Been an owner of said shovel for years now. Chop with it, throw it like a tomahawk, or simply dig a small hole. Thinking I've lent it to wifey for planting stuff & keeping her away from my Glock entrenching tool.
In any case, the bayonet isn't as important as it used to be. It's more usual now to go into the attack with hand-grenades and your entrenching tool. The sharpened spade is a lighter and more versatile weapon - not only can you get a man under the chin, but more to the point, you can strike a blow with a lot more force behind it. That's especially true if you can bring it down diagonally between the neck and the shoulder, because then you can split down as far as the chest.
My uncle was an Indiana Highway Patrolman back in the 1960s. He and my aunt (and their two kids, my cousins) came to visit us on Long Island (New York) back when he was a cop. I don't know if he didn't know he wasn't allowed to take his revolver along, or if he just didn't care, but he stuffed it in the glove compartment of the car when they drove up. On the way through NYC, he accidentally got off the highway exit, and they found themselves in the heart of the ghetto, just like Clark and his family. They eventually found their way back to the highway, but were quite glad they had the Magnum in the glove compartment while lost in the ghetto.
To the OP. Don’t know where you are in Kentucky, but if you take 24 up near Paducah, then take 60 west to Wickliffe, and on into MO, you are in IL for about five minutes. 60 in MO takes you directly to Springfield. From Springfield, take I-44 west to Joplin. Take 249 north to 171 west. 171 turns to 400 in Kansas and ends you up in Wichita. You can take 135 north from Wichita to hit 70 at Salina, or continue west on 400 to Pueblo, CO. Pretty much a straight line west for you. No major cities, deep red country about all the way. What you do at Wichita largely depends on where you want to get to. If you are worried about STL or KC, Denver would also be a concern. But once at Wichita, there are good roads to pretty much anywhere without needing to go through Denver.
A 21 year old hillbilly kid, from a county of 30k, i was driving a semi pulling 53 foot trailers. Consider the limitations of that. Carrying a weapon was not a possibility, I ran 48 states and Canada. Not only was a gun not allowed in the truck, but the commie places? No choices in where I went, time required shortest routes, 1991 meant no GPS nav. No idea what part of town my destination was, or my route.
Several times I slept at costumers, only to be told "No dam way I would spend the night here".
South side of Chicago, I slept. Didn't know the strip mall security was playing guardian angel all night. Projects 100 yards away, across light rail tracks. Kinda shook me the next morning when I saw it all.
But, I was never really threatened. Propositioned by a few skanks, offered some "good [bleep]" a few times. Hit up for money often, "man I haven't been home in2 weeks, im busted!" (Momma didnt raise a fool)
I think driving down the road, your biggest risk is a wreck. Drive like you have a brain, pay attention, you will be fine.
Parents who say they have good kids..Usually don't!
I didn't realise it was quite so dangerous driving through the USA. Coming from NOTB last December, we drove South through to Mexico. I thought the dangerous places were supposed to be places like Los Mochis or Culiacan in Sinaloa (El Chapo's old stomping ground). Needless to say, we drove 10,000 miles through all three countries and never had a problem. One cop in Puerto Vallarta tried to get me to pay a 'mordita', but I knew the drill and he realised it was going to be a waste of his time. We camped overnight at a truck stop in Los Mochis. The security guard there was very helpful and assured my wife the city was perfectly safe.
We also overnighted at rest stops along I-5 and at a trailhead just outside Shasta city. I think that was our most dangerous stop - it dropped down to 23 degrees that night - a guy could freeze to death if he didn't have blankets (especially after acclimatising to the warm winter in Mexico). We're looking forward to doing a big road trip across the USA some time in the future. Right now the exchange rate's not in our favour so it will have to be another time. We always enjoyed our previous road trips in your very friendly and scenic country. Many times folks questioned why we would be driving without a firearm. If you go to Mexico they aren't allowed at all and even a single round of ammo can land you in jail. In the USA I've never had a problem, nor has anyone I know.
I will often take a hour detour while traveling to avoid a big city. Not because I am scared " I have been in all the major [bleep] in the US" but because all it takes it one wreck or construction zone to cost you 4 or 5 hours of sitting in traffic. Plus my blood pressure stays lower driving country roads then it does big city roads.
I was once escorted out of a bad part of Chicago by the Police. I was hauling a Mercedes dealer trade car and had taken the wrong exit and was trying to get back onto I-55 driving thru the hood. Cop pulled me over and asked me what I was doing. He had me follow him to the Interstate. Said he was surprised I had made it as far as I did. Probably the most crappy city I can remember is Gary Indiana it was and i am sure still is a wasteland.
I've always been different with one foot over the line.....
I pick up I- 70 in St Louis when I travel out west. I get there via I-64. It gets you through the city easy enough.
I never spend the night in St Louis, however. I drive past it and spend the night in Columbia, Missouri. From Central Kentucky to Columbia is a decent days drive. From Columbia I drive on it to Colorado the next day.
I have to travel thru there a couple times a year, and Bristoe's got it nailed. It's not a bad drive, provided you time it right. Stay on I-64 until it merges with I-70 near Lake St. Louis. KC isn't much different, stay on the highway, button down and drive straight thru the place. If you have no reason to stop, don't stop, just keep on going. Gas up well before you get "urban" and keep on keepin' on.
You can roll a turd in peanuts, dip it in chocolate, and it still ain't no damn Baby Ruth.
It's been a good while since I've been that way but the last few times I drove west through Illinois on I-64 there were several highway patrol cars parked out of sight behind islands of brushy growth in the middle of the median set-up as I suppose speed traps.
I drive through Memphis, St Louis and KC all the time.
Your bigger concern should be getting hit while driving.
Much more probable.
This is the most accurate comment in the whole thread.
I drive defensibly & alert. Might wear a seat belt. Have insurance, both liability & comprehensive, Ha! including glass breakage. Some vehicles may include a fire extinguisher for other "concerns" that might be mounting. These things are covered every day of every year.
Is what is going on right now, every day, every year???????????????? Not talking about fender benders. But possibly dealing with irrational phuquing freaks.
