The Big Green Bus

Good Times in the Middle of Nowhere

Ro

Categories: people

Aug 9, 2008 02:52 pm

Rapid City, South Dakota.

Is that…is that a wheel chair hanging from the ceiling? That was my first thought as I walked into a little workshop, late one stormy evening in Rapid City, South Dakota. A gigantic purplish dragon was sprouting out of the wall to my left, and underneath it, hung rows and rows of old street signs. Farther in the shop, I could see a mini motorbike, parts of an old amusement park ride, hang glider, welder, and just shelf after shelf of old metal parts and bits. On the back wall hung a sign that said “Big Boys’ Toys.” I smiled. There was no other word for it, the place was just…cool.

The Bus was stopped in South Dakota half way through our one thousand mile drive from Jackson to Minneapolis. We bussers were sleep deprived, dirty, and stunk like hell. We resembled zombies from the land of the unwashed (If you’re not cringing, you should be. We were disgusting). So there we were, smack dab in the middle of nowhere and I had just stumbled into the Land of Oz.

We were in Rapid City because earlier in the month, Scott from Magnum Enterprises (the country’s largest rubber band gun manufacturer) invited us to a barbeque on our way through South Dakota. As you probably guessed, the Bus was more than happy to stop for free food. What we didn’t expect was it turned out to be one of the coolest stops ever, and is a testament both to the generosity of strangers and the joys of making friends in unexpected places. 

Scott and Don walked us through the process of making rubber band guns, lent us the use of the factory shower, and gave the Bus a couple toys (we now have a wooden ax!). But the best part was the amazing barbeque Scott threw us at this cool metal working shop. The whole place was stacked ceiling to floor full of interesting knick-knacks and halfway assembled things and parts, and in the center of it all, a gigantic feast. Buffalo stakes, corn on the cob, baked potatoes, veggie kebabs, and s’mores! (Hi Justice!)

We left with bellies stuffed and our hearts gladdened from the knowledge that great people are everywhere, all you have to do is drop in and say hi. 

Until the next time,
Ro
 

Flag as spam/inappropriate