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October 16, 2016 - 10:46 p.m.
"hey dude" or "organ stop"

Hey Journal!

This morning we got up around 8:00am. We got a pretty good night's sleep but I still could have slept for a lot longer. Dan woke me up because he was hungry and wanted to go down to breakfast.

At about 3am, we were woken up by Dan's phone ringing. It was my mom -- she was up early and accidentally FaceTimed him!

Anyway, when we got up we got dressed and then headed down to the breakfast in the lobby. They had the make your own waffle station, so we did that and I also had a bowl of cereal.

When we got back to the room we decided our plan for the day! We decided to drive south to Tucson and TRY to see if we would find the Hey Dude set! We left here around nine.

On the way we stopped at a Target in Tucson to look for sandals since I left mine at home. They didn't have any good ones.

We got to the vicinity of the Hey Dude set and we didn't really have a plan of how to do this. We parked at the real Ranch... the one that the show was based on and the one that the set is on the property of! We went to the bathroom, I put on my sunscreen, and then we hit the trail!

I had google maps open and had a rough idea of where the set was. I want certain, but it was my best guess. We walked down the road to a small trail and then we had to veer off the trail towards the set. It was about a half-mile from the beaten path and I was scared bc we had passed a sign warning of rattlesnakes!! I did not want to encounter one of those!!

On the way we saw a jackrabbit! It was crazy looking and had really big ears! I've never seen one in person before!

So, now for the moment I have been waiting over 25 years for... we came upon the SET OF HEY DUDE! It's been abandoned in the desert for over 25 years and it's not in the best of shape but it's as amazing as can be. We came upon it from the back and so you could see the unfinished side of the sets. We entered through a little door in the back RIGHT INTO MR. ERNST'S OFFICE! It was surreal. I couldn't believe it. I was literally standing in the room that I had seen on TV so many times before.

To think, it was that very room, that very spot, where one of my favorite TV shows was filmed and I standing there...25 years after the show finished taping...and despite the clutter and abandonment, it looked just like I remembered it. I took it all in and then looked out ont to the lobby of the Bar None Ranch. Mr Earnst's office was neat and tidy compared to that -- there was all junk thrown in there. You couldn't even walk in.

Despite that, you could clearly see the reception desk and the little cubby holes behind the desk. There was also the spot where the safe used to be -- with the map of arizona that covered it. Too bad the map was no longer present.

It's amazing that after all these years the place is still standing and still there. I was in awe of it. It was so wild.

We also went over to check out the bunk house which was still standing across the way. We took a peek inside there, took some pictures, and then headed back down the trail.

It was HOT out. THe sun was beating down on us and I was sure glad I put that sunscreen on. We made our way back to the main road and the got back to the car. What an experience. I am soooo glad we decided to do this and so glad I got to see the actual place where Hey Dude was filmed! I can now proudly say I have BEEN to the Bar None Ranch!

It was hot when we got back to the car and I couldn't get the AC on fast enough. We headed back to the more populated part of Tucson and looked for place to get lunch. We would up going to a place called Dakotas which was in a little area called Trail Dues Town. It was so wild -- it was this little village that had an old fashioned look to it. It was completely closed at this time of day with the exception of the restaurant so it looked like the perfect image of a ghost town!

We had our lunch sitting outisde on the patio and I got a beef stew.

After lunch we headed back to Phoenix. We went to two casinos on the way. First we went to the Wild Horse Pass casino and Dan played some blackjack. He had a couple of ups and down but then wound up with $10 more than he started with.

They didn't have any WMS games so there was no Willy Wonka for me to play. The smoke smell was obnoxious so we didn't hang around long.

Next we went to a second casino closer to our hotel called the Lone Butte Casino. It's basically the same casino as the first one -- same indian tribe. I decided to call it the Lone Butt casino and even took a great photo of the sign where I cut off the E. I think it should have been named Lone Butt from the start. Dan got the loyalty card and got $10 of free slot play which I used to play the Walking Dead slot machine.

I did pretty well and wound up leaving with about $30! We, all together for the day we were up $40. Not bad!

We didn't hang around there for long, either, because of the smoke smell. In fact, my shirt till smells of smoke and we were only there for about 15 minutes.

We came back to the hotel after that and put our bathing suits on to go in the pool. We headed down and spent about 20 minutes in the hot tub, It was really nice and, again, the weather was perfect today. It was about 91 and, even though that's HOT, I didn't feel the oppression that we have at home. I didn't sweat EXCEPT for the little hike through the desert, but that was to be expected!

Anyway, we had a good time in the hot tub and then came back to the room to take a shower.

We planned to go to dinner at a place called Organ Stop Pizza. Dan and randomly found it online and it looked cool so we wanted to give it a try.

We arrived and went inside and what followed was nothing like I expected. Nothing At all! First, we walked in and i was surprised that it was a counter service place. You give your order at the register, pay, and then go sit down anywhere inside. It's cafeteria-style. Dan got a pizza and I got spaghetti and meataballs. It was priced very reasonably, too.

They give you a number and you have to watch a big bingo-style board to see whaen your order is ready but...I was BLOWN AWAY by the organ. I don't even know what I expected going in but this experience was unreal. It was unlike anything I have EVER seen before. It was out of control.

So, there's a big room with all the tables. There are two floors, and right in the front of the room is a raised stage with a GIANT organ. The organist is there, plating away, and the most amazing part is all of the pipes and instruments and other things that are being played.

The Mighty Wurlitzer!

It was unbelievable. This man was playing thins organ and so many amazing things were happening. I was so into this. I couldn't believe my eyes and ears. I loved every moment of it. I feel like something this amazing should be a major tourist attraction but it's tucked in this little unassuming pizza place. It's such a great find. A hidden gem. One of the coolest things I have ever seen.

If you EVER go to the Phoenix area you MUST, absolutely MUST, go to this place. It's unreal and you will thank me for it for the rest of your life.

Anyway, our food was ready, we ate, and we just took in the amazingness all around us. I lcan't say enough how much I loved it and how unique of an experience it was!

It closed at 9:00 and we headed for the car. We decided to go to Fat Tuesday in Tempe again so we headed over there. We got a parking spot nearby and went in. I was a little pissed because the guy at the door took my license and bent it in half! Like, WTF! Who BENDS a driver's license!? It's kinda important to me so it'd appreciate if you didn't destroy it! Like, we've all ween to a lot of bars and been IDed since turning 21 and I've NEVER had someone take my license and fold it in half. Fuck you! Look at it, examine it under a special light, even scan it, but FOLDING IT IN HALF??

We got our drinks, sat outside, and enjoyed the rest of the evening.

When we were done we walked around the town and then headed back to the car. We got back to the hotel a few minutes ago and I'm exhausted from a day of excitement. Two things I really will not soon forget.

The Hey Dude set was a real dream-come-true for me. It was surreal! Then, the Organ Stop was just an unexpected wonder. It was amazing. I'll say it again -- I'd never seen anything like it before and I only hope to come back and see it again some day. It's out of this world!

So now, we're ready to sleep! I have put in a special request that we NOT get up early in the morning... I want to wake up when I wake up! I've already remembered to turn OFF my normal work alarm so that's a good start.

Until tomorrow...

Goodnight. :)