All the way to Memphis

Hey Gang,

 Lately I am not sure what has gotten into me as I have been running on time.  Ruth and I had everything packed and just about ready when Paul arrived at 9:30.  We even arrived on time at 1pm to pick up Dan in Columbus.

But before that though we ran into a glitch with the GoGo Bus.  We stopped at the corner market by my house for last minute snacks.  We came out and the Bus wouldn't start.  I played with the wires and nothing.  As I am under the dash a car stops.  I look up and don't pay to much attention because someone is always coming up to it.  At first didn't recognize him but did a double take and notice its my brother.  .

My brother gets out and asks whats up.  He was on vacation and just coming from the vet down the street.  What timing that he should pass at that exact time.  He gives me a jump, the Bus starts right up.  I told Paul as long as we get to Memphis I don't care what happens once there.  Paul said well you won't believe this but I just prayed seconds before your brother pulled up. 

 

All the way to Memphis and back the bus ran fine, never a glitch with the starting again.  Plus it averaged a whopping 13 mpg which is better that the high 11's and low 12's it was getting. 

My goal was to try and be in Memphis no later than 11.  We passed Cincinnati right on schedule and I started thinking I can do but then about sixty miles or so from Louisville traffic just stopped then crawled.  Road work.  We asked a few truckers what was up but no one had a clue but two women did.  They said this back up is for miles, follow us, we are exiting next exit and taking the old route in.  So that's what I did and it cost me over an hour and half or more.

What happened was I decided to forget the old and find an alternative way back to the freeway, Rt. 142 to 55 which is a twisty country road back to 71.  Things went smoothly for awhile until Rt 55 when traffic was stopped again for an extra wide semi pulling a house.  Every so often it would pull over and let oncoming traffic through.  This was worse than the mess on the highway.  So alternative route 3.  That's how we lost time and threw us off our pace. 

Our arrival time of 2:45 am wasn't bad though considering the stop to pick up Dan in Columbus, the traffic mess and the hard rain we ran into plus stopping every 200 miles to refuel because the Bus has a small tank.  So 745 miles in a slow moving house-car in 15 hours and 45 minutes ain't bad.

 

 I've had the GoGo Bus now for close to 15 years and I am still having fun with it.  At a gas station somewhere in Kentucky 4 cackling, silly women come up to me ask what is this, who are you with?  Next thing I know they are sitting in it taking pictures of each other.  They were from Indiana heading to Orleans.  If you're out there Hoosier Girls hope you are well and still smilin' and laughin'.

Gotta GoGo!

Carey

 

 

 

any bed bugs large b ug

 

 

 

    large bangs  bad noise when sleeping

 

saw graceland in the middle of junk stores

 

 

mlk

 

cable car tracks in road

 

slept well

 

nashville is no longer a country city

 

crazy busy  chain restaurants

 

laugh time, man in yarfd working on car

 

gloominess of place  eery driving up

 

time warp smell

woke to oldies on the radio

look out restuanrant asked waitress if its the name because of the lookout or because the food is so bad you need to look out

 

both, scenery and food is bad

 

paul asked for church waitress said go to my dads church

 

small baptist church, firey preacher

 

weird manner of joining

 

off to mammoth cave

 

world heritage site

 

oaul got sick

gas cap

Good Bye - Look Out

Hey Gang,

I did not have time to write things as they happened so I will play catch up.  How ever I did manage to make notes.  I will include the notes with each posting and as I write will fill them in.

 

Currently I am at Look Out Restaurant writing as Ruth, Dan and Paul pack and I finish my morning breakfast of coffee and orange juice.  That should get me going.

 

The purpose of the trip was to attend the Constitution Party Convention being held in Memphis.  When I agreed to attend it at the state convention last fall my hopes were my wallet would be filled and gas stabilized to somewhat affordable levels.  Well my wallet is only half full and gas has risen so I was very hesitant on going to Memphis.  State Chairman Don emailed and said Dan from Columbus needs a ride maybe we could car pool it.  The gas to Tennessee and back would be about $450.  Even with Dan things would be tight.

 

  After some pondering who would want to go to Memphis Ruth said ask Paul.  Now here is the neat thing or you could say God orchestrated.  Paul recently retired and is looking to start a new career in home healthcare.  Paul told me he hopes he can do it. Dan in Columbus is somewhat handicapped and most of the time in a wheelchair.

 

Now don't read into this as I am using anyone.  Dan needed a ride, splitting expenses would benefit him, Paul coming along with help Dan and help me with expenses and Paul would experience helping someone and get to go to Memphis for cheap, win win for everyone.

 

No time for correction or to end this they are packed and ready to head out..

 

Gotta GoGo!!!

 

Carey

 

  left on time

 

grabbed last minute goodies

 

bus wouldn't start

 

Paul prayed

 

Craig showed up

 

bus ran fine

 

made it om time to grab Dan

 

bus running fine, making it on time

 

whan road construction

 

 

off the freeway

 

 

rt 142 to 55

 

on 55 traffic stopped for exxtra wide vehicle

 

 

 

finally back on after costing us an hour plus

 

silly ladies at gas station

 

 

rain

 

made it at 2:45

 

 

 

any bed bugs large b ug

 

 

 

    large bangs  bad noise when sleeping

 

saw graceland in the middle of junk stores

 

 

mlk

 

cable car tracks in road

 

slept well

 

nashville is no longer a country city

 

crazy busy  chain restaurants

 

laugh time, man in yarfd working on car

 

gloominess of place  eery driving up

 

time warp smell

woke to oldies on the radio

look out restuanrant asked waitress if its the name because of the lookout or because the food is so bad you need to look out

 

both, scenery and food is bad

 

paul asked for church waitress said go to my dads church

 

small baptist church, firey preacher

 

weird manner of joining

 

off to mammoth cave

 

world heritage site

 

oaul got sick

gas cap

Belated Happy Easter, I am out of here

Hey Gang,

I am out of here for a 5 day jaunt to Memphis, Tenn., Mammoth Cave, Ky and then Louisville, Ky our final stop.  OK maybe if I see a garage sale or three I may stop but that’s it. 

I never had the chance to send out an Easter message as I normally do.  My writing time was taken up Friday night because I wanted to vent about Check Point Charlie in Willoughby Hills, then Saturday we celebrated Easter at my sisters which I still protest even though all of us had a good time because Easter Sunday is suppose to be on… Easter Sunday and then Easter Sunday the official Easter Sunday Ruth and I attended service and then headed to Hometown Buffet with Jeff B..

  The three of us had a real fun time at Hometown.  Of course we over ate.  On one trip to the buffet Ruth met a gentleman from Slovenia who asked her what nationality she was.  He told her he spoke many different languages and thought she was Japanese.  Later on it was Jeff who returned and said I just met a gentleman who speaks many different languages.  I interrupted is he from Slovenia?  YES!  Ruth met him already.  He also told Jeff a joke but Jeff couldn’t repeat it so it must have been quite naughty.

 My second trip to the buffet I stood in front of the salad buffet playing guessing games with the dressing.  Hometown didn’t have time to switch the signs from breakfast/lunch to supper so the dishes were mislabeled.  Standing behind me was a man just staring into space.  He looked as lost as I did, sort of like we both entered a huge busy airport terminal looking for our check in.  After playing with one salad dressing for awhile he said that’s a bbq based dressing. Yuck thanks for telling me.  You are the third person I had to tell.

I sit back down at the table and told them I spied the Slovenian man that speaks all those languages.  He was talking, his family stared and the waitress had her mouth open, I bet it was that naughty joke.

Jeff and I got on the topic of doom and gloom and how good the food was.  The man who explained the salad dressing to me was sitting next to us came over.  He joined in and agreed with our discussion.  Before entering something told me to grab a brochure on the Constitution Party.  The man gladly accepted it.  He explained he didn’t want to get out, he gets anxiety in large crowds but his friend asked to go out.  I said don’t talk to me then I give people anxiety all the time.

Before leaving our table Mark, that was his name, told us the real reason why he came over was not to talk but to tell me I look like a young Peter Gabriel, has anyone told you that?  Nope, Boy George but not Peter Gabriel.  Mark went for more food and we got up to leave.

As we were walking away Marks friend called me over.  He had to be in his 80’s.  I thought maybe he wanted to tell me thanks for talking to Mark or he agreed with me politically.  Instead the man asked do you know about the Big Band era, do you know who Gene Krupa is from the Big Band era?  Why sure, probably the best drummer of all time.  Well let me tell you, has anyone ever told you you look like a young Gene Krupa?  Nope.  Serious you look just like a young Gene Krupa.  I said thanks, I guess it was a compliment, his name was Chester. 

I told Ruth and Jeff lets get out of here, the lady in the next table is even older and she may think I look like someone from the silent movie days.

We ended the night at my place watching the King of Kings.  For its time it was I guess a major movie but seeing it now… well the message and what its about is what matters. 

Belated Happy Easter Everyone

Gotta GoGo!!

Carey

last installment from the Dayton trip

  From my last blog posting: We left to find me something to eat and head back to our hotel rooms. 

Continuing on

I needed to eat so a quick drive through Yellow Springs but nothing was open on a Saturday night which was strange seeing that it is a college town.

  I told Jimmy who took the reigns over of the car to avoid the highway in hopes of finding something open, preferably Chinese.  We went in one big loop passing one entrance to the freeway and ending miles down the road at another entrance.  I spied a strip mall and said HEY there’s a chink place, supper was in view.

  The name of the place was Timmy’s Wok in Fairborn.  We made it just in time.  I ordered something I was not familiar with Sa Cha Chicken.  And it was chacha good.  Loved it.

  I swallowed the food in the hotel room and off to sleep before the dancing elephants in the room above started again.  Walt & Jimmy would be waking about 10 to head to the dance contest the main reason for the trip to Dayton.

  The rest of the trip is anticlimactic other than what I wore, I mean it wasn’t that bad but just wasn’t right for the occasion. I first noticed my attire combination was wrong when we went to eat at an Amish place on the way down.  People looked up and stared.  What did I wear?   I decided for ole time’s sake since I was travelin’ with Walt to grab my leather jacket that isn’t worn nearly as much anymore.  In years past that’s all me & Walt wore, our leather jackets.  For shoes I wanted to be comfortable on the trip so I wore my Kashi sneakers.  

   Now let me tell you about my Kashi Kicks.  For those who don’t know what they are according to Wikipedia Kashi Kicks is an American footwear company based in Pittsburg, Pa. that produces unique sneaker designs.  The shoes are endorsed by a number of members of the hip hop and professional athletic communities.  That’s the definition.  So why do I have a pair.  Well I went to Gabriel Brothers to buy a pair of work shoes but I saw these glittering flashy blue sneakers and had to have them.  And yes they do sparkle.

 So I wore my old black leather cycle jacket with the glitzy sneakers.  I was comfortable even though the jacket and sneakers clashed but when I went to the dance contest filled with young girls from the age of about 5 to 17 with glittering dance costumes I felt uncomfortable.  I waited in the cafeteria of the school for most of the dance contest where the parents and the girls were.  I am sure the parents had to think OK what is this guy doing hanging around in a black leather but… his glittering sparkly shoes…  naw he can’t be in the competition…. Can he?

   The End.

Gotta GoGo!!

  Carey

Clifton Opera House - Ma Crow - Brian

 Time moves so quickly.  It is already a month since the trip to Dayton.

I was telling you in my last posting that we were going to peak in the Clifton Opera House, something I always wanted to do but every time in Clifton Village it was closed.  

So let’s continue…

We finished our meal at the Clifton Mill and took off to investigate or look in the Clifton Opera House.

The billing on the outside showed that Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers were playing.  Advertised for the following week was One Hot Minute followed by Banjo-rama.  Sure sounds like a hokey good time to me, right up my alley or should say our alley as Walt loves the same kind of entertainment.

  We entered and the band was already playing.  I told the man in the ticket booth we just want to peak in but Walt interjected and had other plans.  He said well I want to stay, give me three tickets.  I said well I won’t argue with him if he wants to stay we will.  I was excited to finally be in the place. 

  The guy who took our money gave us a bit of info on the opera house.  He said it was built in 1893 and tonight we have a bluegrass band playing, Ma Crow and the Lady Slippers from Cincinnati.  He added there’s a balcony to make sure I look up there.  So that’s where we headed, up to the balcony to find a seat.

  The place is not that ornate but has such a great nostalgic small town feel of yesteryear and the backdrop of the stage was terrific.  The band was really good that just added to the feeling.   If you love folksy bluegrass music you would enjoy Ma Crow. 

  Halfway through their set the band took a break.  During the break they had a raffle.  The first number was called out but no one responded.  They repeated it a few more times and waited for the winner to come up by the stage.  No one did so I yelled out well if I would of bought a ticket that would have been my number.  I got one loud cackle out of it but the rest kept quiet.  The number remained unclaimed so they pulled another number.  As they did Walt said HEY that’s why our entrance tickets have numbers - that was my number they called.  Too late.

  After the raffle Walt wanted to see what the band had for sale and take some close ups of them.  It was even better than that as we got up on stage with Ma Crow for a photo op, great bunch of girls. 

 They have been playing individually for years but together for about 3 years.  We took our seats for the final set. 

  I got up for coffee and the ticket taker along with a woman were behind the snack bar.  I ordered coffee and he said you take it like me.  I told him how much I was enjoying myself and he said come here.  I went behind the counter and he gave a pamphlet on upcoming shows.  I noticed his ball cap had Jesus on it so I formally introduced myself.  His name was Brian and he manages the place. 

  I haven’t made a good connection like this in sometime and let me tell you meeting Brian was a good connection actually excellent.  We briefly talked a little politics and religion right before the band ended.  Brian turned up the lights and quickly made it back to the entrance/exit to bid the patrons goodbye.  I stood next to him and each one leaving Brian either mentioned their name or said something to them.  Most he joked with and of course I chimed in. 

   We hung around a little after everyone left; spoke with the band some more and exchanged emails with Brian.  One other thing about Brian I like, he drives a mid 60’s flat nose Chevy van.  How cool is that! 

 He told me if every in the area again I have a place to stay and to make up for the lost prize Walt should of won, he gave us passes to see a show. 

 Thanks Brian for hospitality!!

   We left to find me something to eat and head back to our hotel rooms.

                   Gotta GoGo!!

                     Carey