Work.

It’s a four letter word, all right, but it’s also a necessary evil. Unfortunately, we all have to do it, or, at least most of us do. I do know that I am very lucky, in that that my work as an audio engineer with World Wrestling Entertainment not only funds my madness, but the schedule that I, Abi and Fiona all have makes these rides possible, which makes the concept of that four letter ‘W’ word all the more bearable.

So, Stapling Beauty flew home for three nights of saving lives at the hospital. Dark Meat Snack and I flew to Los Angeles for whatever festivities Vince McMahon and crew had planned. In a nice twist of events, Mike also flew in to Los Angeles to work with Abi, me and the rest of the WWE’s ‘Team Audio’. I won’t get too in depth, but Monday night’s show – the show that was moved from Denver to the Staples Center with little notice – featured a Denver Nuggets team owner look-a-like being knocked around by Vince McMahon, a Jack Nicholson impersonator in the front row of the audience, and the main event was a six-on-six match, with the ‘good guys’ dressed as the Lakers, and the ‘bad guys’ dressed as the Denver Nuggets, all announced by the Laker’s home PA announcer. Guess who won that match.

All in all, a typical day at the office.

One thing that struck me as funny was how often in LA people asked Abi and I, “What’d you do with the motorcycles?” I must’ve been asked this question fifteen times on Monday! I guess it’s hard for most to fathom that motorcycles are actually vehicles, and there is always vehicle parking at airports.

Wednesday finally arrived, and everyone flew back to Denver for Tripus Resumus. Once Dark Meat, Staplefingers and I were reunited, my plan was to aim our well-rested motorcycles squarely at Jackson Hole, WY. I thought if we could take a decent chunk out of the five-hundred-fifty mile distance Wednesday evening, we’d be able to enjoy the remaining miles in a leisurely ramble to Jackson Hole the following day.

Mike, who wouldn’t be coming along, had other, more interesting plans. He called me several times that day, using my own logic, similar to the Jedi Mind Trick, on me. “You should just stay at my house tonight. That way we can get in a nice sunset four-wheeling cruise in the mountains. When is the next time you’ll have a opportunity to do that? You’re already here, and you won’t get very far tonight anyway. Why stay in a crappy motel? This is a great opportunity!”

It’s the same logic I use to talk Dark Meat and others into doing things they are otherwise hesitant to do. Yeah, I hate it when others use the Mind Trick on me, but I have to admit, it usually works.

Then, Mike delivered the final knock out blow to my plan, “I’ve got cold beer on ice! What do you say?”

Best. Day. Ever.

The next morning, we said our goodbyes (again) to Mike, Ingrid and Lucas, and headed north in questionable weather toward Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Thursday ended up being a longer than anticipated but pleasant haul through the interesting scenery and gently winding roads of Wyoming. We stayed off the dreaded interstate as much as possible, and stayed mostly dry.

Fifteen minutes outside of Jackson Hole, we had an amazing treat, as we were held up in an authentic Wyoming traffic jam – a lumbering herd of bison ambling across the road.

Our Jackson Hole home was the crap-tastic Anvil Motel in the center of town, a town that also became our watering hole for the next two days. Jackson Hole turned out to be a perfect base to launch an all out photographic assault on Grand Teton National Park and, of course, the whole reason we came so far, absorbing the visual pleasures of the most beautiful place on Earth – Yellowstone.

Pics of Yellowstone – Here!

Author: frenchy

One Response to “All Good Things… Part V”

1. Lori Calabrese says:

   June 16, 2009 at 6:46 PM

   Love the Buffalo Crossing–was there a Buffalo Crossing sign?

   So good to see Mike's having fun! 🙂

   Best,
   Lori
   http://www.loricalabrese.com

   Reply