Nessa and I have known Jerry Weiner for over thirty years. Well, Nessa has known him longer than that. He was Nessa’s best bud in Key West before we met and he was her ‘maid of honor’ at our wedding on the Schooner Wolf in 1988. Jerry has done and been many things in his life, but he is also a master masseuse currently in residence at the Westglow Resort And Spa in Blowing Rock, North Carolina. The Kaukonens travel together a lot… that’s what we do, but we rarely get true family time. We had a couple of days after I got back from Hawaii so Ness conspired with Jerry to book us into the Westglow. We climbed into my big truck and drove on down.
It had been a while since I had been on the Blue Ridge Parkway and it’s easy to forget how beautiful it is. Five hours later we were there checking into the Fleur De Lis house.
The girls walking up Daingerfield.
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
A delicious dinner in the Rowland House and a good night’s sleep in preparation for a morning trip to the Mile High bridge at Grandfather Mountain.
Here we are!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
I’d been to Mt. Mitchell, but Never Grandfather Mountain. It was truly awesome!
The girls on Mile High Bridge
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Some consider that Appalachian Mountains to be among the oldest in the world. This is awesome stuff!
Speaks for itself!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Straight down...
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
This is better than my drone! What a view!
Nessa... standing on top of he world!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
The back to Westglow and the Rowland for another five star dinner and sunset!
This is au naturel!
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Another restful night at the Fleur De Lis, breakfast and a goodbye to Westglow and Jerry.
Izze, Nessa and jerry
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Like I said, to just get away on a trip that is not surrounded with work… well, it just never happens.
Goodbye view from the porch at Rowlands.
Foto by Jorma Kaukonen
Short but sweet… and now back home on a hot, hot July day!
Onwards!
It must have shrank over the years.
@greg
Great pictures – love the one of the girls walking, so nice to see the bond that you and Vanessa have with her, and of course the sunset….
🙂
@John B
God takes care of drunks and fools. I shudder to think of landing face first in that water.
I was at that Fastlane show and I can remember that the heat was intense ! Glad you made it out okay…..That is what we do , or are supposed to do ….look out for one another. The account of the good Samaritan comes to mind.
@mark k
Yippies founder Paul Krassner dead…Was part of “Up Against The Wall MF-er” movement:
https://variety.com/2019/music/news/paul-krassner-satirist-yippies-co-founder-and-counter-culture-figure-dies-at-87-1203275013/
The electric show at The Fast Lane in 1990 was the loudest Tuna show ever, for me anyway. It was a nicer venue some years earlier when Jack and SVT played there.
Not my proudest moment, but I was at the Fastlane for Tuna who came on late, too much heat and way too much Alcohol. I was about to be sick but took one look at the sewage backup and flood in the bathroom and managed to take my business outside of the back door where I was found by the boys after the show was over who I am told escorted me back to the hotel in Deal. Don’t remember if I ever properly thanked you Jorma, but in hindsight while this episode could have ended in disaster at least I lived to share this sordid tale.
I might be wrong but Jack did a little back up vocals at a show in the old Fastlanes in Asbury Park back in the 80s. Only time I saw and heard this. (Jorma was right, worst bathrooms ever). Also back in the 80s at the old pier 84 for one show, they sold an exclusive Jack Casady t-shirt. Still have mine but it doesn’t fit.
It was “Party Song” and I swear I have seen Jack singing or at least mouthing the words for 99 Year Blues on more than a few occasions
Yea Great I remember the let jack sing era it was a riot having another thing to yell out at shows. I think it started with verse jack singing,, party tonight or lets party tonight ??? g
I STILL have my tye-dye “Let Jack Sing!” t-shirt I purchased outside the Capitol Theater in 1976…and YES, it still fits!
Jorma I know this is off topic as the kids today say but I came across a website from some guy in England selling a T-shirt featuring you but I did not want to buy it if this is something you have not approved. I try not to get taken by merch people who are ripping off the artists. Great looking shirt but I wanted to check first.
Hey Charles
Thanks for asking… It’s probably a bootleg.
Plans being finalized for the Beacon around Thanksgiving?
I did that drive on the return leg of a Dead/Band show at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse. Very beautiful ……@mark k
Jorma
A 50th anniversary tour and NO San Francisco/Bay Area dates?
What do you and Jackson have up your sleeves, Baby?
Don’t forget Pennsylvania. Rout 6 West to East across the Northern Tier is a beautiful drive. Very scenic, passes the Grand Canyon of PA and other great sites. See you next month at the Sherman Theatre.
@Brian Doyle
Very nice, I did some camping up on the Appalachian Trail in my youth. Now, when I cross the mountains, it’s all about the rest stop. The Sideling Hill cut on Rt. 68 has a great view to the East and some awesome geology. It also lets me know I’m half-way there.
We saw Grandfather Mountain east of the Appalachian Trail on our through hike of the Trail…Got to roam in them hills, drink spring water, sleep under the stars, and become a mountain man years ago…
I will be crossing the Appalachian Divide from NJ heading to Southeast Ohio’s river valley, for Arts and Minds fest. Have not been to the FPR since 2016, and it was a hot one. But this weekend will be on fire.
I’m looking forward to some cold smoothies, homemade ice cream and smokin’ sets on the Gazebo stage!
@eaglesteve
Saw his last performance w brother Edgar in Tarrytown NY a few months before he left us.
(fyi there is a clip on youtube)
Gary Clark Jr. now carries on that Texas blues guitar vein of Stevie Ray & Jimmie Vaughan, etc.
Johnny Winter, 4 years gone, at age 70, … never forgotten.
RIP Bro
It was a pleasure for Frank and myself to meet you and your family after dinner at Rowland’s. What a beautiful night and special spot in the Blue Ridge Mountains!
Back attcha Jessie… the pleasure was ours as well. Safe travels and hope to see you down the road.
Looks like a great time. A little pampering is great for the body and soul.
You deserve it Jorma. Glad you had a good time.
Great stuff Jorma !! Enjoy to the fullest always !! Peace & love
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rk_fzqAfLto
That’s always a great place to visit in our fair state here.
Next time see if you can get to nearby Wiseman’s View for a look at Linville Gorge. You can see Tablerock and Hawksbill mountains, and if you’re lucky (in the evening) maybe the legendary Brown Mountain Lights.
Tuna should get booked at Harrah’s in Cherokee, then you can enjoy the Parkway south of Asheville. It’s a little different look with more rock face.
Looking forward to the Carrboro show next month, tickets in hand!!
See ya in Carrboro Dave
Try the Veal Parm at Blue Ridge Pizza!
The Blue Ridge is the only place I’ve been to in the country that I’d consider leaving my Texas woodlands for.The Rockies have their majesty, as do the Sierras and the Catskills and Green Mts.,, but the subtlety of diversity, both in flora and topographically, call to me like no other place. Couple of down days up in there will still the waters real quick. Good for you being able to take the time.
Many years ago I drove from Front Royale Virginia , the start of Skyline Drive , down to the end of the Blue Ridge Parkway……Let me tell you that the beauty was just out of this world and something I will never forget . When we took our trip the Rhododendrom bushes were in their full glorious bloom. Many of them were twelve to fifteen high or more. So glad that you an your family were able to take that trip. God is good !