On Thursday September 26th, the day after the Coors event I went through the motions of a typical daily routine at work. The cold I was suffering from was now centralized in my throat. I felt great otherwise. Later I return home to find a good friend of mine named Eric waiting for me there. We sat and chitchatted for a while before stepping out for a bite to eat at a local Mexican Restaurant/ Karaoke bar called "Sabor a Casa."

We were greeted at the door by Norma the proprietor of the establishment and I soon fell into a brief recount of my Rush road trip adventures before polishing off a Carne asada dinner plate washed down with an ice cold Negra Modelo beer. Yum! My throat began to feel a little better. Norma asked me to be a judge in a Karaoke contest being held there that evening. I accepted. Eric and I had a great time. You may be asking - "Rich, how does all this talk about a Mexican restaurant tie into your Rush road trip?" Well... I was just getting to that - Incredibly - "Sabor a Casa" has a Rush song in their Karaoke repertoire. Fly By Night! Surprisingly - Fly By Night turns into In The Mood midway through the song. How 'bout that? Two songs in one! Beauty.

"I wanna' see all your hands - HIGH!"

The next day I'm back at work lugging thirty to fifty pound boxes of animation art for a few hours. My job can be very diverse - a far cry from my regular position of maintaining a website! I get home quite beat - but in a good way - the workout helped it seems. My cold is almost gone - turns out I've got a decent constitution! Checking my email I find that Jane - Judy's good friend has invited me to join her and her friends at a birthday party being held in a restaurant in Buena Park. Naturally Judy is planning on being there as well. I jump in the shower and hit the road again. I recall a bright full Moon that evening. I meet up with Judy, Jane and their party at a Japanese restaurant called "Karuta" and help celebrate "Jane's man" Curtis's 39th birthday. Nice folk all around - my kind of peeps. We drive back to Jane's house afterward and hang for a while before Judy and I call it a night and head for home in our cars waving goodnight to each other when our paths divide at a freeway junction. Climbing into bed I was asleep before my head hit my pillow. Okay - okay! I'll admit - this part had absolutely nothing to do with a Rush road trip. Well - keep your pants on! It gets better eh?

On Saturday, September 28th I'm home in the shower when Judy calls to give me a run down on the day's events - get together at her house - head over to a Dave & Buster's arcade & restaurant in Irvine for a pre-show Rush fan gathering then head out to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater from there to catch the Rush concert. Simple enough right? Wrong!

Minutes later I get a call from my Rush buddy Dave. Dave tells me his car wont start so he's asked his ex-wife to borrow hers for the night. She agrees however she needs to drive her car out to him from a military base - Fort Irwin. From where we are that's one l-o-o-o-n-g drive! If that wasn't enough of a pain, Dave would then have to drive her back there before heading out to meet us! Luckily He already knows how to get to the Dave & Buster's in Irvine from where he's coming and has a cell phone to reach us in the event he runs into any further delays on the road (I'm holding his ticket for the concert that night so meeting up with him before the show was critical). Fortunately He's able to find us without any problems later.

Matt (ProjectAtlantis) is also in town for the event tonight. Calling ahead he makes plans to meet Judy and I at her house before carpooling to the show together. I arrive at Judy's place at about 2:00 p.m. to find her still getting ready. Matt calls again while I'm there and within minutes he's at the door. All set to go, we agree to take off in my vehicle. Stopping to gas up first we then make a quick stop at a Kinko's copy center to print off a new batch of RushCon 3 flyers. While Judy busies herself with printing flyers I work my magic by making a color copy of her license plate then gluing it to a piece of cardboard thinking "Let's see security at the amphitheater turn THIS license plate into a weapon! Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk". Check this out - upon paying for our combined print jobs - our bill came to $21.12 - Do-do-Do-do - Next stop - The Twilight Zone... ;)

Dave & Buster's was a hoot. After making our entrance the three of us wandered about until we found a booth to hang in at The Million Dollar Midway (Arcade) section of the place. Ordering up some grub we were delighted to hear the sound of Geddy Lee's "Home on the Strange" booming from the overhead speakers. Groovy. Minutes later we spot people running around wearing Rush T-shirts and before we knew it - we were smack dab in the middle of a genuine Rush fan gathering.

Rush fans at Dave & Buster's!

Jeff arrives soon after just before Dave makes the scene. Our buddies Guillermo (vav21121), Pat (Constant Change) and Mike (Shape Shifter) meet up with us too. That day we also had the pleasure of meeting a Rush fan couple named Paul (CymbalSymbol) and Victoria (OneLittleVictoria) - nice folk who had driven quite a distance to be there that night. They couldn't wait to see Rush! We couldn't either. Miraculously - the overhead speakers belted out another tune from my favorite headache - "Grace To Grace" - Before heading out, we gave Dave & Buster's a big thumbs up!

Look everybody! - It's Dustin and his Dad Pat (Constant Change)

Guillermo (vav21121) and Mike (Shape Shifter)

Jeff, Dave & Judy

As we walked to our vehicles we (Judy, Jeff, Dave, Matt & myself) agreed to pile into my Chevy Caprice and drive to the amphitheater together. As we prepared to leave (securing the beer in the trunk for later) Dave springs a big time surprise on me by telling me he recently placed an order for a personalized license plate for my car that reads "I (heart symbol) RUSH". Can you believe it? as it is - I've already got a license plate frame that reads - I'D RATHER BE AT A RUSH CONCERT. Adding this new plate to my car will be quite a kick. He mentioned that it would take a few months to process the plate's order before I'm able to pick it up at my local DMV. As it turns out - that still makes for one hell of a decent early Christmas present to say the least! Thanks Dave! You're a real pal.

Minutes later we arrive at the Amphitheater. Taking notice of the dark clouds above we stepped out of my car and hoped the weather wouldn't take a turn for the worse.

All night clouds had been brewing across the Southland as reports from local weather men warned of scattered showers throughout the day.

While standing in line to get in, the weather had a little fun with our motley band of Rushians by sprinkling a light rain on our heads. Karmically speaking I believe it was Nature's way of getting back at me for that little incident at Muir Woods! Hah! Just kidding. Well, in any event I'll need to remember to use my powers for GOOD next time.

This place had the best pat down crew checking for contraband I have ever seen yet still I managed to sneak in another camera! Ahem... Let's just say I looked very well endowed right then - if you catch my drift... Although we did get a bit soaked the somber clouds took pity on us and decided to withhold their moistureous precipitation moments before the start of the evening's performance. Wiping down our seats we settled in for another great show. The night air remained cold and damp - enough so to force Judy and Matt to purchase warm "serape-like" blankets that were selling like hot cakes (at a decent price) inside the venue. The rest of us remained surprisingly comfortable in our presoaked jackets. In fact - Jeff wasn't even wearing a jacket at all - he wore a sweater! Go figure.

The concert went on as scheduled - Only fifteen minutes late to be exact! This time Dave and I would sit back in the twentieth row to enjoy the show from a distance while Matt sat wrapped in his blanket up in the lawn section. Judy and Jeff sat a few rows from the stage. We were ready!

While waiting for the show to commence Dave and I ran across our Rush buddy Teresa while on her way to her seat in the front row! Teresa had driven to the venue that evening with a friend of hers. Naturally she was very excited to see Rush so close to the stage again - little did she know just how excited she would get by the end of the performance...

As Dave and I stood there throughout the evening my thoughts kept racing back to the very first time I saw Rush play in 1983. Dave was there to share in that experience just as he was there to share in this moment now. We had been through a lot together over the years. Our love of Rush music had been a catalyst for our life long friendship and I couldn't help but reflect on how appropriate it was we see the last Rush performance (we could afford) together again. Our journey as Rush fans had come full circle.

WARNING! ANIMATION AHEAD...

Hey folks - check out this nifty little animated slide show I created exclusively for your enjoyment. Hey! You know what? I just thought up a brilliant idea! Go run and put on some Rush music quick! (for best effect - use live albums eh?) Go on... I'll wait. :)

Okay! Now that you've got the mood music going - sit a spell and watch the show unfold. Wow! Can you feel it? Goose bumps! It's almost like you're right in the middle of the Verizon Wireless Rush concert - except this time It's free!!! Woooo Hoooo! Yeah! You're number one! (insert expletive here).

Rush at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, Irvine California 2002

I really hope you enjoyed the show. I sure did!

Before the event began that night Dave and I greeted a fellow Rush fan named Max sitting next to us who came all the way from New Zealand to catch his favorite band. Now that's what I call dedication! Max had paid a bundle traveling half way around the world to be there. Before we parted we brought up the subject of RushCon and exchanged email addresses to stay in touch.

The show was awesome! Sitting up front that night, Teresa was handed a T-shirt pulled from a dryer by Alex himself! As he handed her the T-Shirt Teresa mouthed the words "Thank You" - Alex reciprocated with a modest "Your Welcome" right back.

"I GOT THIS SHIRT FROM DRYER #2 ON THE VAPOR TRAILS TOUR"

Way to go Teresa! Score! You can rest assured this shirt will never see the light of E-bay! She's keeping this thing forever! - I know! She told me herself.

Later in the parking lot - Judy brought out the RushCon 3 flyers and passed them out to Rush fans everywhere. I did my best to help but this was her moment to shine. Her passion was inspiring!

Judy heads up the RushCon 3 pep rally.

Taking a break from all the running around - RushCon rallying can be thirsty work! We shared a beer and toasted to Rush for another night of music and magic. We were stoked!

Judy and Matt tossing back a couple of cold ones.

Partying in the parking lot.

As the parking lot cleared out we climbed back into my cruising vessel and raced back to Dave & Buster's for a night cap careful to drive around the tons of broken bottles we found spread all over the pavement. Bummer for the cleaning crew the next morning! Hope they made out okay. What a mess!

Sitting around a few tables we shared a drink or two (coffee for me please - I was driving that night after all). Recounting some of our adventures we reminisced over a huge collection of photos I had taken during our Rush road trip which had come to a glorious end by last call that night. Goofing around we took a few more pictures of ourselves before heading out.

Look at me! I'm dead sexy!

Zack (St. Dark) and Mike (Shape Shifter) back at Dave & Buster's.

Goof'n after the show.

Judy and Zack .

Jeff, myself and Kat...

And so it came to pass... we had the time of our lives those amazing two weeks of September. Never will I forget the adventures and excitement we shared as we made our way across the span of seven concerts.

And the Lord did grin... Monty Python.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I can't help but think that as I put the finishing touches on these Rush road trip pages, the creation of a time capsule such as this can be quite an undertaking. From the point of conception to the moment of proof and all the crap that goes on in between putting together a story like this has been a rewarding experience I won't soon forget. And so in the spirit of rewarding experiences I feel a special debt of gratitude must be made to the people that have contributed to my travels on this amazing journey.

I would like to extend my warmest thanks and sincere appreciation to my family for their support and understanding and for having to put up with me these last few weeks during my all-consuming labor of love and pet project of writing these web pages! To my friend David Grall for growing up with me as a fellow Rush fan back in the day when Rush fans were few and far between; To Zeke and Alfonso "Jr." Hernandez for sharing the best moments of my life as my oldest friends in the world; To yet another life long friend Don Grantham for offering me a side job that single handedly paid for most of my Rush road trip in advance!; To Eric Vigil for helping to keep me in tip top shape as my workout partner and good friend; To Oray and Troy Auzenne for your poignant relationship advice and generous hospitality; To Eddy Hernandez "dockie" for your compassionate character and for letting me crash at your pad for two days during my Rush road trip; To Cathy and Judy Staley aka "Judwina the monkey girl" for your kindness, beauty, assistance, acceptance, friendship and overabundant/aggravating -"Your money's not good here!"- generosity!; to Ken Hoffman "Sir Draco" for your Counterparts message board and great parties; To the folks at Acme Animation Archives for allowing me the opportunity to follow the vapor trails while keeping my chair warm at work; To the Rush fans that make up the Counterparts message board and all other Rush fans I had the pleasure to meet in my travels; To Fred the security guard; To Todd the wrist band guy; To Jeff Thomson for all the great tickets; To Ranger Jim McDonald for contributing to my twisted sense of humor; To Puanani Akaka for giving me the "Geddy Lee is coming to town" heads up; To Teresa Marillo for the great concert T-shirt picture; To the folks at Sabor A Casa for all the fun and great food; To everyone at Everett & Jones; To the International House of Pancakes in Redwood City for serving up Pumkin Pancakes earlier in the season than usual; To the Chinese restaurant in West Sacramento with your mysteriously acurate fortune cookies!; To Walgreens; The Best Western crew in West Sacramento; To Mapquest for the itinerary assistance - except of course for that AutoWest incident - I'll get over it ;); To the Dumb & Dumber movie and soundtrack; To the Fiesta Del Mar and it's uncompromising staff; To Taco Bell; To The Simpsons; To Bob & Doug McKenzie; To Enterprise Rent-A-Car for providing a rental that kicked butt and included a cd player; To the staff of both the Oakland and Las Vegas airports; To Jeff, Dawn, Bill and Benny; To Spin Productions; To Benny and Nathan the limo drivers; To Kinko's; To Dave & Buster's - for the Geddy Lee tunes.

Furthermore, I wish to express sincere appreciation to all the folks working behind the scenes at RushCon who give it their all to make each Rush Convention in Toronto Canada, a resounding success. Your tribute and contribution to Rush fans across the globe are graciously appreciated. You have my deepest gratitude.

Finally, I wish to extend sincerest thanks to the members of Rush for pouring your devotion into creating some of the most unique and powerfully moving music the world of rock has ever known and sharing it with people like me. Words cannot express the level of heartfelt thanks and appreciation I hold for your contribution and personal inspiration. Oh! and before I forget! Thank you - Yes you! the person reading this for following this adventure through to the end. It's people like you that give me hope I can spin a yarn almost as good as my grandfather once did. You have my deepest and sincerest thanks.

Until we meet again,

Your buddy,

Rich.

We travel on the road to adventure...