As most of you know, the next CBA Campout will be held October 17-23, at the Lodi Fairgrounds. Okay, I’ll admit it, last year was the first time I attended a CBA Campout at Lodi. While there, the thought occurred to me that the “Campouts” should really be called “Jampouts.” Okay, sure, there is camping, but the musical focus is some bluegrass jamming, some more, then a lot, and then all-things-jamming.
Camping in Lodi is flatlanders camping. No hills, no trees (okay, one or two that are “claimed” by early bird campers), no trails, no nature oriented privies, no bears, and no streams. But that’s okay, because you get to experience the tent or RV, AND a musical instrument to play along with others who have a musical instrument. Jamming is the biggest reason to go. Right? So you can leave the aforementioned nature’s “gifts” behind, so that you can really, really focus on bluegrass jamming, visit with friends, and tell lies about how good you used to be at a plethora of things when you were younger.
That being said, you are still “camping,” even though last year at meal times I saw a number of cars driving away from the campgrounds to visit the not too far away McDonalds, Denny’s, or local mom and pop eateries. And of course some folks bring their own food and prepare it at their campsite. So camping at Lodi does have some relationship to camping in the greater outdoor environments of places like Sequoia National Park, Yosemite, and the many other national and state parks in California. What kind of relationship? Here are a few.
1. You can’t “run” through a campground. You can only “ran” because it’s past tents.
2. A guitar player and a banjo player go camping. The guitar player brings food so they both can eat. The banjo player brings a car door so if it gets hot he can roll down the window.
3. Contrary to myth, acupuncture was not invented by a camper who suddenly discovered a porcupine in her sleeping bag.
4. A two-man pup tent does not include two bluegrass musicians and a three week old coon hound.
5. In an emergency situation, a parka hood’s drawstring can be used to strangle a snoring tent mate.
6. You side of the tent is the side that leaks.
7. Rain happens.
Okay, that’s it for this Welcome Column. See ya all in October when we get “Stuck in Lodi Again” for a few days of camping and bluegrass jamming FUN!
