April 17, 2004
Becky’s Camp
Corrales New Mexico
Arrived a few days ago at Becky’s house in time to sweat and help get ready for Hanblecya, a very special Lakota Vision Quest Ceremony. Due to commitments in Santa Fe we were not able to help nearly as much as we would of liked but we did lend as much of a hand as we could. Was good to see Becky and Uncle Phil and sweat! Being in the lodge truly helps to re-center oneself and remember your own personal power. To withstand the heat, the darkness, the small space and ones own personal demons reminds us that we have tremendous power and that we have all we need to get through our daily lives.
After arriving in Corrales we discovered that even though David Hylton did a magical job on the one suspension support the other one, as a matter of fact the entire suspension system was shot. We discovered McBride Inc. at 1010 Second Street, Albuquerque, NM 87102, phone: 505.242.2174 and they saved the day. Theirs is an old family owned shop that is one of the few welding and spring makers that still temper their own steel. Warren Wild, the owner and Shannon Easton took a look at the springs and suspension system and gave me the heads up that it need a major overhaul. But they could take it in tomorrow and have it done in one day. So at 9am the next morning the Airstream went into the shop with 25-year-old springs and suspension gear and at 4pm she came out with all brand new gear and re-sprung springs. They had to fabricate the parts as replacement parts don’t exist for the old girl but the 25 year old springs were still in good shape so they just re-bent them. She always pulled straight and true but now there is a new bounce in her step and things don’t move around quite so much as we go down the road.
We’ve been blessed to find caring strangers that have made the road much softer for us and we are forever in their debt. Without out all these folks the photographs and the trip itself would not be possible. Needless to say I made a portrait of the McBride crew.
Henry waiting to Sweat
Chief Phill Crazy Bull, Heather, Buffalos, and Beckey
The McBride Crew and DMK after their portrait, Shannon Easton, David Reid, DMK, Warren Wild and Steve Billy
