As most of you know, the next CBA Campout will be held October 15 through the 21, 2018, at the Lodi Fairgrounds. While at one of these previous events the thought occurred to me that these “campouts” should really be called “jampouts,” because the camping is coupled with bluegrass jamming. As I wrote in a previous Welcome Column about this event, camping in Lodi is “flatlander camping.” That is to say, there are no hills, no hiking trails, no bears or mountain lions, and no clear, cool, running mountain streams or rivers. And if I remember correctly (which is happening less and less these days) there is only one tree. To get a spot under that lone tree I figure you have to arrive at the fairgrounds, say, on October 1st, prior to the October 15th start of this event. But all of this is okay, because you get to experience the tent, or RV, AND another bluegrass musical adventure via the jamming that takes place all over the fairgrounds. Yep, jamming is just as important as camping. Maybe more? And then there is the social aspect.
You get to visit and live in close proximity with friends from the past, make new ones, and try to avoid people from the past you don’t like, or you owe money to. Oh yes, and you get to tell lies about how good you used to be at a variety of things when you were younger (don’t do this with people who have known you since high school). Reminds me, the other day I said to my wife of over 50 years, “I’m way better at stuff than I used to be.” And she said, “That’s nothing to brag about!”
Even though this is supposed to be a total camping experience, the last time I went to the Lodi campout, at meal times I saw a number of cars driving away from the camping sites to visit the nearby McDonalds, Denny’s, or the local mom and pop eateries. Of course many campers bring their own food to prepare at the campsites. So the tents, RVs, and not being in your own bed at home does have some relationship to camping in the great outdoors at places like Yosemite, Sequoia National Park, and Yellowstone. Yep, flatlander camping at Lodi relates to camping outside a city in the following ways:
1. You can’t “run” through a campground. You can only “ran.” Why? Because it is past tents. (think about it)
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. (whoops, I’m a banjo player)
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 blue-tick hound dog.
5. In an emergency situation, a parka hood’s drawstring can be used to strangle a snoring tent mate.
6. Rain happens.
7. Your side of the tent is the side that leaks.
Okay, that’s it for this welcome column. Let’s have fun when we get stuck-in-Lodi-again for seven days (if you go for the whole event) of bluegrass jamming and camping. Stuck? Yes stuck. But it’s a good stuck! (BTW, Creedence Clearwater Revival probably won’t be there. We need volunteers. Don’t forget to vote)
