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!

Get yer motors runnin’ in Sturgis, SD

Touring with my musician hubby has opened my eyes to so many wonderful places.
But, by far one of my favorite places would be
the Sturgis bike rally.
I saw things that I never wanted to see, smelled things I never wanted to smell and just in general, reconfirmed my desire to not ever attending said rally.

Leather reigned supreme. Cows everywhere shudder when they hear that the Sturgis ‘get together’ is just around the corner. I felt quite awesome in my Vans tennis shoes, plaid shorts and tank top. Really awesome.

Streets were blocked off and labeled, ‘Motorcycle Only’. Motorcycles ruled and cars drooled-buses with long haired hippy freak musicians were the worst droolers of all….I saw butt chaps (don’t ask), halter tops and several near misses on the highway between chopper and automobile. Here are a few examples of what you can get into trouble for at Sturgis:
Ordinance Code & Bond Amount

Indecent Exposure
#12.0802 $111.00

Deposit of Filth (one of my favorite infractions)
#12.0601 $86.00

Dog Running at Large
#1.0209 $56.00

Use of Sound Amplification Device:
#13.0116 Court Appearance Req.

Driving on Bike Path / Sidewalk
#14.0303/16.0216 $111.00

Exhibition Driving
#16.0225 $66.00

Carrying pistol or revolver without a permit
#22-14-9 Custody Arrest

Illegal Handlebar Height (probably my favorite infraction
#32-20-3 $20.00

taken from (http://www.sturgis.com/police.html)

At any given point, a group of cool bikers can/will stop in the middle of the highway for no reason whatsoever, causing the sissy autos that are traveling 65 m.p.h. to screech and swerve recklessly. The day we were there, there had already been 16 deaths.

Everyone converges here, happy that they made it alive. Where I come from, a buffalo chip is not a place you want to hang out at. To each his own….

And if you get bored of biking, there are many ‘family-friendly’ activities that you can participate in.

I don’t even know what to say.