1st 2 days of the tour. Hectic :)

I'm reading it as well. And I'm wishing I could have made arrangements to connect with you guys somewhere along the line.
I know that drive through West Yellowstone and have been through there twice during similar conditions. I'm glad your drive turned out well.
You have at least one more mountain pass ahead. Let us know how that one goes.
And next time, plan a stop in Missoula! It's 7-8 hours from me, but I would make the drive.
Safe travels,
Karl
Thanks Karl, are you near Coos Bay?
 
I'm reading it too, daily. On the road with Hunter S. Thompson and Jack Kerouac:thumbup::thumbup:
Thanks for your support More to come. Its late here right now 1am about. We have to head to Spokane in the am so I will write again as soon as I can. rightnow I am just responding as remembering stuff and writing it down takes a little more time.
 
Yeah, me too. It's great to hear the tour is going well. Sounds like you guys are having fun. I found myself wondering if the car got stuck in the snow, like the Donner party, who would be the one to get eaten. As for me, I'm picking the guy who's not in the Hall of Fame:smile: Also, who knew they made Bud Light with 1/2 the alcohol-that's funny. Hope you guys have a great time on the tour.
Hey Dave, We actually talked about that. The Donner Party thing. and was trying to pick who would go first. We/I decided that we shouldnot kill each other right away but take little bits of each other that we could spare. So I said we couldprobably take a chunk off of each of their noses and I could probably last a extra week and they would not miss what they lost. So that turned their attention to what I had too much off that I could stand to lose a little of that they could eat andthe only thing we/I could come up with was the fact I havea massive .... Well ya know and they seemed to lose their appitite for me :) YES I WIN ONE!
Well I am having a beer before I go to bed butIam also hungry. Thinking aboutgetting that half bag of Cheetos out the back of the car.
Thank you all for the nice PMs and posts encouraging me to continue telling my road tales. Like i said I will have more about tonight and probably the trip tomorrow when I get settled again.
Please feel freeto ask any questions you may have or post comments. remember we still have about 10 days on this trip and we have all gotten along great but ata certain point tempers get short weare all good friendsand we all know going out that weare gonna get pissy about something but we all know that its the nature of the beast and that most things that are said are just blowing off steam and not to take anything seriously. Tomorrow all will be fine again and all is good again.
Well good night for now and I will be back. I look forward to logging on and reading your comments so please don't be afraid to just make a comment or ask a question. I think I am doing a pretty good job of responding to everyone. Thanks Mark,
 
Have been reading and enjoy hearing about your trip. Thought the Polar Bear part was pretty good. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to write about your trip. Just a suggestion to maybe get more people along your route to sign up for the clinics and come to the exhibitions in the future, and to communicate with with the biggest number of those people again so you get more PR by word of mouth. Perhaps you could give out the AZBilliards address with of coarse the name of your tour on the flier then after the trip is over, you could run some kind of contest (give away) here on AZ. That only those people could enter (with some code # that their given). Perhaps as easy as having everyone at the clinics and exhibitions in each town sign up on a sheet with numbers next to their names. Then have the contest after the tour is over where they have to come on here and sign in to the contest thread just like the one for "The Other Side Of The Road" book by Alfie Taylor, people seemed to enjoy that give away and the one he's doing now for the Eddie Taylor DVD. In fact I think you had something to do with the book one getting started. Maybe you could get some good stuff from the industry and/or get some nice photo's blown up and signed by Nick and Johnny, hell I wouldn't mind having one of them! You might even do another about a month or so before the next tour starts to get people talking and some excitement stirred up and pump-up the participation. The more of those people you get on here the easier it is to communicate with them. Just a thought, probably stuff you have already thought of well anyway good luck with the rest of the tour!
 
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Have been reading and enjoy hearing about your trip. Thought the Polar Bear part was pretty good. Thanks for taking the time and trouble to write about your trip. Just a suggestion to maybe get more people along your route to sign up for the clinics and come to the exhibitions in the future, and to communicate with with the biggest number of those people again so you get more PR by word of mouth. Perhaps you could give out the AZBilliards address with of coarse the name of your tour on the flier then after the trip is over, you could run some kind of contest (give away) here on AZ. That only those people could enter (with some code # that their given). Perhaps as easy as having everyone at the clinics and exhibitions in each town sign up on a sheet with numbers next to their names. Then have the contest after the tour is over where they have to come on here and sign in to the contest thread just like the one for "The Other Side Of The Road" book by Alfie Taylor, people seemed to enjoy that give away and the one he's doing now for the Eddie Taylor DVD. In fact I think you had something to do with the book one getting started. Maybe you could get some good stuff from the industry and/or get some nice photo's blown up and signed by Nick and Johnny, hell I wouldn't mind having one of them! You might even do another about a month or so before the next tour starts to get people talking and some excitement stirred up and pump-up the participation. The more of those people you get on here the easier it is to communicate with them. Just a thought, probably stuff you have already thought of well anyway good luck with the rest of the tour!
I have gone in a few directions but never thought of getting them to sign up on a sheet fora prize after the tour. I think thats a good idea and I could have them come here or any other websites to be honest. Introducing them to AZ would be great though. thanks for the idea.
Mark
 
Well its 9am here in Helena and we have a show tonight in Spokane, Wa. About 4 hrs and 30 mins drive so call it 5hrs with stops. There is a breakfast place here in town where we ate yesterday and Nick has his mind set on eating there before we leave today. Scott Lee probably knows it its called Steve's Cafe. Great sausage, they make their own.
So last night we got word that a local player wanted to play JA a set. That seems to be the case in most towns we go to but usually there isn't enough time andusuallythebetis low with all kinds of crazy spots so its something we stay away from. Well during the exhibitions JA plays a mini challengematch against the local hotshot, house pro or whoever the person paying for the show wants. Well last night they had nobody in mind to play so we found out he only wanted to play a race to 9 for $50. usually thats not something we would do on the road like this. I mean he just wants to play a hall of famer and $50 is cheap lessons. So we set him up to play JA during the exhibition. The set went the way we all knew it would 9-4 I think it was playing 10 ball ona barbox. Then after the show I had agreed to sit down with 2 of the sponsors and have a drink before we left as they had been on at me all night to do a shot. I don't usually drink the hard stuff and especially not when we are in the middle of a show. So I told Nick what I was going to do and so somehow he got another game with the guy who played JA for another $50 and Nick releaved him of that $50 too. Apparently this guy can actually play a little and so a few stayed around after the show to watch. I am gonna say we had around 60 people show up for the exhibition. so not bad for Helena and there were also quite a few kids there with their parents and Nick did a great job during the show to get them involved and get them doing some trick shots. Made their night.

So JA just got up and we are going to have to get going here in a bit if we are going to stay on time as we really don't have much time to play with. Speak to you all again later.
 
Mark...Names please? Dan Hamper...Jeff Boucher...???

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

. Well during the exhibitions JA plays a mini challengematch against the local hotshot, house pro or whoever the person paying for the show wants. Well last night they had nobody in mind to play so we found out he only wanted to play a race to 9 for $50. usually thats not something we would do on the road like this. I mean he just wants to play a hall of famer and $50 is cheap lessons. So we set him up to play JA during the exhibition. The set went the way we all knew it would 9-4 I think it was playing 10 ball ona barbox.

somehow he got another game with the guy who played JA for another $50 and Nick releaved him of that $50 too. Apparently this guy can actually play a little and so a few stayed around after the show to watch.
 
Oh, I'm reading this alright! :thumbup: Thanks.

Im reading too buddy! following the whole way! love it all, polar bear part was a good one! beware what goes around comes around.... next we'll be reading how JA and Nick pulled one over on ya! :) keep us posted!! May the roads be in your favor!:thumbup:
 
Ok, in Spokane, my internet is limited at this point so been a little behind. We got to Spokane around 4pm yesterday. Show was to start at 7.30pm, We are staying with a friend of the tour in Couer D'Alene, ID. Its about 40 mins from the pool room so we decided to get changed and ready to go first and then go to the pool room early so Nick could set up his shots in advance before people got there and then eat dinner until it was time to start. So we got to the pool room around 6pm and find out that the side room where the show will be held was already letting people in. I was thinking this is a little early for people to be there but it still causes a problem because if Nick sets up some of his shots people will already see this before the show starts and also people might think this is the show. we decide that there won't be that many people so Nick needs to get on this right away So we head to the room and find its already 3 quarters full and we are still an hour and a half from start time. So Nick looked at the table and says "I think I'm gonna be alright without setting them up". Before long the whole room is paced and there is still an hour to go before the show. Aprox 85-90 people. I talked with the owner Steve of Black Diamond Billiards and told him he may to do something here. So they did their best to make more room and tables available. Start time comes and we go to work. What a great crowd they were everyone had a great time and enjoyed what I believe is the greatest show in Billiards. REally its that good under the right conditions.
We met up with a few people there that have been in attendance in the past and also been in the clinics before. Also met with some people that I knew of or have talked to before that I have never met. I met a guy that some of you who watch the live streams may know as Big Dennis. Real nice guy too.

Justr got back from the clinic. Another great turn out and everyone enjoyed it and felt they got more than their moneys worth. We left the clinic an took a walk up the street to a haunted house that has been vacant for a about 40 yrs and it sits on top of the hill where we are staying in couer 'D'Alene. With the best view of the lake you could have. There were about 12 Elk up there too so that was pretty cool to see. You don't realize how big these things are until you see them up close. Jim (Our host) took a great pic of me and JA with the view of the lake behind us and so I sent it o my girlfriend in AZ and she responed with a text saying "Bromance blooms on Brokeback mountain" Last time I send he a pic :)
We strolled back to the house in time to go to dinner. I don't eat outr too much so when I do at a nicer restaurant I make the most of it. I had Salmon cakes, clams and Beef fillet and shared some Lava cake for desert. MMMmm. After dinner we just hung out and watched Rocky and now Bait car. JA loves Bait car. he yells at the tv and laughs at the people getting busted. Its almost as much fun watching him as it is the show.

Well thats all for now I think. We get up at 7am and have a meeting at 9am then off to Tacoma, WA for a clinic tomorrow night. Its been great in Spokane but sorry I missed Bob Enslow but he is I believe involved in something special that I can't talk about but all azers would be pround of him.

There was something really funny that happened and I need to get permission to tell before I do as its maybe one of those things that I should not talk about. Sorry that the last couple of days have been uneventful but something will happen soon I just know it. Thanks for reading and thanks for the PMs I have got.

Mark
 
Rainy morning in Washington, now there is a surprise :) Heading out as soon as possible for a meeting and then off to Tacoma.
 
I've been keeping up with this from the begining, but wanted to let you know that I'm very much enjoying the updates so you didnt think you were just doing this for nothing.
Thanks for taking the time to periodically jot down the events of the day. It’s fun taking the ride with you. Some pics added would even enhance the experience.
I wish more tours would take the time to do this. Also wish you guys were swinging down to the Dallas area.
 
looking forward to see your guys next week!

Rainy morning in Washington, now there is a surprise :) Heading out as soon as possible for a meeting and then off to Tacoma.

will be at Petes place next week for the clinic and enjoying your adventure logs here. Pics would also be great!
Thanks for taking the time to tour, I wish more top players would do this type of tour, We are way way off the food chain up here in Humboldt County, Ca.
C Ya!
wendy
 
still checking on you regularly:thumbup:
Thanks for the stories, I really enjoy them. Too bad about the bear:grin:
 
Should be a nice weekend here in Portland, somewhere around the mid-60s and once these clouds burn off it will be sunny.. we'll see what happens. Hope you have a good turnout at Classic's.
 
will be at Petes place next week for the clinic and enjoying your adventure logs here. Pics would also be great!
Thanks for taking the time to tour, I wish more top players would do this type of tour, We are way way off the food chain up here in Humboldt County, Ca.
C Ya!
wendy
Wendy I look forward to meeting you there. Please say hello when we get there.
 
Should be a nice weekend here in Portland, somewhere around the mid-60s and once these clouds burn off it will be sunny.. we'll see what happens. Hope you have a good turnout at Classic's.
Hey Banks, I am not holding my breath for a good turnout at Classic. Seems we have not done so well in Portland the last time we were here and with the Lincoln City event this weekend We know the numbers will be very low. We will be there at 11am tomorrow though to see what we got.
 
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