Arizona SideCar Adventures

Sept 18
Mom’s birthday and she had a doctor’s appointment first thing in the morning. Everything looked good from all of her tests. That is good news to get on your 78th birthday!
TJ and artist Roger Merritt met me in Cave Creek Recreational Area to shoot video of the Arizona SideCar Adventures sidecars driving through desert. He had to pay a fee to shoot up there and later we went to Pinnacle Peak where I think we got even better video in the Pinnacle Peak Patio Parking lot! I know I ended up with a sunburn even with sunblock on.
It was Thursday so that meant Thursday with Bog Marv and once again we documented Pinnacle Peak Patio history by scanning documents of history. Marv’s brother Herman showed up and we were able to get many questions answered by Herman. He is also the world’s leading authority on the artist Lon Megargee and A1 Brewing. Herman and his wife had just returned from a raft trip down the Colorado and both say never again! It was much more strenuous and intense than they had been led to believe. Once begun there is no turning back or early exit from the ride.

I showed Herman an old issue of the Valley National Bank Eagle employee newspaper for which I had been the staff photographer from 1976-1982. One issue had an article about the Lon Megarge art the bank had purchased under the direction of former bank president Walter Bimson. About 17 pieces were in the bank’s collection and most hung at 56th Street and Camelback Road. Of course, the bank has changed hands a couple of times since and Herman had heard they had auctions all of the art off at extraordinarily low prices because no one knew about the auction.