After the house sold I spent too many days packing and loading the big yellow monster and the Airstream to the top (yep even after two estate sales and one huge dumpster I still have too much stuff), we were off to Omaha.
It was sad leaving David Marks behind. In the last few weeks he had become part of the family and without his help we wouldn’t be here today- at least not here and nearly as sane. Thanks again Dave we will see you down the road. On a snowy Tuesday morning I left Santa Fe behind and headed north, up to Boulder to see my son, Jesse at school at Naropa. Then eastward across the Plains on Interstate 80 toward Omaha. Through the snow, rain hail and missed pee stops the three of us pushed on. Scott, behind the wheel of the big yellow monster while I were snug in the cab of the dodge. The photographs of the Land Yacht on the front page of the website are Scott’s images as he followed us into the heartland of America. Scott, I still see those tired somewhat stressed eyes in my mirror and at night the wind begins to sound like your voice ever whispering in my ears “aho David I really gotta pee.” Thanks brother with out you we would not be here. Aho Scott!
Loaded and ready to go
I arrived at Dan and Joyce Templeton’s studio in Omaha. I had become one with the big reflective light source that was following me across America and Scott learned how vital a wide necked bottle was with all the missed pee stops.
Now the work began setting up a base camp in the exact middle of the country. One I could reach in two days from anywhere. ……
Dan and I cooking up a storm
March 18, 2004 – 10:10 PM
In only 12 daysI were done and bid farewell to Omaha, still heading eastward toward Connecticut and a short visit with my parents and a few visits to my gallery in Katonah and I’d be on my way. After a visit for a day or two with my folks and spend some time With June, Myron and Elizabeth at the Gallery then off toward the warmth. I needed a few days on the beach in the sun…… but as with all adventures one never knows
The Old GM Auto Plant in Tilton Ohio
Is it an omen my first photographs of the trip are of an old auto plant that is being torn down.
March 19, 2004 – 10:16 PM
Springfield Ohio, the Holiday Inn and Banjorama! Thanks to my good friend and collector Don Moritz we discover this classic Banjo event. Three days of Banjos in the halls, the rooms, the entire hotel rang from the strumming of Banjos. Now if you don’t like the sound of a banjo being played this could be your idea of hell. But just before leaving Santa Fe, I’d picked one up and decided I would learn to play it. So this was a great time for me. Learned a great deal and met many fascinating people. Heard so much great music as well.
All the Banjo Boys in Bill’s Limo
March 22, 2004 – 10:23 PM
Arrived at the Airstream Plant in Jackson Center Ohio. For anyone who loves Airstreams you gotta see this. Not only are they still making them there, the small town resonates “Airstream”, but they have many of the old classics in various stages of restoration. I even got to see one of Wally Byam’s Gold anodized vintage Airstreams! As Casper Ihle, one of thier fine technicians, went over my Classic 1960 Land Yacht, I got to meet with Tim Champ, the Marketing Director, Jim Parrett the Service Coordinator and Rick March the Shop Manager. It was a great discussion, learning about the history and folk lore of the Airstreams and sharing the ideas we have for our trip. Their website is www.airstream.com. I recommend you check it out.
In case your interested:
Wednesday, June 2nd through Sunday, June 6th 2004 The Airstream Homecoming Festival is just around the corner! People will be coming from all over the country and the world to Jackson Center, Ohio, for five days of all-out Airstream fun. Open to all Airstreamers, there will be plenty of food, entertainment, games and Airstream history. You can even test drive and tow a new Airstream!
photo by airstream from their archives
March 25, 2004 – 10:25 PM
Easton Ct. by early afternoon. Still cold, still rainy and this small ache starting in my back…… Mom and Dad standing at the doorway watching as I pull up in front of their house all fifty feet of my traveling circus!
Have you seen The Long, Long Trailer with Lucille Ball? If not rent it and follow us down the road. If you’ve seen it and remember the scene when Rickie has to back their trailer down Lucille’s Parents driveway you’ll understand why I sent my Parents back into the house, behind closed doors, before I started my first long haul backup adventure. Parked outside my Parents garage I had no idea it would sit there for 21 days. Spend the first week seeing a physical therapist in Katonah NY and stretching out my back as the small ache developed into a huge muscle spasm. Then the new floor took much longer and on and on and on……
The Land Yacht in front of the Breweter House
April 15, 2004 – 11:24 PM
Tax Day great day to start the trip! Looking back as I leave the driveway there are Mom and Dad again, this time waving goodbye. It’s been a great visit but time to move on. As I head west, in the early afternoon light I felt the journey had begun.
Seems a fitting day to let go of all the restraints that I’ve been holding on to for so long. Left my parent’s in Easton Ct. early afternoon through New York on route 84 heading West and passed Walden, New York- oh joy lets go see Walden Pond and make a photograph and I am off to a fine start on the adventure until I remembered that the Walden Pond I’ve been dreaming about was in Massachusetts, not New York so once again I headed West on 84 toward the setting sun and Pennsylvania. Down 209 through the Delaware Water Gap, just starting to come into Spring but no camp grounds open as of yet so I found myself at The Pine Hill Campground on old route 22 in Kutztown Pa. for the night. The sun set on the edge of the Blue Ridge Mountains as I pulled into the Pine Hill Campground. It’s been the first real day on the road. After leaving New York I drove on secondary roads (finally)
and tomorrow are headed toward Pennsylvania Dutch Country and back roads all day.
April 16, 2004 – 11:24 PM
Woke up early and photographed. Driving through Bush heading toward Intercourse it truly feels like the trip has begun. Folks you meet in trailer parks are truly friendly and I’m thinking there are a lot of great images to be made of them.
I ate a home style Amish meal at the Stultzfus Family Farm in Intercourse, Pa. and wondered at all the laundry blowing in the wind from laundry lines attached to barns on this Friday (wash day)
DMK with first negative developed in Land Yacht
at the “we trust you take what you want and put money in the box”- no sales people
DMK “so where’s the box?”
April 17, 2004 – 11:25 PM
Meandered all day past many great trout streams and almost stopped to fish. So much great country to see once you leave the interstates behind.
April 18, 2004 – 11:26 PM
On to Ohio and just above me is Wisconsin, well not just above us but close enough and that’s where they make the ramps for the Indian. I forget how it feels to drive thought he summer days with the windows open and the hot air rushing by. Or better yet on the bike 18 inches above the black top. The last 2 days have been in the 80’s and so sunny and so many bikes on the road I have to get mine out of the pick up so if I jam we can be there Monday and still make Omaha in time to make the prints I need for the galleries in the east. Special thanks toPercy for his kind gift. So tonight we camp at Buckeye Lake and tomorrow on to Wisconsin.
DMK working on journal and Henry
