Goin' Out To Cally - Part 12, Tumbleweed Dreams

The summer of 1988 was brutal. Much of the country was struggling with a lengthy and devastating drought. Crops were dying, the elderly and children were told to avoid prolonged exposure to the heat and four travelers from Florida were racing down the interstate, heading full speed toward the desert.

The Mississippi River at normal height.

The effect of this unique lack of rain was most evident as we passed over the Mississippi River. This once grand waterway was nothing but a trickle. Boats leaned sideways on large sandbars that were previously river bottoms. The normal shipping lanes had literally evaporated and national commerce was feeling the heat.

The Mississippi River during

the Summer of '88.

I had dreamed of seeing the Mississippi in all of its grandeur ever since elementary school, but as we passed over this river turned creek, I was disappointed and saddened… like seeing your favorite actor or actress twenty years passed their prime.

As we crossed Louisiana into Texas I had an insanely naïve idea that, somehow, all of Texas was a desert. I guess it was from growing up watching shows like The Rifleman and Bonanza. All of my references of Texas was formed and reinforced through those shows. So, for some reason, I thought the minute you crossed into Texas, you would find yourself surrounded by hot sands, blowing tumbleweed and, if you’re lucky, you’d cross paths with other cow-poke on their way to Tombstone.

To my surprise, the land between Louisiana and Dallas was, despite the drought, beautiful and green. The hills rolled peacefully and I found myself happily content for the first time in two states.

The sun set just prior to our arrival in Dallas, where Beth had secured us another free bed to stay for the night. However, somewhere between packing Sunday’s luggage and daydreaming about the wild west, our donor had a change of heart or plans, so we checked ourselves into the Red Roof Inn.

As we unpacked, Tim and I noticed that the Boston Red Sox were playing the Texas Rangers on television. Both being Massachusetts natives and having watched a professional baseball game in person only once before, we were excited about hopping over to field to see the game. Our hopes were dashed upon seeing on the television the towering left field fence known as The Green Monster of Fenway Park… in Boston.

The Green Monster at Fenway.

Oh well. We’d have another chance in Los Angeles.

We finished up our night at the Hard Rock Café in beautiful downtown Dallas. The restaurant looked like a cathedral with rock idols as their gods. A large stained glass window of Elvis Presley, titled in Gothic writing, “The King” was oddly uncomfortable to me. We spied a museum’s worth of collectibles and numerous signed guitars from the likes of Eddie Van Halen as we made our way to our table.

A little later, as we waited for our food, we spotted the guitarist from a then up and coming band called White Lion, who was to open for AC/DC in Dallas the next evening. It was a very brief, very small celebrity sighting, but made the evening more fun.

The Hard Rock would end up becoming our home away from home during our trip. For now, the atmosphere, food and company made for a satisfying conclusion to our second day on our trip to Cally.

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Goin' Out To Cally - Part 12, (Text, Audio) Tumbleweed Dreams
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 11, (Text, Audio) Wet, Rinse, Repeat
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 10, (Text, Audio) Divine Misdirection
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 09, (Text, Audio) Getting Nowhere Fast
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 08, (Text, Audio) The Cock Crows Nine
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 07, (Text, Audio) Is Jackass A Sign?
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 06, (Text, Audio) Leftovers
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 05, (Text, Audio) The Kiss Of Friendship
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 04, (Text, Audio) Scholastic Intimacy
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 03, (Text, Audio) Space Invaders
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 02, (Text, Audio) The Fourth Wheel
Goin' Out To Cally - Part 01, (Text, Audio) The Seed Planted