This is the third year of this event which started off to simply honor those who have gone on before us.
The first year many of us met at Accurate Engineering in Dothan Alabama to make the ride, but because people were coming from all over the country, after the first year it was decided that it would be better to meet at a central location which this year was SUN STUDIO in Memphis Tennessee
ABOUT SUN STUDIO
Sun Studio is known worldwide as “The Birthplace of Rock’n’roll”. It is the discovery location of musical legends and genres of the ’50s from B.B. King and Elvis Presley to Johnny Cash and Jerry Lee Lewis; from Blues and Gospel to Country and Rock’n’roll. Today our goal is to spread the story of Memphis’ history and culture through the music that put Memphis on the map.
Stand in the very same spot that Elvis first recorded. Your tour guide will tell you the inside stories of B.B. King, Howlin’ Wolf and Ike Turner before Elvis, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Jerry Lee Lewis, & Roy Orbison who were all drawn to the new Sun Sound.
See the priceless memorabilia from the musical legends that blended blues and country music to explode in the “big bang” of Rock’n’roll.
Hear the voices of musicians who still haunt this studio, as you listen to outtakes from recording sessions and feel the energy of the music created here.
The studio is open for 40 minute guided tours every day from 10:00 am to 5:15pm. The tour is $20 for adults, $18 for students and $15 for kids ages 5-11. After day time operations close down we begin recording nightly starting at $200 per hour.
The places we visit are different every year and very interesting.
This year one of our own was there as Elvis. This is part of a fun group having a good time while traveling to our final destination the Shack Up Inn in Clarksdale Mississippi – https://www.shackupinn.com/
The Shack Up Inn is party central and where the original time capsule is. It is full and a new one was made for this year.
Berry said – Projects, projects, projects. Heck, it seems the only way I could afford this idea I had for the new Rough Boys Time Capsule was to purchase a metal body resonator guitar that needed repair. Even using that angle it still took me months to find one. I figured my local luthier could fix this cracked neck. Nope. Apparently to get the glue to release from the body and then to reattach the neck is more than my local guy wanted to try.
It’s hit and miss as I understand it. Sheesh, they should try welding 100-year-old crankcases. Well, we strung the resonator in light gauge strings, and it still wanted to separate at the once repaired crack. It’s time for the motorcycle builder guy to step in. Pilot drill back of neck, through the cracked area . 2. Counterbore for future dowels to cover screw heads. Pressure inject wood glue into crack. Insert wood screws into drilled holes and get down with a hollow ground screwdriver. Crack pulls up tight, excess glue comes squishing out, glue gets wiped off with finger, finger gets wiped off on jeans, and viola! I’m a luthier and it ain’t even noon yet. Play until your pea pickin’ heart is content, Rod Balch.
Our Unintentional Pilgrimage Rough Boy Time Capsule resonator guitar is on another journey, this time to Georgia. Our favorite pin stripe artist, Chastin Brand is going to throw down on it. All told I’ve sent this precious piece of Rough Boy cargo about 8,000 miles and I ain’t done yet. It’s all to honor our past loved ones. Bikes, blues, and breaking bread with our loved ones, past and present.
Even after all that, it had one more place to go, Rob ElTigre for engraving.
EITigre Engraving, Metal That Matters, 6039 S AR 9 HWY, Melbourne, Arkansas
It is a work of art and is a beautiful addition to the previous time capsule.
Quote from Berry Wardlaw, “It’s not often that so many people come from every corner of the United States just to be with one another and to honor our dear families and friends, both past and present.”
During the day riders go to many of the places that are part of the “BLUES” Music History.
This year it was to Rosedale. It appears they are not use to such a large group of motorcycles showing up in town. But the friendly group of bikers won them over and they got in on the fun
In 2007, the Mississippi Blues Commission placed a historic marker at Rosedale’s former Yazoo and Mississippi Valley Railroad depot site, designating it as a site on the Mississippi Blues Trail. The marker commemorates the sites in the original lyrics of legendary blues artist Robert Johnson‘s song “Travelling Riverside Blues“. He traced the railway route which ran south from Friars Point to Rosedale among other stops, including Vicksburg and north to Memphis. The marker emphasizes that a common theme of blues songs was riding on the railroad, which was seen as a metaphor for travel and escape from poverty and Jim Crow in the Delta. It also commemorates another common blues theme, life on the banks of a moody river bank, a theme heard in Charlie Patton‘s “High Water Everywhere“.
Locals claim Johnson sold his soul to the Devil at the intersection of Mississippi state highways 1 and 8, on the south end of town, and that he tells this story metaphorically in “Cross Road Blues.” Other artists have referred to his songs.[8] Johnson’s deal with the Devil is mentioned as occurring in Rosedale in 1930 in an episode of the TV series Supernatural. However, a number of other Delta municipalities claim that the transaction took place in or near their boundaries.
Saturday Evening Ron Balch played the time-capsule guitar. Then by moonlight we dismantled it and added time-capsule items folks brought. We explained each item and why they rocked with some special rhythmic notion. After the guitar was reassembled we carefully secured it to the old wooden wall for all to see and enjoy
Back to the stage room to listen to Deak Harp perform and enjoy the evening with friends.
I should note that Berry and Vivian were also celebrating their anniversary, having been married here at the previous pilgrimage.
Thanks to all who shared photos for this
Three events are being promoted over the airways, including Memorial Day in JUNE 11-15, 2026
You can also find information on Facebook
To view the movie Rough Boys go to https://youtu.be/5MnPEeqmOfE?si=mhrHPiGPy2gVVX8B
I’m Watching You – Berry Parking Rogue’s Motorcycle
A Book Of Past Pilgrimages by Felica Morgan was available and Very Popular.
–ROGUE
