Big Plastic Things in America

I am plotting many things at the moment... next holiday... world domination... AND my 50 years, 50 states concept trip of a lifetime. It involves visitng one US state per year (on average, if I can get Delaware done with in a day, that's fine by me...). Part of my fascination is the discovery that the US States are seemingly dotted with absurdities (isn't every country?) and my favourite of all these absurdities is the massive collection of "VERY BIG THINGS".

Take, for example, the WORLD'S BIGGEST POTATO at Blackfoot, Idaho. A huge replica model of a baked potato outside the thrillingly appealing Idaho Potato Museum. Now, in the short space of discovering the huge potato I have now had a popular myth debunked. I thought Idaho was the Corn State. Well, I guess its also a potato state. Fascinating, non? (I hear you drop to the floor in adulation).

ON the subject of corn. If I were to head to Rochester, Michigan, I would be confronted with a 151 FT CORN COB. On top of a water tower. As you do. WHich is why I would probably take a detour to ROchester, the kind of place you'd never otherwise set foot in. Whilst in Michigan, I could swing by the GIANT PICKLE BARREL in Grand Marais. It's a cottage, shaped like a huge pickle barrel (you know the story of the old lady who lived in a shoe?? check out HAINE's SHOE HOUSE, Pelham Pennsylvania). It's now, of course, a museum/oddity/waste of wood and paint/intriguing quirk on the Michigan map.

Inglewood, California - when its not being namechecked by Snoop Dogg as the kind of place you're likely to get shot in a drive by - is also home to the iconic and totally awesome Randy's Donuts, a traditional diner topped with... yeah, you guessed it, a GIANT DONUT!!! I'm there! Now! Whaddup!

Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, home of the Groundhog, made famous by Bill Murray in Groundhog Day, is about to be awarded with a lifesized statue of Groundhog Phil, on Groundhog Day. Not something to be missed I assure you!

Endless fun is to be had on the hunt for America's GREAT BIG THINGS. I for one, look forward to the challenge with baited breath, a camera, and a love of all humungoid things moulded out of plastic and dumped on a roadside. For more information, wacky photos and the novelty that is THE WORLD'S LARGEST HORSHOE CRAB... go to www.roadsideamerica.com.