As many of you know by now, the next CBA campout will be held October 16-22, 2017, at the Lodi Fairgrounds. The thought occurs to me that “Campouts” should be “Jampouts.” 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 clear running mountain streams. But that’s okay because you get to experience the tent, trailer, or RV, AND a musical instrument to play along and sing 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 white 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 meal times see a number of folks in their cars driving away from the campgrounds to visit the not too far away McDonalds, Denny’s, or local Lodi 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 state parks in California. What kind of relationship? Read on mighty reader, read on.
1. You can’t “run” through a campground. You can only “ran” because it’s 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.
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 use to strangle a snoring tent mate.
6. Your side of the tent is the side that leaks
7. Rain happens (yes, even in California).
Okay, that’s it for this Welcome Column. See ya all this coming October when we get “Stuck in Lodi Again” for a few days of camping and bluegrass jamming FUN!
