Its mid January, we close the garden gate and power up the photon boosters of the StarShip, point our starfinder towards deep space, deep south west, and set off; going where few leathersmiths have gone before.
First stop is the Denver Indian Market for a three day show which was met with unexpected enthusiasm. From Denver we head south toward Tucson, stopping in the Dragoon Mts. You would recognize this place as it is where many a John Wayne Movie was filmed.
We sidled up with new found roadway traveler “Ally” for an evening meal, I play a few tunes at the TriAngle T bar and grill. We enjoy hearing about Ally’s Guiness book/world records quest of crossing the U.S.A. with a rickshaw! Swell fellow, good artist and we are happy to help him get farther down the road.
While hiking & camping in the Dragoons (Cochise’s stronghold) we encounter a bull
& some professional well drillers
(Koon and Gaffin). They both are proficient in “witchin’ water.” Lauri and I enjoyed watching them from a distance as they readied themselves to drill the 13th well on this 160 acre property. I asked about the approximate depth and they both say… 400 ft. exactly. Incredible amounts of energy and effort are expended… and they all revolve around their “water witching” expertise. We leave before the well is drilled… but we wish them two parts hydrogen and one part oxygen.
Our time is spent doing numerous shows in the southwest. Tubac Art Festival is a wintertime favorite. It is more than a fine art festival, it has a larger percentage of artisan’s than most other festivals we attend. The StarShip is moored at the Flying W Ranch during the festival. Danny and Jiff are superb hosts of this RV camp ground. They live in a geodesic dome built by Jiff’s parents.. in the mid to late 60’s. If you are looking for the KOA….don’t come here, if you are looking for the holiday inn…..don’t come here, If you are looking for genuine hospitality, music (on weekends) and friendship, consider their desert oasis on the west side of the Santa Rosa River/ Tubac.
Danny and Jiff take us on a rock hounding adventure along the Mexican border. It is remote enough that we are apprised that they will be carrying heat. Our eyebrows are slightly raised….but we trust their judgment. We head out on an all day sojourn that taxes the abilities of jeeps & pickups. We strap in and nearly bounce off the seats as we search for various geodes, citrine, adventurin’, chrysacolla, silver and iron pyrite. Friends, Tim and Mary Toso flew down from Minneapolis & partake in this curious all day adventure that came to a musical and culinary end… late in the evening. Danny and Jiff were great hosts. Tubac is a place that we will return.
With no time to tarry….we do another show or two and then power up the nacelles and head off to the Denver Merchandise Mart for the Denver Gift Show. Our faith is restored in the current economy. Store owners, shopkeepers and major concessionaires of national and state parks show up to place orders for the coming summer season. The orders are not only holding strong…but they all seem to be just a little bit larger in size. We are heartened by this show of faith in our products.
Enough cannot be said about our gratitude to all the people that we have met along the way. Your patronage, fuels our engines (literally), it strengthens our resolve in the American cottage craft industry and the craftsman/artisan’s way of life.
Last night we returned to our home town after 6/7 weeks on the road. Our valued and trusted management at the BBC have not only “held down the fort”, but they have continued to dutifully and mindfully help produce the products for which we are known.
Haley, Lorenna, Sherry and Kristy Lou….we are indebted to you all. You are the “Annie Oakleys” of the Buffalo Billfold Company!
