Bittersweet

I woke up before my alarm rang.  I had biked around Asheville, and biked many greenways in various towns, but I hadn't biked a greenway in Asheville.  My iPhone apps informed me the French Broad River Greenway was six miles away and two miles long after that.  I had an hour and a half before we needed to leave for Atlanta.  It was a beautiful summer day in Asheville, cool by any Florida standards.  What kind of traveling, biking, exploring blogger would I be if I didn't go for one last ride on the last day of tour?

The entire ride turned out to be an exhilarating sampler plate of biking terrain.  The street route included those famous Asheville hills.  My GPS directed me through a rocky, but manageable dirt trail along Hominy Creek just to get to the greenway.  This unexpected path was energizing because the rocks and tree roots required my full attention to navigate safely.  The greenway itself was mostly paved and meandered alongside the French Broad River and right through the middle of an RV park and primitive campground.  I enjoyed the ride immensely and made it back in time to load up and head out as scheduled.

I drove the three hours to the Sweetwater Brewery in Atlanta.  Along the way, we passed through several mountain towns in northern Georgia that looked like fun places to stop and possibly stay awhile and explore.  Perhaps someday I'll do just that.

We arrived at the venue and loaded our gear onto the outdoor stage.  However, it would turn out to be the gig that wasn't.  We were greeted by a representative of the brewery.  She needed to see everyone's ID.  As I had at the few bars we visited after our own gigs, I explained that I had lost my wallet at FloydFest and that I'm 42 years old.  It wouldn't be enough this time.  I said I would stay outside, and even suggested they draw black X's on my hands because I'm not drinking, but still no dice.  The young lady said it was Georgia law that everyone on the premises have a valid ID and that the email they had sent us explained all of this.  I'm sure she was absolutely correct, and I harbor no resentment towards her or Sweetwater.  I had been lucky to have gotten by without my wallet all this time, but my luck had run out.  She said she couldn't make an exception, and I told her I completely understood.  It seems ironic that my personal journey of recognizing the pros and cons of getting older, and confronting my alcoholic tendencies would end with me not being able to play the last show of the tour because I got carded and couldn't produce proof of my age.  Out of options, we loaded our equipment back into the van.  The worst part was that our friends Bryce, Shane, and Vaughn had driven up from Jacksonville to see us.  I feel terrible about disappointing them and anyone else who showed up to see us.

We grabbed lunch with our Jacksonville friends plus Jack and Mark, friends from Atlanta, at Grindhouse Killer Burgers.  I attempted to cope with my mixed emotions by ordering a "Gringo Style" double veggie burger (somewhat facetiously named with pico de gallo, avocado, jalepenos, and diablo sauce) and a side of fried pickles.  It actually did help me feel a bit better.

We were all experiencing varying degrees of disappointment, guilt, and frustration surrounding the anticlimactic ending to our tour as we left Atlanta behind us.  On the plus side, we would get home that much sooner.

On the ride home, my sister sent a text to my dad and me letting us know she was thinking of us with a deep gratitude.  Then I remembered that we lost mom twelve years ago today.  I'm neither religious nor spiritual, but my mother's memory lives on in my mind, and in a sense, I feel she's with me wherever I go.  I'm grateful for this feeling.  There is a liberation in the realization of our own mortality.  I don't believe in an afterlife, and as far as I know, we only live once, so I ought to make this one count.  Realistically, I only have forty or fifty more years if I'm lucky.  The Sweetwater fiasco hardly seems to matter in the overall scheme of things.

We stopped at a convenience store, and the boiled peanut station let me know we were, indeed, getting close to home.  I bought a cup of the Cajun-flavor comfort food.

We made it back to Jacksonville about 8:45pm.  I was able to see Jen outside our apartment just before she had to leave for band practice.  She plays keyboards in the Cruxshadows, and they'll be at Dragon Con in Atlanta this coming weekend.  I brought my bags and belongings inside, and reacquainted myself with the place;  I was home.  My wallet (sent to my home by FloydFest's lost and found) and a stack of mail was waiting for me.  The textbooks I had ordered for the classes I'm taking this fall had arrived, as well as Shadowfax's new front bag.  Jen's cat, Felix, seemed happy to see me.

So there you have it; this is the way the tour ends, not with a bang but a whimper.  It's bittersweet.  I'm glad to be home, but I already miss the road.  The boys and I plan to avoid each other until our meeting with One Spark and subsequent band practice on Thursday.  Jen will be home late tonight, and we're both off all day tomorrow, so we'll have a chance to spend some time together before our bands take us in opposite directions again in three days.  I imagined this blog would coincide with the tour, and so it seems this should be my last entry.  However, it occurs to me that perhaps a final post on my 100th day alcohol-free would not only be appropriate, but would allow me the time I need to reflect on my experience and share any final thoughts.  Therefore, with your permission, I will now cease my daily updates and post a final entry at the end of Day 100 (or the day I fall short of my goal, whichever comes first).  I will address the idea of gratitude in more detail on my final post, but for now I want to thank Brett and Mikey for making the trip possible, everyone who provided us with a bed or sofa or floor on which to rest along the way, and you for reading this very personal blog and sharing your thoughts with me.  You have kept me accountable, and for that I am genuinely grateful.  If all goes according to plan, I'll post again in ten days!

Until then, cheers!

- Jon

Übermensch

We left Atlanta at 6:30 this morning and began the five-hour drive to Greeneville, Tennessee.  Brett had to see a man about a guitar.

A friend of ours had found a guitar for sale online that matched Brett's desired specifications.  Brett contacted the seller and arranged to meet with him in Greeneville on our way back to Asheville.  The meeting took place, and Brett thoroughly tested the guitar.  It felt right.  Brett is now the proud new owner of a Collings D1A.

After Brett sealed the deal, we stopped at a roadside produce stand to replenish our supply of fresh peaches.

We drove another hour to Asheville to play the wedding reception of our friends, Vanessa and Mike.  Vanessa had reserved a room for us at a Red Roof Inn, so we headed straight there and checked in.  I was able to take a quick power nap before we headed to the venue, a banquet room called On Broadway in downtown Asheville.

The bride and groom are personal friends of mine from Jacksonville and awesome people.  I'm very happy for them.  It was an honor and a pleasure to be a part of their special day.  I knew a few of the family members and friends in attendance.  The ceremony itself was short and sweet.  I particularly liked the way they included Mike's two kids throughout the evening.  There hasn't been a more perfect and loving blended family since the Sound of Music.  We were hired to perform, but also encouraged to take a break and have dinner.  The food was catered in-house, and there was an abundance of vegetarian and nonvegetarian options.  It was probably the most delicious meal I've ever had at a wedding, and I've been to quite a few.  Everyone seemed pleased with the band's contribution to the evening.  It was a welcome change to play a private party for friends, especially at the end of our tour.  I'm glad our travel plans allowed us to be here.  Congratulations Vanessa and Mike!

After the reception, Brett and Mikey went to Bobby Miller's house to hang out.  I decided to walk a block to the wedding after party.  They had rented out the Dirty South Lounge in the back of a restaurant and bar called the Southern.  The lounge was the perfect size for a small to medium soirée and felt like a secret cave, but with a DJ and a bar.  I had access to free booze, as I did at the reception, but that's really not a problem for me at this point.  I ordered a club soda with lime and was perfectly content.  I interacted with folks here and there, but kept to myself mostly.  I was actually quite comfortable sitting alone against the wall in the dimly lit room.  I enjoyed watching the wedding guests dancing and having fun; I felt included in the party even if I wasn't being a social butterfly.  I did get to catch up with Vanessa for a bit, and Mike very briefly.

When I mentioned to Vanessa that the boys had gone elsewhere and I would take a cab back to hotel, she suggested I try Uber instead.  Uber is a ridesharing service that just arrived in Ashville and they happen to be running a special where a user's first five rides are free through September 4th (Vanessa's always in the know!).  I downloaded the app, set up my account, and requested a ride.  Within seconds, I knew who was picking me up, what they were driving, their license plate number, and their ETA.  I could even track their location in real time on my phone.  Within the promised two minutes, Alicia picked me up in her Prius.  I introduced myself and shared that I had literally just installed the app.  She said tonight was her first night as an Uber driver and I was maybe her tenth rider of the evening.  Alicia was fun and friendly, and we had a pleasant conversation during the drive.  I told her about the band and the wedding, and I learned a lot about Uber.  I looked it up later and read that it was launched in San Francisco in 2009 and has since expanded to cities around the world; I admit I wasn't familiar with it before tonight.  I understand Uber is not without its controversy, but my first experience with it was great.  After spending so much of this journey seeing old friends, meeting new folks, and employing technology, it struck me as apropos that my last night on tour would begin with my friends' wedding and end with a ride home from a stranger I met through a ridesharing app.  These truly are amazing times in which we live.

We have one more gig tomorrow afternoon at the Sweetwater brewery back in Atlanta, and then we'll head home to Jacksonville.  I feel like I could keep traveling forever, but I'm ready to come home, too.  It's an interesting contradiction.

Prost!

- Jon

Athens to Atlanta

I woke up two and a half hours before checkout at the Travelodge.  I left Brett and Mikey to sleep, and rode Shadowfax through downtown Athens to the North Oconee River Greenway.  Once I found the trail, I rode the few miles to its end and back.  I noticed a spot on the street downtown where the pavement had been worn down and what appeared to be the original brick road was visible.

By the time I returned to the hotel, the boys were starting to get ready.  During my ride, I had passed a restaurant called Mama's Boy that appeared to be popular with UGA students and other locals, so I suggested going there before leaving Athens.  I ordered the tofu stir fry and fruit.  It hit the spot.

Our friend, Mark (a different Mark than the one who had arranged last night's gig) had invited us to stay at his place in Decatur, Georgia tonight.  We met Mark a few years back through our friend, Sam.  Mark has allowed us to stay with him when we play Atlanta.  Conveniently, our gig tonight was only a few blocks from his place.  Brett and Mikey wanted to stay in once we arrived.  I was feeling ambitious, so I went for another bike ride.

I decided to attempt the Stone Mountain Trail to Stone Mountain Park.  This trail was interesting.  It weaves in and out of regular streets and traffic.  It was difficult to tell where the automobile-free trail would resume, but I got the hang of riding on the streets until I found the signs for the trail again.  I also employed my TrailLink app to keep me on track.  At first, I became frustrated, but it turned into a fun quest to find the next part of the trail and reach its terminus.  It was a healthy trek, about 25 miles round trip.  Along the route, I marveled at the dichotomy of Atlanta's urban landscapes and natural vistas.

There was much more to explore in Stone Mountain Park, but I needed to head back and get ready for tonight.  I returned in time to get cleaned up, and we drove the few minutes to the gig.  Big Tex seemed like more of a restaurant than a live music venue.  Our stage was simply a cleared-out corner of the dining room floor.  There was, however, a small PA system.  Our host, Mark, and our mutual friend, Sam came to see us.  Rich, Jessica, and Bill, some friends we know from Jacksonville, are now living in Atlanta, and they stopped by as well.  All in all, the show went well.  The owner seemed pleased, and he compted our meals (I had a black bean burger).  The moderate-sized crowd was into us.  It was also great to see our friends.

We stayed at the venue and talked with our Jacksonville buddies for a bit.  Then we returned to Mark's house and hung out with him and Sam.  We're leaving early tomorrow morning because Brett wants to check out a guitar in Greeneville, Tennessee before we head to Asheville, North Carolina.  I'm glad I was able to do a lot of bike-riding today because I probably won't get the chance for the next two days.  I'm looking forward to playing my friends' wedding tomorrow.  There are two days left in the tour and thirteen remaining for my 100 days alcohol-free.  I'm in the home stretch!

Cheers!

- Jon

Dawg Days

I woke up late and stayed in my room even later.  Now that I'm not waking up hungover from alcohol, I'm keenly aware of when I have what feels like a food hangover.  I passed on the frozen pizza last night, but made up for it by gorging myself again on vegan provisions.  I need to remember that too much of a good thing is still too much.  My occasional eating disorder is a whole other issue I need to deal with.

I went for a jog and a purging sweat in the sweltering heat.  I said goodbye to the farms and red clay roads that have provided me and Shadowfax with safe passage and adventure these last few days.

There is a tradition at the Green Bell Bed & Barn on the last day of Bass & Grass.  Generally, everyone is gathered at the shack, and folks say their goodbyes from there.  Jay or Jennie will ring the namesake green bell for each person as they depart to wish him or her safe travels as well as a safe return.  Since we were alone at the shack today, I rang the bell three times as we left to tide us over until Bass & Grass at the end of October. We stopped by the main house and said thanks and goodbye to Jennie and Avery.  Then we headed out towards Athens, Georgia.  But first, there was an offer we couldn't refuse.

Our young friend, Logan, whom we had met at Bass & Grass, had messaged me last night and asked if we would be traveling through Macon on our way to Athens.  I responded that indeed, we would be.  He said that his mom, Cat, had made some cookies and would be home if we wanted to stop by.  Cat helps out with a lot of the meal preparation at Bass & Grass, and we all remember devouring the amazing cookies she made.  I texted her and asked if the offer was valid and still available.  She said yes and invited us to stop by.  Cat is so sweet and her dark chocolate oatmeal cookies were scrumptious.  Indeed, I partook and washed it down with almond milk; it seemed like an obvious "when in Rome" moment.  Perhaps if I remember to feed my heart from time to time, I won't feel compelled to overfeed my body.  Unfortunately, we were on a tight schedule, so we essentially had to eat and run.  We hit the road towards Athens, appreciative for the heavenly snack and our brief visit with Cat and her positive energy.

A couple hours later, we were in Athens, home of the University of Georgia.  Our buddy Mark was waiting for us.  We met Mark a few years ago, and he set up tonight's gig for us.  Hendershot's seemed like a good venue, with a nice stage, a quality sound system, a good audio engineer, and a comfortable green room.  We arrived early enough to sound check and hang out with Mark for a while.  He introduced me to a young woman who had seen our main stage set at FloydFest, the same set for which we had received complaints.  She told me her whole family had attended and that they all really enjoyed our lyrics.  I guess they weren't the ones complaining.

Mark had set up a another show for us two years ago in Milledgeville, Georgia, where we met a young flatpicker named Rowdy.  We invited Rowdy to join us on stage that night, and he sat in with us again at the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, Florida.  He and his family came out to tonight's show, and we invited him to join us again for a few tunes.  He's 17 years old and a damn good guitarist.  It's always a pleasure to get "Rowdy" up on stage!

I enjoyed tonight's gig.  Hendershot's is a good room for live music, we played well, and we had another "small but appreciative" crowd.  I could definitely tell that the last few days at the Green Bell were just what the doctor ordered; I felt refreshed and happy to be back on stage.

Speaking of the Green Bell, Avery drove to Athens to see our show and spend some time back on his college stomping grounds (he just graduated in May).  His buddy, Jim, a current UGA student also came out to the show.  After our performance, Avery and Jim were our guides for a night out on the college town.  First, we walked to The Grill for a late-night dinner.  I ordered the Tofu Dogs because they struck me as the most appropriate choice from a 24-hour diner in UGA Dawg country.

Our hunger abated, we hit up a couple bars.  I didn't really mind my role as the elder statesman tonight, nor did I feel like I was missing out on too much by being the only one in the group not imbibing.  In fact, I had quite a fun night hanging with my young friends.  We ended up staying out until last call before parting ways with Avery and Jim and retiring to the room that Mark had arranged for us at a nearby Travelodge.

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring, other than the fact that we have a gig in Decatur, which is near Atlanta.  I reckon I'll just go with the flow and see what adventures I find along the way.

Prost!

- Jon

Coffee and a Metronome

Today was our last responsibility-free day at the Green Bell Bed & Barn.  I found Brett in the dining room playing his guitar, with coffee and a metronome on the table in front of him.  He said we needed to work on the material for the new record.  We agreed to reconvene at 3pm for band practice.

I decided to return to Perry with Shadowfax and check out the self-guided historic tour.  According to the website I consulted, maps of the tour stops could be picked up at the Perry Welcome Center and the New Perry Hotel, the first stop of the tour.  I figured it made sense to go directly to the hotel.  When I arrived, however, they didn't seem to know what I was talking about.  The phonograph record player and phone booth were authentic-looking additions to the historic hotel's lobby.  I rode by the nearby cemetary, which had a sign with the phone number for the tour, but I would need a map to find the other stops.  I decided to ride to the welcome center.

They woman at the welcome center gave me the map I needed.  She seemed disappointed and a little frustrated to hear the New Perry Hotel didn't have any.  She noticed my folding bike and asked about my travels.  I gave her a brief summary of where I've been and where I'm heading.  Upon hearing about our next gig, she gave me three travel brochures for Athens, one for each band member.  At this point, I didn't really have time to ride back to downtown and take the tour, so I rode back to the Green Bell to shower and get ready for band practice.  Perhaps I'll give the self-guided tour one more try before we leave tomorrow.  At least I got a little exercise.

Our mid-afternoon practice went well.  We went over some of Brett's new songs.  After a while, Brett retreated to his room to work out some lyrics.  I stayed in the living room and did the same.  It started to rain, which created a relaxed, darkened environment conducive to musical creativity.  I feel like I was able to finish the lyrics for two of my song ideas.

Jay drove up in his pickup with his dog, Tucker, in the back.  He was heading to the small pond to feed the brim and play fetch with Tucker.  Brett and I tagged along.  Tucker is a big, happy dog.  The athleticism he demonstrated running and diving into the pond to retrieve the tennis ball was impressive.  His joyful enthusiasm, as always, was infectious.

We picked up Mikey and rode to the main house with Jay.  It was our last dinner with our hosts before we leave tomorrow.  We enjoyed another delicious family meal and another evening with our friends.  I stuffed myself with healthful vittles, including the rest of the raw kohlrabi.

This weekend we'll be in Athens and Decatur for bar gigs, Asheville to play at our friends' wedding, and the Sweetwater brewery in Atlanta.  It's our last weekend of gigs on the road, and we'll be home Sunday night.  It's hard to believe we're in the home stretch.  We'll have a few days to get resettled at home, and then we've got work to do.  We're meeting with the video designer at One Spark next week to shoot our interview, we've got a couple fun weekends of gigs near home, and then we'll head back to Nashville to record.  We still have work to do to get ready for the sessions, but I'm encouraged by the progress we made today.  The classes I'm taking at UMass Boston also begin a week from Monday.  Our stop here at the Green Bell has been invaluable.  It's time to get to work.

Cheers, y'all!

- Jon