BATON ROUGE, La., July 28, 2006
Dan's Diary: End Of The Road
Adventures in Austin And Baton Rouge
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Play CBS Video Video Freys Headed To Wine Country Only On The Web: Thanks to a friend who appreciated the Freys charity work during Katrina, Becky and Keith are headed to Sonoma, Calif., as part of the "Great American Vacation."
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Video Price Visits An Alligator Farm While visiting the next stop in the "Great American Vacation" giveaway series, Dave Price decided to stop by an alligator farm in Baton Rouge, La.
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Video Waco Couple's Caribbean Cruise Only On The Web: Dave Price stopped in Waco, Texas, to present Sandie and Ronnie Paris with a "Great American Vacation."
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When will they learn? You shouldn’t encourage me, it just makes me bolder. CBS affiliate KEYE in Austin, Texas, took a chance and threw me on live TV, July 18, 2006. I’m clearly made for this. (CBS)
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A big crowd turned out in Austin, Texas, on July 19 for the "Great American Vacation "giveaway. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Dave Price kisses a new friend on July 26 in Baton Rouge, La. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Dave Price stirs a pot of Jambalaya with Andy Fontenot of the Jambalaya Shop looking on in Baton Rouge, La., on July 26. (CBS/Dan Baruch)
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Photos "Vacation" Photos See the places we've been and the people we've met during The Early Show's "Great American Vacation" tour.
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Video Archive 'Vacation' Video The Early Show's "Great American Vacation" recipients and stories from our road trip
The location chosen for the giveaway was Auditorium Shores on Town Lake overlooking the Austin skyline. It's a park haven for joggers, dog-walkers and families alike. The view isn't too shabby, either. Think of it as a miniature Central Park without any creepy stuff.
We pitched camp and prepped for another early morning extravaganza. Firing up live music and festivities at 5 a.m. might seem a bit forced, but Austin made it feel like the party had never ended from the night before. Dave found his Tex-Mex soul while attempting to perfect his Jarabe footwork to the thrumming rhythms of a Mariachi band. He cut a little rug to the hepcat tunes of the Marshall Ford Swing Band, and he rocked out with Austin's acoustic guitar god, Monty Montgomery. All in all, it was a party right up to the moment when Dave announced
Austin's Darla Evans gets the surprise of a lifetime.Evans and her green thumb have spent 24 years with the Austin Parks Department, beautifying the city without taking much time off. A single mother and a beloved member of her community, Darla has never taken a vacation with her son Ian. Well, finally, they are going to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla., first class… with two friends. I forgot to tell her I've never been to Disney World; she's so ridiculously sweet she probably would have taken me. No matter, I have one more city to see on my own trip of a lifetime.
Voila! I'm in Baton Rouge, La. How did that happen? Here’s the short version: I drove.
The real story here is the love affair between Baton Rouge and Dave Price. The citizens of this great city clamored, grappled and groped Mr. Price until I was forced to morph into an impromptu bodyguard. Every time he made a move, the crowd followed. They waited with baited breath for his every peep. They heaved their chests with every passing glance. I think someone may have passed out. I've got to tell you — it was a little weird and endlessly entertaining.
Even the heavens were smiling upon Dave. Nearly every second I spent in Baton Rouge was accompanied by a constant deluge and biblical lightning … until the morning of the giveaway, that is.
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