Eeeeeiiirrreeee
August 13
(Grace's 82nd birthday)

12:40am... we're offff. The scheduled time was noon. Bets were taken and the money collected. At high noon, we were almost ready, everyone was on the Bus, the sound was on.... IT was on!!! Why aren't we moving? Babbs had pulled the Bus right up to the red bricked entrance of the Day's Inn. The former Ohio State Football manager turned Day's Inn manager finally understood what we were all about. We were singing... "WE DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN... THE WHOLE STATE OF MICHIGAN." It was his first vision of the Bus in its GrandFurthur Quest. On board Further are three grandfathers, one grandmother, one grandson and a bunch of Pranksters.

Just when we're ready to roll, we aren't quite sure if we're ready. Eli goes back into the lobby... we wait wondering... we're still not sure... he's back... we're ready... we're moving.... backing up slowly... a little further... ok, forward.... squeeze out the narrow alley to the street. OK, IT'S CLEAR... whooooooaaaa, a left U TURN right into the gas station next door when we were expecting to pull into the street. We're stopped again wondering why we've pulled in here? Just a little more mass confusion and maybe we'll actually hit the road Jack.

Over the Flats and past the Rock Hall with the Lake on the port side, the Bus rolls merrily, merrily Further. "YES WE WILL GATHER AT THE RIVER, THE BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL RIVVVVERRRR!!!"

The Bus peaked at its highway cruising speed around 53MPH creating the perfect combination of noise and vibration lulling several of the Pranksters to sleep. In the back of the Bus were Caleb and Swan and as you can see here it was Swan, the older of the two on the right who was sucking his thumb!

The first pit stop on our way east and north from Cleveland to Erie was in the middle of a stand of thick woods filled with Cudzu also known as Morning Glories!!! This must be the spot even though Smokey was hiding off in the bushes. Kesey held forth at a picnic table planning the entrance and foray into Erie. Someone purchased a can of Surge, which is Coca Cola's answer to Jolt Cola and Mountain Dew, and passes it around for inspection. Should I trust this Prankster who just handed it to me? Alllll aboard! Clang Clang... "Yes we will gather at the rivvvvver..." As the Bus pulls out of the parking lot here comes Eli running after the Bus holding another can of Surge jumping onto the back deck of the Bus as we accelerate through twelve miles an hour.

As George pulls the Bus onto route 90, someone comments that the Pennsylvania Highway Patrol were voted the best dressed in the nation and that they wore Smokey the Bear hats. Someone asked Mother Merry Furthur when the last time was she had been arrested by the Pennsylvania Highway Patrol. We were all somewhat in shock by her statement that she had not!!! The State Highway departments are all in the process of repaving and fixing the roads... we drove right into the middle of at least a 30 million dollar expenditure slowing traffic to about 15MPH. Approaching a stretch filled with huge Catepillar tractors and dozens of construction workers, Mother Merry Furthur pressed her face against the window as we slowly passed them by. She climbed out onto the back deck as the Bus slowly picked up speed and siezed the opportunity to snatch a souvenir right off the head of one of those workers with the timing of a magician as the Bus picked up enough speed to outrun the guy who's helmet was plucked.

The drive to Erie was not long allowing the Pranksters to get loose enough for the gig at a local park in the evening. Arriving only a half-hour late, by the beautfiful, beautiful rivvvverrrr... the Bus with sound blaring, Pranksters riffing, bubbles blowing, lights flashing, pulled right into Perry Park, named after Admiral Perry who protected the Great Lakes from invasions of Atila the Hun and the British and the Canadians. The crowd had assembled to witness the GrandFurthur Tour thanks to a little promotion by Froggy FM Radio, Erie's "oldies" station. They were young and old, hippies and locals, all there to see Kesey and the Bus. With the Bus as the stage using wireless microphones, Kesey and the Pranksters held court for over two hours telling stories, singing songs, cavorting with the audience, signing autographs, and meeting the locals. It was a cool scene here in Erie as the colorful sunset drew this day toward a close.

It had turned dark as we packed up the sideshow while Kesey signed the last book. Clang, clang... ahhh oooohhh ggaaaaa.... we're moving again. This time to a bar and restaurant downtown called Calamari's which is in the middle of downtown Erie on a quaint clean street lined with shops and storefronts. The Pranksters took over the upple level in the back of this joint that was playing Grateful Dead music over the PA. Many of the folks from the park had joined us as we ate and drank and chilled out from the first day on the road.

Time for some shut-eye... tommorrow we go Trucking up toward Buffalo to go Phishing!!!

Tune here tommorrow to discover
why Caleb learned that the first
thing you ask when the waitress
comes to your table
"is the fish fresh?"

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