Post by Ryan on Jun 18, 2006 15:24:19 GMT -5
Greetings Melons!!!
During May I took an extended road trip. The main reason was that my brother was getting married down in Mississippi. However I had also quit my job in Wyoming, and I decided to take a month off before I started my new job down in Colorado. So I took a road trip, and I had a great time. You can view my pictures from the trip at this photobucket account:
s76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/ryansvacation2006/?action=view¤t=Rearview_Sunrise_01.jpg
I started my trip by going to 2 Burning Spear shows in New Mexico. The first show was in Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Brewing Company. That was a great show! And I ended up meeting the band. They got me onto the guest list for the next night's show in Albuquerque at El Rey Theater. I have a recording of the show in Albq. so if anyone is interested to hear Burning Spear, then I would love to share it with you.
I proceeded to Las Cruces, New Mexico to see my grandparents and some other family members. While I was down there, my cousin took me on a day hike up to Dripping Springs at the base of the Organ Mtns. Apparently, there used to be an old sanatorium at the end of the hike. It was a pretty interesting place.
When I drove across Texas (always a 2-day process), I stopped at Luckenbach, TX. THis town had become popular with the 'Outlaw Country' movement in the 1970s. Willie Nelson wrote a song about Luckenbach, and the local Post Office has all sorts of souvenirs on Willie or Johnny Cash. There is a bar in the back, which I thought was pretty cool. I had never had a beer in a United States Post Office until then. I also thought it was cool that they had an old pair of Waylon Jenning's boots
I also stopped in San Antonio, which is my favorite town in Texas. I got to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk again.
I stopped in New Orleans to see my Mom for Mother's Day. While I was down there, I decided to try and find the building where Kingsway Studios was located. I finally found it on the North side of the French Quarter on Esplanade. Of course, we all know that Blind Melon recorded their 2nd album 'Soup' at this place. I was stoked to find it.
I stopped by my old house in Ocean Springs, Mississippi on the Gulf Coast. I had not been back there since Katrina went through. Some houses didn't look too bad. The house that I used to live in had a FEMA trailer out front, but the house was still there. It probably just had some flood damage. The St. Andrews watertower (which looks like a lighthouse) was blown off its base.
I continued on the Blind Melon trip by going to West Point and Columbus, Mississippi. Brad Smith and Rogers Stevens are originally from West Point, and Glen Graham is from Columbus, MS. I got a few pictures of their town signs and the high schools in each town. They both seemed like very small, quiet, southern towns.
Next on my road trip was my brother's wedding in Eagle Lake, MS. Eagle Lake is right on the Mississippi River between Mississippi and Louisiana. It was a beautiful place, but sure was hot!!! The Wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception were a great time.
As I headed back towards Colorado, I decided to see a couple of sites related to Johnny Cash. So I headed north on up to Memphis, TN. I got to see Sun Studio on Union Avenue. This studio was very important in the development of rock n roll. The careers of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis started at Sun Studio.
As I crossed into Arkansas, I pulled off the Interstate to find Dyess, AR, where Johnny Cash grew up. I found the town circle with the main buildings. I followed some vague directions towards his old house, but there are not any signs as to which one it is. I'm pretty sure it is one of three pictures that I took.
As I was getting back into New Mexico, I pulled off at Capulin National Monument. It is a dormant volcano, and you can drive up most of the way, and then there is a short hike up to the rim of the crater. When you get to the top you can see all of Northeast New Mexico and you can also see Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. If you ever get the chance, check this place out!
So now I am back in Colorado, and working in the Denver area. I really like my new job. I finally got internet hooked up, so I thought I would share my pics with the rest of you melons. Hope you enjoy them. . . -Ryan
miscellaneous pics:
Rearview Sunrise in Oklahoma City, OK
Wildflowers in Memphis, TN
During May I took an extended road trip. The main reason was that my brother was getting married down in Mississippi. However I had also quit my job in Wyoming, and I decided to take a month off before I started my new job down in Colorado. So I took a road trip, and I had a great time. You can view my pictures from the trip at this photobucket account:
s76.photobucket.com/albums/j32/ryansvacation2006/?action=view¤t=Rearview_Sunrise_01.jpg
I started my trip by going to 2 Burning Spear shows in New Mexico. The first show was in Santa Fe at the Santa Fe Brewing Company. That was a great show! And I ended up meeting the band. They got me onto the guest list for the next night's show in Albuquerque at El Rey Theater. I have a recording of the show in Albq. so if anyone is interested to hear Burning Spear, then I would love to share it with you.
I proceeded to Las Cruces, New Mexico to see my grandparents and some other family members. While I was down there, my cousin took me on a day hike up to Dripping Springs at the base of the Organ Mtns. Apparently, there used to be an old sanatorium at the end of the hike. It was a pretty interesting place.
When I drove across Texas (always a 2-day process), I stopped at Luckenbach, TX. THis town had become popular with the 'Outlaw Country' movement in the 1970s. Willie Nelson wrote a song about Luckenbach, and the local Post Office has all sorts of souvenirs on Willie or Johnny Cash. There is a bar in the back, which I thought was pretty cool. I had never had a beer in a United States Post Office until then. I also thought it was cool that they had an old pair of Waylon Jenning's boots
I also stopped in San Antonio, which is my favorite town in Texas. I got to see the Alamo and the Riverwalk again.
I stopped in New Orleans to see my Mom for Mother's Day. While I was down there, I decided to try and find the building where Kingsway Studios was located. I finally found it on the North side of the French Quarter on Esplanade. Of course, we all know that Blind Melon recorded their 2nd album 'Soup' at this place. I was stoked to find it.
I stopped by my old house in Ocean Springs, Mississippi on the Gulf Coast. I had not been back there since Katrina went through. Some houses didn't look too bad. The house that I used to live in had a FEMA trailer out front, but the house was still there. It probably just had some flood damage. The St. Andrews watertower (which looks like a lighthouse) was blown off its base.
I continued on the Blind Melon trip by going to West Point and Columbus, Mississippi. Brad Smith and Rogers Stevens are originally from West Point, and Glen Graham is from Columbus, MS. I got a few pictures of their town signs and the high schools in each town. They both seemed like very small, quiet, southern towns.
Next on my road trip was my brother's wedding in Eagle Lake, MS. Eagle Lake is right on the Mississippi River between Mississippi and Louisiana. It was a beautiful place, but sure was hot!!! The Wedding rehearsal, ceremony, and reception were a great time.
As I headed back towards Colorado, I decided to see a couple of sites related to Johnny Cash. So I headed north on up to Memphis, TN. I got to see Sun Studio on Union Avenue. This studio was very important in the development of rock n roll. The careers of Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison, and Jerry Lee Lewis started at Sun Studio.
As I crossed into Arkansas, I pulled off the Interstate to find Dyess, AR, where Johnny Cash grew up. I found the town circle with the main buildings. I followed some vague directions towards his old house, but there are not any signs as to which one it is. I'm pretty sure it is one of three pictures that I took.
As I was getting back into New Mexico, I pulled off at Capulin National Monument. It is a dormant volcano, and you can drive up most of the way, and then there is a short hike up to the rim of the crater. When you get to the top you can see all of Northeast New Mexico and you can also see Texas, the Oklahoma panhandle, and the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. If you ever get the chance, check this place out!
So now I am back in Colorado, and working in the Denver area. I really like my new job. I finally got internet hooked up, so I thought I would share my pics with the rest of you melons. Hope you enjoy them. . . -Ryan
miscellaneous pics:
Rearview Sunrise in Oklahoma City, OK
Wildflowers in Memphis, TN