October 1, 2005: Saturday morning my mom and I headed on out to Cholame, Ca set on our James Dean road trip. It's about a 3 and a half hour drive from my house to Cholame. I had originally wanted to go on Sepetember 30, 2005 but my mom could not get the day off so I figured we'll just go on Saturday. I wasn't sure if anything special was going on there but I was sure I would bump into other James Dean fans which is always a cool thing. As soon as we got there I suggested we check out the new road signs that were put on September 27, 2005 to rename the junction 'James Dean Memorial Junction' which are put up in the spots where the accident happend. I jumped out of the car and snapped a bunch of photos of the signs and the road. As I did so an older classic car rolled by and a bunch of guys waved to me and smiled. After i took the photos I jumped back in the car and headed straight to the Jack Ranch Cafe.

As we were pulling up to the Jack Ranch Cafe I noticed a lot of cars in the parking lot. I was thinking woah a lot of people did in fact show up, I wonder if there's something going on that I didn't know about ahead of time. And sure enough there was, in fact I was told it was a three day event. Which had I known about I would have in fact been there all three days had I known way ahead of time. But anyway we pulled up and there were a bunch of classic cars in the parking lot playing some awesome 1950's tunes and a large tent was placed there with I believe Lily Grants' (the woman from the local Post Office who would always help out James Dean fans with questions and what not) grandson was there and had all the scrap books placed on a table in which he displayed these that belonged to Lily Grant in which she collected and created from a bunch of James Dean fans from around the world who had sent her numerous things such as letters, postcards, pictures, business cards with James Dean related names, thank you cards to Lily Grant, painting pictures and more. It was awesome being able to look back at letters and stuff written by fans from around the world dating back from 1985 and later and even earlier. As I viewed the scrap books they started announcing the winners for the little car show in which they had going on.

I had also noticed when we pulled up to the parking lot that sitting right there to the side of the monument was a replica of James Deans' famous Porche Spyder 550. I was in awww because I believe that is the same replica that was at a special show in Reno, NV for Hot August Nights. In which I was unable to attend and I was so beyond bummed out because I had missed it. But I was so stoked to see it there I was for sure gonna get pictures of this Porche Spyder 550. So anyway as they announced the winners I watched them give out the awards and at the same time I continued to look through the scrap books from Lily Grant. Then I heard the woman announcer ask for James Dean look-a-likes and I turned around and there walked up a young man who was ready to accept the award. They had mentioned other look-a-likes were there on Friday but today this young man was the only one to show up and people just admired him so much for showing up. He was given the award and I figured I'd better get a picture of him for my websites look-a-like section.

I had over heard the announcer and the James Dean look-a-like talking being I was right next to them and the woman had asked if he came down here just for the event and he had stated he was on his way to L.A. and that he's from Vancouver, Canada and he figured he'd stop on by. And now he's walking away with a trophy as a James Dean look-a-like. How cool is that? So then I grabbed my camera and walked over to the Porche Spyder 550 replica and took some pictures and thought wouldn't it be cool to get this look-a-like guy to take a picture right next to it. So as I continued to take pictures of the car I also made sure I took some fresh new pictures of the monument from Mr. Onishi by the Oleander tree. Being the last time I took pictures of it the monument had been somewhat vandalized but now it was all polished up and looking pretty nice which was awesome to see it being taken care of.

The young man who won the James Dean look-a-like contest had grabbed his stuff and started to head towards his motorcycle and I figured uh oh I better get him to pose by the replica before he leaves so I walked up to him and said 'Excuse me, could I get a picture of you next to the replica?' and he said 'Sure!' so he posed by the car and I got a couple cool shots of him. I said 'Thank you' and he said 'Your welcome' and I started to walk away and I said wait I need his name!...lol. So I turned around and asked him 'What was your name?' and he said 'Chris, and what's yours?' I said 'Erin' and he stuck his hand out to shake hands so we shook hands and again I said 'Thanks' and we walked away. I then continued to take pictures of the monument and then my mom suggested I should take a picture with him and I was like no way I'm chicken....lol. I'm afraid I was kicking into shy mode with the guy...lol. So I finally got the nerve to take one with him so he was packing his stuff onto his motorcycle and I walked over to him again and said 'Sorry to bug ya again but can I get a picture with you?' and he smiled and said 'Sure'. He put his stuff down and then told me 'You can sit on my motorcycle if you want' and he patted his hand to the seat and sat next to it. I thought about it to myself and I was like Erin your starting to get nervous so you might knock it over and looks really stupid...lol. So I leaned against it a little instead and took a couple pictures with him. I then said 'Thanks' again and he said 'No problem' and smiled and again he wanted to shake hands so we did so.

I then went to the monument and sat on the bench and just stared at the replica and the monument and took a few moments to remember James Dean. I then got up and my mom and I walked over to the Jack Ranch Cafe to check out the memorabillia that I knew they had inside. I figured I'd buy the stuff I didn't pick up the last time I was there. They had a bunch of balloons all around the cafe along with a lot more pictures hung up on the walls of James Dean and tons of random photos of him on huge boards all around the room. I took pictures of that as well. I then walked to the memorabillia area and bought six more postcards of James Dean which I hope I didn't buy doubles of...lol. And I bought a t-shirt with James Dean on it as well as a light switch plate, 50th anniversary shot glass, a metal street sign with Jimmy on it saying 'Blvd Of Dreams', a Drivers License, and I believe that was it. I pretty much had everything else in which I had bought the last time I was there.

I also asked the waitress in the Jack Ranch Cafe about having the actual ticket given to James Dean on the day he died Sepetember 30, 1955. She said they didn't have it, which was weird because I had called them last time I went which was back in April of 2005 and they said they did in fact have the actual ticket but someone was borrowing it and they would get it back within a week. So it turns out they don't have the actual ticket but they do have a copy of it and it's not for sale. So I asked to see it and I was able to take pictures of it with my camera so you all can see it.

I then walked outside and Chris the James Dean look-a-like had left. And all the classic cars were leaving and the tent was getting put away. Still James Dean fans continued to arrive and take pictures of the monument. I also noticed there was a sign on the Jack Ranch Cafe door saying that there was a library special program at Belle Cooledge for 'The Making of Rebel Without a Cause' being held that same very day at 1pm to 3pm which I had for sure missed being it was almost 4pm. So I instead stayed around the Jack Ranch Cafe for awhile. I also picked up the local newspaper being there was a full story on the James Dean 50th Anniversary. The newspaper had a three day article on it and I was able to get Friday and Saturdays issues which have very interesting articles and stories on them and are indeed a collectable.

A couple of guys had a video camera with them and filmed the Porche Spyder 550 replica numerous times as well as the James Dean look-a-like. I don't know who these guys were but I wonder what they were doing and what they were up to. I so should have asked but I didn't even think of it the whole time I was there. Anyway all those guys and the replica were gone by then. I just sat around with my mom and talking about James Dean and all. Then I started taking more pictures and all of a sudden my mom says look there's James Dean! and I thought she was kidding and I turn around and Chris (the look-a-like) comes flying back on his motorcycle. My mom kept calling him James Dean...lol. I'm like what the heck? He's back again?...lol. Then a few moments later the Porche Spyder 550 approaches as well as the guys filming them pulling up. We figured they must have took off and retraced the steps of Jimmy and filmed it all. So then I thought to myself well since Chris (the look-a-like) is back he should sit in the Spyder and those would be some awesome photos. And just as I said that they told him to get in the car and let them film him so he did.

I of course took pictures of Chris (the look-a-like) in the Spyder, they told him to give the thumbs up like Jimmy and all. I know Chris (the look-a-like) loved the attention and he for sure knew his Jimmy moves because he did a good job at certain expressions and movements that he did. Other fans that were around ran up to take pictures as well so it was really cool. Just then my batteries died out and I had to go to the car to get them and by that time I was unable to get more cool pictures because he had already gotten out of the car. But it was okay because I had taken plenty of them. Then Chris had some conversation with the guys that were filming and taking pictures of him and it turns out Chris is also 24 years old. Everyone was in awww over him and the camera man kept calling him Jim...hehe. Finally the owners of the Porche Spyder packed up and left and Chris also had left. Just as the filming crew was about to leave I walked over to them and asked them if they knew Chris' last name because I mentioned I run a James Dean website and I have a section for look-a-likes and I'd like to post it with his information and the guys both said they had his info because they were talking to him before hand. So I got his last name and one of the guys told me that it was awesome of me to have a James Dean website and to keep it going. I said thanks and all and then the other guy asked me if I wanted Chris' address and I was like huh? No thanks, I'm thinking why would I want the guys address? But at the same time I said to myself I should have offered to send Chris the pictures I took of him at this event so he'd have something to remember his trip by. But anyway the guy told me 'isn't it amazing how he's 24 years old just like Jim, and how he does resemble him?' I said yeah and that he did a good job at the expressions and the guys agreed. Then one of the guys said you know we're gonna call him Jim for sure and he smiled at me and I laughed. So I said 'Thanks for the information' and they said 'Your welcome' and we all left.

Finally I jumped in the car and we set off away from Cholame to hit Blackwell's Corner which was James Deans' last stop before the accident. As we were driving for sometime I looked in the mirror and told me mom that guy on a motorcycle behind us is driving rather close he should be carefull and she said yeah he should and just as we pulled into Blackwell's Corner the guy on the motorcycle passed by the side of us but also turning into Blackwell's Corner. And I kiddingly told my mom it's probably James Dean and as I looked over I yelled to my mom it is!...lol. Turns out Chris (the look-a-like) was also pulling up to Blackwell's Corner. We then got out of the car and walked into the little store and bought something to drink and I wanted to get a James Dean lighter I had seen there the last time I went there. Luckily I was able to get it being they just about sold out being there were many people there the day before buying all the James Dean memorabillia. Which they did buy practically everything that was there because I do remember a lot of stuff there from my trip to the same place but back in April of 2005.

As I was looking at the stuff Chris (the look-a-like) walked in and bought something to drink as well and just started walking around the store looking at the newspaper clippings and stories on the wall around the store. The owner of the store asked me if I went to the memorial today and I had said I did and then I asked him about the James Dean stand up cardboard that they had for sale in which I wanted last time I came but figured I'd wait till I came back and good thing I got there just in time I was able to get the last one in the pose that I wanted so that was cool. My mom and I then left outside of the store and went to the huge painting outside done of James Dean and I took more pictures of it although I had some before from the last time I paid a visit to Blackwell's Corner. As I took pictures two other fans arrived and said Hello to me and I said Hi back and we all took pictures of the painting. Just as we finished up Chris (the look-a-like) walked out of the store and looked our way and then walked back to his motorcycle and vanished from the area.

We then got back into the car and headed back home. I had the local newspapers in front of me and I proceeded to look at the photos from Friday's event here in Cholame, CA and I noticed Chris (the look-a-like) in the background of the newspaper! I was like hey he was here yesturday too!...lol. But I thought that was cool how every time we did something or went somewhere he was there...lol. And then just as we are leaving his in the newspaper in the background. So there you have it again another amazing road trip to Cholame, CA for the 50th Anniversary of James Dean.

Below is all the pictures I took while out in Cholame, CA including the events at the Jack Ranch Cafe, the newly renamed Road Signs, the Porche Spyder 550 replica, Chris Cope who was the James Dean look-a-like and Blackwell's Corner and more.