THE PROS & CONS OF TRAVELING BY TOUR BUS

 

Since retiring on January 1, 2018, I’ve devoted more time to travel. Although I prefer driving and exploring on my own, I’ve come to appreciate the full Amtrak experience and its relaxed pace. I’ve taken two long-distance train trips and three shorter day trips, at a slightly higher cost than traveling by car.

I’ve also grown to enjoy tour bus travel, taking several trips of different lengths over the past seven or eight years. The shortest was a three-night, four-day casino trip to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a day excursion to New York City.

The longest was a 15-night, 16-day tour of national parks in Arizona and Utah. Other trips included a seven-night, eight-day visit to Boston and New England and a couple of four- and five-night trips to baseball and football games.

At first, I was uneasy about spending so much time in a confined space with 40 or 45 other travelers.

I feared that personality differences might lead to tension, conflicts, and cliques, and wondered whether I would enjoy such an extended trip with the same people.

I also worried about bus travel’s fixed itinerary, meals, and lodging. I would have no escape from the group and would need to follow its schedule and rules.

For my first bus tour, I chose a casino trip to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with a day excursion to New York City. Having my long-term friends Pete and Valerie Ramey along provided a reassuring safety net.

The trip surpassed my expectations. I enjoyed Pete and Valerie’s company, meeting new people, and the flexible itinerary. Only the New York City excursion followed a strict schedule.

We left the hotel at 7 a.m. and had about two hours to explore Rockefeller Center on our own. The bus then took us to Times Square for more free time and lunch.

Next came an afternoon boat tour around Manhattan, followed by free time for supper. In the early evening, we briefly visited Ground Zero and the memorial commemorating the World Trade Center and the September 11 terrorist attack.

After returning to the hotel by bus, we had the rest of the night and all the next day free for shopping and the casino. Pete and I took an Uber to downtown Bethlehem for lunch and exploring. That evening, we dined at the casino and used our remaining casino vouchers. The next morning, we boarded the bus home.

That first trip inspired me to book a seven-night, eight-day New England tour with a brief stop in Boston. It surpassed my expectations: by the end, our group of 43 felt like a big, happy family.

Most of us ate, toured, and spent our downtime together. Our guide said that in 20 years of leading tours, she had never seen a group form such a close bond so quickly.

Encouraged by that experience, I booked the 15-night, 16-day Canyonlands Adventure through New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah. This time, my fears about rigid schedules and personality clashes proved justified.

Most travelers got along and were enjoyable company, but a few were repeatedly late for morning departures or returning from rest stops and excursions. Their inconsiderate behavior kept us behind schedule, delaying lunch, dinner, and our evening hotel arrival.

Cliques developed as passengers repeatedly sat, ate, and socialized with the same people. My group at the back of the bus included four older solo travelers who were neighbors traveling together, two couples from West Virginia, and me.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of bus travel?

Having nearly everything arranged for you has advantages and disadvantages. I’ve traveled with two tour companies over the years. Both organize transportation and lodging for the entire trip, schedule excursions and admission to attractions and museums, and hire local guides.

The companies differ in scheduling: one follows a rigid timetable, while the other allows more flexibility. A tight schedule works when everyone is punctual, but one consistently late traveler can leave the group behind with no time to catch up. On one trip, our late arrival forced us to cancel a timed-entry museum tour.

The more flexible company builds in time for traffic delays and late passengers. When we stayed on or ahead of schedule, we could linger at rest stops or on excursions. For example, our itinerary allowed two hours for lunch in Nashville, Tennessee.

Arriving about an hour early gave us extra time for lunch and a walk around the city. We still departed slightly ahead of schedule and reached our hotel earlier than planned.

Both companies arrange lodgings, deliver luggage to our rooms each evening, and collect it the next morning. This usually works well: my bags typically arrive within an hour of my reaching the room. However, luggage must generally be outside 90 minutes before departure—6:30 a.m. for an 8 a.m. departure. That means getting up between 5:30 and 6 a.m., which I don’t particularly enjoy. This can be exhausting, especially on long travel days or day with a large number of stop and excursions.

Most hotels were satisfactory, with a couple of exceptions. One disappointing stay was in Oklahoma City. When the tour company booked it, the hotel was part of a major national chain, but it had lost its franchise and chain affiliation by the time we arrived.

The hotel was in a less desirable area, and people lingering outside and nearby made me uneasy. The building was somewhat run-down and needed substantial maintenance.

A couple of us  tried to order dinner through DoorDash but canceled when no drivers would deliver to the area. Taking “strength in numbers” to heart, about 10 of us walked a couple of hundred yards to a barbecue restaurant. The food was mediocre but filling.

The next morning, everyone on the bus expressed dissatisfaction with the hotel, and our guide apologized. Most other hotels were accommodating and satisfactory.

The companies also differ significantly in meal arrangements. One includes few dinners in the tour price; the other includes many more and schedules many lunches, helping us stay on time.

The company offering fewer dinners scheduled them only at select locations and generally left lunches unplanned, causing significant delays. When we were on our own for dinner if there we not restaurants within walking distance, then a few of us would take Uber/Lyft to a restaurant

That company often takes 40 travelers to a truck stop or fast-food restaurant for lunch. The influx overwhelms the restaurant, stretching a 45-minute stop to 90 minutes or two hours and disrupting the rest of the day’s schedule.

On the Canyonlands trip, several fast-food restaurants could not serve our whole group at once. When multiple restaurants were nearby, we would split up to avoid overwhelming a single location.

Planning lunch stops with restaurants in advance allows them to prepare for a large group and staff appropriately to serve everyone at once. This really helped us stay on schedule and made for a pleasant dining experience.

People often ask about bathrooms on the bus. There is a tiny toilet at the rear, with a tank that holds waste until emptied. Neither company emptied it on my trips of a week or less; on longer trips, only one emptied the tanks.

On a 12-day trip, the tank was emptied during refueling on the evening of day seven. The other company never emptied it on my 15-day trip. An odor became noticeable around day 12 and spread throughout the bus by the trip’s end, prompting comments from almost everyone.

Most bus companies plan 30-minute rest stops in the midmorning and midafternoon, along with a longer lunch break. At the outset, the guide asks passengers to use rest-stop facilities whenever possible and save the onboard bathroom for emergencies. Remember what goes in stays in for the entire trip.

Most passengers are unaware of the driver’s strict schedule: he may drive only 10 hours a day before a mandatory eight-hour break. The itinerary must respect that limit. Repeatedly returning late from breaks or excursions could push him over his driving allowance—a DOT violation that could take the bus out of service.

On our Canyonlands trip, the bus was stopped at a Colorado weigh station for a check of the driver’s logbook. Two days earlier in New Mexico, several passengers had repeatedly returned late from breaks and lunch. When we reached the hotel that evening, the driver had just 10 minutes left in his 10-hour driving allowance. He had to postpone refueling until the next morning, delaying our departure. Fortunately, we had a short day planned and could adjust.

Finally, the tour company arranges all scheduled stops and admission to attractions, allowing a fixed amount of time at each location.

One trip included a visit to the Oklahoma City National Memorial. I had been there a couple of times before, spending several hours exploring the museum and grounds.

On the bus tour, we had only two hours: we arrived when the museum opened at 9 a.m. and had to be back on the bus for an 11 a.m. departure. That wasn’t enough time to fully explore the museum and historic grounds, and most of our group wanted to stay longer. However, our overnight stop in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the driver’s DOT restrictions limited our visit to two hours.

Another consideration is the size of a 50-passenger tour bus. Many attractions, especially in our national parks, lack parking for such a large vehicle, making stops impossible.

On our Canyonlands Adventure, we visited Arches and Bryce Canyon national parks. Our bus could stop for only 30 minutes at each of three designated parking spots. Park rangers closely monitored and enforced those limits, so our guide and driver insisted that we return to the bus at the specified time.

What do I enjoy about tour bus travel? I can relax, take photos, and admire the scenery. I also enjoy socializing with most of the other passengers and forming new, lasting friendships.

I have mixed feelings about the limited freedom that comes with tightly scheduled tours. I enjoy exploring an interesting attraction when I discover one, but traveling by bus rarely allows for that kind of flexibility.

I like exploring on my own. During our five free hours in Boston, most of the group went shopping and had lunch. I spent nearly four hours walking much of the Freedom Trail, stopping at the Old North Church, the Old Granary Burying Ground, the Massachusetts State House, Paul Revere’s House, and the Boston Massacre site.

On another trip, we stayed just south of Memphis, Tennessee. That evening, several of us took an Uber to a Mississippi casino for a few hours of socializing and gambling. Our guide was upset the next morning because we hadn’t told her we were going out. Responsible for our group, she asked us to notify her before leaving so she could account for everyone in an emergency, whether at the hotel or elsewhere.

I enjoy my fellow passengers’ company. Most have been wonderful, and many have become lifelong friends. A few, however, have made trips unnecessarily difficult. Their constant complaints and frequent lateness can spoil the atmosphere for everyone on the bus.

I also value relaxing and enjoying the journey without planning everything myself. Having excursions and admission to attractions organized in advance makes travel easier.

Still, limited freedom can be frustrating at times, especially if I would like to stay at a site longer. Tight schedules can feel restrictive, and tour companies often pack in so much that the pace becomes frantic and overwhelming for many travelers. Slower, more relaxed days would make these trips more enjoyable.

I’ll certainly keep taking bus tours. As I get older, I value letting someone else do the driving. The benefits far outweigh the drawbacks, and I look forward to more adventures and new friendships.

AMTRAK: A FEW HINT TO MAKE IT ENJOYABLE AND WORTH THE EXTRA MONEY

 

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I retired in January 2018 and haven’t worked since. My pension and Social Security have allowed me to live very comfortably.

In retirement, I’ve traveled widely across the country, usually behind the wheel of my car. I enjoy planning each journey as much as bringing it to life.

My first major post-retirement adventure was a 36-day tour of Texas. Since then, I’ve taken a 28-day trip through the Dakotas, Montana, and Wyoming, as well as two roughly two-week journeys across the Midwest.

I had always wanted to take a long-distance train trip, and in October and November 2018, I finally traveled by rail to Phoenix, Arizona. The four-day, three-night journey included rides on the Capitol Limited and the Texas Eagle.

Since then, I’ve taken several shorter Amtrak trips and enjoyed nearly every one of them. Along the way, I’ve learned a few ways to make train travel even more enjoyable.

First, train travelers should expect a slow journey. In addition to station stops, passenger trains often wait on sidings for higher-priority freight trains to pass.

This leads to another reality of Amtrak travel: Outside the Northeast, where Amtrak owns and maintains the tracks, delays are common. Everywhere other than the Northeast, Amtrak uses tracks owned by the major freight rail companies.

I would not rely on Amtrak when traveling on a tight schedule. Amtrak is often delayed and almost always late.

Another lesson is to break up trips involving multiple trains. For example, on my return from Arizona, I booked two trains back-to-back on the same day.

I traveled overnight from Chicago to Washington, then continued from Washington to Roanoke. I was scheduled to arrive in Washington in the early afternoon and catch my train to Roanoke around 6 p.m.

Well, my train from Chicago to Washington was almost 7 hours late and I ended up missing my train from Washington to Roanoke. Now Amtrak will get you to your destination and you will have very little say on how they do it.

In my case, Amtrak put me on the Crescent, which runs from Washington to New Orleans and stops in Lynchburg, Virginia. In Lynchburg, the station master directed me to a waiting taxi that took me back to Roanoke.

Since then, I’ve planned an overnight break in connecting cities before continuing the next day. On my next trip, I took the Capitol Limited from Washington to Chicago, then the Texas Eagle to Dallas, Texas.

I was due in Chicago around 10 a.m., with the Texas Eagle departing at about 2:30 p.m. To avoid a missed connection, I stayed overnight and boarded the following afternoon.

Several good hotels are convenient to Chicago Union Station. I usually choose Club Quarters on Adams Street, a six-block walk away, or the more distant Holiday Inn downtown, which is a short Lyft or Uber ride from the station.

For a more enjoyable Amtrak trip, avoid coach when possible. Although the seats and cars are comfortable, the lowest fare can mean a noisier, less considerate mix of passengers.

Whenever possible, I choose Business Class. The modest extra cost is worthwhile for a quieter, less crowded car and more legroom. In business class you are less likely to get a screaming baby, unruly kids or just plain rude passengers.  In short, you get a better class of passengers in business class.

Another benefit of booking a sleeper roomette or Business Class is complimentary access to Amtrak’s first-class lounges at major stations. At stations such as Washington Union Station and Chicago Union Station, these spaces are typically called Metropolitan Lounges.

Metropolitan Lounges provide complimentary snacksm nonalcoholic beverages, workspaces for laptops, and outlets for electronic devices. They offer a comfortable place to wait for your train.

Another lesson I learned early in my Amtrak travels is to book early and pack light. Booking sooner usually means better prices on roomettes and Business Class upgrades. Also don’t be too eager to take the first price you see. I have discovered that Amtrak Fares can vary greatly from Day to day

For example, I checked the price of a roomette from Washington, D.C. to Chicago for a mid-April departure. The fare was initially $762, then dropped to $605 a few days later. Ten days after that, it was $712, and my final search showed a fare of $551.

Over three weeks, the fare for the same departure date varied by more than $200. Start checking early, compare prices, and revisit Amtrak’s website a few times before booking.

I strongly recommend booking directly with Amtrak, either through its website or by calling the reservations number, rather than using a third-party booking site.

When you book directly with Amtrak, onboard staff or customer service can address concerns promptly. In my experience, Amtrak is willing to resolve problems quickly and satisfactorily. Depending on the disruption, assistance may include complimentary lodging, travel vouchers, refunds, or other accommodations.

When you book through a third party, Amtrak typically directs compensation or accommodation requests back to that provider. The reservation secures your ticket, and that all. The booking service must handle any additional support or compensation.

Pack light—this cannot be overstated. Train storage is limited, and some stations do not accept checked baggage. A 50-pound suitcase can be difficult to stow because large bag areas fill quickly and oversized luggage will not fit above the seat.

This advice also applies to overnight roomettes. Although private, each room is only about 3½ feet wide by 6½ feet long, with two chairs that form a lower bed and a fold-down upper bunk. Large bags leave almost no extra space.

For train trips, I bring one backpack for clothing and toiletries and a smaller bag for daily essentials and electronics. Five or six days of clothing has proven sufficient.

Even on my month-long trip to Arizona, most hotels had laundry facilities. In a few hours, I could wash clothes in the evening and repack for another week, usually for no more than $7 or $8.

One of the biggest benefits of Amtrak is If you book a Roomette or family-bedroom fares include meals. Before COVID, most overnight trains offered traditional dining, with all three meals cooked to order in the dining car’s lower-level kitchen. The food on the traditional dining menu is excellent.

Although the entire menu is appealing, my favorites are the three-egg omelet for breakfast, the Angus cheeseburger for lunch, and, above all, the flat iron steak for dinner.

Traditional dining features communal seating, so travelers share tables. I’ve generally enjoyed meeting new people and have had many pleasant dining companions, with only two notable exceptions.

As of this writing, every overnight long-distance train heading west from Chicago serves traditional dining at all three meals. These routes include the Empire Builder, California Zephyr, Southwest Chief, and Texas Eagle/Sunset Limited.

Since COVID, East Coast overnight trains have served Amtrak’s Flexible Dining meals, which are prepared in advance and reheated onboard. They are tasty and generally good, though I still prefer traditional dining.

Trains heading east or south from Chicago use Flexible Dining, including the City of New Orleans, Cardinal, and Floridian.

Finally, I enjoy Amtrak for its relaxed atmosphere and the courtesy and professionalism of its onboard crews. Train travel feels entirely different from flying.

Whenever I had to fly, I disliked the experience. Arriving two or three hours before departure and navigating extensive TSA screening made air travel nearly unbearable.

Traveling by train, I usually try and arriver at the station about 45 minutes to an hour before my scheduled departure. There is none of the TSA bull crap to put up with. Basically, you just show up, wait in the lounge and board your train.

That does not mean security is absent; it may simply be less noticeable and less intrusive. At major stations such as Washington and Chicago, local and Amtrak police are visibly present, often with K-9 units and specialized equipment, while other security measures operate behind the scenes and are less noticeable.

Amtrak police officers sometimes ride onboard and may remain unnoticed until their help is required. During my 2018 trip to Arizona, a couple of the passengers in coach became unruly and would not follow the conductors direction.

One passenger became physically aggressive toward another passenger and the train staff. At that point, two armed Amtrak police officers identified themselves and brought the situation under control.

The aggressive passenger was arrested and turned over to local authorities in Alpine, Texas. The other passenger involved in the dispute was not arrested but was also removed from the train there.

Remember that smoking and vaping are strictly prohibited on all Amtrak trains. Anyone who is caught smoking in a restroom, roomette or anywhere on the train may be removed from the train.

Also keep in mind that although many state and local governments have legalized recreational marijuana, it remains illegal under federal law. Because Amtrak follows federal law, marijuana use is prohibited on trains, at stations, and on adjacent Amtrak property. Anyone caught using it may be removed from the train, arrested, and charged with a federal offense.

I avoid Amtrak when I’m on a tight schedule because I prefer leisurely train travel. I enjoy relaxing in my roomette or Business Class seat and watching the world go by.

I also enjoy sharing a good meal with fellow passengers or relaxing in the Sightseer Lounge. Most Amtrak passengers I’ve met have been wonderful, and some have become lasting friends.

Overall, nearly every Amtrak trip has been a positive experience that has left me with lasting memories.

DO THIRD PARTY HOTEL BOOKING SITS REALLY SAVE YOU MONEY?

 

Since retiring from my full-time job in 2018, I have not worked a day. I have lived comfortably on my pension and Social Security while still managing to save a substantial amount. This financial stability has allowed me to travel extensively over the past eight years, which is the focus of this edition.

Although I travel without a fixed schedule, I always have a plan. For long-distance trips, I begin months in advance by choosing a broad area to visit and marking possible stops on Google Maps. I then narrow the area and develop a basic route.

For nearly 20 years, I have found that my most enjoyable trips average 250 to 300 miles per day. This pace keeps me from feeling rushed and gives me time to explore both planned attractions and unexpected discoveries along the way.

One of the first travel lessons I learned was to always book directly with the hotel, either by phone or through its website. I avoid third-party sites such as Priceline and Hotels.com.

There are several reasons to book with the hotel directly. Most importantly, if a problem arises during your stay—especially with the reservation or billing, the hotel can resolve it.

If you booked through a third-party site, however, hotel management will simply direct you back to that service to resolve reservation or billing problems—and reaching these third party sites support team can be nearly impossible.

A few years ago, while checking into an Ohio hotel, I watched the guest ahead of me learn that he had use a third-party site and had mistakenly booked his room at a hotel in Colorado.

When the Ohio hotel could not find his reservation, the staff checked his confirmation number and discovered the Colorado booking.

Because he had booked through a third party, the clerk could neither cancel the Colorado room nor transfer the reservation to the Ohio hotel. She could only direct him to the booking service.

I checked in and settled into my room without difficulty. Two hours later, he was still in the lobby trying to get the booking service to correct the error. When I returned from dinner that evening, I asked the clerk what had happened.

She said that, as far as she knew, he was still trying to resolve the issue with the booking service. She eventually gave him a room, but the erroneous Colorado reservation remained active because she could not cancel it.

Had he booked directly with the hotel, the clerk could have canceled the mistaken reservation and created a new one. Because he used a third-party booking site, however, she could not access the reservation to correct it.

Another lesson I learned early was the value of joining hotel rewards programs. At first, I dismissed them as gimmicks with few practical benefits, but I was wrong.

I currently belong to three rewards programs and have enough points for multiple free nights with each one. All three work similarly: You earn points based on how much you spend each night. Usually, it is something like 10 points for every dollar spent, excluding taxes.

Once you accumulate enough points, you can redeem them for free nights. In my experience, roughly 10 paid nights earn one free night. During the off-season, some hotel chains also offer promotions such as double points per night or double or triple points after a set number of stays within a specified period.

I also earn rewards by linking my memberships to partner companies. For example, connecting my Hilton Honors membership to my Lyft account earns me additional Hilton Honors points on every ride, along with a small Lyft discount.

I currently have enough Choice Hotels points for about five free nights. Through the Holiday Inn rewards program, I have also accumulated enough points to cover nearly my entire four-night stay at the 2027 NCAA Basketball Tournament in Pittsburgh. I will stay at a downtown hotel within walking distance of PPG Arena.

Without rewards points, my four-night stay—including the room, daily parking, and taxes—would have cost $1,940. Because points cover the room, I will pay only $344 for parking and city and state hotel taxes. That is a substantial savings, don’t you think?

Hotel loyalty programs offer another advantage: membership tiers that award bonus points, helping members earn free stays more quickly.

One program begins with basic membership. After 10 paid nights, members reach silver status and earn 10% more points per stay. After 20 paid nights, they reach gold status and earn 40% more points.

I have attained the equivalent of gold status in all three programs. Along with bonus points, this status often brings recognition, room upgrades, and food-and-beverage vouchers.

These vouchers are particularly valuable at hotels with on-site restaurants. A few years ago, while staying at a hotel in New York State, the clerk recognized my gold status at check-in and gave me vouchers for dinner that evening and breakfast the next morning.

The vouchers saved me about $35 on dinner and $15 on breakfast. Because they did not cover gratuities, I tipped the servers more generously—a win for everyone.

I strongly recommend booking directly with the hotel. The savings offered by third-party sites are usually minimal, and as a rewards-program member, I often receive the hotel’s best rate—frequently lower than third-party prices.

Do third-party booking sites offer any real advantage? For me, the answer is a resounding no.

NASHVILLE CEMETERY TOUR - BASHFUL BROTHER OSWALD & EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE GRANDPA

 

A few months ago, I was in the middle of visiting some of the Notable Cemeteries in the area in and around Nashville, Tennessee. I interrupted that series to post my 2025 and 2026 Fourth of July Adventures.

Now that I am home for a few weeks, I am going to try and wrap up my tour of the Cemeteries of Music City. In previous posts, I have visited the Hermitage Memorial Park and Hendersonville Memorial Park.  This week I am moving a few miles north of downtown Nashville to Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the community of Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

Forest Lawn was established in 1960 and is the final resting place of a number of country music stars.  Just inside the main entrance of the cemetery is a section call “Music Row,” where several Country Music Personalities are resting. That’s where I am going to begin my visit.

WILLIAM ORVILLE “LEFTY” FRIZZELL: Lefty Frizzell became one of the most successful and influential artists of country music. He smoothed out the rough edges of a honky tonk song by sounding out syllables longer and singing longer.

Because of this, his music became much more mainstream without losing its honky-tonk attitude and persona. He moved from the Honky Tonks of Texas and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 1951.

During his career he had several #1 hits, including, “If You got the Money, Honey I’ve Got The Time,” “I Love You a Thousand Ways,”  “Always Late With Your Kisses,” and Saginaw, Michigan.”

On July 19, 1975, Lefty Frizzell suffered a massive stroke and passed away at the young age of 47. He was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1982.

February 3, 1959, is often referred to as “The Day Music Died.” That is when that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson died in a plane Crash just outside of Clear Lake, Iowa.

If that day in 1959 is the day music died, then you can say that March 5,1963 is the day Country Music Died. It was on that day that Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawshaw Hawkins and Randy Hughes died in a plane crash near Camden, Tennessee.

While Patsy Cline is buried in her hometown of Winchester, Virginia, the other three are buried here on Music Row.

HAROLD “HAWKSHAW” HAWKINS: Hawkshaw Hawkins was born on December 22, 1921, in Huntington, West Virginia. Folks in his neighborhood started calling him Hawkshaw after the comic strip Hawkshaw and the Detective.  Growing up he taught himself to play the guitar and began performing on a local radio station across the Ohio River in Ashland, Kentucky.

 In 1941 he spent two years traveling with a musical troupe before joining the Army in 1943. He was stationed in Paris, Texas where we spent his spare time performing in the local honky Tonks. Later he was stationed in France and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge, where he was awarded four battle stars during his 15 months of combat service.

After his discharge from Military Service, he returned to West Virginia where he became a regular performer on the WVVA Jamboree in Wheeling, West Virginia. That let him to the Grand Ole Opry where he officially became a member in June of 1955.  His biggest hit was “Lonesome 7-7203” Which was is only Number 1 Hit.  At the time of his death, he was only 41 years old and married to country music star Jean Shepard

LLOYD “COWBOY” COPAS: “Cowboy Copas was born on July 15,1913 in Blue Creek, Ohio. His musical talent was evident at an early age and by the time he was 14 he was performing on WLW and WKRC radio stations in Cincinnati, Ohio.

In the 1930’s and 1940’s he formed his own band, “The Gold Star Rangers” and moved to Knoxville, Tennessee. He proved to be very successful and drew the attention of Pee Wee King.  When Eddy Arnold decided to leave King’s band, Cowboy Copas was selected as Arnold’s replacement.

As a member of the of King band, he began performing on the Grand Ole Opry, and in 1946 Copas had his first hit record, “Filipino Baby.”

“Filipino Baby,” and his appearances on the Opry, launch him into the National Spotlight and he eventually left King and began touring on his own. While still appearing on the Opry Copas recorded several more hits including “Signed, Sealed and Delivered,” “Candy Kisses” and the “Hangman’s Boogie.”

Copas continued to be one of the most popular stars in country music and continued to perform on the Opry as well as appearing as a regular on ABC’s Ozark Jubilee.

In 1960, he recorded his biggest hit, “Alabam” which remained #1 on the country charts for more than 3-monts. He was still one of Country Music’s most popular star when he died at the age of 49 in the Plane Crash near Camden, Tennessee.

RAMSEY “RANDY” HUGHES: The Fourth Person to die in the Crash was Randy Hughes who was Patsy Cline’s Manager and pilot of the Plane. Randy began his career in the music industry as a highly respected recording session guitarist playing for several country music artists including Cowboy Copas and at times, singing with groups.

After marrying Cowboy Copas’ daughter, Kathy. Randy decided that he could do more than just playing a guitar in a country band and made a career change and turned his attention to managing country artist’s careers. In 1959, Patsy Cline became one of his clients.

After taking basic flying lessons, he purchased a yellow Piper PA-24 Comanche to fly his clients from one show to another. He reasoned that purchasing the plane would be to his client’s advantage; they would arrive faster for their date, thus not have to depend on slower cars for transportation. 

He was the pilot of the plane that carried Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline when it crashed on March 5, 1963, near Camden, Tennessee.

DAVID “STRINBEAN” AKEMAN: The last grave that I wanted to visit here on Music Row is that of banjo picker and comedian “Stringbean,” who was known for his unique wardrobe which consisted of a very long nightshirt tucked into a pair of short blue jeans that were belted around the knees. This gave him the appearance of being a very tall man with very short legs.

He joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1945 and quickly became one of the show’s most popular performers. He also was a regular cast member of the Popular TV Show Hee Haw. String and his close friend Grandpa Jones lived just a few miles outside of Goodlettsville in the small community of Ridgetop, Tennessee.

String, who didn't trust banks, was known to carry large sums of money in his overall s After returning to his home in Ridgetop Tennessee for a Saturday Night performance of the Opry. String and his wife Estelle were murdered by two individuals. Their Bodies were discovered the following morning by their long-time friend and neighbor and fellow Opry Star Grandpa Jones.

Two cousins John A. Brown Jr. and Doug Marvin Brown were tried and convicted for the Murder. Doug Brown died in Prison in 2003 while John Brown was granted parole and released from prison in November 2014 after serving 41 years of his sentence

BEECHER KIRBY: Just a short walk from music row is the grave of a long-time member of Roy Acuff’s Smokey Mountain Boys, Beecher Kirby, better known as “Bashful Brother Oswald.”

He played dobro with local bands around Sevier County Tennessee where he was born on December 26, 1911. He later joined Roy Acuff’s Band the Crazy Tennesseans which later became “The Smokey Mountain Boys.  among them Roy Acuff's Crazy Tennesseans, later to become the Smoky Mountain Boys.

When Roy Acuff Joined the Grand Ole Opry in 1938, Bashful Brother Oswald as Mr. Acuff was with him as a member of the Crazy Tennesseans. Oswald remained with the Smokey Mountain Boys until Mr. Acuff’s death on November 23, 1992.

After Mr. Acuff’s death, Oswald and fellow Smokey Mountain Boy Charlie Collins continue to perform both on the Grand Ole Opry and at the Opryland Amusement Park.

Bashful Brother Oswald passed away from Natural Causes on October 17, 2002, at the age of 90.

MACK MAGAHA: Another notable country music personality resting here at Forest Lawn is Mack Magaha, a talented and very popular Nashville Fiddle Player.

Mack began his career in 1955 when he joined  Don Reno and Red Smiley as a member of the Tennessee Cutups performing throughout Southwest Virginia, North Carolina and upper East Tennessee. In 1964, he joined Porter Wagoner's Wagon masters and later became a regular performer on the Grand Ole Opry and at the Opryland Theme Park. Mack was known as Nashville's Dancing Fiddle Man died at the age of 74 and is buried in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Goodlettsville, Tennessee

JOHNNY “LONZO” SULLIVAN: One of the most popular acts on the Grand Ole Opry was the duo known as “Lonzo and Oscar.”  Originally formed in 1945, there were several combinations of the duo. The longest running and most popular combination were brother Johnny “Lonzo” Sullivan and Rollin “Oscar” Sullivan. The pair recorded a novelty song which became extremely popular called, “I’m My Own Grandpa.”

This version of Lonzo and Oscar were together from 1950 until Johnny’s death at the age of 49 in 1967.

There are a number of other Country Music Personalities buried here at Forest Lawn including:

“COUSIN JODY” James Clell Summey was the first dobro play for Roy Acuff's Band "The Crazy Tennesseans." He went on to perform with Grand Ole Opry Stars Lonzo and Oscar. It was then that he developed his character "Cousin Jody," who became one of the first comedy acts on the Grand Ole Opry.  He paved the way for other comedy acts on the Opry like Rod Brassfield and Cousin Minnie Pearl.

JOE EARL STUART: Joe Earl was one of Bill Monroe’s Bluegrass Boys and later worked with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs. He also performed most Friday and Saturday Nights on the Grand Ole Opry

LITTLE ROY WIGGINS: Little Roy was one of the best steel guitar players in the business. He is is best known for his work with Eddy Arnold. As Eddy Arnold's first hire, he developed a signature "ting-a-ling" sound that helped make Arnold the most popular country entertainer for a period.

HERMAN HARPER: Herman Harper was a pioneer in the world of Gospel Music. He was known for his deep base voice and was an erly member of the Oak Ridge Quartet. He was also a long time performer on the Grand Ole Opry as a member of the Carol Lee Singers.  Herman was the founder of the Gospel Music Trust Fund. He also created Harper and Associates which was one of the leading talent agencies that specialized in Gospel Music.

DON HELMS: Don Helms was one of the Most accomplished steel guitar players in Nashville.  He played on recordings for such artists as Loretta Lynn, Stonewall Jackson and Lefty Frizzell.

I couldn’t leave the Goodlettsville Area without traveling a few miles up the road to the graveyard at the Luton’s United Methodist Church. Resting at the top of the hill overlooking the church and graveyard is the grave  of everybody’s favorite grandpa, Grandpa Jones.

LOUIS MARSHALL “GRANDPA” JONES: Grandpa Jones was one of the Grand Ole Opry’s most popular and beloved performers. His down to earth, unassuming personality made endeared him to anyone who met him.

Grandpa got his nickname in 1935 when he was only 22 years old. Seems early in his career he portrayed a grumpy, cranky attitude. Even at 22 he sounded like a grumpy old grandpa. Fellow entertainer Bradley Kincade started calling him grandpa. The nickname stuck and he became Grandpa Jones for the rest of his career. Eventually he embraced the character and began dressing the part.

He began performing on the WLS Barn Dance and later moved to WLW in Cincinnati where he met fellow Kentuckian Merle Travis. His association with Travis led him to sign a recording contract with King Records.

His performing and recording career was interrupted when he enlisted in the Army during WW II.  When his military service ended in 1946, he resumed his career by joining the Old Dominion Barn Dance which was broadcast on WRVA in Richmond, Virginia.

After a short time in Richmond Grandpa moved to Nashville and made his first appearance on the Grand Ole Opry in March of 1946. Grandpa Jones used the clawhammer style of playing the banjo and adapted that style to record such hit songs as “Are You From Dixie,” “Night Train to Memphis,” “Eight More Miles to Louisville,”  and probably his best known hit, “Mountain Dew.”

In the fall of 1968, Grandpa became a charter member on the long-running television show Hee Hawl He also played banjo, by himself or with his close friend and neighbor David "Stringbean" Akeman. A favorite skit had off-camera cast members ask, "Hey Grandpa, what's for supper?", in which he would describe a delicious, country-style meal, often in a rhyming, talking blues-style!

For more than 50 years Grandpa Jones performed on the Grand Ole Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1978.

In January 1998, Grandpa Jones his just finished his performance on the Grand Ole Opry, when he suffered a stroke. He was transported to a local hospital and later transferred to a nursing home. Everybody’s favorite Grandpa passed away on February 19, 1998. He was 84 years old. He is resting with his wife Ramona at the Luton's United Methodist Church in Goodlettsville, Tennessee.

This wraps up my Visit to Goodlettsville, Tennessee. Next time I am heading back in the City to visit one of the Largest and most star-studded cemeteries in Music City.

 

A SQUIRT BOTTLE FULL OF MEMORIES OF THOMPSON VALLEY

It’s amazing how one simple act can trigger long forgotten memories. That’s what happened recently when I stopped at Buc-ee’s to get a drink. Buc-ee’s has a very wide variety of fountain drinks and today I noticed that one of those choices was “Squirt.”  I has been many years since I have had Squirt, in fact I didn’t even know if they still made it. So, I got a large cup and continued my journey.

As I piddled along, sipping my “Squirt,” my thoughts return to my childhood. I grew up in Tazewell County, Virginia. In a little close-knit community called Thompson Valley. When I say close knit, I mean, our neighbors were dear friends. Actually, More Like Family. People who could be trusted to be there to help when help was needed. 

I remembered the time when the entire valley would gather at that little four room school a few times a year for “Community Suppers.” Where the men would spend the day roasting meat like deer, bear and beef over an open pit. The ladies of the Valley would spend the day preparing “Covered dishes,” and deserts. 

Then about 5 p.m. the people of the valley would begin to show up and a little after 6 one of the local preachers would say the blessing and we would eat until we were “full as a tick.” There was never a shortage of food. OH, what fond memories.

 But, that the heck does “Squirt” Pop have to do with all this. Well, in addition to that little 4-room school, there was another place that basically served as the community hub. That place was a little country store that was operated by Mr. Joe Harris and his wife Miss Margaret. 

That little store was a place where a various times during the week the Men would gather and do something that we don’t do much anymore. They would sit on an old bench or a wooden pop crate and just visit. 

They would catch up on the news and share their opinions about what the Idiots in Richmond and Washington were doing. (Not much has changed on that front over the years.) You see back in those days we didn’t have internet, or cell phones. Joe Harris’s little Store was our internet and our social media. 

They would talk about their gardens, and how many cutting of hay they were going to get. And they would swap stories. Many a time I would sit there and listen to Ralph and Todd Harris and the other “Bear Hunters” talk about running a bear across Beartown into Roaring Fork. 

As I sat there listening to these wonderful stories, sooner or later someone would pitch me a dime and tell me to get a bottle of pop. Without hesitation I would hurry over to that old chest pop machine and open the top. There dangling by their necks were those (as Jerry Clower put it) Nehi belly washers and my favorite Squirt. 

The bottles dangled in the ice-cold water. I would put the dime in the slot and drag the bottle along the rail until I got it to the slot and pulled it up through the trip door that had been unlocked by the dime. There was nothing better than sitting on a pop crate drinking Squirt out of that green swirly bottle, listening to those wonderful stories. I didn’t realize it at the time, but, man oh man, those were “THE GOOD OLE DAYS. Who would have thought that a visit to Buc-ee’s would trigger such a flood of wonderful memories.