3 ♪ BY NOW, YOU'VE PROBABLY HEARD HOW THE TIDE OF TWO DOLLARS HAS NOT BEEN FLOWING TOWARD THE GREAT STATE OF KANSAS, A PLACE WHERE GIANT THEME PARKS AND EXOTIC RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO NOT PROLIFERATE ALL ABOUND.

BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, WHEN IT COMES TO WHAT SOME PEOPLE CALL GRASSROOTS ART AND ONES OF A KIND ROADSIDE ATTRACTION, THEN MAYBE, JUST MAYBE THE SUNFLOWER STATE JUMPS RIGHT TO THE TOP OF THE HEAP.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT.

A STRANGE AND WONDROUS JOURNEY WITH TWO T.V.

GUYS FROM KANSAS CITY.

I'M TALKING ABOUT RANDY MASON GETS A LITTLE CAR SICK IF HE DON'T DRIVE AND MIKE MURPHY, NO NOT THE ONE ON THE RADIO, IN ME.

JUST CALL ME DON THE CAMERAMAN.

I LIVE IN LAWRENCE AND LAWRENCE IS WHERE WE WAS MAKING THE FINAL PREPARATIONS, THE FINAL MODIFICATIONS AND PERMUTATIONS OUR TRUSTY VEHICLE AND THE PRECIOUS CARGO IT WAS TO CARRY.

>> I THINK IT WILL TAKE 65 WITH NO PROBLEM.

>> I'M TALKING, OF COURSE, ABOUT THE WORLD'S LARGEST BALL OF VIDEOTAPE.

>> LOOK, WE'RE ALREADY DRAWING AN AUDIENCE.

NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE, HAVE YOU?

>> WHAT IS IT?

>> NEVER WILL AGAIN.

>> BALL OF VIDEOTAPE, OF COURSE.

>> WOW.

>> AREN'T YOU KIDS FROM THE T.V.

GENERATION?

DON'T YOU KNOW ANYTHING?

WE'RE GOING TO DRIVE THIS THING ACROSS KANSAS LOOKING FOR FOLK ART OPPORTUNITIES.

WE THINK WITH THIS OUT FRONT, WE'LL SIGNAL OUR INTENT.

>> I THINK WE SHOULD PAINT IT RED.

>> TIME TO SHUT THE DOOR.

>> EVERYBODY IN.

>> EVERYBODY READY TO ROLL?

CERTAINLY.

AH!

>> PEOPLE AREN'T BOTHERED -- >> WE WASN'T SURE HOW MANY COMMOTION ALL THIS MIGHT CAUSE, BUT THEN THIS WAS LAWRENCE AND LAWRENCE IS WHERE PEOPLE ARE USED TO THE UNUSUAL.

>> LAWRENCE, GOING ABOUT THEIR BUSINESS.

BECAUSE THIS IS A COSMOPOLITAN CITY.

PROBABLY IN THE SMALLER TOWNS, STILL STOP TO GAWK A LITTLE MORE.

>> IN FACT, IT WASN'T SO LONG AGO THAT A PRETTY GOOD STINK WAS RAISED WHEN SOME CITY INSPECTOR TRIED TO SHUT DOWN, CLEAN UP, CLEAR OUT AND OTHERWISE INHIBIT THE YARD ART THAT JIM POWER AND K.T.

WALSH HAD WORKED SO HARD TO COMPILE.

>> THIS THING WITH THE UMBRELLAS AND THE TREES WAS AN ISSUE OF ARTISTIC SUPPORT.

YOU KNOW, PEOPLE AROUND THE COMMUNITY WOULD ALSO HANG UMBRELLAS IN THEIR TREES SAYING YES, IT'S OKAY TO BE DIFFERENT AND BIZARRE.

ISN'T IT GREAT.

>> THIS GUY I KNOW SAID THAT HE WENT TO GET UMBRELLAS TO SHOW HIS SUPPORT AND THEY WERE OUT OF UM UMBRELLAS.

SO HE BOUGHT 20 USED TENNIS RACQUETS AND STUCK THEM IN THE GROUND.

I LOVE THAT.

>> IT'S AN IMPULSE TO COLLECT TRASH AND PUT IT OUT.

SO IF I GET FRUSTRATED WITH THE TIDYNESS OF I DRIVE ON THE WEST SIDE OF TOWN AND EVERYTHING IS SO ORDERLY.

I REALLY REACT TO THAT.

IT BOTHERS ME.

I THINK IT SAYS SOMETHING ABOUT WHO YOU ARE.

IF EVERYTHING IS A LITTLE TOO CLEAN AND TIDY, I THINK MAYBE THINGS AREN'T OKAY.

YOU KNOW?

>> ONE OF THE THINGS I REALLY LOVE IS WHEN THINGS FALL APART AND THE DECAY AND JUST -- I MEAN, THE BUGS LIVING HERE AND THE ULTRAVIOLET HAS BEEN EATING AWAY AT THESE.

THESE WERE PART OF A HUGE SORT OF DIORAMA, I DID FOR A FRIEND'S WEDDING.

THEY WERE BEHIND THE CEREMONY.

NOW I FEEL KIND OF SUSPICIOUS ABOUT THEM.

LIKE WHEN THE GROOM FALLS OVER, I WORRY ABOUT MY MARRIAGE AND I COME OUT AND TIE HIM UP.

I WORKED IN A BIKE SHOP FOR TEN YEARS.

THERE WERE ALWAYS LOTS OF BIKE PARTS THAT THEY WOULD THROW OUT.

I COULDN'T STAND IT BECAUSE THEY'RE SO BEAUTIFUL, THE COLORS AND THE SHAPES.

YOU'LL SEE A LOT OF BIKE FRAMES AND PARTS AROUND THE YARD.

THAT'S OUR OLD WATER FURNACE, I MEAN HOT WATER HEATER.

JIMMY LIKES TO WELD.

SO HE STARTED PLAYING WITH THAT PIECE.

>> I'VE HAD SOME ART SHOWS THAT WERE IN THE REAL ART WORLD, YOU KNOW.

SO A LOT OF THESE ARE BIG CULTURAL PIECES.

WHEN I'M DONE, A LOT OF THEM DON'T SELL BECAUSE PEOPLE DON'T WANT THIS STUFF IN THEIR HOUSE, SO I BRING IT OUT AND HANG IT IN THE TREES.

WITH YARD ART, IT'S USUALLY GOING ON ALL THE TIME.

AND YOU COULD BE LIVING A FEW HOUSES AWAY.

UNLESS YOU TURN YOUR ATTENTION TO IT, YOU KNOW, I MEAN PEOPLE DRIVE-BY, THEY DON'T SEE IT UNLESS SOMEBODY SAYS HEY, CHECK IT OUT.

DID YOU SEE THE PYRAMID OF BOWLING BALLS?

I LOVE THAT.

I TOOK A LOT OF PICTURES OF THAT.

>> NOW, THIS BEING A BASS I DON'T KNOW OF HIGHER EDUCATION, IT'S NOT SURPRISING THAT PEOPLE HERE HAVE ALREADY BEEN TEACHING CLASSES ABOUT THIS STUFF.

THEY'VE BEEN COLLECTING IT, INSPECTING IT, AND DOING HARD PHYSICAL LABOR TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT IT.

LIKE THE KGAA THAT'S AN ACRONYM FOR A LONG NAME.

THEY HELPED HAUL VERY HEAVY SCULPTURES OFF THE A FARM WITHOUT KNOWING WHERE THEY MIGHT END UP.

>> THE MOTTO OF THE KANSAS GRASSROOTS ART ASSOCIATION IS I DON'T KNOW NOTHING ABOUT ART, BUT I KNOW WHAT I LIKE.

LET THE OTHER PEOPLE SORT OUT THE DEFINITION.

WE CHOSE THE TERM GRASSROOTS ART.

I THINK BECAUSE GREG BLAISDALE USED IT IN EARLY ART IN AMERICA ARTICLE AND IT SEEMED TO FIT.

WE WANTED TO SEPARATE IT FROM FOLK ART WHICH SEEMED TO HAVE SOME KIND OF CULTURAL OR REGIONAL TRADITION AND THIS WORK DIDN'T HAVE IT.

IT WAS A VISIONARY WORK OF ONE ARTIST.

>> I CAME ACROSS EARLY ON.

>> DAVE IS M HUMBOLDT, KANSAS, BORN AND RAISED THERE.

LIVED HIS WHOLE LIFE THERE.

STARTED THIS WORK BUILDING AN ELABORATE GARDEN WHEN HE RETIRED FROM THE HUMBOLDT BRICK FACTORY.

HE STARTED CLEANING OUT GARAGES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

SO HE CAME ACROSS A LOT OF FOUND OBJECTS AND STARTED WEAVING THEM INTO AN ELABORATE ENVIRONMENT.

THIS WAS A PIECE OVER HIS FRONT DOOR.

THAT'S A TEAPOT AND THERE'S TABLE LEGS AND ENDS OF SOME TOASTERS MULTIPLES OF ANYTHING FASCINATED DAVE.

AND SO HE -- IN THIS CASE HE SIMPLY CUT UP GARDEN HOSE AND ALTERNATED THE COLORS.

SPENT A LOT OF TIME DRILLING HOLES, MANIPULATING FOUND OBJECTS AND PAINTING AND ARRANGING.

THAT WAS HIS DEAL.

AND HE CONSTANTLY STIRRED IT AROUND.

IN THE VERY LAST YEARS, DAYS OF HIS LIFE, HE STARTED GETTING MEALS ON WHEELS AND SO THAT GAVE HIM A PIECE OF TINFOIL EVERY DAY THAT WOULD MAKE A TINFOIL BALL AND HE STARTED FILLING THINGS FULL OF THEM.

THERE'S THAT IDEA OF MULTIPLES AGAIN.

ANY TIME YOU GOT MORE THAN TWO OF ANYTHING, IT BECAME SOMETHING.

HE FILLED A BIRDCAGE FULL AND SCREEN TUBES AND REALLY THINK THEY -- PROBABLY THE BALL OF TINFOIL WAS AS IMPORTANT TO HIM AS THE MEAL.

>> THAT'S ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS.

MOST OF THESE PEOPLE START AFTER THEY'VE HAD A LIFE OF INCOME MAKING.

A LIFE OF REGULAR LABOR.

THEN THEY HAVE A WORK ETHIC.

THEY'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING.

>> PEOPLE ALWAYS TALKING ABOUT WHY DO THEY MAKE THIS ART AND THE QUESTION, I THINK, MORE APPROPRIATELY IS WHY DON'T MORE PEOPLE MAKE ART?

>> THIS GUY WAS LIKE SELF-TAUGHT.

HE'S LIKE 20-SOME MILES FROM HERE.

IT'S LIKE A LITTLE TOWN NORTH OF HERE.

BUT ERNIE HAD A LITTLE MACHINE SHOP AND HE DID SHARPENING AND WELDING AND JUST ALL KINDS OF ENDLESS REPAIR.

JUST REPAIR WORK FOR PEOPLE.

THIS IS THE FIRST ANIMAL THAT HE MADE.

THIS CAT.

ON THIS ONE, YOU PRESS THE BUTTON AND THE EYES LIGHT UP.

YOU CAN KIND OF CATCH THEM THERE.

THESE ARE SODA BOTTLES.

THESE ARE LIKE PLASTIC CUT OUT OF THE PLASTIC PIPE.

THERE WERE SOME WHISKERS WITH ROPE.

AGAIN, THIS IS GLASS FROM BROKEN JARS RIGHT HERE.

PLASTIC THINGS FOR THE EARS.

SOME ROPE FOR THE MOUTH AND THEN WHEN YOU PULL THE TAIL AND THIS THING, YOU KNOW, OPENS UP AND LIGHTS UP.

YOU HEAR THAT NOISE, THAT -- THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO -- THERE'S A LITTLE PADDLE THAT RUNS ON A SPRING IN THERE AND IT'S LIKE -- WHAT DO GOATS DO?

SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SOME KIND OF NOISE LIKE THAT.

>> I.IT'S RARE THAT HE BOUGHT ANYTHING.

SOMETIMES AN ODD HINGE OR SCREWS.

WHATEVER HE COULD MAKE IS WHAT HE WOULD USE.

HE WOULDN'T USE ANYTHING ELSE.

YOU KNOW, THIS WINDMILL, THESE BLADES ARE MADE OF LIKE JUST SCRAP ALUMINUM.

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE MADE RIVETS AND THEN THE HUB IN THE CENTER IS LIKE AN ALUMINUM LID FROM A COOKING POT AND HE PUT IT ALL TOGETHER AND GOES BACK TO THIS THING AS A GEAR BOX AND THEN THESE FIGURES, YOU'LL SEE, ONE GUY IS SEWING, THE OTHER KICKING HIM IN THE REAR WHEN THIS THING TURNS.

YOU WANT TO GIVE IT A ROLL?

>> OKAY.

>> YOU MAY NOT BE THE GREATEST TECHNICIAN OR WORKING IN TECHNICAL TERMS, BUT YOU MAY HAVE A LOT OF IMAGINATION, LOT OF ORIGINALITY, A LOT OF CREATIVITY.

YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO OFFER, SOMETHING TO SAY OR SOME REASON TO DO WHAT YOU DO.

THEN I THINK YOU DO IT AS BEST YOU CAN.

AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THESE PEOPLE DID.

>> ♪ WE WERE PUMPED AND PRIMED AND ARMED WITH A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE IS A DANGEROUS, WE WERE NOT UNLIKE A LETHAL WEAPON HURDLING THROUGH THE MINT HILLS.

PAUSING ONLY TO ADMIRE THE OLDEST COURTHOUSE STILL IN USE WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI.

MUCH AS IT DOMINATES THE CHASE COUNTY SKYLINE, WE HAD IT PEGGED AS A WARMUP FOR WHAT WAS TO COME NEXT, THE LEANING TOWER OF KANSAS DOWN NEAR INMAN.

ONLY HERE'S WHERE RESEARCH OR THE LACK OF IT CAN REALLY CATCH YOU NAPPING.

SEEMS THAT WINSTON WALKER'S SILO HAD LEANED SO FAR THAT HE HAD TO KNOCK IT DOWN.

OH, 13 OR 14 YEARS AGO.

>> WE WENT AND BOUGHT A BIG OLD CABLE.

HE GOT OUT THERE AND PULLED IT.

COULDN'T HARDLY PULL IT OVER.

AT THE TIME BOUGHT SHELVES AND THEY -- SHELLS AND SHOT ONE SIZE OF IT.

WITH THAT RIFLE.

THAT JUST ENOUGH THEY COULD PULL IT OVER.

>> I BROUGHT A HARD HAT AND EVERYTHING.

I THOUGHT THIS -- >> YOU THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE STANDING.

>> YOU THOUGHT IT MIGHT BE DANGEROUS.

>> DON'T NEED THE HARD HAT BECAUSE OF THE MOTTO HERE.

DON'T NEED THE HARD HAT.

>> BEING THE GRACIOUS HOST THAT HE WAS, WINSTON DID FEEL A FEW MORE CITY BOY QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT GOES IN THESE THINGS ANYWAY.

THEN IT WAS TIME TO HIT THE ROAD AND HEAD OFF FOR THE BLACKTOP.

SOAKING UP THE GLORY OF A GORGEOUS AUTUMNAL SUNSET.

AS PREDICTED, THE MERE PENS OF GREATNESS ON BOARD MADE EVERY PIT STOP A SPECIAL OCCASION.

AND HELP CONVINCE US IT WAS TIME TO CALL IT A DAY.

♪ YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF CRISP THIS MORNING.

BALL TRAVELS WELL EVEN IN TEMPERATURES THAT PEOPLE HAVE A LITTLE TROUBLE WITH SOMETIMES.

WHAT DO YOU THINK, HERE?

LOAD THEM.

>> ALONG WITH THAT PRE-CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST, THE DAWNING OF A NEW DAY ALWAYS MEANS NEW OPPORTUNITY, NEW CHALLENGES AND THE POSSIBILITY OF GREAT ADVENTURE, POSSIBLY AS CLOSE AS THAT NEXT BIG HOLE IN THE GROUND.

ALMOST GIDDY WITH ANTICIPATION, I PROCEEDED TO CAPTIVATE MY CAPTIVE AUDIENCE WITH A STEADY STREAM OF ANECDOTES AND USEFUL INFORMATION, NOT TO MENTION THE WITTY ONE-LINERS FOR WHICH I AM JUSTLY KNOWN.

>> WE DIDN'T GO TO CATCH I NAME.

>> DID YOU EVER GO TO SQUAT AND GOBBLE IN TOPEKA IN.

>> NEVER WENT.

>> FAMOUS RESTAURANT.

>> WE MUST GO TO THE WELL.

OF COURSE, I'VE BEEN THERE TWICE AND YOU CAN GO TO THE WELL TOO OFTEN.

I'M INTO LIVING ON THE EDGE OF THIS WHOLE TRIP.

WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU CAN GET THE SHAFT.

>> THE SANTA FE RAILROAD DUG IT FOR THEIR PURPOSES.

WHEN THIS TURNED OUT THEY DIDN'T USE IT, SO THEY SOLD IT TO THE CITY.

YOU HAVE TO GO DOWN 105 STEPS TO REACH THE PLATFORM.

THEN YOU HAVE TO COME UP THE 105 STEPS.

WHEN YOU COME BACK UP, YOU GET A FREE ROUND TU IT WOODEN NICKEL THAT SAYS I GOT A ROUND TU IT AND SAYS I SURVIVED THE BIG WELL.

SO SEE, YOU DO GET SOMETHING FOR YOUR DOLLAR TOO.

>> JUST A QUICK QUESTION.

HAS ANYBODY NOT EVER SURVIVED THE BIG WELL?

>> OBVIOUSLY, OUR TELEVISION STATURE ISN'T IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO GET IT.

>> I THINK SHE'S PAYING NO ATTENTION TO US.

>> VICKY?

CAN YOU HEAR US?

VICKY?

NEVER MIND.

>> WE DO NOT HAVE ANYONE THAT COMES IN.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR A TINY WELL AND THEY GET A GREAT BIG WELL.

WE HAVE A CHASE DOWN HERE WITH ALL THE ARTIFACTS THAT PEOPLE THROW IN DOWN THERE.

IF YOU DROP SOMETHING, LEAVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS, I SAY IN A YEAR OR TWO, WE FIND IT, WE'LL CONTACT YOU.

>> BUT YOU DON'T REALLY MEAN IT, DO YOU?

IT'S GOING IN HERE, I CAN TELL.

>> NOW, VICKY HAS HERSELF ONE HECK OF A GOOD GIFT SHOP HERE AND EVEN THOUGH THE METEORITE LEFT US KIND OF COLD, THERE'S ALWAYS BONUS POINTS FOR HAVING FREE COFFEE.

>> HALF A CUP.

YOU KNOW WHAT MY DOCTOR SAYS.

>> YOU KNOW WHAT MY DOCTOR SAYS.

>> WE WARNED YOU THIS WASN'T ALL ABOUT ART.

BUT WE FOUND A LITTLE OF THAT IN GREENSBURG TOO.

USING SOME OF THE REGION'S NATURAL RESOURCES.

NOT THAT THE BOYS COULD AGREE ON WHICH WAS BEST.

BUT THIS BEING AMERICA, THEY DECIDED TO SETTLE IT PEACEFULLY AT THE BALLOT BOX.

>> I THINK THIS MIGHT BE A JOB FOR THE HARD HAT.

>> IT'S A RESPONSIBILITY.

NOT JUST A PRIVILEGE.

>> WHICH WAY?

>> RIGHT HERE.

>> OH, RIGHT HERE?

OH, OKAY.

MONEY, THAT'S RIGHT.

>> MONEY.

THERE'S MY FAVORITE RIGHT THERE.

>> I'M UPPING THE ANTE HERE.

>> I'M TELLING YOU THE WELL IS BETTER.

>> PIG.

>> THE WELL IS BETTER.

>> PIG.

>> I'M TELLING YOU, THE WELL IS BETTER.

>> TALK ABOUT A STIMULATING THE LOCAL ECONOMY.

BUT THE TIME HAD COME TO ONCE AGAIN GO WEST AND FIND THAT BIG ROUND BARN NEAR MOL INVILLE, THE ONE THAT EVERYBODY SAID WE OUGHT TO SEE.

>> BIG ROUND BARN.

>> WE CAME, WE SAW.

>> WELL, I'VE SEEN ENOUGH.

HOW ABOUT YOU?

>> YEAH.

>> WE TURNED AROUND.

>> YEAH.

LET'S GET OUT OF HERE.

>> IT WAS ABOUT THIS TIME THAT THE FREE COFFEE STARTED CATCHING UP TO US AND SINCE ALMOST ANYPLACE OUT HERE CAN BE A SCENIC OVERLOOK, WE STOPPED IN OVERLOOK.

MAYBE THAT'S ENOUGH OVERLOOKING FOR NOW.

NEXT STOP, GREATER DOWNTOWN MULLINVILLE AND A SIGHT THAT WAS EVERY BIT AS AMAZING AS THE PEOPLE SAID IT WOULD BE.

EMPTY LIING ET, GARDEN OF GRUDGES AND OUTDOOR GRIEVANCE EMPORIUM.

NO, THAT'S NOT ITS OFFICIAL NAME.

>> GONE TO A LOT OF TROUBLE ON SOME OF THESE.

THIS IS ALL WELDED TOGETHER.

>> WAIT A MINUTE, IT'S JANE FONDA ON THE HOE CHEE MIN ROTATING SIGN.

RAZORBACK DRAFT DODGER.

>> I THINK WE'LL DO THE WHOLE CLINTON SECTION HERE IF YOU WANT.

>> I SAY THIS MAN DOESN'T REALLY CARE FOR DEMOCRATS MUCH.

I THINK ACTUALLY BUREAUCRATIC MAGGOTS IS HOW HE REFERS TO THEM.

SOME OF THE STUFF IS JUST SO STRAIGHT OUT OF THE RUSH VEIN THAT IT'S NO FUN.

SOME OF THEM HE'S TAKEN OFF ON A TANGENT.

THAT'S WHEN YOU LIKE IT BECAUSE HE'S GOT THE GREENSBURG MAYOR AND THINGS LIKE THAT IN HERE.

I DON'T THINK RUSH EVER TALKS ABOUT THEM.

>> YOU'D HAVE TO BE LOCAL TO KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT OR WHO HE'S REFERRING TO.

>> DO THE LOCALS COWER IN FEAR THEY'LL BE UP THERE NEXT OR YOU WORRY YOU MIGHT SHOW UP?

>> IT'S MIXED.

PORTIONS OF THE PEOPLE WISH THEY WOULD DISAPPEAR BECAUSE THEY'RE PROBABLY ONE OF THE INTENDED UP THERE.

>> AND JUDGE SMACK I PIG.

>> PROBABLY GAVE HIM A TICKET.

>> POLL CI TUEDNESS.

>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> STINKING LINCOLN.

>> HE WAS DRIVING AN OLDSMOBILE.

LET'S GET THE FACTS STRAIGHT HERE.

>> IN THIS VERSION, IT APPEARS.

>> I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO LET THE FACTS GET IN THE WAY OF ART.

>> OBVIOUSLY, SOME BONES TO PICK HERE.

WHAT I HAVE A LITTLE BONES TO PICK, I TEND TO LIKE MAYBE WRITE A LETTER TO SOMEBODY.

>> YEAH.

>> BUT I ALMOST NEVER GET MY WELDING, MY TORCH OUT AND FILL 150 YARDS OF MY LAND WITH IT.

>> WHEN YOU LIVE IN AN ENVIRONMENT WHERE SKY IS -- TAKES UP MOST OF YOUR VISUAL FIELD IS SKY, YOU DON'T FEEL PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT.

YOU FEEL LIKE A VERY SMALL PERSON.

THERE'S THIS NEED TO MAKE SOMETHING, TO GENERATE SOMETHING.

SOME PEOPLE JUST BUILD BIG HOUSES, I SUPPOSE.

BUT THE MORE CREATIVE ARE MAKING THESE SCULPTURES.

THERE'S A WHOLE LOT MORE WEST WE COULD HAVE GONE, BUT THIS BEING PUBLIC T.V., YOU DO HAVE TO HAVE YOUR PRIORITIES.

SO WE PRIORITIZED OURSELF TO THE NORTH.

THEY CALL THIS POST ROCK COUNTRY AND IT DON'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO FIGURE OUT WHY.

NOT WITH SO MUCH EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THAT CONTENTION, UNLIKE CERTAIN DUBIOUS CLAIMS THAT WERE ALSO BEING MADE.

AT LEAST IN LACROSSE, THEY'VE GIVEN BARBED WIRE A WHOLE MUSEUM AND A BIG ANNUAL FESTIVAL TO SHOW HOW SERIOUS THEY ARE ABOUT IT.

>> YOU CAN TELEVISED ON TOM BROKAW.

HE TELEVISED IT A FEW YEARS AGO.

WE HAD A BIG SIGN GOING ACROSS MAIN STREET.

>> IS THERE A BIG BALL?

>> YES, THERE'S A BIG BALL.

>> HOW BIG IS THE BALL OF BARBED WIRE ARE WE TALKING ABOUT?

>> PRETTY BIG.

I DON'T KNOW.

>> COME ON.

GIVE ME AN IDEA.

IS IT A DESSERT PIZZA.

>> BIGGER THAN A DESSERT PIZZA.

>> YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS GROWING UP, I DIDN'T KNOW THERE WAS MORE THAN ONE KIND OF BARBED WIRE.

IT WAS UNTIL OH, WHEN I WAS GROWN UP WHEN CAME DOWN HERE AND NOTICED ALL THESE DIFFERENT, YOU HAVE TO COME IN AND LOOK AT OUR BARB WIRE, WE HAVE 11 TO 1500 VARIETIES IN HERE.

I STILL HAVE A PIECE OR TWO OF IT.

A HIGH SCHOOL BOY THIS MORNING BOUGHT ONE OF THESE.

TWO OR THREE OF THEM.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT THIS IS.

BUT WHEN THEY HAVE -- THEY TAKE IT TO THE FAIRGROUNDS AND THEY HAVE CONTESTS, SOMETHING ABOUT WHO CAN -- >> BARB THE FENCE.

>> AND THEN THEY BRING IT UP HERE.

THAT'S ALL I KNOW.

>> THAT'S KINKY.

>> PEOPLE HAVE -- SOME PEOPLE HAVE DONATED AND SOME PEOPLE HAVE LOANED.

>> THAT'S A NASTY LOOKING THING.

>> YEAH.

REALLY LOOKS FEROCIOUS DOESN'T IT?

>> IT DOES.

I'M INTIMIDATED BEING THIS CLOSE TO IT.

>> I'VE NEVER SEEN THAT ONE.

BE SURE AND LOOK AT OUR CROW'S NEST BEFORE YOU LEAVE.

SOMEBODY SAID, WELL, THE CROWS, HECK IF THEY FIND THAT MUCH BARB WIRE.

I THINK THEY'LL PICK UB UP ANYTHING THEY CAN CARRY IN THEIR MOUTH.

♪ I GUESS WE GOT SO CAUGHT UP IN THE BARBED WIRE THAT WE HAD NO TIME LEFT FOR THE POST ROCK MUSEUM JUST ACROSS THE PARKING LOT.

SO WE BID LACROSSE A DUE AND DON'T QUITE KNOW WHERE WE WENT FOR A WHILE EXCEPT THIS APPEARS TO BE SOME KIND OF SUPER SECRET NASA INSTALLATION THAT WE WEREN'T SUPPOSED TO SEE, WHICH IS OKAY BECAUSE I'M PRETTY SURE WE WEREN'T EVEN SURE WHERE WE WERE.

BUT EVENTUALLY, ALL ROADS LEAD TO PORTIS WHERE THE TRADEMARK FIGURE OF PORK I PIG HAS BEEN ON MAIN STREET.

TO HONOR ONE OF THEIR NATIVE SONS.

GO ONE MORE BLOCK AND YOU'LL FIND WHAT'S LEFT OF THE CONTINENTAL SCULPTURE HALL.

IN THERE EYEING HIS MARSHALL CARVED LIMESTONE LIKE NOBODY HAD EVER SEEN AND THAT INCLUDES TURN YOU ARE.

>> RONLER BURKE -- ROGER BURKE HAD COMPANY HERE.

WE ALWAYS TOOK THEM TO MER PLACE.

>> SHE MADE EVERYTHING YOU CAN THINK OF, BIRDS AND ANIMALS AND WHATEVER YOU CAN NAME.

SHE COULD MAKE IT.

NOW, THAT'S ALL THERE WAS TO IT.

>> SHE'S ONE OF THE GREAT ECCENTRICS THAT I'VE COME ACROSS AND SHE WAS REALLY WONDERFUL TO TALK TO.

SHE WAS -- SHE USED TO DRESS IN COVER ALLS WHEN I KNEW HER, THE WHITE COVER ALLS WITH HER NAME ON THE BACK, INEZ, SCULPTRESS.

SHE WOULD BEGIN THIS TOUR AND SHE WOULD SPEAK TO GREAT LENGTHS.

WE'D BE THERE FOR HOURS.

SHE'D BE TALKING ABOUT ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT PIECES AND ALL THE REASONS AND THERE WAS A STONE GUITAR ON THIS TABLE AND WITH STRINGS ON IT.

SHE WOULD HAVE ALL THE STUDENTS LINE UP ALONG THE TABLE AND THEN SHE WOULD STRUM THE GUITAR, YOU KNOW.

AND THEN SHE WOULD SAY TO PEOPLE, DO YOU FEEL THE VIBRATION.

YOU KNOW HOW STUDENTS ARE.

WE CAN REALLY FEEL THE VIBRATION.

STUFF LIKE THAT.

>> AFTER INEZ PASSED AWAY, A LOT OF THE BIGGER PIECES GOT PACKED UP AND TAKEN AWAY.

BUT THIS BEING A WORLD WHERE JUSTICE DOES SOMETIMES PREVAIL, THEY ENDED UP JUST DOWN THE ROAD IN LUCAS.

OUR TARGET FOR TOMORROW TO BE SURE.

STILL, SOME SMALLER STUFF ENDED UP STAYING RIGHT HERE, LIKE HUD WAS HAPPY TO SHOW US.

YOU KNOW HE'S ALSO A VERY GOOD BOWLER AND HE CAUGHT THIS REALLY GIANT FISH.

BUT WE ABSOLUTELY HAD TO GO IF WE WERE GOING TO CATCH ONE LAST INSPIRATIONAL SIGHT BEFORE THE DAY WAS DONE.

I'M TALKING ABOUT LADY LIBERTY HERSELF, BUILT BY SOME 1950s BOY SCOUTS OVERLOOKING THESE HILLS ON HIGHWAY 281.

EXCEPT FOR A LITTLE CONFUSION ON MY PART, IT WAS THE PERFECT PLACE FOR PAUSING AND REFLECTING.

>> NO.

I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE STATUE OF LIBERTY WAS CLOSER TO MANHATTAN.

CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG.

>> THAT'S WHY YOU'RE THE CAMERA GUY AND WE'RE THE PRODUCERS.

>> I JUST DON'T KNOW.

>> ARE WE PAYING HIM?

>> WEST AND LEFT.

♪ NOW, AS THE SIGN WOULD TEND TO IMPLY, THIS IS THE CENTER FOR CONSIDERABLY MORE THAN JUST SMITH.

IT'S THE MIDDLEst OF MIDDLE AMERICA OR AT LEAST YOU CAN SEE IT FROM HERE OR YOU CAN SEE A MARKER THAT TELLS YOU JUST WHERE YOU WOULD SEE IT FROM IF YOU KNEW WHERE THAT WAS AND ANYWAY, IT'S KIND OF EARLY TO BE FIGURING ALL THIS OUT.

BUT BACK IN THE VAN, MY KEEN POWERS OF OBSERVATION DID NOT GO TO WASTE.

>> WHAT IS THAT OUT THERE?

>> ABOUT THIS TIME, I REALIZED WE WERE MERE MILES FROM ONE OF THE TRUE ICONS OF ROADSIDE AMERICA.

THE VERY INSPIRATION FOR OUR OWN CREATION RIGHT THERE ON HIGHWAY 24 IN CAWKER CITY.

IT'S A TRUE RECORD HOLDER IN SPITE OF CERTAIN FALSE CLAIMS BY SOME CONTENDERS, SOME PRE TENDERSS, SOME TRUTH BENDER FROM MINNESOTA NAMED JOHNSON.

>> HE'S THE ONE THAT HAD THIS TAKEN OUT OF THE BOOK OF GENESIS OR WHATEVER THEY CALL IT.

>> GUINNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS.

>> SAID HIS WAS SO MUCH BIGGER AND WEIGHED SO MUCH MORE.

BUT HIS SET OUT IN THE OPEN.

IT WAS WET.

YOU SEE.

IT WAS ESTIMATED TO WEIGHT.

I DON'T KNOW WHICH.

>> YOU GOT IT BY HOW MANY POUNDS, DO YOU SUPPOSE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

IT'S ALL SIZE OF TWINE WE CLAIM IT'S THE BIGGEST OF ALL TWINE.

THAT ONE IN TEXAS HAD THE PLASTIC IN IT.

THERE'S NO PLASTIC IN THIS.

>> HOW MUCH CARE DOES IT TAKE?

>> QUITE A BIT.

WE GOT TO YOU KNOW, WE ROLL TWINE ON IT EVERY YEAR AT THE CAWKER PICNIC.

WE'RE USUALLY IN CHARGE OF THAT.

>> SOMEONE TRIED TO SET FIRE TO THE BALL YOU TOLD ME.

>> YEAH, THEY DID.

IDIOTS.

>> THE TOWN FELT PRETTY BAD ABOUT THAT, HUH?

>> YEAH.

WE DID.

PEOPLE STOP HERE ALL THE TIME FROM EVERYWHERE.

>> WARREN TURNER?

>> WARREN TURNER FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON.

>> WE HAD TO STOP AND SEE THE LARGE BALL OF TWINE.

>> OF COURSE.

>> YOU CAN'T MISS IT.

>> NO, NO.

>> I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS EVER CLAIMED TO HAVE A BIGGER BALL OF VIDEOTAPE THAN THIS.

BUT YOU'RE FROM WASHINGTON, MAYBE YOU KNOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

I NEVER SEEN SO MUCH WASTED VIDEO TYPE IN MY WHOLE LIFE.

>> GUESS HE'S NEVER SEEN BAYWATCH.

BEING THE WORLD TRAVELER HE IS, I BET WARREN DOES APPRECIATE THE PRICE OF THIS ATTRACTION.

THE BALL IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN ABSOLUTELY FREE.

JUST SOUTH OF CAWKER, YOU'LL FIND LAKE WAUCONDA AND YOU KNOW IT GETS ME THINKING ABOUT THE WATER AND WHAT MUST BE IN IT AROUND HERE TO ACCOUNT FOR SO MANY PEOPLE WANTING TO DO UNUSUAL THINGS WITH TWINE AND LIMESTONE AND CONCRETE.

AND THERE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF WAUCONDA LIES THE TOWN OF LUCAS WHICH WE'VE BEEN REFERRING TO WITH ALL DUE RESPECT AS THE DELI OF THE -- BELLY OF THE BEAST.

THIS PLACE HAS AN EXCEPTIONALLY LARGE AMOUNT OF GRASSROOTS ART AND IT STARTS WITH THE GRANDDADDY OF THEM ALL, SP DINS MORE'S GARDEN OF EDEN.

>> DINS MORE REALLY HAD AN AGENDA.

HIS SCULPTURE IS PROPAGANDA.

IT'S ALL INFORMATION ABOUT THE POPULOUS PARTY, ABOUT FREE THOUGHT.

POPULOUS BELIEVED THAT YOU DIDN'T CONVERT PEOPLE BY BEATING THEM OVER THE HEAD WITH AN IDEA.

YOU CONVERTED THEM FIRST BY GETTING THEIR ATTENTION BY BEING ENTERTAINING.

AND THEN YOU GOT THEM THINKING ABOUT IT BY POKING FUN AT YOUR OPPONENTS.

BUT NOT SLANDER YOUR OPPONENTS.

JUST MAKING LIGHT OF THE WHOLE ISSUE SO THAT PEOPLE COULD THINK MORE CLEARLY ABOUT IT.

AND ANY KIND OF A SHOW PLACE HAS TO KEEP GROWING TO GET SOME PEOPLE COMING BACK TWICE, RIGHT?

SO HE JUST KEPT BUILDING.

HE BUILT FROM 1905 UNTIL HE COULDN'T SEE IN ABOUT 1928.

>> HOW CAN YOU GET IT IN A PICTURE?

>> GUESS I'VE BEEN ON THE ROAD FOR ABOUT A WEEK.

>> HAVE YOU SEEN ANYTHING IN THAT WEEK THAT COMPARES EXACTLY TO THIS?

>> NO.

THE CLOSEST THING WAS WORLD'S LARGEST PECAN IN MISSOURI.

BUT THERE'S NOTHING COMPARED TO THIS.

THAT'S CONCRETE TOO.

BUT THIS IS MUCH MORE IMPRESSIVE.

>> IT'S VERY AMAZING REALLY.

I MEAN, WELL, WHAT KIND OF MIND REALLY WORKED ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS?

YOU JUST -- IT'S HARD TO FATHOM.

>> YOU WANT TO KEEP IN MIND, THEY DIDN'T HAVE LABOR UNIONS IN THOSE DAYS.

HE FELT THAT FOR THE MOST PART, NOT IN ALL CASES, BUT MOST CASES, DOCTORS, LAWYERS, PREACHERS AND BANKERS WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR CRUCIFIX SHON OF LABOR.

IN THAT, THESE PEOPLE OBTAINED MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR THEIR EDUCATION WHICH INCIDENTALLY WAS NEVER PAID BACK.

AND AT THE EXPENSE OF A LITTLE WORKING MAN PAYING THE TAXES.

WELL, THE LITTLE WORKING MAN WOULD COME TO THESE PEOPLE FOR HELP AND GET GOUGED FINANCIALLY AND THE LITTLE MAN THAT WAS PAYING ALL THE BILLS ALL THE TIME WAS ALWAYS LEFT OUT IN THE DARK.

THAT'S WHERE THIS WHOLE STORY ENDS.

HE DIED BEFORE HE COULD COMPLETE THE ARMS ON THE BANKER AND THE LAWYER.

AND THE FOLKS THAT OWN THE PROPERTY NOW, IT'S A CORPORATION MADE UP OF HISTORIANS AND ARTISTS AND EDUCATORS.

HAD A MEETING TO DETERMINE WHETHER THEY SHOULD TRY AND FINISH THOSE ARMS.

AND THE GENTLEMAN IN THE GROUP JUMPED UP AND HE SAID NO.

HE SAID LET'S JUST LEAVE THEM THAT WAY.

HE SAID THOSE FOLKS HAD TOO MANY HANDS IN OTHER PEOPLE'S POCKETS ANYWAY.

SO THEY DID, THEY JUST LEFT IT THAT WAY.

>> NOT EVERYONE HAS EVER APPRECIATED THE WORK.

THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE ENCOURAGING IN ANY COMMUNITY AND THERE ARE THOSE WHO WERE -- THEY'RE LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO RUN DOWN OR JUST SCANNED LIESED BY IT.

THEY LIKE A SENSE OF NORMALCY.

THE THING THAT STRIKES ME ABOUT THE GARDEN MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE IS HIS INNATE SENSE OF THE SKUP TOUR AL.

HE WAS MAKING A SKUP TOUR AL ENVIRONMENT AND THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN COME TO REALLY UNDERSTAND IT IS FROM ALL SIDES.

QUITE OFTEN, EVEN FROM LOOKING DOWN AT IT.

WE HAVE FOUND AMAZING THINGS THAT YOU CAN ONLY SEE IF YOU'RE UP AND I DON'T ENCOURAGE ANYBODY TO GET ON THE SCULPTURE, THEY BETTER NOT, BUT THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN SEE SOME THINGS THAT SOME OF THE DETAILS IS TO LOOK DOWN ON IT.

HE WAS MAKING IT FROM ALL SIDES AND THINKING OF IT IN THOSE TERMS.

>> OLD SP MUST HAVE PLANNED ON SEEING IT IN THE GREAT HERE AFTER TOO.

HE HAD HIMSELF ENTOMBED IN A GLASS COFFIN RIGHT HERE ON THE GROUNDS FOR PAYING CUSTOMERS AND THAT DOESN'T INCLUDE CAMERA GUYS TO COME IN AND SEE.

FLORENCE DEEBLE IS ALL OF 95 NOW.

BUT SHE STILL REMEMBERS THAT GOING OVER THERE KIND OF GAVE HER THE SHIVERS.

SOMETIMES FOLKS CALLED HER SAM DINS MORE THE SECOND BECAUSE HER BACKYARDS TURNED INTO AN ATTRACTION OF ITS OWN.

WHAT WITH THESE REPRODUCTIONS AND REPLICATIONS OF PEAKS AND MOUNTAINS AND HILLS THAT KEPT GROWING OUT THERE.

>> I WAS TRYING TO BRING THE MOUNTAINS HOME IS WHAT I WAS REALLY TRYING TO DO.

I JUST LOVE THE MOUNTAINS.

SOME PEOPLE WANT THEM AROUND HERE, DOESN'T LIKE THE MOUNTAINS.

SHE CAN'T EVEN SEE THEM ANYWAY.

FIRST THING I KNEW, THERE WAS SOME COMING FROM OTHER PLACES.

I WAS ALWAYS GLAD TO HAVE ANYONE INTERESTED AT ALL.

>> SOME OF THAT STUFF IS REALLY QUITE INTERESTING.

I MEAN, THE WAY SOME OF THE THINGS ARE MADE AND THE WAY THAT WHEN SHE WAS ABLE TO WORK MORE HERSELF THE WAY MANY THINGS ARE DESIGNED AND MADE AND SOME OF THE COLORS, THEY'RE VERY, VERY INTERESTING THINGS.

AND SO I REALLY LIKE FLORENCE.

I LIKE THE IDEA OF IT -- THAT SHE'S SO UNASSUMING.

THERE IS AND THIS IS WHAT I'VE BEEN DOING.

IT'S IN MY BACKYARD AND YOU'RE MORE THAN WELCOME.

SO SHE'S QUITE A LADY, THAT GAL.

>> THEY'RE BEAUTIFUL.

I LOVE ROCKS.

NOT A LOT OF PEOPLE DO.

NOW THAT I'M NOT ABLE TO HAVE THE FLOWERS THAT I USED TO HAVE, I JUST LOVE THEM.

>> ALL THIS GEOLOGY AND GEOGRAPHY MUST HAVE BEEN GETTING TO THE GUYS, BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT MAP OUT AGAIN.

EVEN THOUGH WE WERE ONLY A BLOCK AWAY FROM WHERE WE STARTED AND NOT MUCH FURTHER THAN THAT FROM OUR NEXT DESTINATION, THE BRAND NEW LUCAS GRASSROOTS ART MUSEUM DOWNTOWN.

THIS IS WHERE THE KGAA IS STILL AN ACRONYM FIGURES THE SCULPTURES SHOULD END UP, JUST LIKE INEZ MARSHALL'S ALREADY HAVE.

>> SHE ALWAYS FELT FROM WHAT WE HAVE READ THAT SHE FELT THE TOP OF THE STONE DOWN AND SHE WOULD HAVE A VISION IN WHAT THAT STONE WAS TO BECOME.

THE VISION WAS FROM GOD, ALWAYS GAVE HIM CREDIT AND THEN WORKED WHATEVER THE PIECE WAS SUPPOSED TO BE FROM THERE.

>> IF IT WAS GOING TO BE A GUITAR.

>> SHE KNEW FROM THE BEGINNING.

NEVER ANY MEASURING TOOLS, NO RULERS, NOTHING.

THE PLATES WERE THE WAY SHE MADE HER LIVING.

THEY SOLD FOR ABOUT $150 A PLATE.

THESE -- THE PIECES THAT WE HAVE HERE ARE HER MAJOR COLLECTION PIECES WHICH SHE NEVER INTENDED TO SELL AND ALWAYS WANTED TO KEEP TOGETHER AS A GROUPING.

IF YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A HARLEY DAVIDSON MADISON COUNTY, YOU NEED A WHEEL AND YOU NEED A BATTERY.

ACCORDING TO THE PEOPLE WHO ATTENDED OR WENT TO HER TOURS, SHE WOULD ALSO HAVE WATER WITHIN THE BATTERY CELL.

THE PROSPECTOR OF COURSE, HAS ALL OF THE TOOLS.

SHE WAS VERY DETAILED IN THE THINGS THAT SHE DID AS THE SKELETON, SHOVEL AND A PICK AND CANTEEN.

EVERYTHING YOU WOULD NEED.

THIS IS OUR ONLY PIECE THAT WE HAVE THAT IS NOT PAINTED.

YOU CAN REALLY APPRECIATE THE LIMESTONE WORK.

YOU KNOW, ALL THE WAY TO THE AIR VALVE THERE.

SHE FIGURED YOU SAW EVERYTHING IN COLOR IN REAL LIFE.

THEREFORE, ALL OF HER HER HER PIECES SHOULD BE PAINTED.

>>> KANSAS RANKS THIRD IN THE NATION OF HAVING INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE FREE SPIRITED AND LIKE TO DO THIS TYPE OF THING.

SO WE'RE JUST GLAD TO FEATURE THOSE TYPE OF PEOPLE HERE.

>> ED ROOT WAS A FARMER, A BIG SUCCESSFUL FARMER IN THE RIVER VALLEY.

CRIPPLED HIMSELF UP IN A CAR WRECK AND HAD SOME SONS THAT WERE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THE FARMING.

SO HE DEVOTED THE REST OF HIS LIFE TO MAKING HIS ARTWORK.

>> HE NOT ONLY CREATED INSIDE HIS HOUSE, OUTSIDE IN THE YARD, BUT HIS MAILBOX AREA OUT IS AN ENTRY INTO HIS FARMSTEAD WAS JUST FILLED WITH CEMENT WORKS THAT HAVE GLASS EMBEDDED IN THEM.

HE IS EVERYTHING -- HE HAS EVERYTHING AT HAND, FROM JARS TO SEVEN UP BOTTLES.

TO HIS CHINA AFTER HIS WIFE DIED, EMBEDDED IN CONCRETE.

>> MARSHALL'S WORK IS ELEMENTAL AND ED ROOT'S WORK IS ELEMENTAL.

NOT OPEN TO TOO MUCH INTERPRETATION.

EXCEPT SOME PEOPLE LIKE TO THINK OF THEM AS SIMPLE MINDED OR SILLY.

THERE'S THIS IDEA THAT FOLK ARTISTS ARE A LITTLE GOOFY AND SORT OF ENTERTAINING AND NONTHREATENING ARTISTS.

THEY'RE NOT.

SOME OF THEM ARE VERY POWERFUL, VERY EXPRESSIVE.

ED ROOT'S WORK IS SO OPAQUE.

I'M JUST NOT SURE WHAT HE WAS ALWAYS THINKING ABOUT EXCEPT MAKING A MONUMENT THAT SAID I WAS HERE.

I WAS ALIVE.

I APPRECIATED THE MATERIALS THAT WERE AROUND ME.

WHICH HE DID.

♪ IT'S TEMPTING TO SAY THAT ALL THIS HAS CEMENTED MY BELIEF THAT LUCAS MUST BE THE CAPITAL OF GRASSROOTS OR NAIVE OR PRIMITIVE OR WHATEVER KIND OF ART YOU WANT TO CALL IT IN THIS STATE.

AND PERHAPS EVEN THE WHOLE DOGGONE WORLD.

NOW THEY'RE FINDING EVEN MORE OF IT NEARBY WHICH IS WHY WE FOUND OURSELVES CHUGGING TOWARDS LA RAY.

SEEMS THAT PRIOR TO HIS PASSING, LEROY WILSON HAD BEEN, UNBEKNOWNST TO OTHERS, PAINTING AND REPAINTING AGAIN AND PAINTING AGAIN AS OTHERWISE UNEXCEPTIONAL BASEMENT.

GATHER THE FAMILY AND GRAB THE PETS, THESE ARE THE FIRST T.V.

PICTURES FROM THE SITE.

>> IT'S MUCH LIKE THE SCIENTISTS AT THE OPENING OF THE KING TUT'S TOMB.

HE SENSED -- YOU SENSED A WORLD YOU ONLY HAD GLIMPSED BEFORE.

>> HE HAD LIGHT TAN AND THEN HE HAD A LITTLE BIT DARKER TAN AND THEN THE LITTLE DARKER AND THE KIND OF A SWIRL PATTERN AND I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL CEILING.

COME UP HERE THE NEXT TIME HE HAD IT MESSED UP.

>> AND EVERYTHING CEILING AND EVERY WALL HAS LAYERS AND LAYERS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

WHEN HE GOT WHERE HE WANTED TO GO WITH IT, HE STARTED OVER AGAIN.

HE JUST COME DOWN, HE WOULD FIDDLE AND PAINT AND PAINT AND COME UP AND REST AND COME BACK DOWN AND PAINT.

IT WAS HARD TO TELL.

>> THE FUMES, I WOULD THINK, AFTER A WHILE.

>> I DON'T KNOW WHETHER HE OPENED THE WINDOW OR NOT.

>> YOU MIGHT HAVE NOTICED THAT NO ONE EXPLAINED WHY SO MUCH GOES ON AROUND HERE AND I FOR ONE CAN ACCEPT THAT PERHAPS WE'LL NEVER KNOW, ESPECIALLY IF IT MEANS WE CAN GET BACK ON THE ROAD AND GET THIS CAMERA OFF MY ACHING SHOULDER.

BESIDES, WE STILL HAVE ONE UNFINISHED BIT OF BUSINESS TO TRY AND FIT IN.

THE CEMETERY IN LINCOLN THAT'S KNOWN FOR ITS FITTING TRIBUTE TO A TRAVELING SALESMAN WHO CEASED TRAVELING IN LINCOLN.

>> I THINK IT'S MR. JAY.

HERE'S WHERE HE STOPED LAST.

>> THE GUY WAS A BETTER CARVER THAN A SPELLER SHALL THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> MAYBE WE'LL GET LIKE A BIG CAMERA WHEN WE GO.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

>> IF WE GO -- >> GREAT IDEA.

MAYBE THEY'LL GIVE US A CAMERA OR T.V.

I'D LIKE TO BE ON TOP OF A T.V.

SET.

>> THAT MIGHT BE COMING PRETTY SOON IF THEY KEEP FINDING MORE ROADSIDE TO REF HE WILL IN.

-- REVEL IN.

I WAS STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF FOOD AND SLEEP.

SINCE I'M THE GUY WITH THE CAMERA, I WON.

THAT LED US TO THE BROOKVILLE HOTEL WHERE, AS USUAL, THEY WERE SERVING MORE PEOPLE THAN THE TOWN ACTUALLY HOLDS.

AND THEN THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF SALINA PROMISING A PLACE TO REGROUP IN MOST OF THE COMFORTS OF HOME.

WELL, IT WAS COMFORTING INDEED, THOUGH I'M SORRY TO REPORT THAT ON THIS FINAL DAY OF OUR FINE ADVENTURE IT SEEMS THAT ONE OF US CAME DOWN WITH A BAD CASE OF THE PRIMA DONNAS.

SURE, WE'D RATHER SLEEP LATE TOO.

SO AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED, HE CAN RIDE IN BACK THE REST OF THE WAY.

WE'VE GOT PLACES TO GO AND INNOVATORS TO SEE.

>> SOMEWHERE UP THERE.

>> HAVE THE MAP UPSIDE DOWN.

>> I KNEW THAT.

>> WON'T BE FOOLED AT HOME.

>> I-70, LET'S GO TO THE SAME EITHER WAY.

>> WITH THAT SMALL NAVIGATIONAL MATTER RESOLVED, WE PROCEEDED TO FLAUNT THE SPACE TIME CONTINUUM EMPLOYING THE MAGIC OF T.V.

TO END UP IN MINNEAPOLIS, NO NOT MINNESOTA, MINNEAPOLIS, KANSAS OR THE OUTSKIRTS THEREOF, TO SEE THE NATURAL, NOT MAN MADE, WONDER KNOWN AS ROCK CITY.

>> WHERE ARE THOSE GUYS?

LET THEM OUT OF YOUR SIGHT.

>> I GUESS SCIENTISTS WOULD CALL THEM LARGE SANDSTONE DEPOSITS THE.

THE BROCHURE SAYS THEY'RE CONCRETIONS AND I BET THE KIDS, BEING PRETTY STRAIGHT SHOOTERS MUCH LOOK AT THEM AND SEE HUGE DINO DOO.

YOU CANNOT CALL THEM IN OCTOBER IS CROWDED.

SORRY, NO SOUVENIRS OR FREE COFFEE EITHER.

SOMEHOW DRIVING THESE WIDE OPEN PRAIRIES AND THINKING ABOUT NATURAL FORCES FROM EONS AGO IS DOING STRANGE THINGS TO MY MIND.

IT'S FOT GOT ME SEEING GIANT BUFFALO RIGHT UP THERE ON THE HILL.

ACTUALLY, I KNEW THAT WAS A COMING.

IT WOULD BE RAY O. SMITH'S CONCRETE-ALO ERECTED OUTSIDE LONGFORD ON HIS FARM.

RAY O.

HAS PLENTY OF OTHER THINGS HE LIKES TO SHOW OFF.

I GUESS PEOPLE MUST LIKE HIM SHOWING THEM OFF BECAUSE MORE THAN 50,000 HAVE SIGNED THE GUEST BOOK AND FRIENDS, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A MOVEMENT.

>> I NEVER GET TIRED OF LOOKING AT THE.

WE EVEN GO DOWN AROUND THE HOUSE, I LOOK THIS WAY AND THE OTHER WAY.

I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF THAT.

I THINK IT'S BEAUTIFUL.

IT'S PART OF NATURE.

I'M GOING TO -- I DON'T KNOW WHETHER YOU CALL IT ART OR NOT.

IT'S A RETAINING WALL.

>> NOBODY ELSE'S RETAINING WALL IN TOWN IS LIKE THIS, RIGHT?

>> NOTHING LIKE IT IN THE WORLD.

BUT IT WAS BUILT A WALL.

I GOT ME INTERESTED IN ROCK.

SO EVERY TIME I GET IN A NEW STATE OR PICK UP A ROCK FROM THAT STATE, I HAD A GOODMAN I OF THEM, MOST OF THEM LAYING AROUND THE FENCE AND UNDER THE TREES AND NOBODY KNEW WHERE THEY CAME FROM, ONLY ME.

SO I DREAMED UP THE IDEA HOW TO DISPLAY THEM.

THERE IT IS ON THE MAP.

SAME THING AS A MONUMENT, I JUST DREAMED THAT I HAVE BEEN PAYING TRIBUTE TO THE BUFFALO AND BUILT IT.

IT JUST COME TO ME WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

I WAS AN OLD BUY, ARCHIE MILTON, WAS HERE ONE DAY FROM EAST OF LONGFORD AND I DON'T KNOW WHY RIGHT OUT OF THE BAGGY MENTIONED TO HIM THAT I HAD COME TO MIND ABOUT BUILDING A MONUMENT.

HE PULLED A $5 BILL AND HE SAID YOU CAN START AT IT.

>> YOU KNOW, THERE'S SIGNS, THERE'S NO NOTHING, HE DOESN'T ADVERTISE.

THEY DON'T DO ANYTHING.

PEOPLE JUST KIND OF SAY THAT IT'S OUT THERE AND ALMOST WHEN YOU'RE ON THAT HILL, IT'S ALMOST LIKE YOU WANT TO BECOME A LANDSCAPE PAINTER WHEN YOU LOOK OUT THERE AND IT ALWAYS FEELS GOOD.

THE WIND IS BLOWING AND STUFF LIKE THAT.

BUT I DON'T KNOW.

HE REMAINS A MYSTERY TO ME IN MANY RESPECTS.

BUT HE'S ALWAYS SO HOSPITABLE.

HE'S VERY INTERESTING.

PEOPLE REALLY LIKE HIM.

HE'S GENUINE, HE'S A FRIEND I GUY AND YOU CAN TELL-ALL THOSE THINGS.

SO I ALWAYS LOOK FORWARD TO THE VISITS, VISIT HIM ON OCCASION.

BUT I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT BUFFALO.

OTHER THAN I LIKE IT.

>> THE GUY -- THIS IS A SECTION.

>> PART OF A NEWSPAPER.

IT'S A 16, 17 ACRES?

>> HOW MUCH?

>> 16?

>> QUARTER?

>> HERE'S A MILE.

HERE'S A MILE.

HERE'S A MILE.

HERE'S A MILE.

>> PRETTY EASY.

A SQUARE MILE.

640 ACRES.

>> YEAH.

OKAY.

>> I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEK AND I ASK YOU THAT, YOU BETTER KNOW WHAT I TOLD YOU.

HOW DID YOU THINK UP -- I HAD PEOPLE SAY HOW DID YOU THINK THAT UP?

I CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

>> NO ART CLASSES?

>> NO.

>> YOU SAY THAT LIKE THAT WOULD BE -- >> IT WOULD BE UNLIKELY.

>> IT IS UNLIKELY.

I LIKE A CHALLENGE, I LIKE THE OUTDOORS AND WILDLIFE AND ADVENTURE.

YOU CAN'T SEE ANYTHING FROM OVER THERE.

>> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HERE, RAY?

>> I WAS BORN DOWN THERE QUARTER OF A MILE.

PUT THE MONUMENT THERE, OVERLOOK MY BIRTHPLACE AND BROADSIDE TO WHERE I LIVE NOW.

HOPE TO BE BURIED THERE.

IF THEY CAN, I WANT THEM TO CREMATE ME.

I DON'T WANT TO BE WITH THE DEAD PEOPLE IN THE CEMETERY.

>> ♪ UP TO NOW, WE DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB OF STAYING OFF THE INTERSTATES AND THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY.

ALSO, SOMETIMES DEPENDING ON WHO IS DRIVING, YOU GET OFF AND YOU CAN'T GET BACK ON AND THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW, YOU'RE TAKING A TOUR OF THE PARKING LOT AT CEDAR CREST.

AT LEAST YOU DON'T NEED AN APPOINTMENT.

WHAT WE REALLY NEEDED BY NOW WAS A PLACE TO GAS HER UP, HOSE HER DOWN AND SQUEEJ EE OFF THAT -- SQUEEGEE OFF THAT LAYER OF BUGS AND DUST THAT WAS ACCUMULATING ON OUR TRUSTY VEHICLE.

NOW, MAYBE IT'S NO BIG DEAL TO THOSE NETWORK T.V.

GUYS, BUT WE CAN STILL GET PRETTY EXCITED WHEN A PETROLEUM PRODUCT'S MANAGER LETS US GO FOR THE SUPER DELUXE WASH. >> I BET THERE WILL BE A LITTLE GUY THAT DRIES IT OFF FOR US WHEN WE'RE DONE.

>> HOPEFULLY THE STORM WILL BLOW OVER.

>> I GOT SOME COFFEE HERE TOO.

IT'S BEEN A PRETTY GOOD STOP.

WELL, I THINK I CAN GET US BACK ON THE INTERSTATE.

GIVE ME A COUPLE TRIES.

>> CLEANED AND CAFFEINE, WE PROCEEDED TO HEAD BACK ACROSS TOPEKA TO SEE THE INCREDIBLE TREASURES HIDDEN IN HER MAN DIVER'S GARAGE.

>> AND TALKING ABOUT ARTISTRY IN ALUMINUM WITH THE PICASSO OF THE PULL TAB.

>> PREPARE TO DO SOME JAW DROPPING.

>> I WORKED AT MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MADE -- SHE WAS THE ONE I TOLD YOU, I SAID SAVE ME SOME TABS.

SHE SAYS FOR WHAT, HERMANN?

I SAID I'M GOING TO MAKE A BEDSPREAD.

AND THEN THAT'S WHEN SHE SAID, I KNOW YOU DOESN'T FLIPPED OUR MIND NOW.

I SAID NO, I'M GOING TO MAKE A BEDSPREAD.

SHE SAVED ME THE TABS, WHEN I FIGURED I HAD ENOUGH TABS IN MY MIND, THEN I STARTED MAKING A BEDSPREAD AND HAD ENOUGH TO FINISH IT.

I WENT FROM THAT TO START MAKING WHATEVER -- DADDY WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS OR THAT.

I'LL DO IT.

NOW, ALL THE WHEELS TURN ON THIS.

THE BACK END TURNS.

>> YOU KNEW ALL ALONG THE WHEELS HAD TO TURN?

>> OH, YEAH.

THAT'S WHY I MADE IT.

IT HAD TO BE THAT WAY.

JUST HAD TO BE.

NOW IT EVEN TURNS THIS WAY.

YOU KNOW.

>> STEERS THE TIGHT CORNERS.

>> YOU KNOW YOU GOT A LEANING MOTORCYCLE WHEN YOU CAN TURN THE CORNER.

>> WHAT YEAR WOULD IT HAVE BEEN THAT YOU WERE MAKING THESE?

>> LET'S SEE.

I MADE THIS BACK IN THE FIRST PART OF '80.

>> HOW ABOUT SHOES, HERMANN?

>> I GOT MY SHOES IN THERE TOO.

GET MY SHOES OUT OF THERE AND I'LL PUT THEM ON.

WELL, THAT'S THE WIFE'S DEAL.

BUT I'LL LEAVE HIM HOLDT THE WAY I SEE MYSELF IS THAT I STAY BUSY BECAUSE I ALWAYS LEARNED THAT AN IDLE MIND IS THE DEVIL'S WORKSHOP.

BUT IF YOU STAY BUSY, THEN YOU DO WHAT GOD WANTS YOU TO DO.

AS I WENT ALONG, I LEARNED THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PATHS AND THERE'S A LOT OF PATTERNS.

YOU GET A FEW CUTS, BUT THEN YOU CAN'T STOP.

YOU GOT TO GET THEM LITTLE FEW CUTS AND CUTS LIKE THAT, YOU KNOW.

YOU DON'T LET THAT BOTHER YOU.

YOU GO AHEAD AND KEEP ON, YOU KNOW.

>> THIS IS JUST TABS.

>> JUST TABS.

>> NO GLUE?

>> NO GLUE, NO NOTHING.

>> JUST TABS?

>> TABS ONLY.

>> THAT IS INCREDIBLE.

>> YEAH.

NO GLUE.

IF THERE WAS GLUE, YOU COULDN'T DO THAT.

I GOT SOMETHING THAT SOMEBODY ELSE DON'T HAVE.

THAT'S ONE THING THAT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.

AND YOU KNOW, PEOPLE LIKE TO GET THINGS THAT SOMEBODY ELSE HAS GOT, BUT I LIKE TO HAVE SOMETHING THAT NOBODY ELSE HAS AND NOBODY ELSE HAS GOT.

NOW THAT I CAN'T GET THEM, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY ELSE IS GOING TO TRY TO MAKE IT.

SEE THAT'S WHAT I WAS TELLING YOU.

THAT'S WHY I KEPT THEM.

>> ARE YOU OFFERED -- >> I'M REAL PROUD OF IT.

VERY PROUD.

LOT OF EVERYBODY SEE IT SAY WHOO, FIRST THING THEY SAY IS WHOO!

THEN THEY GO OUT AND ADMIRE IT AND LOOK AT IT.

>> OKAY.

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

I THINK IT'S FINE.

>> IN THIS HOSE HERE.

>> OH, YEAH.

>> THERE'S ALL SORTS OF TALENT IN THE WORLD.

ANYBODY, IF THEY WANT TO, CAN EXPRESS THEMSELVES.

BUT OUR SOOET SOCIETY TENDS TO THINK, WELL IF YOU WANT TO DO SOME ART, GO BUY OIL PAINT.

>> I JUST LIKE THE IDEA THAT THESE PEOPLE HAVE ALWAYS BEEN WILLING PARTICIPANTS AND HAVE ALWAYS USED LIKE FOUND OBJECTS, THINGS THAT ARE DISCARDED, I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE WORK THAT GOES ON TODAY PERHAPS THEY OWE SOMETHING TO THE PEOPLE, THE FOLK ARTISTS IN CERTAIN TERMS THAT THEY'VE BEEN DOING THAT FOREVER, PUTTING THOSE THINGS TO USE, THOSE KINDS OF MATERIALS AND THINGS.

>> ONE OF THE MOST COMMON THOUGHTS ABOUT THEM, I THINK, INITIALLY IS THAT THESE PEOPLE MUST BE CRAZY TO DO THIS.

IT'S BEEN OUR EXPERIENCE THAT NONE OF THEM WERE CRAZY.

THEY WERE JUST -- THEY WERE ALL DELIGHTFUL PEOPLE, THE ONES THAT WE GOT TO KNOW AND THE ONES THAT WE KNOW ABOUT.

>> I'M GOING TO GIVE IT TO YOU.

>> YOU'D HAVE TO SAY THE WEATHER GUYS HAD BEEN GRINNING BIG UPON THIS ENTIRE JOURNEY ALLOWING US TO DRINK UP EVEN MORE AUTUMNAL BEAUTY CLEAR INTO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF THE STATE.

WELL, EVERYTHING LOOKS BETTER ON A DAY LIKE THIS.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY REASON I'M TAKING SHOTS OF THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE PARKED PERMANENTLY, I BELIEVE, IN WHITING.

AND IT'S WHY WE DIDN'T EVEN MIND GETTING DETOURED OFF OF DETOUR ON OUR WAY TO THE TINY TOWN OF, HOME OF THE MUCH ANTICIPATED, NO MAKE THAT TOO MUCH ANTICIPATED REFLECTOR HOUSE.

>> THE MAIN TRACKS IN THIS OLD PONY EXPRESS VILLAGE IS THE FRANCES DURING HOUSE.

WHIMSICALLY DECORATED?

WE MUST HAVE THE WRONG PLACE.

MUST BE SOMEWHERE ELSE AROUND HERE.

>> PROBABLY IS A LOT BETTER AT NIGHT BUT WE COULDN'T STICK AROUND TO FIND OUT, NOT WITH THE DAVIS MEMORIAL STILL ON OUR LIST.

THAT'S UP IN HIAWATHA WHERE FOLKS HAVE BEEN DRAWN FOR ALMOST 50 YEARS TO MOUNT HOPE CEMETERY.

SO THEY CAN SEE JUST HOW MUCH MEMORIALIZING IN ITALIAN MARBLE MR. DAVIS HAD DONE.

>> MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT HE FELL IN LOVE WITH THE FARMER'S DAUGHTER, MUCH TO THE CHAGRIN OF THE FARMER AND SHE FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.

THEY MARRIED AND RAN OFF AND THE FARMER WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED AND YEARS LATER, AFTER HE HAD BECOME A MAJOR SUCCESS IN THE COMMUNITY, THIS WAS HIS WAY OF FLAUNTING IT AT THE FARMER'S FAMILY.

HE MANAGED TO SPEND HIS WHOLE FORTUNE HERE SO THAT THEY WOULDN'T INHERIT ANY OF IT.

>> RIGHT.

THIS IS THE ULTIMATE SNUB.

>> I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY HIDDEN MESSAGES HERE.

THEY WERE YOUNG, THEY MARRIED, THEY GREW A LITTLE OLDER.

HE LOST AN ARM SOMEWHERE ALONG THE WAY.

AND EVENTUALLY LOST HIS WIFE AND HE DIED.

>> THIS IS DIFFERENT STAGES OF HIS LIFE.

IF YOU FIRST COME IN, KIND OF STAINING, YOU START WITH THEM AT THE END AND THEN YOU DAVIS EYES YOURSELF BACK INTO TIME AND THE MYSTERIOUS THING IS THE VACANT CHAIR.

WHICH MY HOUSE IS USUALLY FILLED WITH THE REMOTE.

DON, WHY DON'T YOU SHOW HOW SOFT THIS IS.

FEEL THIS STUFF.

THIS IS NUTS.

>> OOH!

>> LOOK AT THAT SHINE.

>> I MEAN, THIS IS NOT YOUR JUST TOSS IT OUT THERE AND SEE HOW IT WEATHERS KIND OF MARBLE.

SOMEONE GOT THE HIGH GRADE STUFF ON THIS.

THEN RIGHT HERE IN THE FRONT OF THE CEMETERY FOR ALL OF HIAWATHA TO SEE, YOU THINK SMALL TOWN THOUGHTS HERE.

WHEN YOU PUT YOUR THING AT THE FRONT OF THE CEMETERY AND IT'S LIKE 20 TIMES BIGGER THAN ANYTHING THEY'VE EVER SEEN, YOU'RE MAKING A STATEMENT THERE.

>> BROOKINGS, OREGON.

18 YEARS FROM THE HOME.

THERE'S A REGISTER.

>> I DON'T KNOW.

SOMETHING ABOUT A REGISTER AT YOUR GRAVE.

LIKE SHE'S GOING TO COME BACK AND CHECK AND SEE WHO HAS BEEN HERE.

>> SOMEBODY FROM LA RAY, WHERE WE'VE BEEN.

>> LONDON, ENGLAND.

>> WE WERE THERE, I THINK.

>> NOW, DON'T GET ME WRONG, BUT MAYBE WE WEREN'T THERE.OF >> IF YOU'RE WATCHING THAT LITTLE RED LINE, YOU CAN TELL THIS WONDROUS JOURNEY IS JUST ABOUT DONE.

THAT'S ALL THE RARE VISIONS & ROADSIDE REVELATIONS ALLOWED BY LAW IN A ONE-HOUR T.V.

SHOW.

HOPE IT'S HELPED YOU SEE THAT THERE'S MORE GOING ON OUT THERE THAN YOU MIGHT HAVE THOUGHT.

CERTAINLY, WE'VE EXPERIENCED SOME PERSONAL GROWTH.

JUST ASK RANDY HOW BIG A SECTION IS.

AND MIKE HAS DISCOVERED THAT CONTENTS DO SHIFT DURING TRANSIT.

BUT MOST OF ALL, I KNOW NOW THAT IF YOU LIKE DOING FUNNY VOICES FROM THE BACK SEAT, YOU'D BEST KEEP THEM TO YOURSELF.

SORRY AR LOW.

THIS IS DON THE CAMERA GUY SIGNING OFF.

CAPTIONING PROVIDED BY CAPTION ASSOCIATES, LLC WWW.CAPTIONASSOCIATES.COM WHY DO WE MAKE SCULPTURES, WHY DO WE MAKE THINGS?

I THINK THERE'S A FUNDAMENTAL REASON.

THAT IS TO LEAVE SOMETHING.

TO LEAVE EVIDENCE THAT WE WERE ALIVE.

I REALLY THINK THERE'S A BASIC DRIVE THERE BECAUSE WE KNOW THAT ALL OF US KNOW THAT WE'RE MORTAL OR WE SHOULD KNOW THAT WE'RE MORTAL.

WE'RE NOT GOING TO BE ON THE EARTH THAT LONG.

AT THAT POINT, I THOUGHT -- OUR THOUGHTS DISBURSE, THEY'RE GONE.

MY SON WILL REMEMBER SOME THINGS I SAID.

BY THE TIME HE'S REPEATED IT, HE WILL HAVE CHANGED IT A LITTLE BIT.

THE NEXT PERSON WILL CHANGE IT MORE.

IT'S LOST EVENTUALLY AS FAR AS WHAT WE'VE SAID.

SO SOME PEOPLE FEEL COMPELLED TO MAKE IT MANIFEST, MAKE IT, NO PUN INTENDED, CONCRETE.

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