Sunday, March 29, 2009
Warning: Long and Boring Blog Bit
Our visit to Mongomery has many memories which we wish to preserve. The blog may not therefore be logical, so I have split the blog into sections: Our visit, My thoughts, Montgomery as a place and its historical importance. Readers may wish to skip parts. Feel free to only read relevant bits.
Montgomery: Personal Memories
The highlight of our trip to Montgomery has been a tales of two people, I will try and relate what their stories are.
While in the Capitol (the building, not capital, the city) We talked to the visitor greeter who worked for the Alabama History Commission, he was a black guy about our age, we talked about where we came from, he talked about himself. I mentioned that I really wanted to talk to someone ‘who was there’. Quite amazingly he said that he had been in Montgomery during the troubles, on further questioning he took part in the march from Selma to Montgomery. Further he was on the bridge when the State Troopers refused to allow them to pass and brutally beat the peaceful protesters. He showed us the scars on the back of his head where he was clubbed. He told us that he knew he would be alright, because his mother had said that he would be (his mother is still alive and is 100 years old). A trooper had come over to where he was lying and pointed his pistol at him, in his own words he saw his mother stand between them saying that he was not going to die. The Trooper pulled the trigger of his pistol five times and it did not fire! The man, Aroine Irby, told us that he then continued on the march (after several days it was eventually allowed to continue) and walked up Dexter Avenue, past the Dexter (now King Memorial) Baptist Church with Martin Luther King to demonstrate outside the Capitol building. He went on to say that bears no malice towards the State Troopers, but rather, he pities them for the hell they have to live through either now or later. We found this conversation to be quite moving, particularly as he is just a ‘normal person’, not a reenactor or employed to relate his story, but truly he was relaying his-story. Here we were at a crucial time and place in world history and able to speak to a witness and participant.
While visiting the Dexter King Memorial Baptist Church, in itself a humbling experience, we were part of a tour group. While waiting for the tour to start we got into conversation. He was a man, a doctor, named Robert Baldwin. He had come from Birmingham that day, to lobby state congressmen. His mission was to lobby for the abolition of the death penalty in Alabama. Quite interesting I thought. To support his case he had written a book called Life and Death Matters, which he carried under his arm, he was going to give it to the pastor of the church and hopefully gain his support.
In casual conversation he said that he had been a doctor who had to give up his practice because of a neurological disease and cancer in 1999. He had returned to university and on studying the civil rights movement had come to the irrevocable conclusion that inequality in man was wrong, that he was a sinner and that Jesus was the only way to salvation.
He gave the revelation that in 1963 he had stood on the steps of Alabama State University with Governor Wallace as a part of the movement to maintain segregation and had lived as a right wing reactionary until his conversion to Christianity in 1999. He was now spending the rest of his life trying to get the death penalty abolished principally because it was such a symbol of inequality. In Alabama more black people were executed than whites (I think he said 85% were black) and more blacks than whites are murdered.
While in the Capitol (the building, not capital, the city) We talked to the visitor greeter who worked for the Alabama History Commission, he was a black guy about our age, we talked about where we came from, he talked about himself. I mentioned that I really wanted to talk to someone ‘who was there’. Quite amazingly he said that he had been in Montgomery during the troubles, on further questioning he took part in the march from Selma to Montgomery. Further he was on the bridge when the State Troopers refused to allow them to pass and brutally beat the peaceful protesters. He showed us the scars on the back of his head where he was clubbed. He told us that he knew he would be alright, because his mother had said that he would be (his mother is still alive and is 100 years old). A trooper had come over to where he was lying and pointed his pistol at him, in his own words he saw his mother stand between them saying that he was not going to die. The Trooper pulled the trigger of his pistol five times and it did not fire! The man, Aroine Irby, told us that he then continued on the march (after several days it was eventually allowed to continue) and walked up Dexter Avenue, past the Dexter (now King Memorial) Baptist Church with Martin Luther King to demonstrate outside the Capitol building. He went on to say that bears no malice towards the State Troopers, but rather, he pities them for the hell they have to live through either now or later. We found this conversation to be quite moving, particularly as he is just a ‘normal person’, not a reenactor or employed to relate his story, but truly he was relaying his-story. Here we were at a crucial time and place in world history and able to speak to a witness and participant.
While visiting the Dexter King Memorial Baptist Church, in itself a humbling experience, we were part of a tour group. While waiting for the tour to start we got into conversation. He was a man, a doctor, named Robert Baldwin. He had come from Birmingham that day, to lobby state congressmen. His mission was to lobby for the abolition of the death penalty in Alabama. Quite interesting I thought. To support his case he had written a book called Life and Death Matters, which he carried under his arm, he was going to give it to the pastor of the church and hopefully gain his support.
In casual conversation he said that he had been a doctor who had to give up his practice because of a neurological disease and cancer in 1999. He had returned to university and on studying the civil rights movement had come to the irrevocable conclusion that inequality in man was wrong, that he was a sinner and that Jesus was the only way to salvation.
He gave the revelation that in 1963 he had stood on the steps of Alabama State University with Governor Wallace as a part of the movement to maintain segregation and had lived as a right wing reactionary until his conversion to Christianity in 1999. He was now spending the rest of his life trying to get the death penalty abolished principally because it was such a symbol of inequality. In Alabama more black people were executed than whites (I think he said 85% were black) and more blacks than whites are murdered.
Mongomery: Civil RIghts
There is also a lot about the Civil Rights Movement in Montgomery. Two episodes in history are particularly important.
December 1st 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man. This began a boycott of the buses which lasted 385 days and culminated in the city being forced by the federal government to remove segregation from the buses (though they were able to keep segregated bus stops!). This is one of the most famous incidents where peaceful protest has produced a positive result.
March 7th 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, was the day that a group of blacks ried to march from Selma to the Capitol in Montgomery, only to be beaten back by state troopers. The march was completed by March 25th 1965 when Martin Luther King led the march up Dexter Ave, past his own church, to the entrance of the Capitol building (they were not allowed in). The publicity that this generated led directly to blacks being allowed to vote (they had been entitled to vote since about 1879, but a variety of rules and laws had effectively removed their franchise).
December 1st 1955, when Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man. This began a boycott of the buses which lasted 385 days and culminated in the city being forced by the federal government to remove segregation from the buses (though they were able to keep segregated bus stops!). This is one of the most famous incidents where peaceful protest has produced a positive result.
March 7th 1965, known as Bloody Sunday, was the day that a group of blacks ried to march from Selma to the Capitol in Montgomery, only to be beaten back by state troopers. The march was completed by March 25th 1965 when Martin Luther King led the march up Dexter Ave, past his own church, to the entrance of the Capitol building (they were not allowed in). The publicity that this generated led directly to blacks being allowed to vote (they had been entitled to vote since about 1879, but a variety of rules and laws had effectively removed their franchise).
Montgomery: The Civil War
Because of the importance of cotton to this area Alabama needed to maintain slavery and hence was very important in the civil war. It had money, it had resources, it had manufacturing capability, it was safely away from the action. The civil war for Alabama retained its romance long after it had become a bloody war of attrition for the rest of the country. Montgomery was declared the first capital of the Confederacy and the first action, firing on Fort Sumter in Charleston, was ordered from Montgomery. Because it was so far from the fighting many of the antebellum houses still remain.
Montgomery: Background
What a place. We have found out so much. I want to remember my experiences with people, but need to record what we saw and comment on the events that have made Montgomery so central to American History. Before today I thought that Montgomery was a backwater in the Deep South, should we even go there? As we moved north we began to find out about it. Montgomery is the State Capital of Alabama, which is in the centre of the Deep South. It was central to the construction and development of the Confederacy; it was the capital of the Confederacy for a short time. Before that it was the pivotal point where the French were forced to retreat from the British (1750). The British were forced to retreat from the Americans (1812 war) under General Jackson and the focal point of the war between the Cree Nation and America. It was the centre of the cotton growing industry and merchants and farmers became very rich. It also had a lot of slaves, I think because it was a long way from the sea (and easy communications) it felt a long way away from Washington, nearly 2000 miles by sea and 700 miles by land.
Anyway, there are two main spheres of history that Montgomery is famous for, both to do with emancipation, The Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement.
Anyway, there are two main spheres of history that Montgomery is famous for, both to do with emancipation, The Civil War and the Civil Rights Movement.
Friday in Montgomery
Though there was a storm overnight the weather dried up and we ventured into Montgomery once more. This time we visited the Roas Parks Museum to find out more about the Bus Boycott. It was very interesting. We then had lunch a Lunde’s, which is a café that is in the Bell Building, which was Montgomery’s first skyscraper, built in 1899. It was full of ornate stone work, very interesting, the Roast Beef sandwich was good as well. In the afternoon we visited the house where Martin Luther King and his family lived when they were in Montgomery, this was interesting and also moving to be where you could picture Martin Luther King living there, perhaps relaxing, drinking coffee with family and friends. It was also where the boycott was organized from.
On the way home we picked up a Strawberry Pie from Shoney’s, bringing back memories as we had shared a really nice one with Bob and Ginnee when we were at Hiawassee.
On the way home we picked up a Strawberry Pie from Shoney’s, bringing back memories as we had shared a really nice one with Bob and Ginnee when we were at Hiawassee.
Thursday In Montgomery
The weather is miserable, looks like rain, or worse, so we are going get done what we can and visit
We started out at the Visitors Centre, then took the trolley tour (cost us a dollar between us) which gave us an overview of the places in
Since it was still dry we decided to take the car to the
Following this we joined a tour of the
This had been a packed and quite emotional day, seeing places we had only seen on TV or on films or in history books
Warning: long and boring blog bit
Our visit to Mongomery has many memories which we wish to preserve. The blog may not therefore be logical, so I have split the blog into sections: Our visit, My thoughts, Montgomery as a place and its historical importance. Readers may wish to skip parts. Feel free to only read relevant bits.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
The Picture of the Song 'Columbus Stockade Blues'
Today we moved on from the very agreeable State Park of Georgia Veterans to Fort Toulouse Park, just North of Montgomery, Alabama. Only to find that like most of the south at the moment it was pouring with rain. Still it is only the second lot of rain we have had since January.
One of my favourite songs is Columbus Stockade Blues and since we had to go through Columbus we could not resist looking for 'Columbus Stockade', to see if it really had existed in real life as well as song. After some searching we found that it did exist and still exists today.
Columbus Stockade was a prison and police headquarters from 1850's until it became a prison in 1906. It is still operating as a prison today. We found it in a very run down area of Columbus, standing alone close to some railway sidings. It is not even identified by name, only the historic marker enabled us to identify it.
So here is a picture of Columbus Stockade mentioned the in the song.
I now know where I am singing about. Though the song does not identify which era it was written for, it was written in 1927.
Fascinating isn't it.
One of my favourite songs is Columbus Stockade Blues and since we had to go through Columbus we could not resist looking for 'Columbus Stockade', to see if it really had existed in real life as well as song. After some searching we found that it did exist and still exists today.
Columbus Stockade was a prison and police headquarters from 1850's until it became a prison in 1906. It is still operating as a prison today. We found it in a very run down area of Columbus, standing alone close to some railway sidings. It is not even identified by name, only the historic marker enabled us to identify it.
So here is a picture of Columbus Stockade mentioned the in the song.
 |
| From 25 mar 09 |
I now know where I am singing about. Though the song does not identify which era it was written for, it was written in 1927.
Fascinating isn't it.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Tuesday: Hope and Desperation
Today we visited Andersonville, the site of the Confederate POW Camp Sumter. It was a fascinating, yet disturbing day, to see how man can treat other men when they are in a position of power over them. The site is a museum and memorial for all US POW's and their history is depicted in several graphic displays, including a film.
The Museum is built in the grounds of the prison. We followed a ranger who explained some of the details of the camp. The reality of it was horrendous. Up to 33,000 men packed into 20.5 acres, That works out at about 1.5 square yards per man, barely enough to lie down in. There was no shelter, only what the prisoners could scrape together. In just over a year 13,000 men died there.
After Andersonville (by the way the little town is very nice, we got 2 coffee's at Patsy's for just $1.63) We drove south to Americus, past Souther Airfield. This is where Charles Lindberg bought his first plane and learned to fly, about 4 years prior to flying solo across the Atlantic. Here then was a symbol of hope that man can overcome adversity and climb to the heights.
Tomorrow we move on, we have decided to move west to Montgomery to find out more about the Civil Rights Movement.
The Museum is built in the grounds of the prison. We followed a ranger who explained some of the details of the camp. The reality of it was horrendous. Up to 33,000 men packed into 20.5 acres, That works out at about 1.5 square yards per man, barely enough to lie down in. There was no shelter, only what the prisoners could scrape together. In just over a year 13,000 men died there.
After Andersonville (by the way the little town is very nice, we got 2 coffee's at Patsy's for just $1.63) We drove south to Americus, past Souther Airfield. This is where Charles Lindberg bought his first plane and learned to fly, about 4 years prior to flying solo across the Atlantic. Here then was a symbol of hope that man can overcome adversity and climb to the heights.
Tomorrow we move on, we have decided to move west to Montgomery to find out more about the Civil Rights Movement.
Monday: Just Plains Jimmy Carter
Today we went to Plains Georgia to see the home of Jimmy Carter. It was very interesting. The main attraction is the visitors centre, which is housed in the High School that he and Roseanne attended. It was fascinating to see the recreation of classrooms from the forties. JC's history was interesting too, trying to read between the lines of the presentations to find the crucial points in his life which enabled him to become President. He apparently came from a normal rural family, living in in a normal Main Street Town in Georgia, He joined the Navy, took over Dad's business, then became a State Congressman, then Governor, then President - easy. One pivotal point was his membership of the School Board. He had to make a decision about integration in 1966. He chose to go with the crowd and refuse integration, yet later, when his Baptist Church voted to remove blacks from all access to the church he (and his family) were the only people to vote against it, making him very unpopular. When he became Governor he spoke out strongly against racism, but then he didn't have to live in Small Town America then. He was also very fortunately placed to step into the Democratic nomination when it was obvious that Nixon/Ford Republicans would be thrown out of office. His Presidency ended as a disaster caused by the Iran Hostage affair.
This was a very informative and interesting visit.
This was a very informative and interesting visit.
Monday, March 23, 2009
Check out the Monkey video on You Tube
I have managed to put the monkey sheepdog trial on to You Tube. The quality is not very good, but hey, we had fun.
Monkey video
Monkey video
Georgia - for the second time
Monday
Yesterday we packed up and said a sad goodbye to Cathy and Jimmy, who have been wonderfully generous and hospitable - many thanks. We drove North, over the border into Georgia and ended up in the Georgia Veterans Memorial State Park, which is a beautiful place. We are camped on the edge of a beautiful lake, surrounded by trees, loads of squirrels, birds and fish. It's very peaceful and just right for us to have a restful time - might be difficult as we want to visit Jimmy Carter's neck of the woods - Plains and do the Anderson trail which takes you through Byron, Fort valley, Warner Robins, Perry, Marshallville, Andersonville, Americus and Plains. We do find it difficult to just sit and relax when there is so much of interest to see.
Friday - Ride 'em Cowboy
Check out the monkey video on You Tube
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thursday - On The water again
Jim, Cathy, Ron, Terry and I went in Jim's boat up the Sante Fe River. Picture a large pontoon boat with plush seats, large sun canopy, cool drinks, a picnic and a lovely, hot sunny day. We went up as far as a large fresh water spring, then back down river to where the Ichetucknee River joins the Sante Fe, where we beached and sat eating our picnic watching large butterflies flying round and various sizes of fish swimming in the warm shallow water. We then headed off downstream again to where the Sante Fe converges with the Suwanee. ( Way down upon the Suwanee River was sung again!) We saw large herons, a little blue heron, egrets, vultures, an osprey, a kingfisher, dozens of turtles and many other small birds. We saw an otter diving and playing and a large 8 feet long alligator basking on the mud in the sun. It's very pretty just now as it's spring and the trees are all in spring green, with golden rod and beautiful lilies flowering around the trees, not to mention the dogwood trees being covered in white blossom. The trip took about 5 hours and we arrived back feeling tired but very happy. Supper was a large loin of pork that had been cooking in Cathy's crockpot all day (very tender) and everyone had brought a dish to pool. There were 8 of us altogether, and we finished off with a lovely lemon cake that Barbara had made. another memorable day.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Thursday
We have accepted the kind offer of Jim and Cathy to visit them at their beautiful home in Northern Florida. It is very close to the Ichitucknee River. Their house is built in amongst a Live Oak forest and is very open so that you keep getting lovely views of all the trees which surround them. It is incredibly peaceful. The Ichetucknee River is a spring fed river, which means that it flows quite fast, is crystal clear and is about 72 degrees all year round. A very popular activity round here is to tube ride the river. Not a thrill ride, but on a hot day there is nothing better than to float for a couple of miles down the river looking at all the wildlife in the forests, perhaps with a beer or two floating beside you (not allowed now for fear of trash being left). In the State Park you can even get a bus back to your car.
Yesterday was a nice quiet day, Jim, Ron and I went to an RV scrapyard to find a light fitting, fascinating place of course, but I didn't buy anything. In the evening we went to Phish Heads, a seafood restaurant, for a Chicken Wings supper. It was a very pleasant meal. We found out that there are two types of chicken wings, called Drummers and Flappers, obvious when you think about it. For some reason (which may be my English accent, which we forget can be difficult to follow. Down here in the south it seems to be a very rapid speech compared to the southern more relaxed way of talking) they forgot my starter (a Caesar salad), then they forgot my wings order (only by a couple of minutes), but then they also forgot to charge me for the wings (they realised they had messed up the order), so everything turned out fine in the end.
We all then came back,via Walmart, to Jim and Cathy's for Strawberry Shortcake, which was delicious as a neighbour had given them a couple of 'Flats, or 'large punnets' of fresh picked strawberries.
Did I say 'All', yes, having given our 'final farewell' to our Florida Friends and started our Northern Trek, (only stopping at Jim and Cathy's because its on the way, oh and because they asked us, oh and because they are lovely people) we find that another couple of friends Ray and Barbara (recognisable because she often wears a 'hug a tree' Tee-shirt), who we met most recently at Palatka and then Waldo, live just round the corner and they usually go with Jim and Cathy to the Wings Night. Oh and did I mention that Ron and Judy (yes, I did mention Ron, when we went to the RV Salvage, come on stay with the programme) turned up at Jim and Cathy's yesterday. So having said a fond farewell on Monday we have met them again, which is really nice. Some neighbours of Ray and Barbara, Jim and Darlene, also joined us for the evening, so great fun was had by all. I must admit I do like bigger crowds of friends because I am shy and bashful, so I can hide behind the conversation of others without appearing too ignorant.
Yesterday was a nice quiet day, Jim, Ron and I went to an RV scrapyard to find a light fitting, fascinating place of course, but I didn't buy anything. In the evening we went to Phish Heads, a seafood restaurant, for a Chicken Wings supper. It was a very pleasant meal. We found out that there are two types of chicken wings, called Drummers and Flappers, obvious when you think about it. For some reason (which may be my English accent, which we forget can be difficult to follow. Down here in the south it seems to be a very rapid speech compared to the southern more relaxed way of talking) they forgot my starter (a Caesar salad), then they forgot my wings order (only by a couple of minutes), but then they also forgot to charge me for the wings (they realised they had messed up the order), so everything turned out fine in the end.
We all then came back,via Walmart, to Jim and Cathy's for Strawberry Shortcake, which was delicious as a neighbour had given them a couple of 'Flats, or 'large punnets' of fresh picked strawberries.
Did I say 'All', yes, having given our 'final farewell' to our Florida Friends and started our Northern Trek, (only stopping at Jim and Cathy's because its on the way, oh and because they asked us, oh and because they are lovely people) we find that another couple of friends Ray and Barbara (recognisable because she often wears a 'hug a tree' Tee-shirt), who we met most recently at Palatka and then Waldo, live just round the corner and they usually go with Jim and Cathy to the Wings Night. Oh and did I mention that Ron and Judy (yes, I did mention Ron, when we went to the RV Salvage, come on stay with the programme) turned up at Jim and Cathy's yesterday. So having said a fond farewell on Monday we have met them again, which is really nice. Some neighbours of Ray and Barbara, Jim and Darlene, also joined us for the evening, so great fun was had by all. I must admit I do like bigger crowds of friends because I am shy and bashful, so I can hide behind the conversation of others without appearing too ignorant.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Post Party Catch up
Yes folks, we are alive and well and living in Connie's back yard.
We have kept telling ourselves that we would use this month to relax and soak up the sun. To an extent we have done that, but I always seem to have something that needs to be done and have not been diligent in keeping up to date with the blog.
We had a great weekend at Palmdale, there was some excellent pickin' going on. Our friends, Marilee and Jan, performed brilliantly and have been booked to appear next year! Well done.
The news for that festival is that James King is to appear on the Friday night next year!! So book your place now. I will write a more full report when I get the chance.
We contacted some friends we met on our first trip. They live in West Palm Beach and they came over to see us and stayed for the Saturday night. It was really great to see Sandy and Don again and it made the weekend very special. Thank you, Sandy and Don, for making a special weekend for us.
Palmdale is way down in the south, but close to a good road, so after the festival we decided to travel all the way back to Connie's in one go. We had a good clear run and arrived by 3.00. Sally was exhausted, but able to 'lay up' (nautical term used when you take a boat out of the water for repairs and refurbishment) the next two days to recover.
However we did manage to struggle to Walmart with Cathy, of Fred and Cathy on the Wednesday.
We also tried to give a hand with the party. If you want some understanding of the level of these preparations you should read the section in Lord of The Rings about Bilbo's Party. The only difference is substitute the firework display for a shuttle launch which we watched from their garden on Sunday evening. This was spectacular, at 7.43 the sky was darkening and the vapour trail of the shuttle turned red with the setting sun (the launch was in the east). But otherwise pretty similar.
We had a great time, four days of meeting people who are now old friends, eating, talking and playing. There were 0ver 300 people for the weekend and Connie fed everyone with amazing food. eg. Sunday breakfast - omelettes cooked to order, pancakes, eggy bread, hash browns, bacon, sausage patties, biscuits with sausage gravy, fruit salad, fruit juices, sweet rolls, muffins, coffee, tea. What a spread! Not to mention the deserts Connie keeps putting out - cookies, eclair cake, chocolate cake, carrot cake, choc. brownies, creme de menthe brownies, chocolate mocha square ( Sally's favourite), strawberry shortcake, ice cream sundaes, etc etc. - all home made. We have both got expanding waists!!!! Thank you Connie and Jim for being such wonderful, generous people.
It's warmed up - temperatures in the high 80's (30 C) (highest was 87 F )and no rain for the last week. Wonderful weather for the party. As we plan to go North, it may get cooler.
We are now preparing to move on.
We have kept telling ourselves that we would use this month to relax and soak up the sun. To an extent we have done that, but I always seem to have something that needs to be done and have not been diligent in keeping up to date with the blog.
We had a great weekend at Palmdale, there was some excellent pickin' going on. Our friends, Marilee and Jan, performed brilliantly and have been booked to appear next year! Well done.
The news for that festival is that James King is to appear on the Friday night next year!! So book your place now. I will write a more full report when I get the chance.
We contacted some friends we met on our first trip. They live in West Palm Beach and they came over to see us and stayed for the Saturday night. It was really great to see Sandy and Don again and it made the weekend very special. Thank you, Sandy and Don, for making a special weekend for us.
Palmdale is way down in the south, but close to a good road, so after the festival we decided to travel all the way back to Connie's in one go. We had a good clear run and arrived by 3.00. Sally was exhausted, but able to 'lay up' (nautical term used when you take a boat out of the water for repairs and refurbishment) the next two days to recover.
However we did manage to struggle to Walmart with Cathy, of Fred and Cathy on the Wednesday.
We also tried to give a hand with the party. If you want some understanding of the level of these preparations you should read the section in Lord of The Rings about Bilbo's Party. The only difference is substitute the firework display for a shuttle launch which we watched from their garden on Sunday evening. This was spectacular, at 7.43 the sky was darkening and the vapour trail of the shuttle turned red with the setting sun (the launch was in the east). But otherwise pretty similar.
We had a great time, four days of meeting people who are now old friends, eating, talking and playing. There were 0ver 300 people for the weekend and Connie fed everyone with amazing food. eg. Sunday breakfast - omelettes cooked to order, pancakes, eggy bread, hash browns, bacon, sausage patties, biscuits with sausage gravy, fruit salad, fruit juices, sweet rolls, muffins, coffee, tea. What a spread! Not to mention the deserts Connie keeps putting out - cookies, eclair cake, chocolate cake, carrot cake, choc. brownies, creme de menthe brownies, chocolate mocha square ( Sally's favourite), strawberry shortcake, ice cream sundaes, etc etc. - all home made. We have both got expanding waists!!!! Thank you Connie and Jim for being such wonderful, generous people.
It's warmed up - temperatures in the high 80's (30 C) (highest was 87 F )and no rain for the last week. Wonderful weather for the party. As we plan to go North, it may get cooler.
We are now preparing to move on.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Friday: New Toy
Today we had a relaxed morning and I started to jam with a fiddler who did Old Time Music, so we played quite a few English type folk tunes. Sally joined in on the Dobro, then we were joined by another guitarist, then a base, then another dobro, then another guitar and pretty soon we had a jam session going.
This afternoon my new toy arrived, Marilee had taken delivery of our new generator and had brought it down to the festival with her.
I carefully unpacked it, put oil in, filled up with petrol and pulled the starter. After about 6 pulls to get petrol to the carburetta is started right up, ye ha, we now have a little 2000watt Honda Generator. It is a lovely piece of kit, only 46lbs, only 53 decibels. Shame it doesn't produce 240 volts otherwise would bring it home (it is not called a suitcase generator for nothing).
We have just had tea (burger cooked outside on our new electric grill) and we are getting ready to go back to the evening concert. Tonight it is Valerie Smith, but tomorrow we have Carolina Rose!!!, who I jammed with last night. And who is she you say? None other than the living daughter of the Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe (who is now sadly passed away). Watch this space for more news of this great link with the past.
This afternoon my new toy arrived, Marilee had taken delivery of our new generator and had brought it down to the festival with her.
I carefully unpacked it, put oil in, filled up with petrol and pulled the starter. After about 6 pulls to get petrol to the carburetta is started right up, ye ha, we now have a little 2000watt Honda Generator. It is a lovely piece of kit, only 46lbs, only 53 decibels. Shame it doesn't produce 240 volts otherwise would bring it home (it is not called a suitcase generator for nothing).
We have just had tea (burger cooked outside on our new electric grill) and we are getting ready to go back to the evening concert. Tonight it is Valerie Smith, but tomorrow we have Carolina Rose!!!, who I jammed with last night. And who is she you say? None other than the living daughter of the Father of Bluegrass Bill Monroe (who is now sadly passed away). Watch this space for more news of this great link with the past.
Thursday: Even Further South
After leaving our friends we moved south on route 27, another of America's interstate roads, which ends in Florida but starts in Michigan, right up by the Canadian Border. We drove down through mile after mile of Orange Grove, past the famous Sebring race track to the little town of Palmdale where we pulled into the campground for the festival. We made ourselves at home and had a pleasant eveing pickin' with people around and about. Good Time.
Wednesday: Heading South Again
We set off from Marilee's and headed south to see an old friend. Teri is Canadian and we met her and Roger on the day we picked up our trailer 2 years ago. Though we only met for a few hours we have kept in touch, never really expecting to meet again, but somehow not doubting that we would.
Unexpectedly they had returned to Florida and we were able to drop in and see Teri (Roger was away on business). we had a lovely afternoon catching up on all that has happened over the last 2 years. However eventually we had to move on as we were expected by some friends in Winter Haven. They are a lovely family and although we did nothing special it was a special time as we became immersed in a normal american family (that is not an insult)for an evening. Husband, wife and three kids, all of whom were delightful, interesting and well behaved. We fell about in hysterics when Sarah (the youngest) sat on the floor and let rip with the longest and loudest fart, we all looked on in horror as she laughed and pulled out a tub of Flarp, at which point we all laughed as well. After dinner they treated us to a demonstration of tap dancing. It was a real shame that we had to leave next day.
Unexpectedly they had returned to Florida and we were able to drop in and see Teri (Roger was away on business). we had a lovely afternoon catching up on all that has happened over the last 2 years. However eventually we had to move on as we were expected by some friends in Winter Haven. They are a lovely family and although we did nothing special it was a special time as we became immersed in a normal american family (that is not an insult)for an evening. Husband, wife and three kids, all of whom were delightful, interesting and well behaved. We fell about in hysterics when Sarah (the youngest) sat on the floor and let rip with the longest and loudest fart, we all looked on in horror as she laughed and pulled out a tub of Flarp, at which point we all laughed as well. After dinner they treated us to a demonstration of tap dancing. It was a real shame that we had to leave next day.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Marilee's Birthday
Sally had a quiet day to recover from the weekend, I took myself down to Dorothy to play with her music group, it was great fun I played some jazz and some rock and had a nice time.
Today we have celebrated Marilee’s birthday, by going to the Margarita Grill, which is a Seafood restaurant built out over the river at Homosassa, managed to get some nice pics. of Great white Heron and another large heron. We had great fun at the meal, there were twelve of us. We went back to Marilee’s for cake and ice cream.
Tuesday
Today we dossed and Jim invited Marilee and us to go for another celebratory meal, this time for a steak. We were persuaded. We would go to the brand new Texas Roadhouse, only 15 miles away in Brooksville. When we arrived it was packed and it looked like an hours wait for a table, so instead we piled back into the car and headed for Cody’s (which to us discerning diners is the best steak house around this part of Florida). We were not disappointed. Great service, unlimited salad, fresh hot rolls and cinnamon butter and that was before we got our main course. Prime Rib, medium rare, red and runny, slightly to runny, so it was taken away for a bit of a warm up, came back perfect. Sally and I shared one between us. After the meal the staff clustered round us and presented Marilee with a birthday Muffin and sang Happy Birthday. We came home, I was stuffed, they brought a box. This was another lovely evening.
We have really enjoyed being with Marilee, Istachatta has so much to offer to the discerning traveler.
Tomorrow we move on
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Church On Sunday
Today we accompanied Marilee to her church. It is a small church in Floral City, which is a small town in Florida.
A congregation of about fifty welcomed us warmly. We sang several rousing songs. Their church does not use instruments, but has a song master and the hymn books have shape notes as well as ordinary notes. We took communion with the rest of the church and then received a fine sermon by a young preacher who was in training for the ministry. The meeting was finished off with an adult baptism. Sally and I both enjoyed the meeting. Afterwards we were again warmly greeted by many of the people there. Thank you Floral City Church of Christ.
Sally and I had the rest of the day to ourselves, our plan was to visit John and Dorothy, two friends from the Soggy Bottom Bunch who are really nice. We had a lovely afternoon and they taught us how to play Rummikub, which was very entertaining. Jack and Julie (also from Soggy Bottom, who live next door) came over and chatted for a bit. We had a lovely time and have arrived back at the trailer exhausted.
A congregation of about fifty welcomed us warmly. We sang several rousing songs. Their church does not use instruments, but has a song master and the hymn books have shape notes as well as ordinary notes. We took communion with the rest of the church and then received a fine sermon by a young preacher who was in training for the ministry. The meeting was finished off with an adult baptism. Sally and I both enjoyed the meeting. Afterwards we were again warmly greeted by many of the people there. Thank you Floral City Church of Christ.
Sally and I had the rest of the day to ourselves, our plan was to visit John and Dorothy, two friends from the Soggy Bottom Bunch who are really nice. We had a lovely afternoon and they taught us how to play Rummikub, which was very entertaining. Jack and Julie (also from Soggy Bottom, who live next door) came over and chatted for a bit. We had a lovely time and have arrived back at the trailer exhausted.
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