Johnny (Cash) Knows What I Mean

This year has been a whirlwind of tours. We’ve crossed deserts, seen snowy mountains and experienced gorgeous sunrises. We’ve also seen some freaks, but met some nice peeps and overall-had a lovely 2010. Here are snippets of my top ten places we’ve visited from this last year.
I’ve been everywhere, man.

Number 1:
I love to play practical jokes on unsuspecting musicians. It helps them not take themselves too seriously. Plus, it makes me laugh.
Sort of a win-win.

Number 2:
Marfa, Tx is smack dab in the middle of nowhere. It’s filled with a unique art community that made us all feel right at home.

(photo courtesy of Malcolm Schuyl at http://www.wildvisions.co.uk)
Number 3:
I had a bit of a run-in with a snow goose while driving David Copperfield through the frozen tundra of Canada.

Number 4:
Visiting Sturgis, SD was quite the eye opener-complete with halter tops, leather chaps and helmets adorned with horns. Weird.

Number 5:
There are many things to love about Austin, Tx-and the  St. Cecilia Hotel tops the list.

Number 6:
Slapped in the face with a little dose of Mexican reality snapped me out of a pity party.

Number 7:
Biceps is a passionate man-especially when it comes to stage performance. So passionate, in fact, that he got scolded during a show for doing very naughty things.

Number 8:
My mother-in-law has a knack for searching out some of the coolest stores. She introduced us to a store called ‘Victory’, and it changed our lives.

Number 9:
I like to focus on the beauty found in each town we visit. But, there is a seedy underbelly that from time to time humors me.

Number 10:
There is much more Woodstock, NY than hippies. Much more.
I have enjoyed sharing our year of touring with all of you, my dear readers. I hope that you have seen some places you are inspired to visit, and perhaps some that you will avoid…
Happy 2011 to all of you!

A Tale of a Snow Goose and a Windshield

Bus drivers like to outdo each other with tales of their bus bursting into flames, losing a trailer while going 65 m.p.h., backing into the side of a building, pushing a dumpster through a restaurant, or going under a bridge that was too low for their bus. You know, the usual.
(photo courtesy of Malcolm Schuyl at http://www.wildvisions.co.uk)
I don’t have any of these tales. I am an ultra cautious driver.
In fact, one driver kindly reminded me that the gas pedal could be found on the right side.
However, do you see this cute bird above?

He’s not so cute when he flies straight into your windshield on a lonely stretch of the Canadian highway in the middle of the night.

This happened on the very last night of a very long 5 week tour. I was so ready to go home.
And then the kamikaze bird came into my life and scared the living daylights out of me.

 
I pulled myself together on the side of the road while picking glass out of my hair, eyelashes and house shoes. Yes, I drive in house shoes. Not very rock ‘n roll of me, is it?

Once I had calmed down, I drove several hours with my windshield like this, hoping to get everyone to the airport on time.

I dropped my group off, and instead of going home to Cowboy, my bed and a washing machine that didn’t require quarters, I spent the next several days at a Canadian truck stop with Biceps waiting for my window to be fixed.
And to be honest, we had a blast together decompressing after the long tour; biking throughout the scenic industrial park, walking the gravel path back and forth to the showers at the truck stop, meeting new and interesting people.
I suppose I have the snow goose to thank for this.

(photo courtesy of Malcolm Schuyl at http://www.wildvisions.co.uk)
May he rest in peace.