The music was basic, down-home stuff. Kind of a floating group of musicians, not a regular band. A local M.D. wandered in about a half-hour late -- had to work late -- and he played bass and sung a couple of solos. Leader was a man named Jim Orchard, whose regular band is the Ozark Bluegrass Boys. He emceed, played mandolin and fiddle, and told jokes. Banjo player was 14-year old Hargis. Only been playing banjo for a year, but he learned a whole lot in a year. Anyhow, Orchard said, One day last week Hargis's dad said to Hargis, What's been going on in school? I got a note from your teacher. Hargis said, Don't worry, Dad. I won't tell Mom.
Audience was interesting. About 30 people, mostly regulars, you could tell. First couple of rows had family members, I suspect. There were two women who seemed to be in competition - whenever a phrase or a break was offered that one liked, she would clap demonstratively, hands held high, and very rapidly. The other woman would quickly join in. Then the second woman would get excited by some other bit and she would do her clapping performance. Happened several times during each song! Really, there weren't that many bits to celebrate. There was also a big guy, front row center, who would join in. His style was to spread his arms wide and then bring his hands together like two hammers. Whap, whap, whap. His clapping motion was like beating out a hamburger patty. Fascinating.
From Oklahoma on, we've been treated to blooming redbud trees. Here's one near the Pickin' Parlor.
Why do they call them redbud? They're purple.
Several years ago we followed US 60 west from its eastern terminus in Virginia Beach, VA to Tonkawa, OK, I believe. At one time US 60 was known as the coast to coast highway. Now it ends in western AZ. Across MO, what was once a winding Ozark mountain road is now mostly a four-lane parkway.
Makes for easier driving, but the route avoids every town and it becomes pretty boring. I wonder if it's been an economic boon for the area.
Our goal today, Saturday, is a KOA park a few miles east of Paducah, KY. At Sikeston, MO, near the state line, we stopped for lunch in a Wal-Mart parking lot and considered dropping south a few miles and taking a ferry across the Mississippi. We plan to explore western KY for 2-3 days and decided we'd do the ferry later by car, not Tuzigoot. We ferried Tuzigoot across the Mississippi further up last year and it was a lot of work getting it on -- several planks laid down to keep from scraping.
When you continue on US 60 toward Paducah, you first cross the Mississippi, then the Ohio. Thus, you're briefly in Illinois, but I didn't see any signs. The bridges are just barely wide enough for motor home and truck traffic. A few whiteknuckle moments, but no problems. Here are some pix from co-pilot Susie.
The Mississippi bridge. At center right you can see the Ohio span.
Some river barges.
The Ohio crossing.
Made it!
Incidentally, Google has much improved their blogger site when it comes to inserting pictures. Used to have to drag a picture from the top of blog down to where you want them. Didn't always drag right. Now, you put the cursor where you want a picture and in just a couple of clicks you upload it where you want it.
Sunday is going to be a car tour day, an Explorer exploration. Until then,
Cheers,
Susie and Rob
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