The BBB Burning Bridges Tour

 October 21, 2026

   Welcome to the BBB Burning Bridges Tour of my so-called crazy career.

Daily Revised Whip Out:

"Burning Bridges Behind Me

Vs.

The Big Dropoff Ahead of Me"

   I am in the process of wrapping up my history talks in the wild. And, by "in the wild" I mean anywhere I have to drive to that is beyond the Carefree Highway. As a matter of fact, "Last Train to Clarksville" comes to mind as I approach one of my final trips down to Tombstone this weekend.

  Here are the talking points I intend to cover this Saturday at Schieffelin Hall.

• What is the one magic word that drives the entire Wyatt Earp story?

• What does Chicago have to do with the O.K. Corral?

• What is the one positive takeaway from all the fake and questionable history I have grappled with?

   I am also the featured history speaker at The Hermosa Inn on November 15 for a dinner in the garden.

   I may have one or two more road trip talks before the end of the my career on the road and I'll keep you posted here. I have loved it, but it's time to punch that last ticket to Clarksdale.

   I remember an Arizona Republic news story talking about the closing of the Clarksdale Railroad in the sixties with one last train ride up the Verde Valley. Not long afterward we got this song:

"Take the last train to Clarksville

And I'll meet you at the station

You can be here by four thirty

'Cause I've made your reservation

Don't be slow

Oh, no, no, no"

—The Monkees, written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart (who admit the song was inspired by Clarksdale, Arizona but changed it because Clarksville because they thought it sounded better)

"Live like you are dying because you are."

—Old Vaquero Saying