Travel Day

● March 8th

Well, we went out with a bang. Our final travel day was a doozie. We departed from Deadwood around 9:00 AM, lost an hour as we crossed back in the Central Time, stopped for a half hour lunch as we crossed the Missouri River, and didn’t arrive in Albert Lea until 7:30 PM. So we were in the van today for nine and a half hours. That’s enough, thank you.

JenDeen is a maniac about her practicing. She sits in
the van for hours working with these contraptions.

Ann, who has lately been calling Jody "Jobidiah,"
has earned herself a new nickname, "Cranny Banany."

We stopped for gas in Mitchell, and well, you just can't be so
close without driving into town to see the Corn Palace!

All along this tour we have been collecting hotel soaps and shampoos that we didn't need. When we get back home, they're all going to be given to Youth Link, an organization that works with homeless youth, many of whom are queer and have been kicked out of their homes by their families. When you travel next, please remember that many charities will gladly accept these items.

It rained again today as we drove through south central Minnesota. (Minnesota! We’re back in Minnesota!!) We arrived in Albert Lea and checked into our hotel. After tomorrow night's show, we're all heading back home that night, so this is our FINAL hotel!

Miles traveled: 505
Hotel: AmericInn

All photos © David Lohman, 2006

Show #32: Belle Fourche, SD

Belle Fourche Area Community Center
March 7, 2006

Piano du jour: 5’ Weber, bright and responsive

I had thought about going to Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse today, but I’ve seen them several times before, and my lovely hotel room was just too inviting. Tim, Jody and I went out late in the morning for breakfast. Deadwood is an odd little town stuck at the bottom of a very steep valley. There is some old 19th century architecture that survives, but it's all mixed in with so many ugly, more modern buildings.

We drove the half hour to Belle Fouche for our show this evening. There's been a universal response from locals who have asked where we were performing. "Belle Fouche," we'd say. Every time there'd be rolling of the eyes, or a "yikes." So I wasn't expecting much. The town, or at least what we saw of it, was pretty ugly, and far enough away from the Black Hills so there was no scenery around either. Belle Fouche's one claim to fame is that it is the town closest to the geographical center of the 50 states.

It's hard to believe that we only have one show left. At times it feels like we've been on the road forever, and at other times it seems like we just got started. But the closer we get, I can't wait to get home. To be back with family and friends, to sleep in my own bed, to be surrounded by my stuff, to sit on my sofa and watch TiVo... just two days away!

Hotel: AmericInn

All photos © David Lohman, 2006

Day Off

● March 6th

Ann and I took advantage of our day off, borrowed the van this morning and headed off for the Badlands National Park.

Others were going to join us, but when push came to shove, staying in bed won out for the rest. Oh, what a day they missed!

The Badlands are so starkly beautiful.

The last time I was out here was a couple of years before my father's death. He, my sister Jeanne and I came out to the Black Hills in order to hike up to the top of the Crazy Horse Monument - something you're allowed to do once a year in every June. We drove straight through the night, pulled into the Badland while it was still dark, and waited to watch the sunrise. Beautiful!

We had some good wildlife viewing too... buffalo, mule deear, bighorn sheep and prairie dogs.

On the way back, we stopped at Wall. Ann had never experienced the famed Wall Drug, and how could I deprive her of that thrill?

Here there are... Annie and Annie Oakley.

Thanks, Ann, for a truly wonderful day!

All photos © David Lohman, 2006

Travel Day

● March 5th

We departed at 8AM for our penultimate long travel day. We left Kearney (pronounced “Carny”) and headed off to Belle Fourche (pronounced “Bell Foosh”). Actually, for the next three nights we’ll be staying in Deadwood. Word has it that there are only crummy hotels and little to see or do in Belle Fourche, so Jody wisely rebooked us in nearby Deadwood.

A day in the life...

I bought a power inverter which plugs into the cigarette lighter,
so I can spend our long drives working on my computer.

All along on the trip we’ve used a pair of walkie-talkies to keep in touch between the van and the truck. I think it was Ann who wisely redubbed them drivie-talkies. On them, we can sometimes pick up fragments of nearby conversations. This morning Jody overheard a pair of drivers talking about us: “Why, that truck’s from Minnesota.” “So’s that van.” “They’re sure in a hurry to get somewhere.” “Probably a church group full a’ Mormons.” Minnesota and Mormons? Not the first connection I’d necessarily make. Now Lutherans, maybe.

According to my Rand McNally Atlas, we changed time zones five times today – with four of those changes all within about 15 miles of Murdo, SD. Now that’s just crazy. We passed a big milepost on our tour today – about 30 miles east of Rapid City we passed the 7,000 mile mark!

After eight hours on the road we reached Deadwood, a town with legalized gambling. Like every other hotel in town, our AmericInn has a loud casino (which I can't stand) on the first floor, but our rooms upstairs are really lovely.

Tim and I hosted an Oscar Party this evening in Jody's room. Originally, the attire for the evening would be formal, but on second thought, we made it a pajama party. We had a great time... but I was sad about the best picture award (go BBM!).

Miles traveled: 485
Hotel: AmericInn

Show #31: Kearney, NE

Kearney High School Auditorium
March 4, 2006

Piano du jour: 6’ Baldwin; out of tune in the lower range; very stiff action (ouch!) and it sounded like there was a blanket between the hammers and the strings

We had a short trip today – a mere hundred miles. So we didn’t leave until 11AM. We checked into our hotel. AmericInn’s are great, and we’re staying in them from here on out. Thanks, Jody. Road-weariness continues… several of us, me included, laid down for a short nap after we checked in, and ended up sleeping very hard for a few hours.

Tim had a challenging day today. He arrived at the venue to find that they had erected the huge band shell onstage. When he asked why it was there, he was told, “Well, you’re doing a concert, aren’t you?” Well, yes, kind of, but we can’t have that onstage. So load in was delayed while that was being taken down. So meanwhile, Tim had to clean the stage, which was filthy. And so the challenges continued. But he ended up working his usual magic with the lights, even making their wrinkled and torn scrim look pretty good. He works so hard and does such a great job… bravo, Tim!

Tonight’s spotlight is on... THE BAND!

I am so pleased, night after night, to be able to make music with three such fine, sensitive and passionate musicians.

Travis is traveling with an electric upright bass, which I guess kind of looks like a regular upright bass that underwent gastric bypass surgery.

The sound is quite good and the size makes it nice for touring. In the last eleven years, Travis has owned a staggering 70 basses: 2 uprights, 1 electric upright, 2 six-string, 15 five-string, 47 four-string, and 3 basses custom-built for him.

Patrick is traveling with a very special, rhinestone-encrusted instrument – a Morbidoni Chamber President.

Aldo Morbidoni, whose family used to be in the coffin-making business (hence the name), is considered the Stradivarius of accordion makers. This used to belong to Aldo himself, and was left to Patrick by one of Aldo’s students. At home, Patrick owns ten accordions, including one custom-built for him by a Bayou accordion maker out of indigenous Louisiana woods.

JenDeen, who usually makes her living playing everything from jazz and big band to metal, is traveling with one of her smaller drum kits.

But at home she has quite a collection: 80 cymbals, 67 drums, 15 electric drum pads, 8 snares, and 1 gong! She’s also a film star. Her former band, All the Pretty Horses, was the subject of the documentary, Venus in Mars.

After the show, most of us went to Old Chicago for some food and beer. It’s nice to be able to relax a bit when there’s no show the following day.

Wow… only two shows to go.

Miles traveled: 100
Hotel: AmericInn

Show #30: North Platte, NE

High School Performing Arts Center
March 3, 2006

Piano du jour: 7’ Baldwin, in tune, nice bright tone, so responsive

We departed this morning at 8AM, an hour earlier than we needed to on account of the time change we would hit before getting to North Platte. It was wildly windy today, as in hard-to-keep-on-the-road windy. Jody is building such upper body strength! Our crack in the windshield has grown considerably. The original impact site is right in the center at the bottom. There are now three two-foot cracks radiating out… making me feel a bit less than secure sitting in the front passenger seat as I do.

Our early start today was also because we did a workshop for the music students at the high school. We did maybe eight songs from the show, we talked about the show, the challenges of touring, our careers… then opened the floor to questions. The rock star of the day was Patrick – the obvious audience favorite.

Tom Freiberg, an old friend of Jody’s and mine who died 18 years ago, grew up here in North Platte, and his parents were waiting for us at the school when we arrived in the afternoon. Tom’s mom gave us a beautiful homemade apple pie, and a box full of her canning. Being a Minnesota State Fair canning ribbon winner myself (an honor I share with my canning cohorts, Barbara and Blake), I was especially delighted. Thanks, Helen!

After the workshop, it was back to the hotel (a really dumpy Ramada) to do two much-needed loads of laundry.

While refining her beauty each night, Jody goes through
a stage that looks remarkably like Cindy Loo Who…

JenDeen’s continuing Battlestar addiction.

Susan and Ann looking oh-so ready for the Oscars on Sunday.

The women in Costume #2

Despite what a long day it was, the show was really fun tonight. I had such a wonderful instrument to play. I tell ya… for me there is nothing like playing “Sunday” from Sunday in the Park with George on a big, rich, responsive grand. Those opening five-note figures… bliss!

Only three more shows to go and we get to sleep in our own beds!

Miles traveled: 225
Hotel: Ramada

Show #29: Cheyenne, WY

Central High School Auditorium
March 2, 2006

Piano du jour: 7’ Kawai, out of tune in the lower range, and stiff action

Just as Saint Paul has its Peanuts statues all around town, Cheyenne has 8’ tall cowboy boots, each painted by a local artist.

Travis, our resident artist, has added new images to our traveling wardrobe:

As I wrote about earlier, we figured out that Stacey's brother and sister were in Peter Pan with me when I attended Moorhead State in 1983. Stacey's mom just emailed me this picture. Here I am as Captain Hook...

Miles traveled: 0
Hotel: Fairfield Inn

In Memory - May We Never Forget

On October 7th, 1998, 21-year old Matthew Shepard was discovered tied to a fence outside of Laramie, Wyoming. He had been bound, severely beaten, pistol whipped and left to die. He never emerged from the coma he was in when he was found, and died five days later on October 12th. The reason for this violence? Matt was gay.

I was living in San Francisco when this happened, and it was devastating. It was made all the worse when the “Reverend” Fred Phelps and members of his hateful Kansas church picketed Matthew’s funeral in order to tell Matthew’s parents and friends that he got no more than he deserved. To this day, Phelps has a counter on his web site showing the number of days that Matthew has been burning in hell. The kind of hatred and fear that was behind both the murder and so much of the rhetoric coming from Fundamentalist Christianity is incomprehensible to me.

Since I was so close to Laramie, and we had all day free today until the evening, I felt I needed to make a pilgrimage and visit the fence where Matthew was found. However, I had no idea of how to find it. I spent a long time online last night trying to find directions to the site, but my search came up dry.

In my other life, I work for the Institute for Welcoming Resources (http://www.welcomingresources.org/), a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force in Washington D.C., which works towards the full inclusion of queer people in the life of the church. This morning I called my boss, Rebecca, for advice. She called and spoke with a woman at the Task Force who suggested that I call the head of the local police department. She said that he is a very enlightened man, and has spoken several times in Washington about the issue of hate crimes.

So I called and spoke with the Commander of the Laramie Police Department. I explained what I wanted to do and asked if he could give me directions. He was a very gracious man who, on the one hand, stressed that the site was on private property, but at the same time wanted to help me get there.

I thought that perhaps JenDeen might want to go with me. So after I’d spoken with the Commander, I called her. I hadn’t even finished asking before she answered, “Yes!” So I rented a car, and we drove the 50 miles to Laramie.

In hopes that this may help someone else in the future, here is the route we took:

I80, Exit 316 – Grand Avenue
Northwest on Grand Avenue
Right (northeast) on Sherman Hill Road
Left (north) on Arabian Drive
Right (east) on Quarter Horse Drive

A couple blocks ahead, Quarter Horse ends and turns into a dirt road, the entrance to which is blocked off. So we parked the car and began hiking. From here, all the Commander had said was that the fence is about a mile onto the prairie, short of the butte. I didn’t know if we’d find it, but I had seen pictures of it, so I was hopeful. We actually found it pretty easily. It was unmistakable.

Rocks have been placed marking the spot where Matthew was found.

It was so painful to be there. However, I think it is vitally important that we bear witness to horrible events like these. We cannot allow Matthew or what happened to him to be forgotten. And I pray that we do everything we can to prevent this from kind of thing from happening again, and that we speak out against the Fundamentalist Christian hatred that helps to create an environment where these things can happen.

Travel Day

● March 1st

We slept in this morning, and didn’t hit the road until noon. Ah... :-)

The drive to Cheyenne is beautiful...

... past Elk Mountain (which I thought looked very Brokebackish)...

... and past this memorial to Lincoln...

We had no show this evening, so Jody, JenDeen, Tim and I had a nice meal at Chili's. Then it was back to the hotel for me for a relaxing evening and an exciting episode of Lost.

Miles traveled: 275
Hotel: Fairfield Inn