As most of us are going on John's trip vicariously, I figured I would give you updates as I can as to how my traveler is doing. We left our house Saturday about 2pm, drove 10 miles south, picked out a Christmas tree - tied it to the top of my car*, and drove 25 more miles to Newark. He caught his train around 4pm and it just arrived in Chicago 2:30pm today (Chicago time)- about 5 hours late, but in plenty of time to catch his connection to Carbondale. There evidently was very bad weather and a derailed freight train ahead of them. At last we spoke he was hunting down a bar at the train station with a big screen TV to hopefully catch the Giants game. *PS - After taking the the tree on a 65 mile almost round trip - ME and the tree made it home fine. Pfew!

At 9:05 PM (Sunday night) John sent me a text message that said "I'm riding on the City of New Orleans".

COOL!!!

Extremely BIG grin!

Oh boy that sounds like fun! Have a good trip...

Lucky John!! Please keep us posted, Reg!! I am VERY envious! SO - did you get the tree decorated??

My phone call from John was just after the gig. He used words like INCREDIBLE, FANTASTIC...actually he said "I Cannot tell you how FANTASTIC it was!" In 22 years, I have never heard JC this annimated. (I guess he liked the show). He was headed to get his poster autographed and then back onto the train.

The little details I remember (I was 1/2 asleep) Was that it was a little road house venue, the stage was only about 5' (Im assuming tall). John was sitting in the 5th row, (for better camera angle) and that people DANCED through the whole show including the entire length of Alice. Im sure he will have more details/set list etc.

RUMOR has it that Kristofferson will be joining the group in N.O.
JUST SHOOT ME!!!!

John said he enjoyed the Memphis gig too. He particularly enjoyed Ramblin Jack Elliott. I'll let him elaborate.

He likes Memphis a lot too. Today he toured the Civil Rights museum and Sun Records. He had dinner with a friend and "says" he's going to make it an early night tonight. He leaves for New Orleans at some incredibly early hour tomorrow morning.

Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson.... that's half of The Highwaymen! And Arlo! What a dream show that is! I am SOOOO jealous. Tell John I said HI and I just know what a great time those shows are going to be.

John didn't make too early a night of it, 'cause we were on the phone with him for about an hour and a half--mostly listening. (When I met John, I thought he was the silent type. HA!) John's Big Adventure moves to NOLA now ... can't wait to hear more!

I got a phone call too from John the other morning, telling me he ran into an old drinking buddy of mine, namely Ramblin' Jack. At the church a year or two ago, Jack did a gig, and after the gig I happened to have a bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon on me, and Jack didn't.......so I shared. That's become a cherished memory for me!
I woulda talked to John all morning, but I was at the store with customers walking in and phones ringing and stuff. I told John that if money were no object, I'd be with him on this oddysey for sure!

Sounds like he's going on a once in a lifetime adventure. Have fun!

Hi everybody,

John mentioned yesterday that while on the train ADG sang CoNO's in the lounge car backed up by most of the other musicians on the train. He said it was an incredible moment. He said that most of the press was on board at that point, and he tried to "blend" in to get a good spot for good photos but had a hard time because he was using my camera (with the red and white Mickey Mouse Strap). He's also getting a kick out of Ramblin Jack who has been calling John is "train buddy" or something like that.

Well I guess there at the final gig of this tour. Joined by more/different blunder friends...John enjoyed last night - but was either getting tired of being on the road - or still just nothing could compare with the first few gigs.

And yes, the tree is up. All the lights and my ornaments are on. Johns are waiting for him next to the tree along with the tinsel.

Tonights show is (and evidently last nights show was) being webcast. John just said to go to the Tipitina's website, look for the media button on the topand click the web something. Thought I would pass that along to you, cause I didnt know about it last night and missed it.

Reg, thanks for a great report. I looked for John on the video from http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/story?id=1416506 but didn't see him. What a great opportunity to be on that tour! I'll bet he'll be talking about it for months! Can't wait to see his pictures.