Since we last talked I’ve been a very busy camper…literally. Beginning with three days at Walker Creek Music Camp and followed very closely by an eight day trip down the coast to San Diego and back.
Anyone driving a motorhome these days must be aware of the very, very, very poor conditions of our highways and roads particularly in the big cities. Getting to Walker Creek for me means using I-880 through Oakland. The right lane through Oakland seems as if it was a warzone and was hit by a mortar attack. Occasionally, I get brave enough to get into the second lane but it is almost as bad. The rattle of the coach is deafening and I know it cant be good for the suspension or tires. As bad as Oakland was, we had to drive through LA to get to San Diego. LA on I-5 was a few times worse than that and continues for a much longer stretch.
I actually planned the whole trip around getting through LA both coming and going. Even on Saturday mornings the traffic was horrific and that with the road conditions require a big payoff to make that drive. We certainly had that payoff. We got to spend 5 days with our Grandson Colton.
At a rousing 7 months old, we got him started musically this trip. Check out my Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dave.williams.18007/videos/10205302318511689/ and you will see a video of him slapping my resonator bass. He has some very good, if a bit unusual technique. Friends and family told me that having him start on bass was acceptable but I did get multiple warnings about banjos.
The beach campground where we stayed had lots of surfers but not too many jammers so I missed out on a number of the regular jams I attend.
It turns out, judging by time spent, I’m pretty much becoming an old time bass player. Lately, most of the jams I have attended have been old time jams. This was true at Walker Creek and during the rest of the month as well. Probably close to a 2:1 ratio on old time to bluegrass recently. This development is not a crime of passion necessarily but more a crime of opportunity i.e. just more old time jam opportunities are coming my way. I’m not sure why that is but that certainly is the trend.
I’m not complaining though, I’ve been doing it long enough now that I even know the names of some of the tunes. I have learned to catalog them in my memory. There is the squirrel or possums in some kind of tree group. Also Napoleon did a lot of marching, retreating or crossing rivers. Another group is insects in different place like crops or in sheepskin.
Okay, Okay. I’ll stop. I’m getting quite adept at feeling the reader fatigue these days. As promised though, it is time for the second installment of my annual invitation to stop by Vern’s so I can buy you a beer. I keep asking but don’t get many takers. Most likely I’ll be working Wednesday night. Let’s talk.
After April’s travels our rig is ready for Grass Valley. We’re electric only camping this year at FDF. Our site is right off the road on the first turn toward the RV side of the water ditch. That is where the tequila is. You’re all invited to stop by there as well for a sample or two and some picking.
We won’t be making it to Parkefield this weekend but I hope those that do have a real good time picking.
