The rain came down hard, the storm formed right over the town according to the doppler radar. Thunder echoed off the mountain walls, wind raced through like left jabs, lightening struck like right hooks. The Alpine flood lasted an hour, enough to close several roads, knock down a few power lines, and cancel the night's baseball game. I jumped on my bike when it cleared out to survey the damage and ride around, get some miles. Credit the city planners, the water drained out perfectly, a really fine drenching, another successful flood.
The late afternoon was cool, the rain took all the heat, Fort Davis, 25 miles north, was likely getting punched in the face at that moment. I rode over to the magnificent Holland Hotel, where Viva Big Bend set up their box office, I still had to get a ticket. The Billiards Room made a good headquarters, I purchased a general admission ticket for $60, they were out of the $105 VIP tickets, but besides some VIP happy hour and a free t-shirt, I couldn't figure what made the VIP different. Mine was a blue wristband, their's was a yellow wristband, maybe that was it, identify the riff-raff, not a bad plan. Both these wristbands, blue and yellow, allowed entrance into any of the Viva Big Bend shows through Sunday night.
This was no fenced in, flopping in mud, stand in line festival, Viva Big Bend is spread out over four towns in three counties, this is a driver's show. In Alpine, Railroad Blues, Spicewood, and the Old Gringo; in Marfa, the Lost Horse Saloon and Planet Marfa; in Terlingua, Starlight Theatre and The Porch; and in Fort Davis, The Chateau Wright. In addition, there was free shows all over, a Ukulele workshop, a free BBQ, art galleries, and incredible postcard views. Damn gas prices, fill er up! Estimating 500 miles, seven venues, and twelve bands over the next four days and nights; check out at the El Viejo Adobe is 11 o'clock, gonna miss this place.