Occasional Musings by Kevin Russell
August 22, 2024 – St. Ignace, Michigan Yay! I am in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. After a long and winding road trip from Vermont, I have reached my destination for the third phase of my summer tour. I am at the Little Bear Sports Center in St. Ignace, Michigan, the hub of activities for the North Country Trail Association Annual (NCTA) Celebration. If … Continue Reading →
July 20, 2022 Last month, I had a chance to walk in the woods with writer and long-distance through-hiker Joan Young for a very special hiking experience. Upon first meeting her on the Oak Ridge Trail in the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area in Ripton, Vermont, I was immediately struck by her sure-footed strides and confident nature as we wended through the Green Mountain Forest … Continue Reading →
August 16, 2021 I want to give full credit to the name of this final blog entry of my 2021 DCI tour to the Phantom Regiment, who’s retro performance of their epic program – Harmonic Journey was the best medicine for many fans who have suffered from DCDD (Drum Corps Deficit Disorder) for over 22 months. It seemed to be fitting to end this series of … Continue Reading →
August 12, 2021 10:00am – Oxford, Ohio Yesterday was another fine day of trails and travel from Centerville in eastern Ohio where I spent a quiet slumber in the Volvo following my final DCI outdoor show in the Elks Stadium the night before. There was no drum corps show, so my plan was to finally ride my bike on a section of the Buckeye/North … Continue Reading →
August 11, 2021 This morning, I am sitting in a public park near Centerville, OH with nobody around, basking in quiet reflection. It is great places to socially distance and catch up with you on yesterday’s travels and adventures and last night’s show at the Elks Stadium in Centerville. It was another perfect evening for outdoor drum corps. Deciding at the last minute to … Continue Reading →
August 10, 2021 “It’s raining outside, and that’s not unusual. But the way that I’m feeling is becoming usual.” – Uriah Heep 1972. That tune is going through my head as I am sitting comfortably in the Hilton Gardens in Akron, OH. Time to catch up on my blog. I’m feeling great after another fantastic night of DCI. The Bluecoats’ home show never disappoints. … Continue Reading →
August 7, 2021, 4:20pm – Allentown, PA Yup, by the sheer grip on the wheel at 9:30 and 2:30, and the pedal to the mid-metal, I have transported the loaded Silver Bullet and myself to Allentown, PA. Ten bucks gets the choice parking spot behind the Hamilton Family Diner, one block from J. Birney Crum Stadium, home to DCI’s East Coast Championships. This year … Continue Reading →
July 24, 2021 Today is Saturday, and I gave my feet the pleasure of a walk around the Waitsfield Farmer’s Market and a short stretch of the sidewalk, crossing Main Street twice. The past week, they have propelled me along roughly forty-six miles of hiking in the Green Mountains and the Champlain Valley. Not accustomed to that much confinement in my waterproof boots, I … Continue Reading →
July 18, 2021 It was a day in the Green Mountain National Rain Forest. Intermittent, sometimes strong and steady, the rain did not deter our progress along the Oak Ridge and Moosalamoo Trails. Long-distance hiker Denali (trail name) and I were off on her 4,700-mile mission to complete the North Country Trail. We were traversing the Moosalamoo National Recreation Area, near Ripton, Vermont, a proposed route … Continue Reading →
August 3, 2020 As I sit here along the Mill Brook, I am thinking about where I would be in my drum corps tour this year if it had not been for the dreaded Covid-19 that spoiled that parade. I would be in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Oh, how I miss the annual mecca of sound and sight at J. Birney Crum Stadium. It was the … Continue Reading →