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just clearing the approaching locomotive, and as a result earned the title of [[left-margin]]/c[[/left-margin]] "Handcar Bob." This was undoubtedly the first time this resourceful method was ever used to get an airplane into the air. He also made exhibition flights [[crossed-out]]an[[/crossed-out]] at many of the major towns along the route. 

Fowler reached Jacksonville, Florida, on February 8, 1912, and landed on the Moncrief Race Track at 4:30 p.m.#[[edit mark]] Max Lillie and Harold Kantner, who were flying an exhibition date there, greeted him in the air and escorted him into the field #[[edit mark]] On February 17th he flew on to Pablo Beach, Florida, a coastal resort, to actually land in the [[crossed-out]]actual[[/crossed-out]] surf, 112 days and 2,520 miles from his starting point in California. His [[crossed-out]]actual[[/crossed-out]] total flying time was seventy-two hours in 45 days. The remaining days were spent making repairs and waiting on weather. Reportedly, the same engine was used [[crossed-out]]for[[/crossed-out]] the entire trip except for about the last 140 miles. On the average, every third landing was a forced one, engine valves and spark plugs being the most serious problems. Ninety-six spark plugs were used on the trip. In Louisiana he carried needed serum to people when all the roads were under water. 

While Rodgers succeeded in crossing the continent first, Fowler's feat of crossing the southern section of the country at that time of year certainly deserves equal credit for sheer determination and flying skill. For some 350 miles between Louisiana and Mobile, Alabama, there were no possible landing places enroute-- just dense timber, came stubble, rice fields, marshlands and Gulf waters. He was forced down in deep soft sand [[crossed-out]],[[/crossed-out]] and [[crossed-out]]at other places[[/crossed-out]] in water as much as 12 to 15 inches deep, neither of which he could possibly takeoff from, and he was plauged [[plagued]] by incessant rains over much of the route. 

After a brief rest in Florida, Fowler started flying exhibitions and on February 24th flew at Gainesville, Florida. He then went to Waycross, Georgia, for exhibitions there, and on February 28th carried his movie operator to take pictures from the air. He then flew to Atlanta, Georgia, where he remained for one week. On March 22nd he flew at Toma, Georgia, and from there [[crossed-out]]then[[/crossed-out]] continued to tour the South. In May he started north and was in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on May 17th.

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