The GrandFurthur Finale
on our way back to
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum
on beautiful Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio
August something!
Waking up in bright sunshine somewhere in western New York, the Pranksters once again have a bad case of the fugawees. Just where the fug are we anyway? It really doesn't matter because we have each other and the Bus, which has its own momentum, decor and decorum. The news that morning warned of another storm brewing up off the Great Lakes and we were headed directly into it back to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to complete this GrandFurthur Tour. We figured by the time we hit Cleveland from wherever we were, it should be raining Pranksters and Bozos! El Nino was the topic of the morning, the weather would get weird, but we could probably handle it.
There was plenty of time if we were to make the scheduled six pm arrival in Cleveland. George
and Kesey decided to forego Interstate 90 and take the less frenetic back roads that are more interesting. George
parked at a nice looking
family diner in the first town we entered. After all, we are a family of sorts now aren't we? Inside the back room
of the diner, our waitress was greatly amused by our antics and questions about fresh fish and how about some more
of that fantastic coffee.
Out in the parking lot, 
Roy masked and primed a small television monitor Kesey wanted to mount
in the dashboard. Everything inside the Bus is eventually painted dayglo and it is always best to paint flourescents
over a white surface!
A fine young local approaches the colorful Bus and introduces himself to
Really? as a representative of the local import/export wholesale business. "No sir, I am not a salesman, I
am a representative". "I'm not here to sell you anything sir, I am merely giving you the opportunity
to buy this fine merchandise". 
This kid had no idea what he was about to encounter. Really? seized the moment and
offered the young man his Prankster business card informing him that indeed we were in town to conduct business
and that he should come inside the diner and meet the rest of Really?'s associates. So the young man picked up
his tattered old bag of stuff and followed inside where he was introduced as the wholesale representative to the
breakfasting Pranksters. Really? placed the young man's business card in front of Kesey who examined it and the
merchandise for sale.
The young man explained that the musical story book he was offering was sold at Toys R Us for
forty-eight dollars and his company wholesales it for twenty-eight dollars and he would normally offer it to us
for fifteen dollars but since we seemed like such nice people the item in question was only eight dollars!!! Kesey
bought almost everything in that young man's bag because it was all sooooo Prankster-like. We had fun with the
guy. Without knowing it, he was our morning entertainment.
Clang clang... hit the road Jack! We're on the road again, sure to fall,
naturally born easy, on the road again! We travel southeast with Lake Erie weaving in and out of sight to our right
every so often. The country side was scattered with Concord grapes and that perpetual corn. Field corn and sweet
corn, it was amaizing (with every pun intended)! We drove through tree
lined towns some of which were vibrant communities, others were shadows of the past with boarded up store fronts.
Time
had been less kind to some places than others. Some towns had well preserved exteriors and others showed the ravages
of economies with lack of growth and sustenance. The people we passed live unsophisticated lives made possible
by American dreams complete with freedom and safe drinking water. These were the places that displayed the American
flag on a Thursday even though it was not a holiday. Ah Americana... you gotta love it! We gave each and everyone
of them a Prankster hello and goodbye... it was nice to see ya' as we drove past.
As the evening approached and that gallon of Tequila Hagen walked to the border was consumed,
the forwarned storm settled in. Dark, dark clouds were dead ahead. 
Lightning began to flash as we approached Cleveland. The
ominous return of the Intrepid Krewe was about to happen. Kesey quieted the sound system which had finally satiated
those of us who had developed a Grateful Dead jones. He laid out the plan for the return to the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame and Museum with that perceptive, creative tone of voice unique only to Kesey. He said... 
WHEN WE ARRIVE, WE'LL PULL THE BUS RIGHT
UP TO THE FRONT DOOR AND EMPTY THE ALL OF THE CONTENTS INCLUDING THE SOUND SYSTEM AND GUITARS RIGHT ONTO THE FLOOR
OF THE MAIN ROOM. WE'RE HOT ON THE TRAIL OF THE LOST BOZOS AND WE'RE ABOUT TO FIND THEM. Mother Merry Furthur tries
in vain to inform the security staff at the Rock Hall by cellular phone to prepare for our entry because something
uncontrollable was about to happen.
Sure enough, the Rock Hall patrons of families, unsuspecting attendees, radio show
listeners who were told of the Bus' impending arrival and one very large corporate cocktail reception were about
to be interupted by a Bus full of Pranksters and Bozos. 
Indeed the Lost Bozos were found walking around riding
the four open floors on the escalators. Swan and Eli plugged in and turned on, Babbs riffed and Kesey spoke.
WE'REEEEEE
BACCKKKK and very happy to be here! Kesey and Babbs gathered all of the children for one last Balloon Stomp as
the Rock Hall security staff hurriedly positioned themselves with walkie talkies. The Lost Bozos cavorted into
the corporate gathering walking from table to table asking who was the Head Bozo. Each table giggled as they pointed
to their bosses who were totally nonplussed by what was happening. Down below on the main floor, Swan and Eli were
filling up the four open stories of I.M. Pei's masterpiece with LIVE Rock and Roll. This joint had energy... live
energy. 
Kesey
and Babbs riffed over the music, the Tinman and the Scarecrow from Twister were dancing about, the Bozos came down
the escalators and joined in the merriment. Deadheads were twirling and spinning.
It was a very joyous return for Kesey and
the Merry Pranksters. Kesey hit this one right on the old nose!!! The energy filled the entire building. We had returned back to from where we came with a Prankster vengeance.
The GrandFurthur Tour had peaked. This old Bus has remarkable energy and the people
who inhabit it will still amaze you!
Thank you very nice Ken Kesey, Ken Babbs, George Walker, Roy Sebern, Mike Hagen, Anonymous, Mountain
Girl and all of the original Pranksters, Phil Dietz, Zane, Stephanie and Caleb Kesey, John Swan, Duke, Eli Babbs,
Emily Hunter, Kentucky Maria and of course Mother Merry Furthur. 
Together, we all traveled to the river, the beautiful, beautiful river... that flows by the throne of God!
See you all in the future!!!
Click here to go back Jack.
to from where you started
this Trip!!!
