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Buffalo Roaming: Day One, Down By The Lazy River in Bamalama

Well, after seven hours of driving, two torrential storms and one near death experience, I find myself in the comfort of a beautiful two story home on the Elk River (which feeds into the Tennessee River down the road a ways as a matter of fact), sitting comfotably and typing away on my MAC laptop, getting ready for bed. My hostess with the mostess is fellow Swamplnd writer Penne Laubenthal, and she has kindly offered me the option of staying this night at her humble abode. Of course I was thrilled. I'm as tired as Tony Soprano after a mile long jog .

The trip was beautiful. Red hot Southern sunshine baking the pavement while I turned the AC up to eleven and put the iPod on random play mode, listening to everything from Jimmy Hall to Eddie Hinton, from The Brothers to Tommy Talton.

    A road weary Buffalo with Billy C. Farlow (Penne Elk Photo)

I was almost here when the storm hit. I was on the cell with Sonny Edwards, and I told him I had to hang up for a minute. Scared the heck out of me. I am pretty sure I witnessed a tornado about half a mile off of I-65, but that ominous dark storm was nothing compared to what would hit as I approached the Athens, Alabama exit, not 20 miles from Penne's home.

The sky went black and 65 mph winds were blowing rain and hail, as traffic on 65 just stopped dead in its tracks. Then it got quiet. Too quiet. And like a scene in a movie, I heard the crunch of metal, looked into my rear view and saw a Cadillac coming sideways toward me. I said a little prayer and gave her the gas, just hoping nobody was right in front of me in the pitch darkness. The flying Caddy barely missed me, but clipped another car, and when all was said and done, there were four vehicles busted up on the road. I counted my blessings, and limped on down the shoulder to the Athens exit, pulled in at Chik-fil-a, ran in and waited out the storm soaking wet with two cops, a rabbi and some bikers.

Arriving at the river, I was blown away by the beauty of the place. I was greeted by Penne and her sister Peggy, as well as by founding Commander Cody & His Lost Planet Airmen singer Billy C. Farlow. Billy is Penne's neighbor and is married to her sister.

Buffalo with Penne and her river. (Billy C. Farlow Photo)

Penne cooked up a nice Southern dinner, and we all sat on the porch overlooking the river and enjoyed good food and good conversation. Plans were discussed for the big party and jam over at Dick Cooper's place on Sunday, and I began to wind down, looking forward to seeing Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters tomorrow, and some more old Alabama friends. It was great meeting Penne face to face. Now all we need is a full tilt staff get together. How about it, Jim?

Keep it Real. Keep it Southern.

Buffalo

PS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Penne! This is her Leo birthday weekend! Oddly enough, it is also Billy Bob's on Monday! Well wishes to you both!

 

related tags

Gritz,
River,
Muscle Shoals,
Atlanta,
Tennessee,
South Carolina,
Georgia,
Alabama,
Music,

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