December 16 - 31, 2017:
Check out the new map, a work in progress, you can zoom in and out, go full size at the lower left corner and if you click on a pin you see the campground name and general location.
Check out the new map, a work in progress, you can zoom in and out, go full size at the lower left corner and if you click on a pin you see the campground name and general location.
2017 was a great travel year, no accidents, breakdowns or broken bones. We traveled 7,460 miles through 14 states with our usual short hop mentality staying in 63 campgrounds along the way. Only 25 of these were private campgrounds, the rest were either State or County parks, National Forest, Corp of Engineers or Casinos.
This years travel path reinforces my opinion that there are great things to see and do just about everywhere in this country. I get very annoyed when I hear people say “What did you go there for” or “there’s nothing to see there but corn fields”. “Anti-destination” places like Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa come to mind that are loaded with hidden treasures if you leave the interstate highway and look around. The north woods area of Minnesota was also fantastic and the Lake Superior shoreline bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin. Check out the new map, a work in progress, if you click on a pin you see the campground general location.
This years travel path reinforces my opinion that there are great things to see and do just about everywhere in this country. I get very annoyed when I hear people say “What did you go there for” or “there’s nothing to see there but corn fields”. “Anti-destination” places like Nebraska, Kansas and Iowa come to mind that are loaded with hidden treasures if you leave the interstate highway and look around. The north woods area of Minnesota was also fantastic and the Lake Superior shoreline bordering Minnesota and Wisconsin. Check out the new map, a work in progress, if you click on a pin you see the campground general location.
In spite of the christmas lights, decorations, holiday get-togethers, extended happy hours, etc, I find it difficult to get into the christmas spirit here in Arizona. I would “sometimes” love to have a winter retreat, a small cabin in the north woods, stocked with supplies, where I could sit in front of a roaring fireplace or stove and watch the snow fall.
I learned of a new music venue in Tucson called the "House of Bards" where blues harmonica player “Harpdog Brown” was playing. He is a Canadian who has won prestigious awards for his blues harmonica playing in Canada and is currently on US tour. The publicity photo alone sold me on seeing him, but I didn’t have high expectations. He turned out to be great, far beyond expectations in every facet and one of the very best blues shows I have seen in recent memory.
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| Harpdog Brown and band were awesome, a word I hate to use lightly |
At this time of the year there are many pre Christmas parties in the campground. A neighbor held a sort of block party for campground “row M” and friends with about 40 people. It was a Mexican themed pre christmas party with some traditional singing, various Mexican foods and a Mexican punch. There were entertaining stories from a couple of guys who have worked and wandered around the Mexican back country with daring tales of dealing with the federales, the locals and the Narcos. In comparison, I’m feeling like I’ve lived a sheltered existence.
We visited the "University of Arizona Museum of Art" which had amazing stuff. My favorite was the somewhat controversial artwork titled "In Transit" fabricated of strips of trash paper that was glued together then painted over. It dealt with the social implications of trans-national migration and human rights in the borderlands region. The paintings were amazing, you had to look closely to see that it wasn't just a painting on canvas. The other amazing exhibit was the altarpiece of the Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the most important works of 15th century Spain. This is an amazing, priceless collection of religious paintings.
We visited the "University of Arizona Museum of Art" which had amazing stuff. My favorite was the somewhat controversial artwork titled "In Transit" fabricated of strips of trash paper that was glued together then painted over. It dealt with the social implications of trans-national migration and human rights in the borderlands region. The paintings were amazing, you had to look closely to see that it wasn't just a painting on canvas. The other amazing exhibit was the altarpiece of the Ciudad Rodrigo, one of the most important works of 15th century Spain. This is an amazing, priceless collection of religious paintings.
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| The art was amazing and the message strongly communicated |
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| Power to the people |
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| Really like this painting by Alexander Hogue |
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| Gallery entrance |
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| There is a lot to think about sitting in this room |
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| I now know where woman came from |
A couple of weeks ago at the 4th Street Winter Fair a man came up to me and asked to take a picture of me, this is the second time this has happened to me. The first time I was “supposed” to be Kenny Rodgers. This time it was scoutmaster Rick who was a dear departed boy scoutmaster, loved by all. I supposedly look exactly like him so a photo was taken to send back home to the kids. A few months ago while hiking a man said I reminded him of Jerry Garcia, that was ridiculous, I look nothing like Jerry Garcia, does everyone with a beard look like Jerry. Many years ago I really did look like Chuck Connors, It’s beginning to bother me some that all these people are dead ?
I just saw a rerun of the TV show “Frazier” where he went on the road trip with his father, his brother and Daphne in a Winnebago RV. It was a classic, hysterical, watch for a re-run. !
I subscribe to a website called the “Blues Festival E-Guide”. In a recent post, the death of Robert Bilbo caught my attention and as I read the accompanying story my memory returned of meeting him. I had traveled to Mississippi, following the blues trail, searching for the birthplaces of the blues. I was staying at the "Shack up Inn" on the former Hopson Plantation in an old wooden sharecropper’s cabin called the "Crossroads Shack", it was way cool !!! A few miles away was the town of Clarsdale, Mississippi where the famous Ground Zero Blues Club is located. In town is also the famous “Cat Head Delta Blues & Folk Art" shop” filled with everything blues oriented. I was the only customer in the store except for the clerk who was talking to a Chuck Berry looking black man. As I approached the counter, the clerk said, It’s your lucky day, the famous Robert Bilbo is here and he introduced me to him. He was very friendly and after recognizing me as a real blues fan told me about a place to go outside of town to hear good blues, said it was rough looking, but not to worry, it would be safe. I went to the area, which was very ghetto looking and decided no way, looking back now I now wish I had ventured in. I later googled Robert Bilbo and found him to be a very exciting flamboyant blues player to watch. The story about him the the Blues E-Guide is a classic and a nice tribute to him, he was definitely a loved blues man.
http://www.clarksdaletourism.com/blues/
http://www.clarksdaletourism.com/blues/
Next was native American music at the "Sea of Glass" in Tucson where I saw the
Cody Blackbird Band open for Keith Secola. Cody Blackbird is a great flute player and Keith Secola is a legendary Native American musician compared to Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. He played solo at first and then with a group of notable players he called the "Wild Javelinas". World renown classical guitarist, Gabriel Ayala, of the local Pacua Yaqui Tribe who performs at Desert Trails RV Park was part of the band. Keith Secola has a song that is said to be the most popular song on Indian radio called "Indian Cars, or NDN KARS". They joked about it as they had had car issues on the ride to the concert event. He has great stuff on You Tube with his Band of Wild Indians.
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| Keith Secola and the Wild Javelinas |
The pre Christmas Sunday Sessions at Borderlands Brewery put on by Kevin Pakulis and other talented musicians was a great one. A couple of people in the campground expressed interest in going which eventually ballooned into 15 people total. It’s funny to me how people in the campground tend to travel in groups, never solo like me. The Sunday Sessions are getting very popular, almost too crowded, I remember when it was just a few people.
I made it to a few Monterey Court shows, this monthly show called the "Spontaneous Sessions with Ed Eberlein" are a new favorite of mine.
I next attend the “Wooden Ball” music event at the Hotel Congress where several local bands play semi-acoustic. in other words not acoustic at all, but very good. I’m seeing some of these bands for the first time and kind go wondering where they play, I never see them advertised anywhere. A couple of them have been around for a long time but rarely play except on special occasions like this.
Ed Eberlein on left has a different special quest each month
I next attend the “Wooden Ball” music event at the Hotel Congress where several local bands play semi-acoustic. in other words not acoustic at all, but very good. I’m seeing some of these bands for the first time and kind go wondering where they play, I never see them advertised anywhere. A couple of them have been around for a long time but rarely play except on special occasions like this.
Leila Lopez had a great strumming technique and interesting voice
I haven't found the time to do much hiking this month, but managed to squeeze in a couple of short ones. Attached are a few photos from an interesting hike to a mine shaft off the King Canyon Trail.
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| I left the trail to hike deep into this wash |
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| These cactus will grow about anywhere if their roots can find a place to anchor like the crack in this rock wall |
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| These are real american indian petroglyphs in the area, I won't disclose their exact location |
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| Everyone loves to see stunted "crested" Saguaros |
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| I had to bushwhack into this beautiful area to get to the mine remains |
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| That's a big hole to fall into, but it is surrounded by a barbed wire fence which tore my jeans open ! No, I wasn't climbing over it ! |
The holiday social scene here is more than I can can handle and I tend to skip much of it. I could not evade the New Years Dance where the Bad News Bears Band played and I will say it was fun for the sake of domestic tranquility. A few of our Canadian friends at the New Years dance had fun singing the Canadian Anthem with a US flag, it's good the border patrol didn't see them !
Happy New Year and welcome to 2018;
Twinkles and Slick
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