I Finally Got That Longed For RV - Now If I Could Only Drive! ! ! !

That's right I finally purchased a nice older model RV.  It is a 1987 Coachmen Classic.  It's 34 feet long and has many nice features.  It was not a bottom of the line RV when it was new.  Now it's my driving abilities and that 34 foot length that has caused me heartaches.  Perhaps I should start at the beginning. . . . .

. . . . .I purchased the motor home on June 16th and proudly drove it home.  I spent the next few days cleaning and checking out the features.  I found the gas over electric fridge did not work like I was promised it did.  Dang! A little frustrating because I have heard the horror stories about how expensive they are to replace.  But, most everything else worked including the generator, although it is in serious need of a carburetor adjustment.  The RV has a nice long awning that needed a little coaxing to work, but now works perfectly.  All in all I was very proud of my decision to purchase the Coachmen and began moving my stuff from my small tag-along camper to the RV.  I found places for everything and was ready to pull out last Wednesday morning to attend the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival in Big Island, VA.  I was ready to pull out at 8:15AM.  All I had left to do was to buy ice for the weekend.  I started the engine and pulled to the end of my driveway and nosed out into the road to look to my left to be sure nothing was coming.  The way was clear, so I began to accelerate when I heard this awful loud crashing/crunching noise over to my right and behind me.  I stopped the RV and got out of my seat and walked to open the door to see what was wrong.  The door would not open.  It was jammed.  I looked out the window and there it was.  I was sick as I surveyed the damage I had inflicted on my RV.  I had failed to consider my mailbox and the 34 foot length of the RV and didn't pull out nearly far enough to clear it.  The box dropped right off the post, but the post raked the side of the RV and inflicted serious damage. (About the mailbox post.  Years ago when my street was actually US Route 460, our mailbox was routinely hit and knocked down.  My dad and I decided to put up a strong steel post and really sink it deep into the ground.  The next person to hit our mailbox would pay.  Yes I will!) I drove down the road and turned around and back into my yard.  I forced the entry door open and found the exit steps were completely destroyed and were only hanging on by some electrical wires.  The fiberglass side of the RV was ripped off for about 8 or 9 feet and I narrowly missed breaking a valve off the propane tack located right next to the entry steps.  As it was I did break the pot metal knob on the valve in half.  Unknown to me at the time I had two pilot lights that were lit.  Had I burst the tank there would have been a horrendous fire.  So, while I was disgusted with myself for my lousy driving technique, I was very happy to still be alive.

I got busy with my knife and cut the wires holding what remained of the entry steps and cast them aside.  I found a bungee cord to hold the door closed and proceeded to drive the the festival in Big Island.  I knew as I drove toward the festival that there were many friends and acquaintances there and they would razz at me endlessly about my idiocy.  They did not let me down!  While I did receive sympathy from most of my friends they simply could not resist raking me over the coals and explaining how I should have turned out of my driveway.  Thanks to all of you.  I know you love me, but you really don't have to show it so strongly.

If you're wondering, I do plan to repair the RV.  It is simply too nice to abandon, plus I've got money sunk into it that I simply cannot afford to lose.

I had a very nice time at Sedalia (sans the ribbing, etc.) and enjoyed a very hot weekend of Bluegrass.  There were jams each night and we ate as if there would never be another meal in our lifetimes.  My super quiet Honda 3000 watt generator handled my AC just fine and I had a nice cool RV to sleep in.  This was the first time in all my years of camping at festivals that I actually had a shower in my own camper.  The water heater worked flawlessly and I enjoyed 4 nice showers over the course of the weekend.  Also, I tend to take along much more than I need for any camping trip and my old tag-along camper was so small that it was simply piled high with all this stuff.  I found places for most everything in the RV and simply left behind those things which I found I never use.  In other words I enjoyed a very nice camping experience except for having to use a step ladder to enter and leave my RV.  Also there was a large hole at the entry where the steps had been.  I covered it with a piece of cardboard each night to keep the varmints outside.  Oh yeah, there was that bungee cord door thing.

My email address is at the top of the blog, so if you feel I need more instructions about driving or simply a bit more ribbing and harassment then drop me a note.  However for now.........

"NUFF SAID!"

Reminder! Donna Ulisse live @ The Uptown Coffee Cafe - Victoria, VA - July 2nd - Bluegrass Ramble

Hi folks,  I won't take up too much of your time today, but I wanted to tell you, that is, remind you that Donna Ulisse, a native of Hampton, VA will appear in person at the Uptown Coffee Cafe in Victoria, VA on Friday July 2nd.  Here's a a note from Donna:

Hello friends,

Any time I can play in my home state of Virginia, I am one happy girl! I have never been to Victoria but I sure am looking forward to playing there on July 2nd at the Uptown Coffee Cafe. I love playing the big festivals and theaters but there is also something real special about singing in a very intimate setting and being able to visit with everyone in between sets and after the show so I hope you will plan to be there with me and The Poor Mountain Boys on Friday night, July 2, 2010 as we play our hearts out for you.

Tickets are $10.00 each and advance tickets are recommended as seating is limited. You can call and buy tickets at  434-696-3600. The Cafe is located at 1812 Main Street, Victoria, VA 23974. You can learn more about this family owned cafe on their MySpace site. See you there!

Peace,

Donna 

Now, to the "Bluegrass Ramble" and this will be short.  I know I've told a lot of you that I would be traveling west to Owensboro, KY to attend the International Bluegrass Music Museum's (IBMM) Bluegrass festival called "River Of Music Party (ROMP).  Boy, I was going for sure.  I had made motel reservations and purchased my advance ticket and had even started planning my itinerary for my five days in Owensboro.  I was ready to go!  All was for nothing when I was reminded I had an appointment with my ophthalmologist.  If any of you ever have to see these specialists you are no doubt aware how difficult it is to reschedule.  Sooooo, with my eyesight a top priority I decided to cancel my plans and, instead, attend the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival after my appointment.  I know I will have a good time at Sedalia because all my friends will be there, but that's not the only reason or even the most important reason.  If you are my age and you grew up in the country or the south you're gonna know exactly what I'm gonna tell you about, but if you're younger and perhaps a city slicker (you varmint!) I'm gonna have to describe what I'm about to tell you.  There's a lady there near Sedalia that fixes "Fried Apple Pies" to sell for a charity.  Now I know you city slickers are wondering what the heck a "Fried Apple Pie" is and I'm gonna tell you.  First you make up a generous amount of home made pie crust.  Be sure you use plenty of shortening and you fold and roll out over and over until you just know it'll be flaky.  But, before you start making the dough you get out a whole bunch of those apples you dried last fall and put them in a bowl with water and lots of cinnamon and sugar to let them begin to reconstitute by soaking up the water.  Then you pinch off little pieces of the pie dough and roll out nice and round.  Put a tablespoon or two of the apples to one side of the crust and then fold over and crimp together with a fork.  Have a cast iron frying pan ready with a half inch or so of shortening (When Mama made them it was lard. Mmm Mmm!) already preheated and fry to a nice golden brown.  I'm gettin' hungry just writing about them.  Well, anyway this lady brings them and I eat so many my eyes bulge.  They are good and bring back many fond memories.

So, come on out to the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival and if you don't do anything else, eat a Fried Apple Pie!

"NUFF SAID!"

Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival - June 17th, 18th & 19th, 2010~~~~Sedalia Bluegrass Festival - June 24th, 25th & 26th, 2010 Two Great Festivals!

There's a lot I want to share with you today.  I'll begin by telling you about the great time I had at the "Graves Mountain Festival of Music" out in Syria, VA.  I arrived on Wednesday and found Jack & Peggy Woodall and Bill & Gertie Richardson exactly where I expected to find them.  Bill came over to my sight and helped me get my canopy (Twice! But that's another story!)up.  From then on we enjoyed a wonderful weekend of Bluegrass and socializing.  I have to be honest and tell you it rained every single day, but the rains were short lived and the grounds dry quickly at Graves.  The friends I saw over the course of the weekend are too numerous to mention, but let it be said that Graves was a great time and seeing the old friends made it all the better.  I attended a number of the stage performances.  I guess my favorite was the last show Thursday evening when The Seldom Scene closed out the day.  As always, a great way to end any day at Graves.  The special performances held through-out the day on Friday as part of the Rural Rhythm live recording project were very good; especially the collaborations in the early evening followed by the special singing of "Graves Mountain Memories"  written by Carl Jackson especially for Jimmy Graves and the Graves Mountain Festival of Music.  The DVD and CD project is slated for release this fall.  It should be a very good recording.  Well, that's enough about what is past; it's time to tell you about two great festivals coming up real soon.

GROTTOES FAMILY BLUEGRASS FESTIVAL - JUNE 17TH, 18TH & 19TH, 2010 - GROTTOES, VA

The team of Sweet Brenda & Him and their production company Lawson Entertainment presents the "Grottoes Family Bluegrass Festival" on June 17th, 18th & 19th.  If you've never been to Grand Caverns Regional Park near the town of Grottoes, VA you have missed not only a great and beautiful little park, but also the great Bluegrass Festival there.  My friends Billy & Lynette Dooley and Ralph and Rose Westfall and I went to the very first festival held at the park and to several more over the ensuing years.  Back in those days it was called the Grand Caverns Bluegrass Festival because the park is adjacent to the caverns.  The caverns, by the way, are wonderful and make a great break in the middle of a hot day at the Grottoes Bluegrass Festival.  One year WCVE Channel 23 brought their cameras to the Grand Caverns Bluegrass Festival and spent the entire day taping various jams and interviewing folks.  They took those hours of tape and reduced them down to about a 8 minute segment of their show "Virginia Currents."  It was a great segment that i still have on VHS tape.

Well, I had better get to the music or I'll be here on this computer all day.  There are three groups performing on Thursday beginning with a group called West Wind. This group is new to me.  What little I know I found on their FaceBook page  which is the link I have provided above.  Next is an up a coming band called The Hagar's Mountain Boys.  These guys are good and just keep getting better.  Be sure to catch them at Grottoes.  Last up in Thursday is none other than Marty Rabon & Full Circle.  Marty spent a number of years as part of the country act Shenandoah and after the break up of the group he reconnected with his Bluegrass roots and began the band Full Circle.  Marty has a strong lead voice and always keeps a top notch band.

Friday gets under way with Mill Run, a great band featuring the singing of Billy Sue & Bob Goff Junior.  Many of you may remember Billy Sue's dad Bill Clark.  His voice boomed over the top of his loud Martin Guitar back up work as he performed all around Central Virginia. Billy Sue learned from her dad and also is easily heard as she sings with soul and conviction.  Combine that strong voice with the equally strong voice of her husband Bob Goff Junior and you've got and unbeatable combination.  The next band up is Virginia Blue.  I can't tell you anything about Virginia Blue, so make some time to get down to the stage and check them out.  The next band is the very popular Country Fried Grass. These guys love to play Bluegrass which will be evident as you watch them perform.  These fellows all camp together at the Amelia festival.  Now, you don't see much of them during the daylight hours, but if you're up in the middle of the night and want to hear some Bluegrass then just listen and follow your ears to their all night jams.  The ever popular Bluegrass Brothers are up next.  This performance is just two short weeks after their their own festival.  I spoke with Rhonda Vincent at the Graves Mountain Festival this past Saturday and she said the crowds at the first Bluegrass Brothers Bluegrass Festival were huge.  Congratulations guys!  Wrapping things up at Grottoes on Friday is the great baritone lead voice of Josh Williams and The Josh Williams Band.  Most of you will remember Josh from his days with Rhonda Vincent & The Rage.  Josh's strong baritone voice is in great demand as he joins many performers in the studio to provide back up vocals.

There's another full day of Bluegrass on Saturday at Grottoes starting with one of the very best sister duets I have ever heard, The Church Sisters.  These twin girls, who really don't look like twins, are very talented and sing with that special harmony afforded very few, even if they are family.  Up next is another group of which I know little or nothing.  They are Shenandoah Drive.  The wonderful traditional sounds of Dark Hollow are up next at Grottoes on Saturday.  These guys truly love traditional Bluegrass and honor that tradition with superb arrangements of the older music in Bluegrass.  If you like your Bluegrass served up with a little braggadocio and comedy then you need to look no further than the music of Lonesome Will Mullins & The Virginia Playboys.  Last up on Saturday is the unmistakable voice of Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice.  Junior was once a member of the now defunct band Blue Ridge, but during those years he never reached the success he now enjoys.

So there you have it; three great days of Bluegrass at one of the very nicest parks in all of Virginia.  Make plans to attend The Grottoes Bluegrass Festival by ordering your advance tickets ($50)right now.  Call Sweet Brenda or Calvin at 804-561-0705.  Hurry!  Maybe I'll see you there.

Sedailia Bluegrass Festival - June 24th, 25th & 26th, 2010 - Big Island, VA

Do you remember those early festivals in the 70s and early 80s?  They were small and intimate and everybody knew everybody else.  Do you miss those days?  If you do then look no farther than the "Sedalia Bluegrass Festival" in Big Island, VA.  Now, if your thinking, "Hmm, Big Island, must be down on the coast?" Nooooo!  You are wrong.  Big Island, VA is on the James River near Bedford, VA.  I haven't seen it with my own eyes, but I've been told there's a (you guessed it!) big island in the river near there.  So now that we've got the 'big island" thing all cleared up, what about Sedalia?  To be truthful I don't know why it's called the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival other than it is held on the grounds of The Sedalia Center for Performing Arts which at one time was the Sedalia School.  Hey that's enough about that stuff; let's get down to the Bluegrass. Right? 

I'm not gonna give you a blow by blow story here, but rather I'll list who'll be there each day.  On Thursday you'll hear Black Bear Express, a local band, followed by Footbridge and Ted Jones & The Tarheel Boys.  Black Bear Express is back on Friday followed by Against The Grain and Junior Sisk & Rambler's Choice.  Saturday gets underway with the band Plain & Simple followed by Carolina Sunshine; Kenny Rorrer The New NC Ramblers; Kody Norris & The Watuga Mountain Boys and Big Country Bluegrass.

As much as I enjoy the togetherness and comradery of the Sedalia Bluegrass Festival I will most likely miss it this year to drive out the the River Of Music Party (ROMP) in Owensboro, Kentucky which is held that same weekend.  As an old retired guy I now can travel farther and stay longer.  I used to have this device called an alarm clock.  Oh, I hated it.  It's gone now and Bluegrass (Something I love!) has taken it's place.

Now, tomorrow I'm off to Franklinton, NC to enjoy a full weekend of Bluegrass at Rodney Preddy's PreddyFest Bluegrass Festival.  So, I guess for now  this is..............

"NUFF SAID!"