I've been looking all over the Internet to find out how the real Alvin Straight ever managed to get home after visiting his Lyle, but have found nothing. Certainly he would not have driven the lawn mower back! If he had, then that would have been reported as well -- and possibly even have been included by Lynch in the film.
shareI believe his daughter collected him. Apparently, Alvin tried a similar journey later, but ill health cut it short.
If you ever get the chance to get to Laurens, Iowa (as I did a few years ago) the newspaper editor there is most enthusiastic about Alvin (assuming he's still there) and will be happy to talk about it. He has Alvin's mower and has a tradition of photographing visitors on it which he publishes in the paper.It was quite an experience for me when I went. (I live in the UK)
"None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free" - Goethe
Wow, you went quite a long way to see that. Did you meet anyone else related to the story?
shareWow, you went quite a long way to see that. Did you meet anyone else related to the story?
Did you see the other thread where some relative of Alvin's on Ancestry.com says he molested his daughter? What are your thoughts on that?
shareDid you see the other thread where some relative of Alvin's on Ancestry.com says he molested his daughter? What are your thoughts on that?
Do you honestly believe that Walt Disney Productions would have had anything to do with this if that were true?
shareHis nephew picked him up and took him back.
shareAlvin Straight's nephew, Dayne Straight, drove him back to Iowa on his pickup truck.[4]