Out of the abyss and into the bliss! The
sun is shining for the first time in four days... sort of. Swan says we're going
to blow those clouds away when we get to the Rock Hall! And that my dear sisters
and brothers is exactly what happened. The trip from Columbus to Cleveland started
early. The weather had been cold and rainy from the moment we drove into Michigan.
This morning was no different. 
The Pranksters are positive
thinkerz and don't let a little thing like bad weather weigh them down. The Bus,
the support vehicles and the Pranksters were loaded, and ready to go! Follow the
yellow brick road, follow the yellow brick road, follllllllllllow...
Route 71 from Columbus to Cleveland starts
off flat leading into gentle rolling hills dotted with beautiful family farms growing
corn and soy beans. Corn, Howard Rheingold's teacher! Our Trip Den Mother's family
has farmed the area we drove into for several generations. If you have eaten sweet
corn from northeastern Ohio, you know you have died and gone to heaven! Try it sometime
around 2pm in the afternoon when the sun is beating down on the field. Pull an ear
off and take off the husk and just bite rite into it. It doesn't get any better than
that! 
Dohhhhhhh... it's the cops again. What? Huh?
They're escorting us from the outskirts of Cleveland into the Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame and Museum? Trouble ahead, trouble behind, one in front, one in back, lights
flashing... that phone call to Governor Woody Hayes worked. Babbs commented "they
usually escort us out of town". Truckin' into Cleveland, Kesey pulled up I Want
To Take You Higher as we rolled into the fabulous I.M.Pei sculpture located on the
banks of Lake Erie. A wireless sender was plugged into the Bus' audio system and
sent out through the stage sound system. They could hear us coming from over a block
away. There was a large stage on the plaza in front of the Rock Hall. Chet Helms
MC'd local bands First Light and Oroboros followed by Donovan, Country Joe, Ken Kesey
and the very Merry Pranksters and Big Brother. 
The Pranksters
totally stimulated the crowd with GLORIA from TWISTER, a ritual realilty in three
quarters with overtime if necessary, a prank on the Yellow Brick Road. Kesey and
Babbs had to drag Swan off the stage, the man is the second leaving of James Brown!
The Rock Hall is a wonderful place. The architecture
speaks for itself but does not interfere with the presentation of the art inside.
On display are photographs, clothes, stage props, videos, personal items, instruments,
momentos... anything and everything relating to the history of Rock and Roll including
the early influences from the South. 
It is definitely worth the
trip. Plan on an extended visit. Several hours is barely enough! If you only have
a short time there, make sure you watch the twenty minute video on the fourth floor.
The Rock Hall staff are top notch, they are, with good reason, proud of their scene.
They achieved the goal of taking us higher!
Following the public concert on the plaza, the Pranksters tuned up for an evening of debauchery and pleasure in the Flats. The Rock Hall threw a big party for the movers and shakers featuring lots of great food and free drinks. Just the antidote to get the evening underway. Into the Flats we went. The first bar was a packed blues club called Wilberts. The opening band was in the middle of their set when we walked in... all twenty four of us. They didn't have a clue what hit them. In fact they were so startled from all of us pouring into the small dance floor and getting in their face, that they wouldn't let the dayglo jumpsuited John Swan standing in front of them with his silver guitar, play with them. So... Are We Really? combed the neighborhood and discovered a Prankster friendly club called Odeon that will from here on out be known as the Prankster Club! It was perfect, the room was full of Deadheads! The accommodating management was informed that we would soon be there and that they could do nothing about it but enjoy the ride. We and the house band Akoostik Hookahs were going to entertain them. Kesey slowly worked his way through the adoring crowd accompanied by the Prankster entourage. The Akoostik Hookahs were told to just improvise which they did with great enthusiasm. The totally packed room went ballastic when Kesey and Swan stepped on the stage. Kesey went right into Not Fadaway and Lovelight... Kesey spun some tails as the band improvised a nice pscyhedelic spin behind him. We were finally peaking at this moment. It was the highlight of the trip in many ways. ITSART and it was happening live. Kesey signed the band wall among all of the names and comments who preceeded us. It was quite the day and evening and night.
Well... it is Sunday, Mother's Day. I am
sitting next to the Bus with Zonker contemplating the situation. The Bus is resting
in its position for the summer which is right smack dab in front of the Rock Hall.
The Pranksters are packing up the gear to haul back to Oregon. We have done the group
photo and we're about ready to head over to Cleveland International Airport for the
return trip. George has made plans to drive the Bus to a garage in the morning to
replace the burned out clutch, he already fixed the starter.
A Great BIG Thank You Very Nice goes off
to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum. Bob Santelli, director of education
paved the way for this adventure. Our hats go way off our heads for the GrandFurthur
Tour Den Mother Chris Szalay, director of marketing. It was because of Chris that
we actually made it to the Rock Hall intact, only slightly off time, and extreeeeeeeeemely
happy! 
Bob and Chris provided us with the means to travel
in real style. We already miss them and we haven't quite left yet. How can they miss
us when we won't go away? 
