Part 10 ~ Our bus and the Crew ~
You can say we traveled in real style (thanks, Joan!)... and comfort. Thanks to our utterly amazing and calm driver, Chris Flory, we also rode safely. This pretty pink Neoplan (UK) bus was a totally decked out double decker. Above the driver's window is Joan's stateroom window - the rest of us slept in cushy bunks in the upper deck. In the rear of that level was a lounge, complete with state of the art audio and video, and refrigerator. And room enough for six of us to sit comfortably at once!
Just look at how professional Chris looks! You'd never know what an entertainer he was by his cool exterior. But that's a whole 'nother story...
Three of us could travel safely up front with Chris, to help navigate, of course... Adam and Carol do their best to help get us out of the parking lot, here:
Then there wre times when Chris really wished we had something else to do besides be helpful. Between these three knuckleheads pictured below, Chris thought there wasn't enough talent to equal half a driver. That's OK; we told Chris he was a great singer...
Just behind us was the lower lounge, also replete with state-of-the-art audio, video, refrigerator, microwave oven, and bathroom. Sortof...
About eight of us could fit here comfortably most of the time...
Our bunks numbered ten; there were eleven of us on the bus most of the time - - the lounges made really nice bunks for the crew members who were really tall or snored really loud! I am pictured above surreptitiously wrapping Christmas gifts for everyone before we reached the hotel.
Left to right; Joan, Mark, Carol, Adam, Fifi Shtempel, Big Wayne and Betty. Can you tell how much fun this rock and roll life must be!
Above pictured left to right are Mark Spector (Joan's manager), J.D. (our beloved sound man), and Robin Calhoun (Joan's beatiful bus driver in the U.S.)!
Crook Stewart and Robin (his fiance) making sure all our gear is secure before the fianl trip.
Gene does a little checking on his own and gets caught by Richard's camera! Then off we roll for the last trip together on what has truly been the adventure of a lifetime. We would like to thank Joan and her "family" for such a wonderful tour, for great sound, great food, wonderful new friends whom we shall dearly miss, and a scrapbook full of joyous memories.
The End
Go start again at Part 1
Part 2 - Prague :Havel's Palace
Part 3 - Munich, Zurich, Ghent, Reims
Part 4 - Hamburg, Paris
Part 5 - the Castle at Canisy
Part 6 - Bath (UK)
Part 7 - London
Part 8 - Belfast, *Amsterdam
Part 9 - Dublin
top of this page Part 10 ~ The Bus and us!
(*out of sequence)
Back to the RedBird
Café lobby
Escape to Homepage!!
