My ramblings in far West Texas raised questions in some quarters as to whether I had made contact with Gus and Call. Brother JD asked if their kicking off point was not in the Big Bend.
Lonesome Dove, the fictional border crossing village in Larry McMurtry's novel, trilogy, and the TV mini-series of the same name, is not set in the Big Bend of the river according to the 25th anniversary feature article in the July 2010 issue of Texas Monthly. McMurtry's tale echoed the story of real life Texas trail drivers Oliver Loving and Charles Goodnight and so it definitely would have some historical setting. According to the annotated map created for the cast and crew by production designer Cary White; Lonesome Dove, and the Hat Creek Cattle Company, was located (fictionally) just NW of Laredo and SSW of San Antonio and Austin - or very near the present location of the Columbia Bridge. The Texas Monthly article by John Spong includes excerpts from interviews with dozens of the folks involved with McMurtry and with the making of the mini-series and I recommend it - it is a real treat for Lonesome Dove and McMurtry junkies. The screenwriter Bill Wittliff is quoted "…You start reading Lonesome Dove, and you feel like you already know these people. That's its great magic." You all know that I like that sentiment.
Gus and Call were Oldones.
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If you would like to see my collection of Carolina Lowcountry memories—"Magnolia Elegy: Place In the Edisto Fork," you can view the book trailer here, and see the book page here on the publisher's website. The book is also available from Amazon, B&N, and your independent local bookseller.
