Well, we just had a wonderful time in Washington, capping it with an incredible house concert in Tumwater, WA just south of Olympia. "Music Up Close" is a new music series hosted by JD & Joanna Miller, an absolutely delightful team who amazed everyone, pulling delicious homemade pizzas out of the custom brick oven that resides in the sprawling his & hers kitchen in their beautiful home. An almost fulll house, the night was a shining star on my tour schedule and an excellent example of how special a house concert can be. Thanks to everyone who made us so welcome and sent us on our way with full bellies and a full wallet.
Heading south, we spent another night in Portland at Jen and Kona's, we pointed south, driving through southern Oregon to the new Blue Lake Casino, a much contested new spot in Blue Lake, just east of Arcata in Humboldt County. Lady Luck was smiling onme and Iwalked out of there with about an extra $100 in my pocket before stopping for the night on the Avenue of the Giants, a scenic route that criss crosses the 101 in S. Humboldt. Avenue of the Giants is part of the largest grove of old growth redwood in the world and was the site where they filmed the Return of the Jedi where they're flying through the big trees. Amazing!
I met up with Larry Potts, an amazing songwriter friend of mine through the Folk Alliance, for an afternoon farmer's market in beautful Petaluma. Had a great visit with him and his wife Margaret and their daughter and also had a chance to meet George Merrill, a songwriter with a long list of accomplishments and a close friend of Larry's. We parked the bus in the parking lot of City Hall for the night and after a delicious breakfast, headed north for about 12 miles to play A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa that night. Sitting on the plaza at the old train depot in Santa Rosa, we found everyone to be really friendly in town and played to a busy house there as the last stop in the tour.
Ready to come home, I drove til I was crosseyed and after about 5 hours of sleep, jumped back behind the wheel to pass more miles on the long road home. Three traffic jams where more than enough and I was relieved to finally be back in my stompin grounds as we passed the Rincon, entering beautful Ventura County, my home. Unfortunately, the 101 lacks a warning sign, indicating a well known hazard, two steep dips in the highway which, on this day, even though I was well under the speed limit, sent the bus into the air, coming down with a slam and atually snapping a leaf spring in my suspension. Limped her home another 15 miles or so and was more than ready to turn the key off as I pulled up to the family shop with my Mom waving me in.
Patience is an exercise each day and I am so thrilled that she ran so well and smoothly the entire trip, my haven and my rock. So, I shall repair the leaf springs before she hits the road again this fall when I point east, booked as far as Arkansas this time ;)
Thanks to all the folks that made this tour such a success, Nick Ansara who accompanied me with his amazing guitar work and the angeels that always seem to see me through. Til we meet again, stay tuned!
Rach
Heading south, we spent another night in Portland at Jen and Kona's, we pointed south, driving through southern Oregon to the new Blue Lake Casino, a much contested new spot in Blue Lake, just east of Arcata in Humboldt County. Lady Luck was smiling onme and Iwalked out of there with about an extra $100 in my pocket before stopping for the night on the Avenue of the Giants, a scenic route that criss crosses the 101 in S. Humboldt. Avenue of the Giants is part of the largest grove of old growth redwood in the world and was the site where they filmed the Return of the Jedi where they're flying through the big trees. Amazing!
I met up with Larry Potts, an amazing songwriter friend of mine through the Folk Alliance, for an afternoon farmer's market in beautful Petaluma. Had a great visit with him and his wife Margaret and their daughter and also had a chance to meet George Merrill, a songwriter with a long list of accomplishments and a close friend of Larry's. We parked the bus in the parking lot of City Hall for the night and after a delicious breakfast, headed north for about 12 miles to play A'Roma Roasters in Santa Rosa that night. Sitting on the plaza at the old train depot in Santa Rosa, we found everyone to be really friendly in town and played to a busy house there as the last stop in the tour.
Ready to come home, I drove til I was crosseyed and after about 5 hours of sleep, jumped back behind the wheel to pass more miles on the long road home. Three traffic jams where more than enough and I was relieved to finally be back in my stompin grounds as we passed the Rincon, entering beautful Ventura County, my home. Unfortunately, the 101 lacks a warning sign, indicating a well known hazard, two steep dips in the highway which, on this day, even though I was well under the speed limit, sent the bus into the air, coming down with a slam and atually snapping a leaf spring in my suspension. Limped her home another 15 miles or so and was more than ready to turn the key off as I pulled up to the family shop with my Mom waving me in.
Patience is an exercise each day and I am so thrilled that she ran so well and smoothly the entire trip, my haven and my rock. So, I shall repair the leaf springs before she hits the road again this fall when I point east, booked as far as Arkansas this time ;)
Thanks to all the folks that made this tour such a success, Nick Ansara who accompanied me with his amazing guitar work and the angeels that always seem to see me through. Til we meet again, stay tuned!
Rach