But, I was hit by a deer instead!
Posted on Saturday, October 18th, 2008
Dang!!! I have a lot of catching up to do and I guess I’ll start with today and try to work my way back. So, we’re driving along I-90 headed towards Sioux Falls, South Dakota. The past week has been both testing and unforgettable in so many ways. I guess I should say that we’ve been quizzed on week #2 in the RV rather than saying we’ve been tested. And we passed. And I’d give us a good B+. If it weren’t for the normal stresses of traveling, I’d give us an A+. But those stresses also contribute to the many unforgettable memories that we’ve already made. The trip just wouldn’t be real without them and it often seems like those times bring purpose and open windows.
We spent this morning at Mt. Rushmore! We didn’t really spend much time there, which worked out because that gave us more time in Keystone, SD where we met Deb at the Golddiggers by Deb store! She gave us a bit of direction and invited us for a jam tomorrow night. She’s also a musician and as much as I wanted to stick around to jam, we had to get back on the road. But, we made sure to pick up some Black Hills gold for Ammie, and Deb helped us out by picking up a couple of CD’s. She also had a lot of good things to say about the band that I was fortunate enough to open for last night in Deadwood, South Dakota.
The world is ours.....
Mt. Rushmore 10/18/2008
Golddiggers by Deb ~ Keystone, SD
I had the privilege of opening for the Brandon Sprague Blues Band and had no idea I would be able to share the stage with such an incredible group of musicians. We drove into town 45 minutes late for the show (something which I work hard at making sure doesn’t happen), but John helped us to relax and get settled in. John is the owner of the Deadwood Tobacco Co. and the drummer for Brandon Sprague. He introduced me to the guitarist Walt who let me use his amp for my set and further made us out-of-towners feel right at home. Towards the end of my performance, their bass player Doug joined me on stage for a blind rendition of my songs Goody and Fossil. That guy can play. All of these guys can play. Brandon Sprague has a very notable history, as I’m sure the other members of the band have as well. Seriously, if you go to Deadwood, South Dakota, do not miss seeing them. I can easily say it’s the best blues that I’ve personally ever had the opportunity to hear.Check out this podcast……..freakin’ incredible:
<Insert B.Sprague Podcast>
with Doug from the Brandon Sprague Blues Band
Brandong Sprague Blues Band (from left: Ricky, John, Walt, Brandon & Doug)
The music has been great on my end too. I’ve been so inspired that I truly cannot pick up the guitar without writing. I’m doing my best to record what is going on in my head, but part of the beauty of music is that it’s not always supposed to be heard by many. Or even remembered for that reason. I’m learning so much every day and every day my eyes are opened more to our beautiful country. Which brings me back to Wyoming.
Thursday night was spent in Ten Sleep, Wyoming. We drove into Ten Sleep that morning after spending the previous night in Cody, WY recovering from a long drive through Sylvan’s Pass in Yellowstone Park and the deer that charged the side of the RV on the highway! It’s been crazy like that! One minute I’m white knucklin’ it through a snowy windy mountain top, and the next I’m swerving to avoid crazy deer. One of the nice drivers who pulled over to check on us said he saw it run off and it was okay. The deer did leave us a little souvenir sticking out of our side bin.
Deer lost his fur and he forgets.....
Thank you to the kind Wyoming folks for pulling over to check on us.
So, back to Ten Sleep. We showed up and met Marcus at the Big Horn Mountain Stage Company. He and his wife, Lori, own this awesome historical venue complete with the town’s only wooden urinal! But seriously, this is a venue that has shelves full of something for everyone and it reflects not only the history still lingering in the 1903 log frame, but the hard work and care that is being put into it today. Marcus and Lori moved to Ten Sleep four years ago because Lori had always wanted to move back to her hometown and they both wanted a simpler pace of life. So they opened the Big Horn Mountain Stage Co. and are currently completing the new pizza parlor addition. Marcus was showing me the stone fire oven when I met Tim who would join me on stage later that evening. We played quite a few tunes together and Ammie joined us for a couple too! More good people and this was one of the coolest stages I’ve played. They did a wonderful job with this venue.
They even designed this kickin' poster for the show!!
Playing with Tim at the Big Horn Mountain Stage Co. (Ten Sleep, WY)
The wonderful people of Ten Sleep, Wyoming (Marcus & Lori are next to Ammie)
I hope these pictures are an obvious sign of how incredible this trip has been. I truly wish I could spend a year in each town, but it’s all the more reason to keep going……and to keep going back. We’re still driving towards Sioux Falls. Ammie and I are learning to take our time and enjoy even the quietest moments on the highways. Gas is going down in price, the temperatures are going up, and the road remains unchanged yet unknown to us.
Man, you guys wear me out just reading all the stuff that’s going on. Glad to hear it still moving along. Bad generator, eh? Bummer.
That’s precisely why I move so much. I used to have this dream of living everywhere for just 6 months so I could experience the big bright beautiful world. Guess I’ll have to depend on your experience for a bit of it. Good stuff. Keep writing, both of you. xox