Road Trip.
I had an idea in my head for maybe a year, that I ought to go to Clear Lake, Iowa, for the 50th anniversary of Buddy Holly's death, and see if I could get to the crash site, and maybe light some candles or something. It would be a cool thing to do.
As time went on, the Intertubez revealed to me that I was hardly the only one with this idea, and not only was there to be a gala event to memorialize the moment, but it was to be a weeklong festival, some of it in the original Surf Ballroom, which is still standing! What's more, I was too late to get tickets, which would have been pricey, anyhow. So, I resolved to do my own thing, like a good rocker should, and just head to the crash site. Google Maps print-out in hand, I did exactly that, yesterday, with candles. (Since there were 3 men, and they were Texans, the candles were red, white and blue, the colors of the Texas flag.) I brought T along, as she would greatly appreciate the history.
Clear Lake is about 2 hours south of the cities, not a bad drive. We got there after dark, and bopped around seeking the site, eventually getting pretty close. I was was hoping other fans would be around, but we saw nothing. There was a lot of snow, so not much showed that was visible from the road.
We tried another tack, and sought the Surf Ballroom, and while we couldn't get in, maybe some fans would have some idea what the less privileged could do to celebrate the moment. More searching for the place, with some discouragement, but we eventually got there. Many news vans in the lot, but an open "rockstar" parking spot across the street. Likely someone had already left, it was getting late.
So we got some photos of the historical building, and asked around, and as we did a lady was leaving and gave us her VIP passes!!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! The show still had a couple hours to run, and we saw what was left of the Crickets (3 of them), Graham Nash, Sir Tim Rice, and Bobby Vee. I got a souvenir scarf, though the passes themselves were pretty nice souvenirs, too. Our spirits soaring, we goofed around and had a really good time.
We had learned there would be a bonfire at the site, and headed out a bit early, to avoid the rush. After we saw people starting to head in, we followed, driving on the frozen cornfield. We got more pictures of the monuments there, one of a guitar and records, and another of a large pair of Buddy Holly glasses. It was mind numbingly cold, and the wind precluded lighting candles, but there were electric ones there brought by another fan, and the fire kept at least one side of our bodies warm. We talked with people there, other fans, some media, and the landowner (who was really cool) and his friends, then as the fire died down, we headed out.
It was by this time past 3AM, so instead of driving all the way back, we went to Northwood, and got a hotel room, where we had even more good luck, the place was sold out of regular rooms, so we got a free suite upgrade. Our lucky stars were on us that day.
All in all an amazing trip.
As time went on, the Intertubez revealed to me that I was hardly the only one with this idea, and not only was there to be a gala event to memorialize the moment, but it was to be a weeklong festival, some of it in the original Surf Ballroom, which is still standing! What's more, I was too late to get tickets, which would have been pricey, anyhow. So, I resolved to do my own thing, like a good rocker should, and just head to the crash site. Google Maps print-out in hand, I did exactly that, yesterday, with candles. (Since there were 3 men, and they were Texans, the candles were red, white and blue, the colors of the Texas flag.) I brought T along, as she would greatly appreciate the history.
Clear Lake is about 2 hours south of the cities, not a bad drive. We got there after dark, and bopped around seeking the site, eventually getting pretty close. I was was hoping other fans would be around, but we saw nothing. There was a lot of snow, so not much showed that was visible from the road.
We tried another tack, and sought the Surf Ballroom, and while we couldn't get in, maybe some fans would have some idea what the less privileged could do to celebrate the moment. More searching for the place, with some discouragement, but we eventually got there. Many news vans in the lot, but an open "rockstar" parking spot across the street. Likely someone had already left, it was getting late.
So we got some photos of the historical building, and asked around, and as we did a lady was leaving and gave us her VIP passes!!! Talk about being in the right place at the right time! The show still had a couple hours to run, and we saw what was left of the Crickets (3 of them), Graham Nash, Sir Tim Rice, and Bobby Vee. I got a souvenir scarf, though the passes themselves were pretty nice souvenirs, too. Our spirits soaring, we goofed around and had a really good time.
We had learned there would be a bonfire at the site, and headed out a bit early, to avoid the rush. After we saw people starting to head in, we followed, driving on the frozen cornfield. We got more pictures of the monuments there, one of a guitar and records, and another of a large pair of Buddy Holly glasses. It was mind numbingly cold, and the wind precluded lighting candles, but there were electric ones there brought by another fan, and the fire kept at least one side of our bodies warm. We talked with people there, other fans, some media, and the landowner (who was really cool) and his friends, then as the fire died down, we headed out.
It was by this time past 3AM, so instead of driving all the way back, we went to Northwood, and got a hotel room, where we had even more good luck, the place was sold out of regular rooms, so we got a free suite upgrade. Our lucky stars were on us that day.
All in all an amazing trip.