have missed all the traveling that we enjoy so much. On the other hand, if we had flown, we wouldn't have broken one of our fog lights driving up a steep road to the Heidelberg restaurant just outside of Golden, Colorado. And we wouldn't have scraped the back bumper a few times because the back of the wagon was so loaded! 

So, until next time, keep those cards and letters coming!



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