April 19, 2004 – 11:26 PM
Made it! The further north I went the colder, windier and rainier it got. Arrived at the camp about 10:30 last night totally tired and depressed. So much for the summer weather. Great folks at Discount ramps.com. www.discountramps.com . But it’s just an office, all the products are made else where. I guess the .com should of forewarned me. But Jeff was able to find us a ramp in the back room and it almost fits in the pick up so again I am on my way and now can get the bike off the truck. And the rain pours down, who would want to ride in this weather?
April 20, 2004 – 11:27 PM
April 20 kelloge
Rain, Cold, Wet. Cruel trick. Can now get the bike off the truck. But as I sit in the land yacht with morning coffee I’m content to be rocked by the wind and hear the music of the rain on the aluminum shell of our house. The land yacht is very aware of her surroundings and passes them on to her occupants. No bike riding today. But at least I can now get it off….. Good day to stay in bed and read. Or just sit by the window and watch the storm outside and work on the journal. Soon I’ll have the darkroom stuff set up in the Land Yacht and on days like today I’ll do darkroom work. Still learning the magic of the road and the ways of slowing down. Do need to get to Omaha to get the prints done for back east and it’s hard to let go of those feeling of “have to”.
there is a lot of road ahead and plenty of time…..
March 30, 2003
Cheyenne, Wyoming
Whew…. 10 days in Omaha printing large prints and I am back on the road again. All the things that could, do, and will go wrong in a new pt/pl. darkroom didn’t. Despite the huge change in humidity, altitude, all the other atmospheric and emotional changes printing was a breeze. The paper coated better than ever and the blacks were the riches I’ve seen. All due to the increase in humidity within the new darkroom I’m thinking. The fact that the darkroom is also that laundry room adds to the natural increase in humidity. At first it scared the hell out of me but after my first printing session I can say it is a good thing. I do wonder what will happen next time…. But as Rudiak was fond of saying, it’s all good.
A personal not to Joyce and Dan, if you’re not totally sick of me and are looking for more of me by reading this special thanks to you for your warmth, friendship, hospitality and the space to work. Without you two this trip would be so very much harder. It’s hard to come off the road to print large work and knowing I will get to spend some time with the two of you (as well as Don, Bryce and Andrey) makes it a joy to come to Omaha.
For those of you who would like to know more about the folks in Omaha who have opened their workspace and home to us check out:
www.templetonstudios.com
www.brycebridges.com
www.justindavid.com
www.andreymikityuk.com
Did get the bike off the truck!!!!!! Road around Omaha a bit and it felt good. Felt a bit like Evil Kenevil driving it back up the 8 foot ramp to a height of almost 4 feet. Very macho but its back in the truck again and now we know it’s more than do able.
Ride from Omaha to Cheyenne was beautiful but uneventful. Spring has arrived; all the trees and plants are painting a new, fresh color scheme over america. Such a lovely shade of green.
Tomorrow on to Boulder and a quick visit with my son, Jesse than into New Mexico. I’m gonna hang around New Mexico in the Land Yacht for a few days, take care of some unfinished business in Santa Fe and make some photographs.
DMK riding on I-80 Eastbound by Dan
DMK and Dan going to dinner
DMK and Dan at Dinner
May 2, 2004
Longmont C0
Amazing to ride the bike over the plains of Colorado and up into the mountains. Traveled about 50 miles today, made a photograph on The Left Hand River, above Boulder and had brunch at The Jamestown Mercantile. A small mountain town about 20 miles above Boulder. Great old mountain town café with live bluegrass music and photographs of the whole town at last years 4th. of July Picnic, all posed in a field around the towns two volunteer fire trucks. Also got to visit with Jesse and do a photograph of him at Naropa. Tomorrow new tires for the truck and then heading South towards New Mexico.
DMK offloading bike in Colorado
At the Summerlan RV Park just outside Raton New Mexico. Amazing to be back in New Mexico. As soon as you cross the border the skies change the clouds grow and the earth feels different. I will always think of New Mexico as home. The sprit of the land and the sky seem to know the boarders man have created.
Met and photographed Tom and Lee Gibbons from Texas. They have been living at Summerlan for a year now in their 1973 33 ft Airstream. Look for them in the Gallery section in the coming days. Great people. It’s been interesting how people who live on the road approach life with a different outlook. Much more friendly and there for you. Much to learn from them and the miles ahead.
Tom and Lee Gibbon”s Airstream
Tom and Lee Gibbons
Tom inside his Airstream
Out on the Galesto Road heading east toward Highway 41 again as the sun sets. Did a great image tonight, will be in the Gallery section soon. New Mexico is surely a picture postcard, but what lies beneath the postcard? It’s interesting to be in Santa Fe and photographing. Not being here everyday has opened up my vision again and I am seeing the landscape as I did when I first arrived some 14 years ago. Good to be traveling familial roads again but look forward to the discovery that’s in front of me.
out the rear view mirror
Big Cactus Raton New Mexico
First processing of negative in the Landyacht. Much different than the old darkroom. Learning how to work in smaller space is a challenge. But it works, and with a few more refinements it will all go as smooth as in the big darkroom. Thank God for Polaroid type 55 p/n film. Next step printing??
May 23, 2004
Shot out of Santa Fe today going 100 miles an hour with an escort from our friend Dwight, the quintessential hair dresser/biker boy (see below). Hard to believe I have been in Santa Fe 19 days. I regrouped and got a lot of things tightened up on the Landyacht. Even made a few great images around the Galesto Road. Tonight back in Raton at the Summerlan RV Park visit with Tom and Lee then Tuesday off to Boulder to help Jesse fine a new abode.
Dwight in the lead as we leave Santa Fe
Lucinda and Ady Avira with catfish at Raton
Shady Grove Campground
Left Boulder around 3 this afternoon. Got Jesse squared away at school for the fall and helped him find a new apartment. Six days seems to be a long time to spend in one place now a days. But as usual it was great to hang out with him. As I head east then south into Texas and toward the Gulf and the beach, he’s off on a road trip to California, Remember back in February, when I left Santa Fe I was heading to the beach. Now 4 months and 7 thousand miles later I think I may be there in a few days.
In the last six day, while I was staying at the St. Vrain State Park in Longmont Co. (remember there are no camp grounds or RV parks in Boulder) I made one image. I photographed one of the trout ponds as I was leaving the park for the last time.
Now out onto the Great Plains again and into a storm that surrounded me around Strasburg Colorado and made for some images that felt good. Feels good to be back on the road and working again.
dmk shooting in Colorado
Dmk Jesse and Henry
Jesse’s Plan for the world
Jesse and Henry by The Left Hand River
Photographed the Beat the Heat Drag Races and the Abilene Drag Strip this evening. What a great idea, Cops, Firefighters and EMS folks getting together and drag racing for education. Great Cars (hopefully see the gallery section soon) mostly old ones like 57 Chevyç—´, older Ford Falcons and the like- all set up with light bars and the works. Their web site is www.beattheheatinc.org
at the starting line
