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A visit to Searcy found the Riverview Raiders stumped and unable to vanquish the invading Panthers from Heber Springs.  They held fast in the second half, only permitting another 7 points and gain 6 for themselves in the last few minutes of the same.  Most of the game was a brutal beating for them though, with the Panthers scoring goal after goal. We were there for the music though, believe it or not.  A close friend was playing for the Heber Springs Marching Band, and we pounced on the rare opportunity to hear them play.  The opposing team put up on fairly fantastic half-time performance that kept the stands pinned down to their seats.  

Passing through northwest Nebraska quite literally demands a stop at what is undoubtedly one of the more interesting art-historical landmarks in the region.  There is likely nothing more intriguing in the area, and for the same reason it was created, why not! Carhenge is a larger-than-life piece created by Nebraska native Jim Reinders.  A seven-year stint in England as a petroleum engineer inspired the creation that leverages an array of random vehicles to replicate the original Stonehenge. Complete in 6 days, using 25 cars, during a family reunion, it was dedicated on the date of the Summer Solstice in 1987. The work continues to evolve and inspire beyond the original "Carhenge of the West" too, with the very first Carhenge Mural Festival held this year.  Multiple artists joined in transforming the gray canvas cars into a vivid and impactful displays that paired nicely with blue skies and other vehicular transformations on site.

After our harrowing descent from the Bighorn Mountains, in our quest to locate sustenance after a long day on the road, we dropped in on the historic Occidental Hotel in Buffalo.  The plan was relatively simple; eat and return to basecamp for some well-deserved rest.  Other happenings would have it another way. We found a table easy enough, in spite of how busy it seemed on this particular Thursday night.  I commented as much to my partner in crime and a lady at the table next to us told us there was a reason for that. She went on to tell us that we had picked the perfect night for our first visit. In about 20 minutes, "the jam" was expected to begin. Our eyes turned quickly towards the corner of the room behind us identifying a makeshift stage with multiple microphones and string instruments.  Our new friend explained how this weekly Bluegrass tradition went all the way back to the year of our lord two-thousand-six. She did ...

A stop for a little relief at the visitor center in Cody found an interesting artistic diversion.  It seems that CodyArts (formerly The Cody Country Art League) began an ongoing exhibition around 60 years ago. The continued success speaks to the community interest in the the multitude of continually rotating artwork from regional artists, though it is unsure how long this has been going on.  Greeting us on entry, "Wall Rock," a mixed media oil painting by by George Van Buren "Wall Rock," though there were so many more intriguing pieces. 

Without knowing much more than the interwebs turned up on a quick search, we headed over to the Uptown Theater for the "Yacht Rock Revue."  What had turned up was a collection of short descriptions leading us to believe it was a different sort of take on soft rock classics from the 1970's.  It turned out something similar with a bit more energy. Yacht Rock Revue  could be called a cover band that enlists a repertoire of smooth hits from the golden age of soft rock in the late 1970's and early 1980's.  It is much more though, igniting memories of drifting through carefree summers under the sun, good times with friends, dancing and enjoying  a life without so much worry.  They know fully well that their track selection inspired an entire generation to dance a little longer, love a little more, and live a little brighter, recreating melodies that include the likes of of Steely Dan, the Doobie Brothers, Fleetwood Mac, Toto, Hall & Oates and many more...