McFarthest
It lies between the two tiny hamlets of Meadow and Glad Valley in South Dakota, from where it is at least two hours drive to the nearest Golden Arches.
The calculation was done by artist and technologist Stephen Von Worley, who mapped the 13,000 McDonald’s in the lower 48 states. Alaska and Hawaii were excluded.
From the “McFarthest Spot” the distance to the nearest McDonald’s is 107 miles as the crow flies and 145 miles by car.
The results mean that a hungry motorist is always within a full tank of petrol of a McDonald’s restaurant anywhere in the continental United States.
This reminds me of driving through Queensland once. There were huge distances between towns, and on one road we saw a sign that said 180 kms to the next McDonalds. Then later on 127 kms to the next McDonalds. Then 82 kms to the next McDonalds. Then 49 kms to the next McDonalds. And 14 kms to the next McDonalds and finally 2 kms to the next McDonalds.
Let me tell you it was the most brilliant marketing. By around the 49 km away mark we were all fixated on getting to a McDonalds and by the time you are 2 kms away, you can’t imagine anything else otehr than going to McDonalds.
The other clever signs I recall from that trip, was one is a small town. It said:
We have three cemeteries and no hospital. Please slow down.
Now that was effective!
November 1st, 2009 at 1:04 pm
Marketing????
Those were waning signs that told you that you were heading in the wrong direction.
You are such a city boy David.
November 1st, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Forty years ago, there was a sign outside Lake Grace, one of the dullest, most arid and ugly hamlets in the state (There ain’t no lake, just a bloody great salt pan), which said “Keep Lake Grace Beautiful”
November 1st, 2009 at 1:16 pm
The village of Waihola in South Otago has a similar sign, something like: “No doctor, no hospital, one cemetery.”
November 1st, 2009 at 1:19 pm
That reminds me of a strange encounter with an Animal Rights person we had some years ago in the NT.
In the Kakadu & Arnhem Land, Aborigines still hunt for food. It does occasionally perturb tourists to hear gunshots in the Kakadu. Anyway, that’s nothing compared to the ire of some AR people, where eating wild food can provoke a rapid rise in blood pressure.
After learning that Aborigines still hunted she blurted out ‘why can’t they eat McDonalds like everyone else’? I don’t think she considered the ‘walk’ that would entail to reach the nearest golden arches…(or that eating a few lizards or wallabys is probably lower impact on the environment than the big Mac, but hey, you had to be there…)
November 1st, 2009 at 1:27 pm
You don’t have to go to Oz to meet wankers like that pal I remember I was gutting a deer I had dropped right on the track into the Tauherinikau valley once when along came a tramping party christ it was funny same sort of comments. I asked the dopey tart who was whinging the most if she had ever seen how big a stags dick was (while waving its windpipe at her). She near crapped herself but at least it got rid of the fools. I think most of the tossers think meat comes already shrink wrapped.
November 1st, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Yeah Johnboy some townies are priceless, shit if the world went belly up most wouldn’t know enough to save themselves. Killed some sheep for a mate the other night at a new subdivision, hung and gutted them with a front end loader. Quite a number of new families have moved in around my mates 10 acres . Boy the blinds been drawn and the cars racing out of driveways had to be seen to be believed. But at least some kids seemed interested enough to come and watch and learn, some expressed surprise that meat came wrapped in wool and skin and not plastic so I guess there is a bit of hope left.
When I lived in WA we use to judge distance between towns in slabs of beer, ah those were the days.
November 1st, 2009 at 4:37 pm
I forgot to say it was a hind. Never had a dick. They wouldn’t have known the difference of course.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:06 pm
Johnboy 4:37 pm,
Are you implying they were Labour voters, Johnboy?
November 1st, 2009 at 6:11 pm
You may think that. But of course I couldn’t possibly comment (in case I spoil my perfect record of no demerits from DPF).
November 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Johnboy 6:11 pm,
I’m pretty certain to ensure demerits you have to imply that Labour MPs are both queer AND have a penchant for little boys – otherwise I think you’re reasonably safe.
Sad to hear, though, that you’re still a demerit virgin – something to look forward to then.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:32 pm
Perhaps I should go on a holiday to Samoa with a Labour MP to lose my virginity. Coconut oil eases things I have heard.
November 1st, 2009 at 6:53 pm
Johnboy 6:32 pm,
I couldn’t possibly comment (in case I add to my increasing demerit count from DPF).
But they do tell me that the motels in Samoa have good rates following a natural disaster.
November 1st, 2009 at 10:15 pm
Sign on Stuart Highway at Northern Territory boundary – Speed and Red Light Cameras in operation – The only traffic lights would be at Alice Springs, Daly Waters ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Daly-waters-traffic-light-northern-territory-australia.jpg ) and Darwin – and it was still hell of a long way from the sign to Alice.