Ruthie and me a couple of years ago on tour with Robben Ford

Thanks to Michael G. Stewart for the beautiful foto.

A couple of years ago I was on a Columbia Artist Management tour with Robben Ford, Ruthie Foster et al and Ruthie and I talked about having her come and perform at the Fur Peace Station in scenic Darwin, Ohio. Well, it took a couple of years but she finally made the trip and she play two in incredibly powerful and moving sets to a completely sold out house. Ruthie is beyond spectacular in every sense of the word. See and hear her if you get a chance… anywhere!!!!!!!

Earlier this summer, good old fun loving Hot Tuna did a little run with our good friend Jill Sobule. Jill has a guitar primer of her songs out, and since I realized that I want to be just like her when I grow up, here I am… working on it.

a one... and a two... and a

foto by Bob Doherty

My son Zach has been with us for the last three weeks and as the end of his summer vacation approaches, yesterday I drove him back to his home in Virginia. Well, actually he drove me. He’s got his permit now and well… freedom is just down the road, hand in hand with responsibility. Here’s a shot from the passenger seat somewhere in West Virginia.

...and the road is open wide...

Good times here… but better on down the road.

Onward!

Here I am with Tom Rush

So last weekend, as I mentioned, Tom Rush was the featured artist in our concert series. Back when I was just getting started, Tom was one of the Big Dogs… having already made several albums for a major label. We wanted to follow in his footsteps of course… and all these years later, here we are.

Zach between the scoots...

The weekend over, Zach and I did a boatload of riding, and there’s more to come.

Two men with guitars

Of course there was and is plenty of time for guitar picking… the way it was meant to be.

What was left of the class at the A frame

Zach was sitting on my class at the Fur Peace Ranch but by the time we got around to taking the class picture on Monday morning, some of the guys had already returned to reality. Good times anyway though…

The bridges of the Ohio River Valley

Zach and Jerry Bayha and I went on a 250 mile ride up river out of Marietta to Hannibal from Rt. 78 to 536. Twelve miles of demanding twisties… Just beautiful… Ohio’s cousin of the Tail Of The Dragon. You bikers gotta do this one for sure. Lot’s of covered bridges and beautiful uninhabited roads on the way to 536.

Can't have too many covered bridges

A peaceful moment

Flow gently...

The bridges just kept coming

My son and daughter have been riding with me… a biker dad’s dream come true. Yesterday, Izze and Zach and I went on down to the Meig’s County Fair on Rock Springs Road in time for the Tough Track last night. Mud flyin’ and engines roaring… trick pro machines as well as ‘run whattcha brung’ units. Good times with corn dogs, cotton candy, funnel cakes and the whole nine yards…

Sunset at the fairgrounds

So far so good… Izze starts second grade tomorrow and Zach goes back to school the Tuesday after Labor day… still a little time for fun.

Onward!

I’m sitting here backstage at the Fur Peace Station listening to Tom Rush play Jazzman. A concert at my home… so to speak. Life is good indeed…

Sitting here thinking about what has transpired so far this summer and I though I’d share it in pictures.

My girls at the amusement park in Old Orchard Beach... Maine

The view from the summer cottage on the beach in Saco... Maine

My girl in the Faerie Village in the forest

Amusement parks... gotta love it!

The cottage by the beach... from the beach

A morning walk...

Morning spirit...

The pond by David's house on Martha's Vineyard

The wall at KPIG... Harvey is in the background... (RIP) Sally Van Meter and me and...

Glory on the porch of the Edgartown Inn MV

Tradition at the Edgartown Inn

Breakfast at the Inn

Barry and Myron on the beach at Chappaquiddick

Yours truly on the beach at Chappaquiddick

Back home... country girls on a pickup truck

OK... Pledge Of Allegiance at Tough Track, Athens County Fair

This never ceases to move me!

Hillbilly Olympics

My son Zach's first street bike. Screw it... let's ride!

The American Queen dips her stack to pass the bridge in Pomeroy

Heading towards Pittsburgh on the Queen

Tom is still playing… I’m still digging it. I’m going to play with him second set… and summer’s not done yet!

Good times….

The pond behind the 'gig.'

Vanessa and I and indeed the whole Fur Peace Ranch family of projects and programs owe a great debt of thanks to David Wolff and Peter Goodman who, in the early stages of our Kickstarter program really got the ball rolling. These gentlemen saw our vision and were instrumental in our achieving our goals. What they got for being so fearless… was a private show for them and forty of their friends at David and Lindsay’s place in Chilmark on Martha’s Vineyard. It was a fabulous evening and I was joined by Barry Mitterhoff, his daughter Tessa and David himself. Here is our set list:

Jorma Kaukonen And Barry Mitterhoff 21, 2013
The Kickstarter Party On Martha’s Vineyard
David & Lindsay’s Place
Chilmark, Massachusetts
Wednesday, July 31, 2013

1. True Religion
2. Second Chances
3. Hesitation Blues
4. Children Of Zion with Tessa Mitterhoff
5. The Terrible Operation with Tessa Mitterhoff
6. Vicksburg Stomp
7. I See The Light
8. I’ll be All Right Some Day
9. Come Back Baby
10. Flying Clouds with David Wolff
11. Midnight In Milpitas with David Wolff
12. I Know You Rider with David Wolff
13. Things That Might Have Been
14. Red River Blues
15. 99 Year Blues
16. I Am The Light Of This World
17. Nine Pound Hammer
18. Encore: Embryonic Journey

Truly a glorious evening for and, I hope… them. Now it’s back home for the rest of the summer… more or less. I truly look forward to this.

Onward!