Jammin' at Hippie Jack's

The Frau and I spent this past Memorial Day weekend at a little music festival near Crawford, TN called Jammin' at Hippie Jack's.  It is relatively small festival that gets us out of Western North Carolina to hear some new music.  Our favorites this year was Darrell Scott and Geoff Achison.  Both of these guys were amazing!  Of course, there were some crowd pleasers there also such as the Flea Market Hustlers!

We really enjoyed this festival and got to meet some old friends and make some new ones.  After three days we were "musiced" out beyond our capacity and headed back for home.

The weather was cold and I was totally unprepared for it.  As a result I did not get to see some of the later acts (so called "headliners") that close each night's show.  I was in my tent and sleeping bag listening and trying to stay warm!

Only one minor incident marred the weekend.  A fellow concert goer slipped and fell in the stream by the "swimmin' hole" and broke his hip.  An ambulance had to be called and he was taken care of at a nearby hospital.  What a way to spend the weekend!

EMTs arrive to cart off a broken hip

We can't wait for next year, although we may be in Germany for couple of months.  We are not quite sure if we will be here for Memorial Day or not.  Only time will tell.  Until my next post here are some of the sights we say at Jammin' at Hippie Jacks.

You see all sorts of instruments at Hippie Jack's

The sound board

"Free the Honey"  I really like seeing young folks playing Americana music

The swimmin' hole

A sitar at Hippie Jack's?!?

Inside the tent

Festival food... fried, fried, fried

Bethany, WV

Last week the Frau was scheduled to do her presentation at Bethany College in Bethany, WV.  I was her chauffeur and dutifully drove her there and back.  I must admit I love these little trips to small colleges in Appalachia.  Bethany is a real jewel.  Think Oxford in the Appalachian Mountains.  Beautiful!

Bethany College

 The school had an almost monastic feel.  The small town of Bethany had only one general store for shopping, but it had a little bit of everything.  To find more extensive shopping one has to drive 15 or 20 miles.  Bethany is very remote, and that, we were told, was by design.

Bethany College

The General Store in Bethany, WV

The college was founded by Alexander Campbell in 1840.  Campbell was also the founder of the Disciples of Christ denomination.  He lived in a mansion approximately one mile from the present day campus.

The Campbell Mansion

 Another interesting fact is that the college was where the fraternity Delta Tau Delta was founded.  I am not a member of Delta Tau Delta, but my fraternity,  Pi Kappa Phi, had a friendly rivalry with them at my undergraduate Alma Mater of East Texas State University.  Many a bottle rocket was shot off between our two houses.

The Delta House

The historical marker in front of the Delta Tau Delta House

 I walked around photographing most of the day, but the Frau was there to work.  Her presentation was well received by students and professors alike.  It was quite a turnout for a Friday afternoon lecture!

The Frau doing her thing

The presentation complete we drove home the next day stopping by the New River Bridge.  The New River (despite its name) is actually one of the oldest rivers on the earth.  It also one of the few rivers that flows from south to north.  The bridge is the third highest vehicular bridge in the United States.  Each year, on the third Saturday of October, the bridge is closed for "Bridge Day".  On this day folks are treated to demonstrations of rappelling, base jumping and ascending.

Panoramic view of the New River Valley and Bridge

We arrived home that evening tired from the long trip but happy.

Stay tuned!  We will be traveling to Hippie Jack's in a few short weeks!

Clarksdale and Longview

Each year in March I try to get back to Texas for my Dad and Sister's birthdays.  This year I decided to make a stop in Clarksdale, MS to see Po' Monkey's juke joint in Marigold, MS.  Po' Monkey's is in a corn field in the middle of no where.  These days it is only open on Thursday nights and as luck would have it I was in Clarksdale on a Thursday night.

Poor Monkey's in Marigold, MS

Very tasteful decorating

The next day I drove to Texas to visit my family.  On Saturday we went to one of my favorite steak houses in Texas.  The 5D Cattle Company in Avinger, TX.  I ordered the 20 oz. T-bone.

My 20 oz. T-bone at 5D

The next day I spent shopping for food items I cannot get in North Carolina.  BBQ sauce, Whataburger Ketchup and Crazy Water from Mineral Wells.

Real BBQ sauce by Bodacious

Survival items need for a Texas Ex-Pat

The Blue Bell ice cream shown in the photo above did not make it to North Carolina!

On Monday we went to Jefferson, TX where I was introduced to the kornbread sandwich.  It was delicious!  I have since made them at home.

Kitt's - Home of the Kornbread Sandwich

We also drove by the dam at Lake o' the Pines.  It had been raining quite a bit and the spillway was flowing at the highest rate I have ever seen.

The spillway at Lake O' the Pines

Fishermen along the spillway

The next day I had to leave for the two day trip back to North Carolina.  The trip home was uneventful since I was just blasting back via the Interstate.

More trips are planned in the near future so stay tuned!