So, we’re behind schedule when Lavin starts checking her iPhone map. She squeals with delight when she realizes we are driving “practically right by” the town of Cimmeron, where she spent a college summer working at Philmont, a Boy Scout camp in the Sangre De Cristo mountains. (No time for fact check.) This becomes a nearly four-hour adventure where we try to track down Dallasites at local bars who have hot political opinions, so we have an excuse to imbibe. Jump for more words and pics.
Right away, at the famous, haunted St. James Hotel, where they still have Jesse James’ bullet holes in the ceiling, we run into two families from Plano–Pat and Carol Hale and Larry and Erin Volino. They are former Grand Prairie royalty headed to their cabin in Idlewild. They are McCain supporters with the HOTTEST of hot sports opinions on Obama. Don’t actually feel comfortable printing them.
After that, Lavin repaired to the bar and hit on college ranch-hands. The one on the left was particularly smitten.
Then we tracked two NBC photographers on their way to the DNC. They had stopped at the world famous Colfax Tavern (known as Cold Beer, for obvious reasons). Roger, the proprieter, remembered Spider Monkey from her many nights spent there in 2000. He said the NBC photogs grumbled about having to shoot protesters in Denver who represented no one but themselves. But, they said, that was the nature of the business these days. SM then begged Roger to come to Denver with us. Then we drove into a storm and I cried like a girl. Denver seemed forever away.
