Back from my trip.

Gracious, what a weekend.  Left Thursday on my own because everyone who was planning to ride with me backed out.  Met up with a couple buddies on the highway so we caravanned from there.  We got to the campground and set up camp then proceeded to shake hands with friends we hadn't met yet.  We weren't there an hour and a half before a jamm session broke out and I was playing someone else's acoustic bass guitar and my own harmonicas.  A few frosty cold beverages later and we had a good fire going and some of the best harmonized singing you've heard without paying for a ticket.  Then we gave a good and deserving man a large gift, paid for from pooled funds of a conspiracy to reward.  Our friend was moved by the outpouring of good will and gifts.  He received an inflatable fishing craft, a custom rod, a bunch of accessories, a home-made card, and a gift certificate to a fishing outfitter.  The smile did not leave his face by Sunday when I took my leave. 

I fished Friday, Saturday, and had to break camp Sunday.  Both Thursday night and Friday night, I sat in a corner and played along a little bit with the heavy-duty pickers and players.  While I didn't play a lot, I learned a tremendous amount sitting in the circle and watching their hands seeing how they did what they did.  Saturday night a few of the heavy duty pickers had gone home.  I played "warmup" at the campfire for a few songs and then a buddy of mine I've been jamming with for years came by.  I usually played bass when jamming with him, but we had an even better time with dual guitars.  Then he took over and started playing well past my ability to keep up, though I still played a bit when he took a break.  Again, I learned a tremendous amount.  It appears that I've gotten into some bad habits with timing by playing alone so much.  Time to pull out the metronome during practice sessions. 

Sunday after packing up camp I fished a little more.  Fishing was off, but I did manage to catch a medium sized flathead catfish (just shy of two feet long) on a lightweight bass rod - that was a fun catch.  The catfish was released none the worse for wear, still strong as a bull.  Had I had a cooler on the boat, he'd have been dinner.  As it was, I was after bass which I do on a catch & release basis and so had no means for keeping a fish.

I learned as much with my fly casting technique as I did with my picking and right hand work.  I significantly overplay.  I need to pare it down and get it to its essence.  More precision and better timing.  That'll be what I work on for a while.  Same with my casting.  I was making it harder than it needed to be.  Got a few kinks worked out.

I headed home on Friday and about half-way there stopped for gas for the tank.  I noticed oil sprayed all over my trailer and canoe, so I checked the dipstick.  I was 2.5 quarts low.  So I put in some oil and then spent the rest of the trip nervous as heck, stopping frequently to check oil.  I had to put in a little more later, but I did make it home safe.  Mostly safe.  As I was approaching my neighborhood, I had someone rear end my canoe and knock it up the trailer to bang into my car.  Neither the car nor the trailer were injured, but the canoe I'm afraid has had its last float.  Hit-and-run.  The canoe was on its last legs anyway.  I have already been saving for a new one.  The mechanic's estimation for the repair of the car was a little more than three times what the car was worth, so now I have a nice new (to me) truck in the driveway.  I didn't really want to buy a new vehicle now, but it only cost a little more than it would have to repair the other one and I've got something much more reliable and fun to drive.  It's a 4x4, so I'm eager to get to the beach for some surf fishing. 

Sheesh.  Expensive weekend what with my canoe and my car needing replacement, but I had a good time, caught a few fish, learned a lot about guitar, and improved my cast. 

Oh!  And there WAS blackberry jam.  The owner of the campground hosted us to a country breakfast where she served her momma's homemade blackberry jam - and it was INCREDIBLE.   Also cheesy grits.  If you ever wonder how to say "palenta" in hillbilly, it's 'cheesy grits.'  Real good.  My belly is still smiling. 

And, as expected, I was bulletproof until mid-day Saturday, knowing I had to drive home on Sunday. 

- Zurf