A few readers requested some more road trip lore. So in the interest of giving the people what they want, here”s one I haven”t written about before.
It all began with my insatiable love of music. I was working for a newspaper as the entertainment editor and did a CD review on an album called “Sonoran Hope and Madness,” by Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers, formerly the Refreshments. The band was widely known for the animated television show “King of the Hill,” theme song.
I really liked the music and the band sent a couple of tickets to use at a convenient venue. My friend Robin joined me for the Tahoe City show where the Victorian venue on the Truckee River looked like a painting to my artist traveling buddy. The architecture and view paled in comparison to Roger Clyne in her eyes, she was full-on hooked. Before we left she ran to purchase all memorabilia Roger Clyne.
She was thrilled when she saw the band gathered around my car. I was suspicious. The guitar player, Steve, held tiny shards of glass in his hand that once made up my driver”s-side mirror. The tour bus hit my car. As we exchanged insurance information, Roger Clyne and I shared a laugh as he asked, “You”re not going to write about this, are you?” I never did until now.
He told me that we should really go see the Mexico show, called “Circus Mexicus.”
I barely climbed in through the passenger”s door to get to the driver”s seat, when Robin started making plans for a road trip to Mexico.
When we got back to town she busted out her oil paints and began the portrait she would present to Roger Clyne months later when we arrived South of the Border.
Robin made up a complete binder filled with everything we needed, vehicle documents, MapQuest directions, birth certificates, hotel reservation confirmation and even a list of safety recommendations. On the cover of the binder it said “Mandy and Robin”s Road Trip to Mexico ? yay!”
We sang the band”s hits all the way into Tijuana. Confusion set in immediately. There were no street signs. How would we find our way to Circus Mexicus in Puerto Penasco?
I saw a police car at a convenience store parking lot and quickly turned in to ask for directions. The police officer agreed to get us out to the right road. I followed closely behind him through the chaos that is Tijuana. Wild horses crossed the highway when we reached more rural roads. The sun was disappearing, so we stopped at an Italian restaurant to ask how much farther it was and maybe grab a bite. The owner said he was just closing and I said “no worries, we were just wondering how far up the road Rocky Point is?” We said we were going to a concert. He informed us that Rocky Point was just around the corner, but there wasn”t a show there.
Robin broke out the binder and showed him the evidence. “No, I”m sorry, that”s the wrong Rocky Point,” he said as he wrote directions and told us to be careful.
Robin”s eyes glazed as a tear formed on the brim of one eyelid. She held her hand over her mouth and said “Sorry, Mandy,” as she gasped for air. “Buck up little camper,” I said. There was only one thing to do, so I stopped at the closest store and bought a couple of four-packs of sugar-free Red Bull and I drove for another nine hours.
She asked, “Why are there two Rocky Points here anyway?” And “What was the deal with the Italian restaurant in Mexico? I laughed and told her for the same reason there are 50 Springfield”s in the U.S. and a Chinese restaurant down the street from her house. She laughed too.
I”m not sure what the speed limit was on the “Libre” road, I only know that my puny economy car couldn”t go fast enough. No guardrails, shoulder and a steep cliff resulted in blood extricated from both of my palms where my fingernails punctured the skin. Later we found the “Cuesta” road, which were advised was much better.
You may ask if it was worth it.
Definitely.
I ate oysters, mango with cayenne pepper on a popsicle stick on the beach, played soccer in the street late at night with an 8-year-old and saw the world”s biggest cockroach, all before the show.
The outdoor stage hosted the band Cracker first and then Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. More than 1,000 people had the band logo tattoo.
The people in Mexico were beyond hospitable. As I pointed and struggled to communicate, nobody said, “You”re in our country, speak our language.”
This is really only half of the story. Let me know if you want “Circus Mexicus” part dos.
“I cross the desert, disappear in to the tumbleweed, tip the bottle and bite the lime ? I”m just waiting for that coal-black, sun-cracked, numb-inside, soul of mine to come alive.” ? Roger Clyne
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee news editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
