May 5th - Cloverdale

Monday
Well the Fiddle competition is over. It has been a great weekend, Sally and I watched some very good musicians fighting it our for champion fiddler, mandolin player or guitarist in this area, although  contestants came from all over California to compete. we also had the time to watch some great bluegrass bands. I think our favourite for Sunday was the Kathy Kallick Band, who have been performing for many years, even though we had not heard of them before.
One of the great things about these festivals is that everyone is very friendly and competitors and players mingle in with everyone else, so you can get to jam with all sorts of really good players.
Talking to the chap parked next to us in his camper, soon moved to jamming, he was obviously, I mean obviously, better than me, so a jam quickly became a lesson. He was so patient and helpful. The lesson continued on Sunday morning. So it then turned out that Jerry Rose was here to compete in the guitar competition, more than that, he was also the California State flatpicking guitar champion five times. So with all the brilliant musicians here this weekend and he was happy enough to spend his time helping someone else. Thanks Jerry for your patience and care, I am still practicing,  and sorry you didn't win yesterday.

View all

Get your own

April 15tth - Bluegrass Campout at Turlock

Thursday 18th
Following our lovely weekend at Pete and Jan's we have driven the 17 miles to Turlock, where we are now camping. we are here for the California Bluegrass Association Spring Camp. It will last from Monday until next Sunday and everybody here has come to play, or listen to, bluegrass music. However, like back home the weather is playing a part, we have had a very windy couple of days., but now the wind has dropped and the weather is set fair for the weekend.
It is nice and quiet now, but a lot of people will roll in tonight for the weekend

Set up at Turlock

Sally at a jam on Wed. Afternoon

Friends Minnie Winnie (Winnebego)

Dave and Emmy

April 12th - Places and Home

Yesterday we modified our plans a bit, we had planned to stay two nights in Fresno, however an email from our friends including an invite to a Jam the next night tempted us to push on up to Pete and Jan's in Atwood.
We managed to get there in good time, have a bit of a rest and then go to Jack's for a lovely jam in the evening. It was such a good time, very relaxed, lots of music and talking and very friendly people, most of whom we had met once before in September, but amazingly they still remembered us!
We have been made most welcome by the people that we have met here (at Atwood, but also generally when we have travelled). I am coming to the conclusion that 'places' is about somewhere you go, but 'home' is about being with people. Either we have been very lucky, protected or guided, or we feel very easily at home. Atwood is one of those special places that make us feel like we are coming home when we visit here. It is a very comforting feeling and I suppose one of the many reasons we enjoy travelling.

Ma\rch 11th - Harpers Hideaway

Monday Morning and the party is now just about over, just a few friends left to help finish the clearing away. Wednesday we ate baby back ribs at the Oakwood with about 30 friends (at this point the diet went right out of the window ). When we came back we sat in Connie's front room to jam, because it was too cold outside. Thursday we took our side trip to Rainbow Springs, by the time we returned the numbers of people rolling in had increased. Thursday night we took refuge in the kitchen to jam, to cold outside still, though warming up Friday we got into full swing as the main bulk of people arrived. On the evening we had the Band Scramble, for a change I was in the very last group to perform, so we were able to take a leisurely hour or so to practice together. The set went really well, making a great finale to the evening, with Paul (who had arrived that evening from New Jersey) finishing off with Foggy mountain Breakdown. Saturday was fun with groups performing on the stage all day, we were able to relax in the sun and listen, though I spent sometime playing. the evening was taken up with the more organised events. This summer Connie and Jim celebrate their 50th anniversary, so wanted to share it by renewing their vows, so we had a special time, with Larry presiding, while they restated their vows, talked a little abut their life together and then sung some songs with the Crooked Halos. It was very touching. This was followed by the Paaty Poopers, the all man/lady band who have entertained us in their inimitable style over the last few years. This year the 'Theme' was the Outhouse, based on 7 Old Ladies Stuck in mthe Lavatory. Very funny, but I guess you had to be there. At last it was warm enough to sit out and jam, we had a really nice jam by the stage until 2.00, then realised that the clocks also go forward, so it was really 3.00 before I got to bed, still good fun. Sunday Morning Brunch was a very relaxed affair as we sat in the sunshine. This followed by a very pleasant Gospel Hour (or two), people had steadily drifted off home and so in the afternoon we were able to do some clearing up. In the evening we sat and jammed to some good old hit songs, good fun.and I find myself sat in Connie's Kitchen with the Party over That brings us to today, Monday, with only one traditional activity left to undertake - Beal's Double Points Senior Citizen Monday Sale scrum down, yes we hit the shops to find bargains in Beal's Outlet shops. Tomorrow we drive back down to Orlando and resume our journey to Phoenix to pick up the trailer.

View all

Get your own

Party life