Wilson Peak in the San Juans. It was pretty tough getting a 92 Buick sedan up to the top of that thing. My tip is to lower the tire pressure to around 27 pounds to compensate for altitude and to get a little more grip from the Michelins.

Well, sir, as you probably guessed, that warn't no place near Nepal. That was actually in the other "four", being the 4 Corners, as opposed to the 4 States. If'n you were traveling in the NM/CO region, you probably caught sight of the San Juan Mountains. Just a slightly scruffier and younger version of these here Ozarks. But a beautiful sight to behold, nonetheless. And, I accept with great honor the title most recently bestowed upon me. In the words of the great and inimitable Jonas Tarbuck, "Pavement sucks!" Gimme dirt. But, that is another story for another day, mainly because there is no story there anyway.

Much is happening in this neck of the woods tomorrow, not to mention the tragic anniversary we commemorate. Much music will be played, and, hopefully, some good pie and coffee will be had.

Be happy and careful

Congratulations, Bud. You are the first tenured professor in my new School of Driving Arts. You can teach the off-road courses, especially the ones that deal with trips resulting in helicopter rescues in remote high altitude areas. Were the Sherpas able to help you get your truck back on track? I here that the response time from AAA is pretty slow on Everest this time of year.

Then, again, the term "road" may be loosely defined. 

A large part of being a great long-distance freelance driver is knowing how to pick the best roads. This is mostly instinct, but can be learned by those who are willing to dedicate themselves to the craft. Just check out this Kansas road below...

A road through the Smoky Hills 

I was off on a drive one fine day and visited the church you see below, which is located in Chimayo, New Mexico. This is not far from Santa Fe. It was a very peaceful place.

Chimayo, New Mexico 

Yumpin' Yiminee! I do believe the cavalry has arrived. Reinforcements, as it were. The Prodigal, so to speak. I think I'll just call him Modest Mark for the time being. As fer as I am concerned, though, you can pound yer chest as much as ya like, long as it adds some content hereto. Welcome home, son. Sorry to hear you are back in the "hole". If ever there was a place that required some driving skills, you have certainly found it, brother. My once and only experience in Bean Town was as a passenger in a car driven by a fella that had no bidness behind the wheel. At one point, as we made contact with the curb while dodging a dump truck, he even managed to force an expletive out of a hard core Pentacostal passenger. That's bad.

I reckon, Mark, that I'll be up that way in a couple of months. I have two goals for that trip: 1)Don't get in a wreck, 2)Meet up with Mark and Joe for some pie and coffee. Both worthy, in my opinion. Dates aren't even set, yet, but I will advise you when I have the info.

Be happy and careful

a picture of the old home place... 

I am back in a large, crowded depressing city located somewhere on the East coast of the USA, characterized by snotty rude citizens, a hack ball team, humidity, and far too many college students to ever have any controlling degree of sanity at the helm. I don't want to make it too easy for you to guess where I am, but this town's initials are "Boston".

I did a lot of driving to get here. I am a very good driver. I don't mean a good 'go down to the store and by some bread' driver; I mean a good 'buckle up and get out in another time zone' driver. It may be the thing I do best in my life. I am "drive-artist". Just ask anyone whose ever been on a trip with me. You know what they'll say? They'll probly say somthing like, "well, Mark is a real @#$% to be around, but he sure can drive good."

I basically had no summer fun other than a good trip to Colorado and New Mexico. Lots of good driving on that one. Yesiree Roberto, I drove and drove and drove. You think I'm kidding around about this, huh? You think you can drive as good or gooder than me, huh? Well, let me disabuse you of that notion my fine feathered friend! If you think that's the case, then you are, as our friends in the mental counseling community might say, "quite nuts!" That's right, a real old time nut job! Because I am a driver, and perhaps even the best one you will ever have a chance to meet. Want some lessons in advanced driving as an art form? Give me a call, we'll arrange something.

be good.

On the other hand, it's just possible that the info on the OCF site is a little stale, and, while they have the dates correct, the listing of performers is left over from last year. Sometimes those things happen. So, don't go lookin' for Harrall's at the Saturday evening show, cause they won't be there. But, I believe that you can still have a nice day of it listening to those that will be there.

We had a great day mulleting around SDC. Listened to the venerable Horse Creek Band work their magic. Even took a stroll through Marvel Cave. This must have been one of the most pleasant Labor Days on record, weather-wise. So, it's back to the grind. Try to keep my hands up, where the wheels don't spin, but I think I see a soft blue light at the end of this tunnel I'm in.

Be happy and careful