BUD NELSON

No trains or walking for Bud Nelson; in 1903 he made the road trip of a lifetime, with motoring enthusiast Horatio Nelson Jackson and mechanic Sewall Crocker, to become the first dog to travel across the US by car. It wasn’t exactly travelling in style though; at the time cars were still fairly primitive and there was limited suspension, no roof or windshield, and a lot of smelly exhaust fumes. Roads were equally primitive and when Bud’s eyes became badly irritated by the dust, Jackson bought him some goggles which he wore every day. As they travelled on, journalists would stop them for interviews and soon the trio — but especially the goggle-wearing dog — became celebrities. It was an eventful trip; punctures were constantly an issue and on occasion wrapping rope around the wheels was the only solution as tyres were so difficult to come by. Things were constantly getting lost, including two pairs of Jackson’s own glasses, his coat (containing all their money), and the cooking gear, which fell off the back of the car; no one noticed its loss until they stopped because of the noise of the engine. As the days passed, Bud displayed a real taste for motoring — and, despite all the setbacks, was the only one of the trio, said Jackson, who “used no profanity on the entire trip.” Close to journey’s end all three were thrown out of the car when it ran into an obstacle in the road. Luckily, they were uninjured and, 63 days after setting out, they made a triumphant arrival in New York City, after which they returned home to Vermont… by car again, naturally!