All aboard! Thousands making trip -- some even going on Britney's bus
'IN THE SPIRIT' | Musicians, church groups, school groups heading for Washington
Some road trips are for singular reflection, others are to get lost in the future.
But there is a communal compass within the thousands of Chicagoans who are hitting the road to witness the inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., next week.
(Scott Stewart/Sun-Times)
PHOTO GALLERY
Inauguration rehearsal
"I won't be watching DVDs," said Waco Brother/Mekon Jon Langford who is boarding one of two buses leaving the Hideout music club at 7 a.m. Sunday. "I thought about bringing an MP3 player, but that's not in the spirit of the event. Books and MP3 players are out."
The buses are driving 12 hours nonstop to the nation's capital where the Waco Brothers, Andrew Bird, David "Honeyboy" Edwards, Sally Timms and other Chicagoans headline a "Big Shoulders Ball" Monday night at the Black Cat nightclub.
While the crow flies from the North Side, "The Rooster" will lead a flock of Chicagoans from the South Side.
"The Rooster" belongs to Gatling's Bus Charter in Chicago. The burgundy 45-foot bus was used by pop singer Britney Spears two years ago. The 2007 Prevost is equipped with bunk beds, two showers, a stove, eight flat screens with cable and Wi-Fi connections. The $1 million bus was made for Gatling by Nashville Coach Inc. in Nashville, Tenn.
"It is the 'star coach,'" said charter company owner Lafayette Gatling, also co-owner of Gatling's Chapel, 10133 S. Halsted. Gatling explained, "The star coach takes the star and the bunk house bus takes the band. Britney Spears saw it on another tour in California. She had to have 'The Rooster.'"
As Gatling looked around the mansion on wheels parked in a Blue Island garage, he said, "She was all over the place, I guess. But then I wasn't with her."
"The Rooster" is one of eight Gatling buses that will transport church groups, school groups and organizations that begin the pilgrimage Friday.
"We're going nonstop," said Gatling, who also leads the 40-member Gatling Staff Choir gospel group. "Twelve hours is easy. I'm driving 'The Rooster.'"
The Chicagoans are staying on the buses in a church parking lot about a mile away from the Capitol. The 110 Hideout folks are staying with friends and relatives in the D.C.-Baltimore area.
HOEKSTRA HITS THE ROAD TO D.C.: