Headin' for Another Joint

    This chapter of of spring tour was one I really looking forward to experiencing.  When these shows were announced I immediately knew we were going.  I was reminded of when Bob announced the 2 Backyard shows in Austin in 2003, calling Caroline, trying to wait long enough to call her and express my excitement not to wake her up.  I didn’t succeed that time.  Austin is one of those places where I have always felt I fit in.  People are out and about every night, in the days people are out with their dogs enjoying the still fast growing city.  When I was younger I dreamt of moving to Austin,

My first venture into Bobland this tour, this year, and this decade, was defined in large part by the reuniting after way too long with Kait and sharing in the unshakable bond between us two that is never stronger than when we are around Bob. This second excursion, all the way across the country to the Empire State, was punctuated by a whole cavalcade of connections and re-connections.

I leave for Tulsa approximately 48 hours before show time, not out of such extreme enthusiasm (though I am excited), but because I live 5 hours away from the nearest viable airport and my flight east is at 6 AM. It's an epic journey for one show that starts with a night (not) sleeping at the airport in San Francisco, but it is 100% worth the trip!

Toledo, Ohio 6/29/16

Some fortuitous timing seemed to be involved in Bob’s spring US tour announcement this year. It came on the heels of a decision to go to New Orleans for the second weekend of Jazz Fest; and while I’d miss the New Orleans Bob show by a couple of days, the following week lined up perfectly, with shows right next door in Texas and then a Tulsa show… that’s all on the way home to Denver from Louisiana, right?

We are awakened by an alarm clock set for 5:00, a decision made difficult by the coziness of our private lodgings. But we must be on our way and we are consoled by the knowledge that we’ll be back here for a night’s rest in two days. Good to have friends along the way, along the road.

We arrive in Blackpool after a day of flying and then riding the train out of London and across the countryside, to find our hotel, the Grand Metropole, is indeed the only hotel on the beach side of Promenade St., as promised. Built in 1776, and it seems quite possible that she’s not had a fresh coat of paint since; a faded old lady she is.Despite travel exhaustion, the red sun starting to set into the Irish Sea out our 3^rd story window calls us for a walk out on the pier. It’s quickly evident the neglect this city has suffered; Mr.

Akron, OH 4/19

This summer found us heading for Bob in the opposite direction of last year’s Southwesterly adventure: into the Dakotas, across Indian Country and then up into the North Country.  A really fun trip which included some hoteling, some ground sleeping, some sightseeing, some old friends, heart-warming Bob smiles, and a good bit of driving with Mr. Jinx at my side.  All ingredients of a satisfying Bob road trip!

As time goes on the chances to go and see Bob seem to come farther and fewer between. Between not being able to afford a good seat at seated show, not being able to afford the gas to see a whole run in the wild west and generally having responsibilities at home it’s been a light couple of years. Now, as my life changes again, I found myself driving though the heart of what I call “Bob country”. Bob country is a vast land with small, old cities dotted across the map at just the right distance.

I was excited to head back to this joint where I had fond memories of Bob from 2004. Not that the day I saw Bob at the Aragon five years ago was without its trials. Some time that morning is when we learned that our friend Todd, who we’d expected to see camped out near the front of the line or at least lurking in the area, had died. I still miss his sense of humor and his All Asses passes. The March wind stung and left us all with bright red cheeks by the time we were let in.