La Sal Junction

Just south of Moab Utah is a junction called La Sal,

Sittin’ ‘neath the red rocks, it’s a beautiful locale.

Sure to take your breath away each time that you pass,

Where sits a lonesome station that used to pump the gas.

Once it was a truck stop, the diesels they rolled in,

Double-clutchin’ up the grade, patience growin’ thin.

A place where every trucker knew he had to stop,

And get some fuel or service in the little shop.

Run by Vic and Irene, had everything you need,

With Dayla in the café, a’  fixin’ up y’er feed.

One time I drove up in a broken-down old car,

Next thing that I knew they had me tendin’ bar.

And Steve’ll fix yer flivver if it should malfunction,

No, you won’t get stranded, this is La Sal Junction.

Runnin’ out of hours, the log book calls for rest,

You can tie up at LaSalle, it is the very best.

A trailer with a shower, a bunk that isn’t bad,

A night away from sleepin’ in that damn old cab.

But if you go in business, pick yer partners well,

They can take yer dream and run it straight to hell.

Just a lonesome junction, somewhere in the past,

I’m gonna’ shed a tear, ‘cause it didn’t last.       

 Apr 30, ‘21

Book LinK: https://azrockdodger.com/2021/10/03/the-rhythm-of-my-soul/

Recollections:

Johnny-Before Vic and Irene got it I used to ride with Uncle Vic in a ore hauling truck, we would stop by and get a cup of coffee, learned a lot from those days

Michelle- I have memories of chasing lizards and only havin tails. Flying in a airplane. Taking walks down the warsh. My first dog came from there, a abused truckers dog, named him Shadow. He protected me from everything and everyone. My brother Jody getting bitten by a donkey. Being in the lounge playing pool. My grandma’s accounting desk, which I still have!

Randy-  I remember going there with the folks when I was a young teen. It is the first time I remember meeting Dayla. Through the years on my trips to or from Montana, I go by and check out the place. It gets less and less like my mind’s memory! The hills, though are gonna be there forever and I remember Vic showing me bottles filled with layers of different colored sand that he had collected around the truck stop. I haven’t forgotten them, either!

Larry- For me La Sal Junction was always a place of refuge. I’d hit there lonesome, broken-hearted or down on my luck. Every time I visited, my fortunes would turn around. I had an improbable encounter with a UFO when I left there in ’67. https://azrockdodger.com/2021/05/02/the-comet-and-the-ufo/

Movies

Lots of movies were filmed in the Moab-La Sal area. Here’s john thill in The Comancheros and Rex (with Irene) in Blue.

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