First of all, Virginia's Northern Neck is beautiful. It's remarkable that such a pleasant rural area can still exist so close to cities like Richmond and Washington. The area abounds in history - the birthplaces of George Washington and Robert E Lee are only a few miles apart. Their homes and those of Jefferson and Madison are not far from each other, either.
The gathering caught this area at the height of its spring beauty. When we left Texas, Spring was over and Summer was upon us. As we traveled to Virginia, it was like traveling back in time. Each area we passed through was earlier in Spring. In the Northern Neck, the dogwoods and azaleas were spectacular. Whole fields of clover and other flowering crops were in bloom.
Of course, the gathering isn't about flowers, or weather, which was also excellent, it's about people. It was wonderful to finally meet people I have been corresponding with for years - Bob Dorgan and Norm Draper spring to mind, but there were so many others I'm sure I'll fail to mention them all. George Wirth, Bob Gebeaux, Dale Gardner, Dick Thaxter, Dan Kozar, Joe Lipman and Tim Wampler are a few long-familiar names I've now put faces to. There were a lot of familiar faces, as well, with Joe Jordan, Steve Hawkins, Roger Hightower, Jeff Sherman, Mike Pugh, Hank Aliger, Charlie and Joan Park, John and Sue Holbrook, and by far not least, George and Ethyl Duff making us feel as though we were among old friends.
Guitars - Bob Gebeaux's are lovely, as was Jeff Berstein's gorgeous Beneteau. The sound of Murphy's Walker was stunning, wonderfully rich and full (sorry, I've forgotten which of you owned the guitar). Steve Hawkins new redwood/walnut Voyage Aire was every thing you'd expect from a Leach. Roger Hightower had an earlier model, which I think he said was the first Voyage Aire. Mike Pugh had one of Dave Painter's guitars and Dave, himself, had another. These are very nice instruments. I'm struck again by the number of people making guitars, and by the variety they represent. These are all somewhat different guitars, each builder has his own "take" on the instrument and the results are a wonderful panoply of sounds and looks and feels.
Among the older instruments, I guess I should mention the basket cases. The first I saw, was Bob Gebeaux's dumpster Gibson, which played and sounded great for having been in pieces. Tom Basham had another old gibson that had been a wreck for twenty years or more and was playing a sounding better than new. Of course, Norm's "Stolen" D-45 was in attendance, and much coveted.
There was food and drink in abundance, especially thanks to Tim for the excellent meats (while I know we have many vegetarians, if I haven't eaten meat, I haven't eaten. I am a confirmed carnivore. Thanks, Tim) I sampled many of the myriad beers on offer and I can report that I came away with a single sixpack of the two cases of Texas beers I brought. I guess somebody liked 'em.
Sorry I missed the last get-together Sunday night, but after my gas bottle problem and then my tire problem, I just gave out early. Farewell to all.
Was it worth it? Absolutely! Especially since I got a new guitar out of it - a Martin OM-16GT that Cotton's, in Nashville, had that I just couldn't pass up.
-Raf
(pictures to follow, shortly)
We just returned from a trip to Wimberley, TX. Our trip was to have my guitar reworked by its maker, Jamie Kinscherff. While we were there, we got to hear an Austin band called Jellyjar. Including some old friends, Al Sato, and Tom Metcalf, Jellyjar has got a fine sound and a good feel to them. I feel that they may do well, not least due to their association with another up and coming Austin band, Del Castillo.
