October
6th, 2005 |
October
7th, 2005 |
October
8th, 2005 |
October
9th, 2005 |
October
10th, 2005 |
October
11th, 2005 |
October
12th, 2005 |
October
13th, 2005 |
October
14th, 2005 |
October
15th, 2005 |
October
16th, 2005 |
October
17th, 2005 |
October
18th, 2005 |
October
19th, 2005 |
October
20th, 2005 |
October
21th, 2005 |
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We split Gallup early…around 9:30 and headed west towards
ominous cloud cover. The desert takes on eerie hues in the charged
pre-storm air. We crossed into Arizona and headed for the Petrified
Forest and Holbrook. By the time we neared them the heavens opened
up and let out a torrent that eclipsed any notion of outdoor sightseeing
or playing.
We went through Holbrook, checked out the Wigwam Motels and dinosaur
artifacts and continued on our way. Next stop was Joseph City,
which Craig Bushman had touted us about: one of the first settlements
in northern Arizona, once occupied by a group of people who had
crossed the Grand Canyon with wagons, having dismantled them and
blindfolded the animals and reconstructed the whole thing n the
opposite rim before traveling another hundred or so miles in the
punishing desert. (And I think I’m roughing it when I can’t
get a decent wireless signal!?) The old house his grandfather
built still stands in the nearly-deserted village.
Then to Winslow, yeah, that Winslow, standing on the corner is
taken rather seriously, and when I introduced the band as the
Beagles…they all either resented it or didn’t get
it…yikes. We visited and ate at La Posada, an incredible
hotel next to the train station, the only Harvey House still in
operation. If you don’t know what that’s about, check
out the Judy Garland movie…(Harvey Girls) and the waitresses
still wear the same uniforms. The place is nothing short of spectacular,
Pinto Pammy said it made her trip and frankly, considering her
sensibilities it isn’t a surprise.
Saw the most incredible rainbow against a magenta desert hillside
in Winona (I don’t think I’m upsetting anyone by saying
that when Bobby Troup said don’t forget Winona in his seminal
tune Route 66 he was seriously tongue in cheek). I don’t
think the picture does it justice but nonetheless, check it out.
The rain keeps a coming as we pack into the Weatherford Hotel,
and the temps are dropping,. I’m betting on snow tonight
but we’ll keep it warm in the Zane Grey Ballroom, swingin
till the Cow Boppers get home. I’ll let you know how it
turns out and maybe get a posting by one of the other cowhands.
Until then, keep swingin…
The gig went well, but the altitude is taking its toll, so the
hands aren’t up to any writing they left it to me. A bit
of snow feel along with heavy rain, freshening the frigid mountain
air. Hope it clears before morning, we got some tough going ahead,
qdown to the low desert, then over the mountains, a curvy and
treacherous road that send many a faint-hearted California-bound
traveler back to the Midwest…stay tuned
A reminder, (OK, don’t make
me beg here…pleeeze!): We’re out here doing this to
support JazzMasters Workshop, a no charge music-mentoring programs
for kids. Please consider a tax-deductible per-mile pledge, we’d
appreciate it. You can do it right from this site! Thanks!
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