April 9th. 2005
Turtle Bayou Texas
Just ran across Ric Seaberg’s site
Great Rock and Roll check it out
click on link below
http://www.ricseaberg.com/
Back here again…… Seem to be repeating patterns in my life. Do like it here and will get to go to VR’s Church in the morning so that makes it just right.
Left Heather in Portales after a short visit with Mr. Jack Carr (her granddad). He’s doing better since the stroke but it’s a long road back. Then headed down back roads toward Houston and the BIG PRINTS.
Traveled small roads for the first time coming this way and am still amazed by how beautiful the country here is. Rolling hills and lush greens fly by at 50 mph. Stopped in Mason, Texas a really great small town, then through Fredericksburg a larger town with many galleries, antique stores and a Starbucks! Would like to spend more time in this area perhaps find a place to stay and work for a while, but that’s down the road fer sure!
Arrived in Houston and set up camp in Joan and Jerry’s back yard. Had a great week of printing and meeting folks. Even got to spend some quality time lying in the grass with Henry. Finally it’s warm! Spent most days barefoot and in a tee shirt, it’s a great time of year to be in Houston. Don’t think I’d like July and August though! Sister Reddie, Bed Gordon Nebraska and Baby are now all 40 x 50 inch prints. They are awesome fer sure! It’s truly amazing to see them so large.
On the way down I noticed the running light were off on the trailer so a stop to investigate was in order. Opened the trailer door to acid electrical smoke and a shorted out battery with burn marks on the wood floor where the wires had been. It was a two hour stop to rewire the battery and electrics and then on the way again. Needless to say I carried the fire extinguisher in the truck with me and stopped all too often until we reached Houston. Upon arriving in Houston a safety check found that the main harness that holds the front axle springs in place has busted. That was a bit scary and a bit of a problem. The trailer is from 1960 who will have the parts? After a serious talk with myself- David Hylton came to mind. David is VR’s son and a very good man with metal. He owns a welding and fabrication shop a few miles east of Houston. Sure enough a phone call to him and he was on his way over. Took measurements and fabricated the parts for me. Even put them on! God Love you David Hilton! So now the trailer is rewired and has a brand new harness. Better check out the brakes tonight…… Perhaps the bus will not be so much more maintenance?
Henry and I had a good walk along the bayou before I got set up and did some “small” 4×5 palladium prints this afternoon. A much needed reality check after working all week on the big images. There is something calming about working small. And working in the Palladium Medium as apposed to the computer realm. Painting on the emulsion, the handwork, it all goes into the final image and the interface with the materials as apposed to the computer suits me. But the big prints are quite impressive and give a whole new dimension to the work, which I truly like.
David Hylton hard at work
Santa Fe Skies
More Santa Fe Skies
Downtown Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
House Mason Texas
Just outside Mason Texas
March 27, 2005
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Following those small roads through Oklahoma, Texas and finally New Mexico.
It never fails to amaze me how whenever and wherever I cross the New Mexico State line within minutes everything changes, feels and looks different. There is a magic, a spirit here in New Mexico that I have not found anywhere else. Something’s happening here…..
Arrived mid afternoon, yesterday, to snow falling and majestic New Mexico Skies. The snow was one of New Mexico’s quite fluffy ones where the snow just floats down to cover the world. Pinion and Juniper trees become white regal beings against the dark skies and the cottonwoods become white ice trees etched into the night sky. The rv park is just down the road from my old house so the views are all too familiar but never the less the magic is cast, the journey into the night begins. If you’re really lucky you’ll hear more than see the great white owls fly by just above your head. The night snow brings a peace and warmth to this land. It holds down the juniper and pinion smoke and surrounds the villages in timeless incense from the wood fires within the old adobe homes. Had hoped to go out and photograph but the flu bug is still with us and could only lie in bed and watch out the window as the evening unfolded. Sometimes that’s enough.
Trains in Oklahoma
New Mexico Skies
Pullen into Santa Fe
March 25, 2005
Council Grove Lake
North Eastern Kansas
Left Omaha behind a little after noon today. The plan, what plan? That plan, was to be heading back to PA around the end of February. Well, only a few weeks late and going in the wrong direction so I guess I’m about where I should be. Heading toward Santa Fe to deal with tax business and then to Houston to do some new work with Jerry. Printing 3 of the trip images 40×50 inches. Then back towards Pennsylvania and the bus……
The trip seems to be become fragments of time between obligations I have to fulfill. After the Polish Show I hope the focus can again become the traveling as apposed to the destination. It becomes very distracting and dilutes the purpose of the trip. It feels easy though, to slip back into the drivers seat and head down the road. All good two-lane roads traveling through rolling hills and small towns of Nebraska and Kansas.
self portrait in Kansas
Still in Omaha finishing up the Poland Show only a few more days but here are some photographs Mike sent me of our time in Key West and Arizona…..
Alway enjoy traveling with him and his super lady Lorene and seeing how he sees and photographs as we travel together
aho Mike
February 16, 2005 – 6:52 PM
February 16, 2004
Elyse and Greg’s Farm
Austin Pennsylvania
Amazing past 6 days. Left Omaha on the 10th and once again boogied on the interstate arriving on the 12th in Austin PA. It’s a great little town feels a bit like Vermont. Elyse and Greg’s Farm has a great fishing river running through it and acres of fields and forests for Henry to explore. Feels more like visit friends than going to buy a bus, speaking of which…. Have spent the last few days getting to know the bus- seriously getting to know the bus- working out the kinks of it having sat for almost two years. First getting her started, draining fuel tanks and lines and changing oil. Then a new starter was in order. Going over the entire bus with Bud and starting internet searches for a paint shop and numerous other necessary steps to go through before I buy her. Still lots of unanswered questions but I know enough now to know I want to be able to get this bus on the road and that it will be a better live/work space. But it’s not ready to just drive back to Omaha and I still have to finish the work for Poland so it’s back to Omaha we go. Once the show and scans for the book are finished, hopefully in the next two weeks, it’s back to the farm to work out all the kinks and figure this all out……
Perry’s Store and our introduction to Austin
Henry, Heather, Elyse, Greg and me at The Farm
Yep, it looks like a bad starter to me whata da ya think???
Good local brew Thank God!
February 10, 2005 – 12:22 PM
February 10, 2005
Omaha Nebraska
This interstate driving is making me nuts! Arrived in Omaha yesterday, unloaded the airstream and had a good visit with Dan and Joyce then went to see Dan’s show at the Botanical Gardens and are on our way to Pennsylvania today. Dan’s show was great. It’s amazing how quickly he has picked up the digital negative process and the palladium printing process as well. Truly a beautiful show! Aho Dan!
Dan at His Show!
February 8, 2005 – 12:12 PM
February 8, 2005
Santa Fe Skies RV Park
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Back in Santa Fe, again! Just can’t quite seem to stay away from this town. Had a good trip over to Arizona. Discovered a new area around the town of Aguila, Arizona.
Great landscapes and people. Hope to return here when I have more time to explore. Also met Dave and Cleta who own the 1961 Western Flier we went to see. Great bus and a real contender but we still have to see the bus in Pa. Somehow without even seeing it in person it feels right to me. Almost wish the Western Flier had been magical enough to of made me say yes to it then the 4,000-mile trip to see the Flx bus would not be necessary.
Found the Wigwam Village Motel #6 in Holbrook Arizona! There are only two left that are open and this is one of them. Ws driving down I-40 and looked over to the South and saw a mess of tepi’s and had to go investigate. Was super surprised to find it there, along with lots of old vintage cars from the 30’s to the 50’s. Very Cool! The folks who run it are super friendly and you really should stay there. Their website is: www.galerie-kokopelli.com/wigwam/press.html
Right down the street is Kester’s Volkswagen. Another great place, so many VW’s in so many weird configurations.
All in all I’d run down I-40 past Holbrook numerous times and never thought twice. But once you get off the big road and start to explore all these old towns you find a history and uniqueness well worth the time spent. After this Pennsivlania trip, the bus registration (will have to go to New Mexico to do that) and the printing in Omaha I vow not to take another interstate until it’s time to go to Poland!
Wigwam Motel Holbrook AZ
Detail Wigwam Motel
Kester’s Volkswagen
Kester’s Volkswagen
February 5, 2005 – 11:42 AM
February 5, 2005
Becky’s Home
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Been here a few days and Uncle Phil’s surgery went super well and his recovery has been magical. Already he is tired of his “Babysitter” and has told me it’s time for me to continue the great Bus search. So it’s off to Arizona to see a possible bus and then on to Omaha and Pennsylvania.
Serious Chief
Playful Chief
January 31, 2005 – 11:34 AM
January 31, 2005
Rest Stop west of San Antonio Texas
The best laid plans……
Becky called to say Uncle Phil (Chief Crazy Bull) had a mild stroke and was going to have surgery in a few days and wanted me to come be there so we’ve been making a beeline to Albuquerque. Should arrive sometime tomorrow. Had planned on going down to the Big Bend area for a few weeks before going to Omaha but I guess Big Bend will have to wait. Just straight interstate driving for a while. Will head back to Omaha from Albuquerque and get the Poland Show done.
Was able to stop and visit VR and attend his Church on the was through East Texas. Always good to see him and pray with him. Thank you VR! Unfortunately Jean was sick so we only got to say hi to her through the screen door. Sure have made some good friends out there.
VR Hilton at Church
Can someone tell me where to find this????
January 28, 2005 – 3:21 PM
January 28, 2005
Ochlocknee River
Sopchoppy Florida
After leaving Arcadia we started to make a beeline towards Austin Pennsylvania to look at and hopefully buy what we hope will be out new bus. A little history…. Since we’ve decided to make the trip at least another year we have to get larger quarters to live and work. After a bit of research we fell in love with the old flex buses from the 1950’s and low and behold we found what looks like the perfect one. The rock group Raging Slab now owns it. Great music and you can learn all about them at:
www.ragingslab.com
The bus was built by Bud Hoover. Bud and his wife Judy lived in it for 17 years! If you look through the Internet you’ll find Bud all over as a very knowledgeable Flx bus person. Even built and ran a very fine Flx bus site, which is still up but no longer run by Bud:
http://www.flxible.net
Bud and Judy now run The Lookout up in Northern Pennsylvania. Check out their site at:
www.thelookout.biz
Needless to say we are super excited and can’t wait till the snow thaws out and we can go see her.
Anyway to make a long story short after seeing photos and lots of phone calls we headed north but by the time we hit Georgia, the weather had worsened in Northern Pa and it was decided we should put off the trip north until about mid-March to see/buy our new home. Seems the bus is under a bit of snow and lots more is expected with temperatures in the –3 degree range. Greg, from the band assured us that a small deposit would hold the bus until we arrived so we headed back down south… And here we are in Sopchoppy Florida and Heather wants to go to the Sopchoppy Opery after our anniversary dinner tonight, two years today! Aho
But back to the road. Last night we spent in The Okefenokee Swamp at the Stephen C. Foster State Park. Very cool good camps and they rent motorboats and canoes to go out in the Lakes (swamps) lots of turtles and alligators and rather inexpensive. Met up with Steve Donohue of Adirondack Guideboat Inc. They make some very cool wooden and glass boats. Look more like canoes but with oars that work like a rowboats’. Not too technical but you get the idea. Steve is from New Mexico but now lives in Vermont and builds boats during the summer and travels the highways seeking warmer weather and good fishing and boating during the cold months. He cooked us a great southwestern dinner. You can learn all about the boats at:
www.adirondack-guide-boat.com
This afternoon, just south of Tallassee we had hoped to stop and visit Missionary Mary Proctor. Joan and Jerry, from Houston, turned us on to her and her art. She is a very fine Folk Artist and runs the American Folk Art Museum and Gallery at 3919 The Woodville Highway. It runs south out of Tallassee. As we got close we gave her a call only to find out she was having an opening at The Smithsonian and she won’t be back until early February but by then we need to be heading toward Omaha. Oh well, perhaps the first trip in the Bus will be back down south to work with her I truly look forward to meeting her after seeing her art in Huston and her amazing space her in Florida. There are many sites that show her work on the internet, I recommend you look her up. The best site I’ve found on her is:
www.whohadada.com/maryproctor/maryproctor.html
Also met Randy J. Orton at the camp last night. Randy is on a pilgrimage to Caristas of Birmingham Alabama. Had a good time sitting around his camp getting to know him and made a great portrait of him.
The Bus….
The American Folk Art Museum and Gallery
The American Folk Art Museum and Gallery 2
Watch Dog The American Folk Art Museum and Gallery
steve and dmk at okefenokee swamp
3 cypress okefenokee swamp
3 trees okefenokee
trees okefenokee swamp
Aligator
Driving the boat Okefenokee Swamp
Heather on the boat
okefenokee swamp 1
trees okefenokee swamp
Randy J. Orton at the Ochlockenee River
Henry and Dmk at the Ochlockonee River
