So it’s been a while since there was an update on the location of the Planet Tag. For good reason too! There wasn’t really much to update between the 20th January and Thursday 2nd February. The smart tag arrived safely at it’s intended destination in New Orleans, Louisiana and has been chilling out there taking some well deserved rest. It is the city known as the Big Easy after all. I must of course take this opportunity to take back everything I said about DHL. For what it’s worth, DHL actually delivered the Smart Tag earlier than expected. Fair play DHL!
On the morning of Thursday 2nd February 2023, the Planet Tag was hand delivered by the (at the time) ‘handler’ of the device to Mail & Copy, Gentilly Blvd, New Orleans.
With this fine establishments own words being “WE DO EVERYTHING” I felt extremely comfortable knowing that the Planet Tag had been thoughtfully placed in the hands of people who knew exactly what they were doing.
There was perhaps a little too much excitement as the Planet Tag was on the move again!
The thought at the time was surely the tag was off to Kenner to revisit New Orleans Airport for the second time in it’s trip around the United States. However this looked increasingly unlikely as the Planet Tag sent out a ping whilst heading north across lake Pontchartrain and heading away from the airport.
Continuing north after passing by Hammond, Louisiana (Home to Yellow Bird, The Mariner’s Inn and the Red White and Brew – Personal recommendations for all of the above)
the Planet Tag crossed the state line and only proceeded to ping me just the one single time during it’s time in Mississippi.
As per the location update shown, the Planet Tag let me know of it’s whereabouts whilst passing Winona on Interstate 55 North. A city with (according to Google) just over 5,000 residents.
With absolutely nothing else to say on the topic of Winona, Mississippi, the next ping I received from the Planet Tag was to inform me that it had arrived safe and sound in it’s 4th US State of it’s world tour.
Tennessee!
More specifically, Memphis Tennessee. A city famous for it’s Whisky, Beale Street, and a rather famous Rock ‘n’ Roll King who once lived there. Mark Cohn also took a walk there once, maybe with Cher or whatever?
More importantly, the Planet Tag had now just about crossed over into it’s latest US State and after an exhausting 400 mile road trip from New Orleans.
After some time to recharge (not literally but that would be amazing) the Planet Tag put on it’s Blue Suede Shoes and it, boarded….
… an Internal combustion engine transportation vehicle… Possible a van, but likely to be a large Truck/Lorry.
It had been confirmed that the Planet Tag had now landed in state number 5.
Arkansas!
The state famous for
1) not sounding like Kansas with “Ar” in front of it.
2) the Arkansas Bushman
Click Here
The Planet Tag was now heading west on Interstate 40 and pinged just outside of Hazen, Arkansas. A quick Google search showed a population of almost 2,000 people. That’s all the research I did on Hazen but I’m sure it’s lovely.
South west was the new direction of the tag as shown by the next ping which was in…
Dallas, Texas!
That’s actually a lie. Sorry!
The Planet Tag pinged just outside of somewhere called Sulphur Springs, Texas. However a quick Google shows a small city with maybe 15,000 people. Anyway… Dallas!
Home to the Cowboys, which I believe to be some kind of sports team in America. It’s also home to the Six Flags theme park, the JFK Museum and, quite a lot to be fair to Dallas. (Added to bucket list)
Anyway Texas is quite big and the tag pinged a fair few times, so to fast forward it’s journey we pick it up making what looked like a getaway in an attempt to flee the United States.
The Planet Tag continued on it’s journey along Interstate 10 through El Paso, Texas. Which is just a short fence ride away from Ciudad Juárez, Mexico!
Whilst the smart tag was not in a position to add another country to it’s tick list (yet), it was about to add another state in that El Paso is the last stop in Texas (State 6) before entering into New Mexico which would be the seventh state of the US tour.
There was not too much in the way of pings from the Planet Tag whilst travelling through New Mexico. Two pings, to be precise. The first being in a place called Deming and the second ping was as the tag passed Lordsburg NM. However this does tick the box for the 7th state of the trip.
After an entire 2.5 minutes on Google images, I could not find any flattering imagery for Lordsburg New Mexico. So here is a photo of Ted with a filter.
The Planet Tag soon crossed into Arizona and once Tucson was passed, it was heading straight for Phoenix!
Despite Phoenix having a population in excess of 1.7 million people, the smart tag did only share it’s location with us once throughout it’s time in 8th US state of it’s trip to America.
It actually pinged on the outskirts of Marana. According to Google, the fastest growing community in southern Arizona. Good stuff Marana!
One final state line crossing later and the Planet Tag promptly updated us that it had arrived in it’s destination state of California. The tag pinged as it went past the Palm Springs area on interstate 10 become finalising the days travel in the areas main FedEx Depot.
Over 2,000 miles of road later from the Bywater area of New Orleans, the Planet Tag successfully made it to the west coast. Specifically, Bloomington, California.
Fair play to FedEx for making this more interesting than sticking the Planet Tag on a flight direct to LAX.
Whilst mentioning FedEx, I can confirm at the end of the 2,000 mile road trip, they (in style) failed to deliver to Planet Tag the last two feet of the journey.
The failure to complete the last 0.001% of the journey aside, the following update from the latest carer of the Planet Tag was a welcome one:
With the above confirming the successful arrival of the Planet Tag to Orange California, we end this post here and endeavour to provide news once the Planet Tag continues it’s journey around the world.
Matt
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