Day 7 – July 9, 2002
There’s nothing like waking up in a giant pyramid.
Mix #33 Evangelical Beheading Ice Cream Shop
Maker: Dan Date: 6/97 Begun: 10:49am Ended: 12:59pm Miles Covered: 81
Leaving Las Vegas - Possibly Dan’s favorite cover art of all featuring a preacher holding Jack Watson’s head in his raised hand and the inside art depicts Josh Granger holding two ice cream cones, one of which is Dan’s head. Side A flows amazingly well and is a brilliant culmination of the past 2 years of Dan mix tapes.
We finally find the abandoned mining town of Chloride, AZ, population 300, although most have left for the time being due to the fire warnings. It hasn’t rained here since November and most don’t want to be around if an errant cigarette butt sends it all up in flames. The cemetery here is incredibly creepy. Lots of unmarked graves and some fresh mounds of dirt obviously covering bodies they didn’t bother to bury. There’s also a disturbingly large amount of graves for people who died very young. The town is mostly made up of retirees who create works of art all day long and sell it to tourists. One of the yards is full of what is possibly the greatest bowling ball artwork we’ve ever seen.
Mix #34 Songs for Weddings
Maker: Jeremy Date: 6/97 Begun: 1:00pm Ended: 3:10pm Miles Covered: 90
Nearing Kingman, AZ – Driving down Route 66. There’s nobody else on this road. Nobody. It’s really kind of sad that people would rather take the boring old highway rather than this historic road although if it was packed with cars that would probably annoy the shit out of us so it’s better that it’s empty. Maybe the others take the highway so as to avoid having to dodge blowing tumbleweeds and packs of wild horses crossing the road. We, however, enjoy the challenge.
Mix #35 To Jeremy – My One and Only Love!!
Maker: Dan Date: 8/97 Begun: 3:11pm Ended: 5:06pm Miles Covered: 100
Mix #36 New Discoveries in Sound
Maker: Jeremy Date: 8/97 Begun: 5:09pm Ended: 7:44pm Miles Covered: 84
Grand Canyon, AZ – We stop to check out the huge hole in the ground that is the Grand Canyon. After admiring the natural beauty, our first thought is, "I wonder how many people die falling into the canyon." Thankfully, the gift shop has beaten us to the punch. Right there, proudly displayed on the counter, is this book. As we prepare to leave, a wind picks up, blowing dust all around. Jeremy cries out, "Sandstorm in the eyes! Blinded driving! Hope we get there safely! Tell the wife I love her!"
Mix #37 Alfred Hitchcock Presents, "Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel’s Coat"
Maker: Dan Date: 9/97 Begun: 7:47pm Ended: 8:54am Miles Covered: 52
Nearing Flagstaff, AZ – Thankfully, the sandstorm did not cause us to crash. We drive through empty roads under a dark sky passing areas of charred forest. Some trees have been completely burned to a crisp. There is no stopping on the side of the road anywhere out here in an attempt to prevent more forest fires. Lightning flashes all around the mountains and we look for shelter for the night hoping to avoid the deluge.
