For the past few years now, we have been leaving the heat of North Texas in mid-August and pulling our 5th wheel trailer out to Red River and then to Taos New Mexico to spend about a month in the much cooler air and to attend a couple of music festivals that are held there in August and September.
This year was no exception. We left Decatur around 8 AM on August 16th after enduring sixteen straight days of 100+ temps, arriving at Roadrunner RV Resort in Red River late that afternoon to rain and 55 degree weather where we had reserved a campsite next to the Red River.
We spent the first couple of days acclimating to the altitude and riding up some of the mountain trails around Red River with our friends from Corpus, Doug and Debbie in their Jeep.
We even made it to the top of Greenie Peak from which one can look down and see Eagles Nest, the Red River Ski area as well as Pikes Peak which is over 150 miles to the north. It's an outstanding view.
We came to Red River, not only for the cool air, but also to attend the Larry Joe Taylor Hot Chili Days and Cool Mountain Night's Music Festival and Chili Cookoff which is sponsored by the Red River Chamber of Commerce. It's four great days of music with performances at the Motherlode Saloon, the Tip restaurant at the top of the ski lift, the river stage and culminating in the city park on Saturday with a chili and BBQ cookoff along with music on the big stage. In addition to Larry Joe's own band,
this year's lineup included Keith Sykes who wrote the Buffett hit, "Volcano",
Richard Leigh who has many top 10 country hits including nine #1's such as "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue",
Susan Gibson who wrote "Wide Open Spaces" which was the Dixie Chicks first big hit,
Bob Livingston, who was an original member of the Lost Gonzo Band that backed Jerry Jeff Walker and was actually the first to sing "Redneck Mother" at a show,
Michael Hearne and his band South by Southwest who play great Southwestern Americana music,
and for the younger crowd, there was the Josh Abbott Band, the Tejas Brothers,
Jason Boland and the Stragglers, and Roger Creager
plus several local bands from Red River and Taos area including Two Dollar Horse and the Damn Band.
Of course one of the other reasons it is fun to come out to Red River is to get to visit with old friends who we have met over the years as followers of music.
After the festival, we remained in Red River for an additonal two days and then moved over to Taos where we are presently located. Have made a few day trips to take the High Road To Taos and over to Ojo Caliente, Los Alamos and Bandelier National Monument
plus going to listen to music at some of the venues here in Taos. Saw Jim Lauderdale on Thursday at KTAO Solar Center and Josh Grider, Drew Kennedy and Max Gomez at the Old Blinking Light on Saturday.
Going out to see Michael Hearne at the OBL tonight, then we're leaving the trailer here and making a quick trip back to Texas on Wednesday to check on my dad who's having back surgery today, water our yard if there's one left, drive down to attend the first A&M football game, then drive back to Taos on Monday to get ready for Michael Hearne's annual Big Barn Dance Weekend. About 1700 miles in five days. Guess Becky and I are gluttons for punishment, but at least we're having a good time.
