North Country Trail Celebration 2024: 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 →
DCI Preliminary Finals
August 11, 2022 – Indianapolis 1:30pm Let the games begin. I’m in Indianapolis, the Circle City for three days of world championships of Drum Corps International at the Lucas Oil Stadium. At this moment, I am in the clubroom in the center of the stadium in between shows of the open class corps. Later this afternoon, I will take my seat with Drum Corps … Continue Reading →
The Power of Positivity
August 9, 2022 – Mounds State Park, Indiana It was my father that taught me the power of thinking positively, and always relating with other in a positive manner. This technique has once again proven itself with respect to the Silver Bullet, my 6-year-old Volvo. Sitting forlornly in the lot at Almartin Volvo, the car will soon be getting a new lease on life, … Continue Reading →
Deep in the Heart of DCI
August 8, 2022 – Wexford, Pennsylvania I am in Wexford, Pennsylvania, deep into my 2022 DCI tour. This is the location where my 2008 Volvo, the old Grey Ghost, had transmission trouble back in 2018 while on tour. Today, I will be stopping into Bobby Rahal Volvo here to thank them again for helping me in 2018, and to share my story about my … Continue Reading →
Allentown Bound, Yay!
August 4, 2022 – Waitsfield, VT It has been a bit of a roller coaster ride of emotions planning and executing my drum corps tour this season. It is especially challenging when your car breaks down. I am happy to report that I will be on my way to Allentown, PA tomorrow morning in a brand-new Volvo SUV. Almartin Volvo in Shelburne Vermont … Continue Reading →
NightBEAT 2022
August 2, 2022 Well, it was a night of mixed experience at the Truist Field Sunday night. Mother Nature provided a mixture of bright sky, alternated by passing waves of a layered variety of cloud types including cumulonimbus, resulting a passing rain showers replete with a rainbow. The stadium was temporarily dampened, but the performers on the field were truly fired up before that, … Continue Reading →
Love and Peace-of-Mind in the South
Saturday, July 30, 2022 – Winston Salem, NC I am very glad that I changed my plans to fly to Greensboro and rent a car for the weekend. Being in flux on my car repairs, and not really wanting to drive the extra miles, and additional days on the road to start my auto tour, I went for a low fare, cheap rental car, … Continue Reading →
Drum Corps Doldrums in Vermont
July 23, 2022 – Waitsfield, Vermont Here I sit along the Mill Brook, whiling away time with my thoughts and fingers. The brook is louder today because of the heavy rain last night. The water is high, but I am in the middle of my drum corps summertime drought. The month of July is the cruelest month for me because my DCI tour takes … Continue Reading →
Iron Will and Stubborn Feet
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 →
BAC in their Hometown
July 5, 2022 Caffeine, cruise control, and rock n’ roll. That was the motto that I employed with my down-and-back trip to Lynn, MA, just outside the city of Boston for the Bean Pot Invitational, DCI show last Sunday. The Silver Bullet (my Volvo wagon) is getting a little tired at 100 thousand miles and she is running a little rough but I nursed … Continue Reading →
A Lark in the Lot.
July 1, 2022 – Along the Mill Brook, Waitsfield, Vermont I am back home on my brookside deck after an eventful first tour of my drum corps season – Southern California. After a couple of days getting caught up at home and a round of golf, it’s time to catch up with you where I left off, DCI Western Connection, San Bernardino, CA. My … Continue Reading →