Closer to Home

I took a hike in Shelburne, MA to a place called The High Ledges.

It is mid-late foliage season and the colors are on the dull side on an overcast afternoon. Still, I think it looks pretty enough.

I captured a few images along the 20 minute hike to the vista.

I hope to return again before the end of the year, because of the wonderful views of the valley below.

Green Mountain State Of Mind (Part Two)

 

Middlebury, Vermont. Where my former band Orange Crush ruled on campus for over 10 years.

(that's Rich on the Bass)

So coming back here was fun after being the toast of the town every year until the band untied the knot 6 years ago, after 12 years of college shows, it was a seriously good run. 

This time around, I get to stroll with my girlfriend, and take in the Fall scenes like everybody else. When I was here, we only had time to load in, eat, play and then crash in whatever hotel room they decided to give us. It was a wonderful lazy trip heading back from Burlington.  I hope to return for another concert, and stroll around the Queen City.

Green Mountain State of Mind

The Concert at Higher Ground was amazing, and checking out of the hotel on a Monday felt more like a Sunday. No matter. We both had the day off, so we could stroll around Burlington at our own pace.

This is pretty much an open letter to how I feel about living in the moment I am right now,

A good circle around the coolest block in Burlington.

And that was before we even had lunch. 

Gimme Non-Fiction

 I am a passionate music fan. When a new band comes along that plays Rock music, I am especially interested. One of those bands is Spoon.

Without even really talking about it, my girlfriend bought two tickets to see them at Higher Ground in Burlington Vermont. I'm glad she jumped at the chance.

Burlington is a favorite of mine, as far as New England towns go. A little chilly, but it's very pretty, and the attitude of the people is friendly and laid back. I found a hotel reasonably priced that happened to be right across from the club.

The concert was amazing. I knew several of their songs already, but it would not have mattered if I knew any of them.

Spoon is from Austin Texas, but you would be able to tell by the way they sound. 

Elements of John Lennon, The Kinks, The VU, Television, and a few other seminal, edgy Rock artists from that period. Proof of vaccination needed to get in, and we still wore a mask just in case.

Funny enough, two friends of ours were there, but we didn't see each other... possibly because our faces were obscured.

Up, Over and Across.

 

I had one of my shows canceled this weekend, and it was a nice Fall afternoon. So we took the kids to Berkshire East to ride the Mountain Coaster, as well as do some climbing at the Ariel Adventure Park.

The Mountain Coaster was like a higher speed version of the Alpine Slide I remember riding on many years ago in New Hampshire. Very enjoyable experience. 

The Ariel Adventure Park, was basically a climbing course of swings, ladders, ropes, bridges and small zip lines suspended up in the trees. It was a pretty active experience to say the least. 

But this was my idea in the first place, as we drove by here around this time last year, and thought it would be a good place to take the kids for some fun in the great outdoors. I just didn't know how much of it I would end up doing with them. Guess I'm still in pretty good shape for an old dude. I remember playing here back in the '90s with Zip Cody, and I'm not sure how I got the gig.

Fast forward some 25 years, and the place has grown quite a bit. Mountain Biking is the big summer thing out here, but the coaster and ziplines were all pretty well booked. Lots more people come out here, especially during the foliage season, which is right on the edge or exploding with color.