Tujunga Next Exit takes on Beacon Rock

Cobe Haskell and Bill Ward are two of my oldest friends.  I have known them since fourth grade. In 1964 or possibly 1963, Cobe and I started putting together a rock band.  In the beginning, our band consisted of Cobe playing percussion with a snare drum and one cymbal and me playing an acoustic guitar. Over the next year or so, we improved our equipment and recruited friends to fill out the band, and in eighth grade we played our first gig at a school assembly.  We  played instrumental surf music like “Walk Don’t Run” and “Wipeout.”  Nobody tried to sing, probably because our voices were still changing, and surf songs generally steer clear of vocals, much to our relief.

As we advanced through high school, players came and went, voices stabilized, and by senior year we were actually pretty good.  We covered a variety of mid and late 1960s music and even played a few of our own compositions. Somewhere along the way, the band acquired the name Tujunga Next Exit. This Los Angeles area road sign appeared in a dream to our sometimes maracas player, John – a perfectly reasonable 1960s explanation for selecting a band name. Bill wasn’t a member of the band, but he was a regular member of our cheering section.

At our fiftieth high school reunion four years ago, I talked openly about my early Alzheimer’s disease, not to garner sympathy, but to help my former classmates learn about the disease, a disease that will surely affect many of them in the years to come. Some were already having some mild cognitive issues, and I think it was helpful for everyone who participated in the discussion. I have followed up on those discussions with a few zoom meetings during the pandemic. 

Last weekend, Cobe, Bill, and their spouses Sherry and Claudia flew to Portland from their homes in Southern California to spend the weekend with us. Friday, we gathered at our house to remember old times and friends.  Lois fixed a wonderful dinner, and afterward we watched a rough cut of the documentary film based on A Tattoo on my Brain. Even though the film will probably not be released until next winter or spring everyone agreed that it is going to be really good.

On Saturday, we drove east beside the Columbia River to Beacon Rock.  As I have said in my book and in several blogposts, Beacon Rock is one of my favorite places in the world. We started at the boat dock at the base of the rock, and then started climbing. The hike to the top contains 54 switch backs which makes it relatively easy, except for those with a fear of heights. Cobe valiantly made it to the top and back down to earth with a great sense of accomplishment. 

People of all ages were hiking to the top, many with children and/or  dogs in tow. Probably the most strenuous part of the hike is the last 20 or 30 feet climbing up a stone stairway, but then you are on the top, and what a view it is from the top!