January 21st & 22nd - so we thought Flagstaff was bad......!

We manage to get a hot shower in the morning and after 2 hours the bus finally started and we're on the road again to Alberquerque... or so we thought.

After a couple of hours Skeet notices that the bus is not maintaining air pressure. For those who don't know about these things (like myself), a tour bus uses air pressure for a number of things - including the brakes, and our tour bus is currently in pretty critical condition and we need to get it fixed ASAP. Justin gets on the phone and starts trying to find somewhere on route where we can get it checked. After a couple of attempts we find a bus repair shop in a small town called Gallup, New Mexico. We drive on for an hour or so until we reach the place. It is worth noting at this point that the bus is a very stressful place to be, but the amazing rock formations are fascinating. We have just driven through what is know as the Navajo Nation - the largest Native Amercian settling. Everywhere you look along the roads are people selling indian trinkets and rugs etc. It is awe-inspiring landscape...... but for now, lets get back to the BIG problem of the tour bus.

The truck repair place is pretty baron. They come and diagnose the bus - and it aint good. They need to do some work that can't be started until tomorrow and will take until at least midday to sort out. So we are stranded. We can get some power to the bus though so that's cool - but it isn't going to be enough to keep us that warm. There is ice everywhere and it is gonna drop to around minus 10 tonight. There's nothing we can do about it though - so we prepare.

We head out to find food. We go to Wendys and get burgers etc. That aint the best food for me cause I still haven't been to the toilet and it's starting to feel bad. I am unable to speak at all and my throat is swollen. I left my washbag and towel in Flagstaff so all I have is some shitty throat capsules from the local store (which sells nothing!). I also manage to get some fresh honey and lemon and run some water through a coffee machine to get hot water to take it with. It helps soothe but I'm not sure it's gonna help too much as we are dealing with extreme temperatures.

Back at the bus it's cold. We are all sat in the front part of the bus where we have a small living area. It's cramped but it genuinely feels like a military bootcamp survival challenge. Justin gets back from the local UPS place and says he's found a guy that is gonna stop by later with 'supplies'.

I have no idea what time it is, but we are trying to find people up ahead or in the local area to come help us with supplies. It doesn't work. We do however get hold of a Papa Johns Pizza and they are gonna come by - they won't pick beer up for us on the way though. Never mind, we have a bottle of Jim Beam and a Grey Goose.

The guy that Justin had spoken to comes by and knocks on the bus. His name is Charlie and he has a big stash of weed - but no beer. Weed makes a lot of people happy though. Dan, the non smoker has already had a tough time with the cigarette smoke - now he is feeling really bad, so he goes to bed. The pizza guy turns up and it's like a scene from a film as the smoke shoots out of the bus door. Funny stuff. Charlie loves the whole scene. We all sign a poster for him and he then goes back home and brings us back a DVD player!!! Not sure what his wife is gonna say when she realises it's gone - but for now we don't care - Charlie is a legend.

Funniest part of the night is Kevin asking me to pass him the Jim Beam. The bottle is almost empty. He has quietly been pouring it into his Starbucks cup and drinking it through the straw without anyone knowing. What a legend. He is funny.
We gradually all get to bed.

January 23rd

Nothing really to report. We have to hang around all day whilst the bus is fixed, but it get's done so that is great. We roll out at around 1:30 pm. We drive all day and all night. There isn't much to tell you from my perspective cause I slept for around 15 hours. When I wake up we are at an RV park in Amarillo - another state, another time zone, same desert and cold!

It's now January 24th and I am sat in the bus in Amarillo. It's still freezing but we've had hot showers and done some laundry. We've cleaned the bus and we are all taking loads of vitamin supps to stay healthy(ish). We are gonna set off in about 10 minutes for the next stop. 6 hours driving to Ft.Worth. Once we get there things should be better. Both us and TM's have fans and street teamers there who will help us with supplies and maybe shelter. Lets get rolling.

Marty:Riot