And the Road Goes on Forever

Jay had mentioned at dinner last night that he would be driving to Macon, Georgia for his work in the morning and that we were welcome to tag along.  The boys were asleep when I got up, so I walked from the shack to the main house and found Jay in his office, right where he said he would be.  Jay took care of a few work-related emails, and then he and I headed for Macon in his Chevy Silverado.

It was only a forty-minute drive.  After Jay had picked up what he needed for work, we stopped by the Rose Hill Cemetary, which spreads out over several hills and valleys.  We found the side-by-side graves of Duane Allman and Berry Oakley, founding members of the Allman Brothers band.  It's hard to believe how young they were when they passed away and the musical legacy they left behind.

The cemetary was built in 1840, twenty-one years before the start of the American Civil War, and includes Soldier Square, a section where more than 600 Confederate soldiers are buried.

Jay listed the names several restaurants and asked if any sounded appealing for lunch.  The Fountain of Juice (also recommended earlier by Jennie) seemed like a good, healthy choice.  It didn't disappoint.

After lunch, Jay and I admired some of the architecture and local flavor of Macon in and around downtown.

I appreciated having some one-on-one time with Jay and learning more about his life and career, and the story of him and Jennie.  We also had an insightful discussion about alcohol, addictions, detoxification, and spirituality.  Jay needed to return to his home office and get back to work, so we headed back to the Green Bell Bed & Barn.

During the ride back, I received a call from a woman with One Spark. She asked how the band was doing and if we'd be interested in doing a video about winning first place and what we're up to. I said yes, definitely, and mentioned that we've been on tour and will be recording our new album in September.  Upon hearing this, she proposed doing some cross promotional marketing.  We briefly discussed some ideas, and she said their video person would follow up with us.  I'm excited about the possibilities.

After Jay dropped me off at the shack, I rode Shadowfax to the town of Fort Valley, Georgia.  Again, my decision was arbitrary, providing me with a direction and an achievable goal.  The ride was an enjoyable, moderate workout, and provided me with more unique and idyllic scenery.  I've noticed red dirt roads seem very prevelant in these parts.

I returned after a little over two hours and knocked out a push-up/plank workout session.  Soon, the boys and I joined Jennie, Jay, Avery, and Russell again for dinner.  Jennie said she had a "mystery vegetable" called kohlrabi.  We googled different methods of preparation, and she decided to roast them along with broccoli and zucchini.  After peeling and cutting the kohlrabi, we tried some raw with Jennie's amazing, all-purpose green dip/salad dressing.  Jay had thawed some previously-caught frozen bass, and worked his magic frying it up.  We enjoyed another delicious dinner, and another delightful evening with our friends.  We had brought our instruments over this time and performed a few tunes for our hospitable hosts.

Today was another day in paradise, with a trip to Macon and a bike ride to Fort Valley thrown in for good measure.  Time spent at the Green Bell is time well spent.

See you down the road!

- Jon