Letter to Ace Ticket

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To Mr. James Holzman

Ace Ticket

534 Commonweath Ave.

Boston, MA 02215

Dear Mr. Holzman,

Herb Chambers once ran an advertisement for the Vespa motor scooters he was selling.

The ad read, "Don't Be A Gas Hole." I wrote to him and asked him if his Grandmother liked the ad. He actually wrote back, sent a letter with a stamp , and said he had never seen the ad, and promised that I would never see it again either. I never saw it again.

Your ad "Sit Your Ace Down" offends me. My wife says, "You are sixty eight years old and everything offends you."

She could be on to something, but do you REALLY think that is a class ad?

If you actually paid someone for that idea, maybe you should try to get the people that wrote the 1969 Prince Spaghetti ad. ANTHONY! That was a great advertisement.         

Good health to you.             

Sincerely,

Bob Bacon

110 Stagecoach Drive

Marshfield, MA 02050

Bronco Charlie

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 Charles Miller’s father came to the United States of America in the early 1800s from Scotland. In New York City, he met and married his wife, who was from England. In 1849, the family of four -- including Charlie's brother -- got gold fever and headed out to California. You may have heard of the 49ers.

At Hat Creek in northern California, the family was attacked by Indians and the father was killed. Unlike the kids of today, Charlie got a job at the age of twelve, driving horses to Idaho. They were involved in a running fight with more Indians. He worked with horses until one bit him in the hand, going right through the muscle and bones.

He moved back to NYC. One night he attended Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show at Madison Square Garden. It would change his life. Charlie signed on and became Bronco Charlie.  He was a bronco rider and played in the Pony Express part of the show. I find it fascinating that among the Indian employees were men who fought against Custer at Little Big Horn. 

Miller toured for thirty years with Buffalo Bill, especially through Europe. Buffalo Bill has 680 people in his show, including three cooks, 38 servers, two barbers and 44 buffalo. The tour included England, Spain, Germany and even a show in Naples, Italy. Today the countries that buy the most Indian memorabilia are Germany and Italy.

In the 1930' he put on shows with his twenty foot bull whip. One time he lit a wooden match with the bull whip while a Boy Scout held it in his teeth. The Boy Scout then asked Charlie if he could shoot a match out with a .22 while Charlie held it in his mouth. Charlie declined saying he had lived so long by not being stupid, and that the Scout didn't look like Annie Oakley to him. 

He became friends with Sitting Bull and even Teddy Roosevelt. At age 55 he fought in World War One with the Canadiens.

Sitting Bull

His life ended back in New York City in a nursing home in a wheel chair. He would receive up to 50 letters a day, all addressed simply to Bronco Charlie. He only passed in 1955. Sometimes yjustcmtsup

Buffalo Bill's America is the fifth book I’ve read about William Cody. The author teaches western American history at U.C. Davis, where our friends Tom & Jeanette Egan and Steve & Sue George all met for the very first time. William Cody was a very famous man.

 

"Where some wrote breathless summaries of Miller’s true to life adventures, other less credulous observers marveled at the art of his deception. It might even have been Miller’s wide New York press coverage that inspired – appalled -- New York novelist Thomas Berger to conjure a suspiciously similar, albeit fictional character, a man of almost-impossible vintage named Jack Crabb. In two novels and one movie 1970 (starring Dustin Hoffman ), protagonist Crabb, better known as Little Big Man, danced across  an imaginary stage  as Cheyenne renegade, gunfighter, sole white survivor of the Little Big Horn . . . and veteran of Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show.”

The real Little Big Man was an Oglala Lakota, a fearless warrior who fought with Crazy Horse. He was also at Little Big Horn or the Fight at The Greasy Grass as the Indians called it.

Little Big Man

See my blog “Como Se Llama.”

Standing Bear. He was 17 when he fought at Little Big Horn.

The next time you are in Cody, or just visiting Eastern Yellowstone Park, do yourself a favor and check out the museum. Stay at Buffalo Bill's hotel, named after his daughter Irma. Saddle up to the beautiful saloon bar and have a cold one. Don't forget to wear your cowboy hat, and tell the bartender that TOCINO SENT YOU.

Buffalo Bill Cody

I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl

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Steve Earle played at Ninigret this year, along with forty other bands, according to the Providence Journal this Labor Day morning. "Longtime couples and complete strangers grabbed one another for a swing, jitterbug or close sway as Roddie Romero and his Hub City All Stars dealt some Louisiana rock. Even those unfamiliar with Zydeco couldn't help tapping their feet."

Earle is one of my daughter Kezia's favorites. She went to see him in Boston recently. It also recently came up that he wrote "Ben McCulloch." It is about the Civil War. 

I killed a boy the other day 

who never even shaved 

I don't even know what I'm fightin' for 

I ain't never owned a slave

Another one of my favorites. I did not know until a month ago that the tune was written in 1974 by Steve Earle. (Editor's Note: Since Earle's album with "Ben McCulloch" -- Train A Comin' -- was released in 1995, this "written in 1974" business may be a product of age-related hearing loss. - KB)

 

So at Ninigret at the Rhythm & Roots festival, I decided to see him in action and talk to him about that tune. He was scheduled on the main stage at 7:45pm Saturday evening. Ninigret Park gates open at 11am. Sandy and I had been Cajun & Zydeco dancing all day and needed dinner and a shower. We were finishing up eating at the picnic tables when two people asked if they could join us.

She was from Austin. It is in Texas. He looked Creole. He probably was. Born in Louisiana but transplanted in San Francisco. For fun, both travel the festival circuit. Both said that this festival was the best of them all. People travel from far and wide and I can't convince nearly anyone to join us. 

Flaco & Enid joined us this year. Halfway through the festival, they were talking about coming for the whole weekend next year. Enid is crazy about banjo music. Who knew? Flaco would probably have married her regardless. Probably. 

We talked with our dinner guests about the other festivals and the musicians. Although she preferred the Zydeco, her favorite performer was a Cajun by the name of Riley. It turns out that California has many Cajun / Zydeco dances. San Diego has an awesome festival. It is in California. Louisiana has the most, and nearly all of them are free admission. We finally broke away from our new friends and headed late to the main stage to see Steve. Earle not Riley.

A football sized field (you know what I mean . . . ) holds the festival attendees for the main stage. 

They added another stage this year to bring it up to five stages. Why? Well you need them if you have forty bands. Dumb question, by the way. 

The sound system is terrific. This is the festival's 16th year and they have it all fine-tuned. There are screens to watch if you haven't secured a closer-to-the-stage seat. It is Bring Your Own chair seating. 

As we drew closer, I heard the song being performed that I had come to the festival specifically to see and hear. 

God damn you 

Ben McCulloch

Hate you more 

Than any other man alive

And when you die 

You'll be a foot soldier just like me

In the devil's infantry

It seems that Steve Earle's soldier had joined General Ben Mc Culloch's Texas infantry for seven bucks a week, all the rations in the Army you could eat, and a ryyfill you could keep. That is how he pronounced rifle. In real life, Ben was a Texas Ranger before the war of Northern aggression.   

General Ben McCulloch

So that was cool, and my mission was almost complete. Now I needed to talk to him face to face at the autograph tent. While we were waiting and listening he sang "Galway Girl." 

So I took her hand 
And I give her a twirl 
And I lost my heart to a Polish girl. 

Lo siento I mean Galway girl. I could not believe it. He wrote that one Also.

Kezia puts all my musical choices together for me for my Christmas CD. Mostly I give her the tunes. Leonard Cohen, Paulo Conte and  Cesaria Evora were suggested additions by her. One day I was walking by her room and heard "Galway Girl." I said, "Kezia whatever that is, I need it for my next Bob's World CD." So it made Bob's World that year. I assumed it was an Irish group. Wrong, Kemo Sabe.

WOW!    ycmuslthis     unburritable

My new favorites playing this year were Taj Mahal,  Los Texmaniacs, and The Carolina Chocolate Drops.

If you would join us there next year I wouldn't have to write this blog. 

Roberto Francisco Tocino

The Bullhouse

--> Chestertown, New York is the next town over from where we have summer vacationed for the past ten years at the boathouse right on Brant Lake. Mostly we cook at the boathouse.

 We do not eat out that much because the good restaurants are few and far between, and in our minds, just OK.

That all changed on a Monday evening when we tried the new restaurant in Chestertown.

The Bullhouse opened in February of 2013. Monday night found it full with only one table left. I would guess that the patrons were mostly well-dressed vacationers. I could be wrong about that.

They have a very nice sort of eclectic menu, mainly featuring steak. I have not had much luck with steak lately -- or ever, really. To my wife’s and my surprise there was list of Mexican specialties also. Under FAVORITES were listed

Tequila Ahi Tuna   

Smoked Paprika Chicken   

Mesquite Pork Chop   

Quinoa Stuffed Chile Rellenos

and Gulf Coast Fish

You can even order a Coca Cola from Mexico. The one with the cane sugar, just as you remember it growing up.

I had no expectations whatsoever and I was not hungry, although the chile rellenos sounded good. Under steaks, I opted for the strip steak open sandwich. My wife ordered the chile rellenos. We both thought that the steak might be what we call in Boston a steak and cheese. Or in Philadelphia, a cheese steak.

They have a very sweet, competent, friendly waitstaff. Ours was here from Romania.

Our meals arrived. My steak was cut in slices and about one half an inch thick. The bread slices underneath were delicious. Fries on the side and broccoli for a vegetable. There were five toppers to choose from: poblano rajas, chimichurri, mushroom demi glaze, chipolte crema, and the one that I chose, garlic butter. Underpriced for such a large portion I thought.

Are you getting hungry?

Having traveled extensively through Mexico and the American Southwest for the past 46 years, we feel a little bit like experts. Especially on chili rellenos. I was shocked when my wife said that it was the very best chili rellenos that she has EVER had. I tried it and agreed. My steak was fabulous and although it was a large portion and I wasn't hungry, I finished it all.

Don't get the wrong idea. It is not a Mexican restaurant. There are all kinds of side dishes, starters, soups and salads, and as I said, steaks. Four different kinds.

The 1893 wooden building that houses The Bullhouse is beautiful, and reminds you very much of a ski town in the snowy mountains of Colorado or Utah.

Two days later we were back. With us were our friends visiting from Albuquerque. They agreed that it was the best chile rellenos ever. Quite an endorsement from New Mexico and Texas residents. They were on a 30-day road trip and said that this was their best meal yet. An Italian restaurant in Saint Louis came in second.

The owner, Lonnie Shenefield, says so far it has been a learning experience. It is her first restaurant. I suggest you make your reservations now.

This restaurant is and will be a huge success. Exit 25 off the Northway Route 87 on the main street in Chestertown New York.

                 

If I lived 30 miles or even 40 miles away from there, I would go back monthly. I already know where we will have our first meal out come next August’s vacation in the Adirondacks.

factoid  .....  Rachael Ray grew up 20 minutes away in Lake George New York.

Running Your First 100

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On July 13, I received an email from Paul Jacobs, who is married to Martha Heberlein, daughter of Enid & Jerry, down the street. Paul has the ultra-running bug, and some of his friends do as well.

He was hoping I could share some pointers/advice for his friend Amelia, who is running her first 100-miler at the Vermont 100 this weekend. Here’s what I wrote.

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Hi Amelia,

This brings back fond memories for me. So thank you. If I am an expert it is because I have made all the running mistakes possible and lived to tell the tale.

Mental low points: they come out of nowhere. Sometimes they stay and sometimes they don't. If you can find someone who runs your pace, stay with her/him and the time will fly. But do not stay with someone who is making you run too fast. I ran the first 70 miles with a stranger at my first VT 100. 

Your body will play all kinds of tricks on you. Just keep moving forward, even if it is walking.

Monitor how you feel all the time. Think positive.

Do not break in a new pair of socks or shoes on your FIRST 100.                  

Yah! You will be back.

Eating during the race is so important. You cannot be burning all these calories for a whole day and not be adding more in. Some people like baked potatoes or M&M's or even Coca Cola. Cold Coke tastes so good in the middle of the race. Do not try anything new in your first 100. I presume you are wearing a water belt of some kind.

Probably the BEST ADVICE is kind of an old ultra running joke. "Start slow and taper." If you were to follow only one of my ramblings, START SLOW would be the one. Roger Welch (once the best Ultra Marathoners in the club) ran VT in the hottest year, on a day that mostly stayed in the high 90's. (He once did 143 miles on a track in NYC in 24 hours. Good enough to be first place.) It was his third try at Vermont. He had dropped out twice before. Roger hates uneven surfaces. So he excelled at marathons and 24 hour tracks. If he feels he can't be in the lead pack near the end he quits. That blistering day he had one of his best runs ever. Because of the heat he kept a steady slower pace and passed many runners from mile 80 +

Vermont is considered one of the easier 100 milers because of the rolling hills and shade and low altitude.

 When you pass other runners that gives you a great boost. But you already know that.

Do you have a crew?  I only had my brother in law. For both Western States 100s I had three helpers and I needed them all. Vermont was Brian's first Ultra as a handler. It was a hot day. At Mile 60 he had set my chair up in the direct sun. Bring a chair. We both learned a lot that day. You will get really stiff towards the end and a chair to change socks or take a break is so wonderful. If you sit on the ground you might need a hand to get back on your feet.

You will probably get really cranky so warn your crew. They will get cranky too. Have your stuff right near the trail and in the shade. Maybe all laid out on a blanket for easy viewing. Have one of your crew run out to meet you just before you enter the aid station and find out ahead of time what you need. Vaseline or something even thicker for thighs and nipples and hot spots on your feet. You will lose many toenails so cut them way down before the race. They will just turn black and fall off eventually. You will be hurting in so many different places that you might not even notice when it is happening.

SECOND best tip: Roger Welch, who is not online ,would tell you not to waste time at the aid stations. Five or ten minutes at each stop could kill your time. Or even your ability to finish before 30 hours.

Wear a ball cap and sunglasses. Someone taught me that at my first 24-hour track run in Rutland Vermont. There is no shade on a 24-hour track -- except when the sun goes down. Both hat and sunglasses will make you feel better.

Wear your # on an article of clothing that you will wear all day. Probably your running shorts. You will lose time if it is on your shirt and you change it. You might leave your hat at an aid station.

You will probably, at night, go back to praying to see one of those green glow sticks that marks the trail. I know I did. When you are by yourself they seem very far apart. You probably will run mostly by yourself at night.

I went off the trail twice during my first Ultra. Once by myself and once with a bunch of other runners. It is a terrible waste of time but it happens. Stay on the trail and don't try any shortcuts. People say Stevie Wonder couldn't get lost at VT 100, but I did twice.

Do you have a flashlight that will last? In 1990 they did not make one that would last for 8 hours. At Western States 100, in the Sierras of California, mine died around mile 75 but I had a spare. Oh! I was given a pacer at mile 70. He had never run more than a marathon and it didn't go well. You will have a pacer, as I remember, at VT.  When you finally meet that person, you will feel a whole lot better. Most of the 100 miles is mental. I am sure you have heard this before.

Disqualified or taken out because of weight loss? It happens, but I don't think a lot. Just sit and drink and gain it back if it happens. It could happen if this heat stays. They will also take your pulse and or blood pressure. Be friendly. They will be up all night also.

Take something orally to keep the swelling down in your legs, but only if you have used it in races or training runs.

When you encounter water, just run right through the center. Your shoes will dry out as you run. Don't waste time walking around streams or puddles. We have had record rainfall, so I think the course could be wet in spots. WS had ankle- and knee-deep water and some snow. Oh, there was a river also, but I only got to see one side of it. It is called the Rucky Chucky River Crossing on the American River.

The weather forecast for Boston this whole week is sunny and in the 90s. Hopefully you are from somewhere warm and can handle it. We are south of Boston so Vermont should be cooler.

THIRD best tip: Oh, this is a good one! Run 55 minutes and walk steadily 5 minutes. Do this every hour. Even if you have never tried this, do it at VT. The first 30 miles you might not think it works but the last s 70 it will be Heaven. 

Oh my God! I wrote a book. Any more questions? When you are back home, after you have completed your first 100, drop me an e-mail please, or call me. 

Years from now your grandkids will be amazed that you did this. Actually, many people will -- even your friends that were at the opera while you were in the dark at mile 79 at the Vermont 100 Trail Ultra.

God made Tevas to wear at the finish. That and a fresh top will make you feel wonderful. Getting your belt or plaque helps too.

I will be sending out good vibes to you all next weekend.          

Bob Bacon

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Mike Coleman had this to add:

Amelia,

Great advice from Bob on everything. I was in the race Bob refers to when Roger ran well because he had no expectations. He underestimates the temp. We came down a nice shaded road at Mile 35 and there was a big red barn with thermometer on the side: it read 103 in the shade.

My top suggestions:
 
1. Don't set goals, just get there.
 
2. When you know you can't go any further, go to the next aid stop, then the next, then one more. It will go away, whatever IT is.
 
3. Blisters will eventually get numb.
 
4. Do not speed up to stay with someone. Do not slow down to stay with someone: you might stiffen up.
 
5. See number 2.
 
6. Work hard on flats and downhills; don't work hard on up hills.
 
7. Drink constantly and before you need to. Eat early and often -- small amounts. I like to grab stuff and walk out of the aid stations eating. If you get to an aid station and you don't need to refill your water bottles, you aren't drinking enough.
 
8. See number 2.
 
9. Make sure your handler knows his/her job is to keep you moving forward and keep you company -- it's not about them. You may not want them to talk, you may want total chatter -- tell them, and don't be afraid to tell them to shut up. Late in the race, you may want to have them set a constant pace you are comfortable with, even walking, when you no longer can monitor your own progress.
 
10. See number two.

Have fun. Wish I were joining you. One of the best all time days I have ever spent.

To read more about Bob's 100 Mile Race experiences check out this other blog post:
http://bobbaconsworld.blogspot.com/2009/01/vermont-100-mile-endurance-run-1990.html