Deep In The Motherlode - Genesis (Then There Were Three)

Luckily, before I left Omaha today there was time for a little more sight-seeing and to try and find the set of bronze statues I had only seen briefly from the taxi yesterday. What a sight to meet the eye! Forget Rodin, forget Degas as this is what some of today's artists are producing and in my humble opinion, a Master Piece! The statues are all 'life size' and so full of minute detail that I felt on the trail with the characters. All of the very long time I spent there the words of Deep In The Motherlode kept repeating on me, and I've been singing it to myself ever since.

Omaha has been a great staging post, with an excellent rest in the Econo-Lodge Motel which also afforded clean warm rooms, excellent facilities and the most polite of staff who are all Nepalese. Not bad for $62 per night. It is rare for me to drink alcohol while I'm undertaking such a journey, but yesterday was an exception as I visited the 306 Bar on Douglas and 20th (just around the corner). A little seedy agreed, but the welcome was typically USA, the Budweiser was just $1.75 a pint along with complimentary home baked ham rolls. OK, a US pint is slightly less than our Imperial but I would take the shortfall if you could get such a pint in Weymouth for £1.16. So while on the subject, petrol is also at a fantastic price compared. A US gallon (0.83 Imp Gal or 3.8 Ltrs) is just$2.65 at the pump, to us that's £1.77 for nearly 4 litres of 'bunkers'. However, don't get sick!

Get out of the way fat man. You got something to do Go fill up your hands till they shine up at you. You gotta get out while there's gold in the air It's falling like water, coming down from the hills.

So go West young man

Earn a dollar a day just like your family said. You're rolling your days right on into the night The head of the line's going way out of sight. Go West young man like your family said

All along the wagons

All along the dusty trail. Seventeen years not over a day Like children in the wild. Your mother's milk still wet on your face And no one to pray for your safe journey home.

Out beyond the desert Across the mountains by the fall. Servants who leave their masters house Are walking all the way. The golden fields that beckoned you Are darkened by the years. So Go West Young Man

If you knew then what you know today You'd be back where you started a happier man And leave all the glory to those who have remained.

Go West Young Man, like your family said.

American Buffalo, almost hunted to extinction many to sustain the settlers but many, many more for greed! It is estimated that 'hundreds of thousands' were slaughtered just for their tongues, to slake the palates of those rich East Coasters who considered them a delicacy.

and here are some closer detail shots of this fine work of art & history.

and there were also a few birds, plus a couple of photographs that remained unpublished from yesterday, and then I'll be on my way!

American Goldfinch (juvenile)

Black-capped Chickadee

Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird in moult (minus tail feathers). There were a number of Red-winged Blackbirds in the area at the same time, but feel with the benefit of the Field Guide this is right?

Chipping Sparrow

and again.

Grey Catbird, the 'call' of this bird is where it gets its name - meow!

Common Grackle

While there were good numbers of Eastern Bluebird on the reserve, this is about as close as they would allow. Interestingly, as a group flew off they looked every bit like a flock of Kingfishers (if you've ever seen such an occurrence?)

Eastern Kingbird (back)

(and front)

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Melanistic Grey Squirrel

Mourning Warbler

At dusk Blue-winged Teal started returning to their refuge.

Omaha, Nebraska

Despite its small size, Omaha is the largest city in the State and by no means displeasing. The first thing I noticed was the cleanliness of all the buildings and streets, while the second thing was Bon Jovi rattling out a number or two from the album 'Slippery When Wet'. Sure that I was going to meet both the man himself and the stylish Richie Sambora, tracks were made toward the sounds where I found a mini carnival going on with people in inflatable suits, barbeque's and these

Abseilers descending from

the town's tallest building.

All in the name of raising funds for the local Boy Scout Troups, I crossed the road to seek the aid of a couple of Fire Fighters who where only too happy to help. Putting me right about hotels downtown and the local Nature reserves (at last), the people around were intrigued to know that not only was I a fairly good Scout, but also live not 20 miles from where the organisation was first formed by Lord Baden Powell.Brownsea Island in Poole Harbour, Dorset was the site of the very first camp and from there the word spread throughout the world.

Reserve Enhancement & Protection.

$10 in a taxi then got me to the

Lewis & Clark

National Wetland Reserve. As a result of visiting this site, I had unknowingly strayed into yet another State. Crossing the Missouri River bridge we were now in Idaho. Later in the week the plan is to cross this State from west to east and maybe clue up in Chicago, but that is as yet still in the melting pot.

Northern Cardinal

Managed to rattle a few shots off of this fine male.

Canada Goose, slightly more 'genuine' than we're used to but not a lot.

Northern Flicker of the 'yellow shafted' variety which occur east of the Rocky Mountains.

Red-eyed Vireo, now I know a few people who would like to pluck one of these from a 'mist net'.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet, female / juvenile.

Turkey Vulture has been a regular and often species, but this is the nearest so far,

and a few waterside plants that remain unidentified but you may find pleasing!


Trip Total - 49 World Lifers - 4 Total States - 12

Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you, Away, you rolling river Oh, Shenandoah, I long to see you Away, I'm bound to go, cross the wide Missouri.

Some Omaha Street Scenes

Wells Fargo, one of the lynch pins of the USA, pity I couldn't gain access to photograph an original Stage Coach.

St Joseph's on Douglas & 19th.

Fire Brigade - The Move!

Downtown

The Cathedral

Omaha Central High School

and front view, what an Academy?

and The Wichita Lineman Is Still On The Line - Glen Campbell

The appropriate amendment has been made to Friday's post where a slip of the finger must have allowed me to note 49 States had been visited so far this trip and not the accurate 9. There are only 50 for heavens sake!

After a much needed rest at the most comfortable Rest Haven Court Motel in Springfield, Missouri, I considered a visit to the State wouldn't have seemed complete without at least a glimpse of the Ozarks. As anyone who was listening to music in the early 70's would remember The Ozark Mountain Daredevils took their name from this 'range'. Looking at the map, it wasn't going to be difficult to make a detour to the south and then cut back north for my next destination Wichita, Kansas.

During this onward journey we encountered the first serious adverse weather thus far. Driving the Plains under the cover of dark made both sheet and forked lightning much more dramatic, while the rain and wind at times seemed to be slowing the Greyhound down.

Not the most memorable city this trip, at least the weather had cheered up and there were a few hours to wander the neighbourhood in the hope of a bird or two. First on the day list was

American Crow with a 'call' I can only describe as that of 'yelps' from Indian warriors attacking the invaders!

Eastern Wood Pewee* a welcome addition to the trip list.

Brown Thrasher - again I hear you say, but you have to get these 'skulkers' when you can!

Thought to be Willow Flycatcher*, one of a small group that Americans call Trails Flycatchers after the Latin name of this species Empidonax traillii which are difficult for them let alone me!

No, this shot wasn't imported from Radipole Lake it is a distant but genuine Hooded Merganser*,

while this Pied-billed Grebe* held off even further.

One of many Osage Orange Trees hereabouts, the fruits of which are locally known as Hedge Apples. When these fall, split and start to ferment they makeirresistible food for Butterflies and other insects. In addition, I was told, the wood from these trees is the chosen preference by the Indians (and other manufactures today) to make their bows, the strong yet pliable branches proving ideal. Among them:-

Red-spotted Purple Butterfly,

a much more obliging Monarch Butterfly,

the strangest 'dragon' I've ever seen, Black Saddlebags (I wonder why?)

beautiful but unidentified and

a ragged unidentified Moth.

Blue Jay

Like our own Jay they are 'skittish' to say the least, so feel lucky to have got even these shots!

Those marked * above are additions to the Trip List.

Trip Total - 42 World Lifers - 4 Total States visited this Trip - 11

I am a Lineman for the county, and I drive the mainroad. Lookin' in the sun for another overload. I hear you singing in the wire, I can hear you thru the whine. And the Wichita Lineman is still on the line.

Footnote:-

The Ozark Mountain Daredevils are a country rock band formed in 1972 in Springfield, Missouri, USA. They are most widely known for their singles "If You Wanna Get To Heaven" in 1974 and "Jackie Blue" in 1975. Some have described the band's sound as a "countrified Steely Dan". The Daredevils are also mentioned in the "Don's Story" chapter of American humorist DavidSedaris' book, Barrel Fever. Bassist Michael "Supe" Granda has also written a book about the band, titled It Shined.

James Marshal Hendrix 27-11-42 to 18-09-70

James Marshall "Jimi" Hendrix (born Johnny Allen Hendricks, (November 27, 1942 – September 18, 1970) was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. He is often considered to be the greatest electric guitarist in the history of rock music by other musicians and commentators in the industry, and one of the most important and influential musicians of his era across a range of genres.After initial success in Europe, he achieved fame in the United States following his 1967 performance at the Monterey Pop Festival. Later, Hendrix headlined the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Hendrix often favored raw overdriven amplifiers with high gain and treble and helped develop the previously undesirable technique of guitar amplifier feedback. Hendrix was one of the musicians who popularized the wah-wah pedal in mainstream rock which he often used to deliver an exaggerated pitch in his solos, particularly with high bends and use of legato. He was influenced by blues artists such as B.B. King, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Albert King and Elmore James, rhythm and blues and soul guitarists Curtis Mayfield, Steve Cropper, as well as by funk and some modern jazz. In 1966, Hendrix, who played and recorded with Little Richard's band from 1964 to 1965, said, "I want to do with my guitar what Little Richard does with his voice."

As a record producer, Hendrix also broke new ground in using the recording studio as an extension of his musical ideas. He was one of the first to experiment with stereophonic and phasing effects for rock recording.

Hendrix won many of the most prestigious rock music awards in his lifetime, and has been posthumously awarded many more, including being inducted into the US Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992 and the UK Music Hall of Fame in 2005. An English Heritage blue plaque was erected in his name on his former residence at Brook Street, London, in September 1997. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 6627 Hollywood Blvd.) was dedicated in 1994. In 2006, his debut US album, Are You Experienced, was inducted into the United States National Recording Registry, and Rolling Stone named Hendrix the top guitarist on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all-time in 2003. He was also the first person inducted into the Native American Music Hall of Fame.

Probably the way most will remember Jimi, in pseudo military attire and complete with a Fender Stratocaster.

It's 40 years to the day since my 'all time' hero Jimi Hendrix past away, and all week I have been in a quandary as to whether I should go to his graveside in Seattle, Washington and pay tribute? Greyhound suggested it would be 3 days there and the same back, and the thoughts of getting a flight were logistically prohibitive so here I am in Wichita wondering where those 40 years went. I remember the music press being full of stories about Chas Chandler's (bass player for The Animals) 'find' in New York City of this sensational guitarist who was going to knock the Claptons, Greens and Townsends off their respective perches, but we'd heard it all before. Soon after release of 'Are You Experienced', Jimi accompanied by (Englishmen) Mitch Mitchell on drums and Noel Redding bass, I bought a copy more to see what all the fuss had been about - but 'WAP' that was that!

Under the heading of 'The Jimi Hendrix Experience' (Mitchell left, Redding right).

At sea for all of Jimi's years of living fame, there was little chance that I'd get to see him but there was a glimmer of hope at the 1970 Isle of Wight Festival. Along with 2 shipmates, we cashed in some leave and crossed the Solent for the first day all with the bravado of F*** the Navy we're staying to the end. With an array of bands under our belt, the best of which was probably 'Ten Years After' with Alvin Lee at his shattering best, Sunday morning arrived and we were all 'loosing the bottle'. Her Majesties Submarine 'Alcide' was programmed to leave HMS Dolphin, the submarine base at Gosport, for operations in the Arctic Circle and for 3 of her crew to be 'adrift'?, well the consequences were unthinkable. We went back, and I never did see My Man.

Jimi with white 'Sunburst' Strat.

In 1995 however, Lisa my youngest daughter and I embarked on a journey that would take us the full width of the United States of America (plus parts of Canada & Mexico). On that tour we encountered a couple of young lads (16 and 14 years old) on the bus from Knoxville to Memphis and struck up quite a rapour. Unbeknown to us their parents, who we had also met, had given them the funds to show the Brits a good time in the Music City. The 16 year old picked up a red Mustang from home and the 2 of them proceeded on a tour of Memphis we will never forget. Gracelands (including Elvis' private airport), Sun Studios, Beale Street, Peabody's etc, etc. As we boarded the bus for our next destination, New Orleans, they handed me a scroll of paper saying "we have never met such an ardent supporter of Jimi, please accept this". On opening it was found to be a charcoal 'rubbing' of Jimi Hendrix's grave - I'll spare you the emotion!

Hendrix in one of his 'trademark' pensive moments.

Since those days I have been overwhelmed with gifts and souvenirs of the 'Hendrix' nature including an original 'oil' of the man from my family on my 50th birthday, a 'first issue' copy of The Eternal Fire' (with Curtis Knight) from Capt Bob Anderson one of my former bosses plus a 'first press' of the EP Voodoo Chile (Slight Return) from my friend Andrew Lindsay. On this EP he teamed up with his former US Airborne mate (yes Jimi was a distinguished paratrooper until an accident forced him out of the service) bass player Billy Cox and after a 'first time' perfect recording Jimi suggested a 'Slight Return' to the studio to do it again. That is where I took the name for my house from, but later the song wrongly became Voodoo CHILD but I don't know why.

This is one of the last photographs taken of the man, the day before he died. It holds pride of place along with the grave rubbing in my dining room. 'Hey Joe' also remains my favourite single to this day!

In Many Minds Today 'Jimi' - We Await the Slight Return

With best laid plans of mice and men, I was up the creek again!

Thinking that Springfield, Missouri would be an idea staging post for the next leg of the trip up to Wichata, Kansas, I had decided to stay for a couple of days and survey the wildlife. Unfortunately, and unbeknown the Greyhounds don't run the shortest distance, but only route back to Tulsa and Oklahoma City. However, relying on one of my favourite catchphrases (if that is all that befalls me today then I'll be alright) I decided instead to return to the later and spend a little time there. A beautiful and well kept city, the highlight was undoubtedly finding the Donald Reynolds Art Museum, but more importantly the understated Museum Cafe. This establishment was the furthest thing from a 'cafe' you could imagine with just one example a precis of the wine list offering such stars as '92 Chateau Margaux, '96 Ch Palmer, '99 de Angelus plus a 1998 Opus One at $350, which I once recieved as a birthday present from my beautiful daughters.

My intent was just to go in for a beer, which I did by way of a Newcastle Brown Ale, but taking one look at the menu and spotting grilled Quail the temptation was simply too great.

By now Maître d’ Jesse, of Malasian origin, had joined me at the bar, and as things were quiet there was time to enjoy a long conversation with this most charming lady. Having put the world to rights, I ordered the bird and a bottle of Broquel 'Wood' a delicious Argentinian Malbec. Unfortunately, even 'chef' couldn't tell me which species of Quail I was about to eat, so I decided it must be Gambel's as I have never seen this in the wild, giving me the opportunity to add it to my 'World Bird List' once the dish arrived - TICK!

Bon Appetite - everything about this place was dead right with the service being of a very high standard, decor bright and tasteful with an excellent choice of music none of which was familiar to me. I wasn't about to have dessert but Jesse returned and insisted I choose one with her compliments. Her recommendation of the white and dark chocolate terrine with blackberry sauce sounded good, and as my mate Andy Lindsay always suggests whiskey goes well with chocolate it was only right I complimented it with a Jameson's.

The Free Terrine

By now a booked party of over 50 people had arrived, so with exchange of cards and my sincere thanks for a perfect meal I boarded the bus for Kansas.