"Life is lived forward, but understood backward. It is not until we are down the road and we stand on the mountain looking back through the valley that we can appreciate the terrain God has allowed us to scale.” Jill Savage

Monday, July 05, 2010

Monday - the trip continues

THE GRAND CANYON!




THE COLORADO RIVER











Our bus tour operator...
Okay okay my pictures do NOT do it justice, but believe me - it was a grand canyon!

(I borrowed this).



Happy Birthday to Huey Lewis - Wikipedia

Lewis was born in New York City. His father was an Irish American from Boston and his mother, Magda Cregg, was a Polish refuge.

Lewis was raised in Marin County, California, attending Strawberry Point Elementary School (where he skipped second grade) and Edna Maguire Junior High School in Mill Valley. When he was 13, his parents divorced and he attended and later graduated from the Lawrenceville School in New Jersey, in 1967, where he achieved a perfect score of 800 on the math portion of the SAT. Lewis applied to and was accepted by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.

In an interview with David Letterman, Lewis talked about hitchhiking across the country to New York and how he learned to play the harmonica while waiting for rides. He talked about hanging out at the airport for three days until he stowed away on a plane to Europe. In future interviews Lewis would reveal other encounters while travelling Europe. He claimed to sleeping rough at times. While visiting the Scottish city of Aberdeen with no money and nowhere to sleep Lewis claimed that the locals were very hospitable and would often offer him somewhere to stay. In Madrid, Spain, Lewis became an accomplished blues player and he hitchhiked around and supported himself by busking with his harmonica. He gave his first concerts in Madrid, earning enough money to buy a plane ticket back to the USA.

On his return, Lewis entered Cornell University, joining the engineering program. While there, he made friends with Lance and Larry Hoppen, who later played with Orleans and Eddie Tuleja of King Harvest. Initially an active student and a member of the fraternity Eta Lambda Nu, Lewis soon lost interest in college. He signed up with a band called Slippery Elm, and in December 1969, during his junior year, he dropped out of Cornell and moved back to the San Francisco area. His aim was to continue playing music, but along the way he also tried other fields of work, including landscaping, carpentry, wedding and event planning, and natural foods.

He's a smart dude who has seen the world...

16 comments:

Melanie said...

Those are beautiful pictures, Sandie. I would love to see the Grand Canyon someday.

I like the picture of your grandson looking over the edge. He's being very careful! That's not a place to trip over a shoelace. :)

Have a great week!

Jojo said...

I feel like I'm reading about my daughter when reading the bio. She still busks but does play in a band, record and travel all over the world. Being a musician has great rewards but not always an easy life. I'm really proud of her though - in spite of being a Lewis & Clark "dropout" - she is living an incredible life.

BTW - that Grand Canyon trip looks like it was an awesome sight indeed.

Hootin Anni said...

These photos are super. I remember the very first time I saw the canyon. I happened to be the driver into the park entrance, and oh my goodness!---------I was in total awe of the very first view; and that was looking through the windshield!! I still can't believe its beauty.

Changes in the wind said...

Ahhh the Grand Canyon...there is nothing like it.

Susan said...

Hi Sandie...Soooo glad you got to see the Grand Canyon. I thought it was worthy of being a wonder of the world! Such grandeur! Thanks for sharing. Susan

Linda @ A La Carte said...

I am ready for a visit to the Grand Canyon! I saw it as a young teen but that was a 'few' years ago. It is awe inspiring. So glad your family made the trip!

Oh and I like Huey Lewis! Good info.

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

Your pictures are OK -- no mere human can do justice to the Grand Canyon.

Jane said...

Gorgeous pictures, Sandi!

Jane

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Fabulous scenery! I know this must have been the most amazing trip. I would love to see the American West!

XO,

Sheila :-)

betty said...

I would have absolutely been petrified with how close GS got to the edge of the canyon (bus operator too was too close in my opinion, LOL) (I don't do heights well, can you tell?)

Love the pictures and I think you did a great job "capturing" the canyon. It is amazing how it changes color with the sun up, sun going down, etc. Just awesome wonderful creation of God!

liked all the pictures of it (did you guys go on that new observation deck I read about?)

I like Huey Lewis' music :)

enjoy the day!

betty

Angela said...

Those are great pictures Sandie! Just think about it, you have stood at the same place as Clark Griswald! hehehe You know I love him don't you?

I've been to a Huey Lewis concert when I was 15 or 16. Didn't know who he was at the time! lol My best friend got tickets for us to go. Actually I think her mom did it so she would have someone with her on her date! lol I think ZZ Top played also. Back then that just wasn't my kind of music.

Hope you have a Great Week!
Angela

Buttercup said...

The Grand Canyon was always high on my "to see" list and it didn't disappoint me. I got there four years ago and was thrilled by it. Thanks for bringing back great memories.

Rose said...

just getting to read posts. i've never been to thr Grand Canyon. it's lovely thanks for sharing

Wendy Whiner said...

Sandie,
I just love your pictures, wow. I hope to get to the Grand Canyon soon. Andy is so cute.

Joyce said...

Interesting Huey information. Now the photos are super. I just love that area of the USA but have not had as extensive a tour as you took. I think you all made some wonderful family memories out there!
Joyce

Annesphamily said...

Beautiful pictures Sandie! You take great photos! I love the Huey Lewis article! WOW! He is smart! Anne