Thursday June 26 through Saturday June 28, 2025 (blog 1/2) - Because Wendy's sister Cacci (and husband Ken) could not make it out to St. Louis for THE WEDDING, Wendy wanted to go down to North Carolina for a visit. I said "Great - I leave Thursday morning, and pick you up at the Raleigh-Durham Airport, late Saturday afternoon. We'll drive the 70 miles to Pinehurst, and be there for a lovely dinner." Wendy said "OK!":
TOTAL TRIP: 2,895 miles covering 10 States, 4 museums, 157 Post Offices in 34 New Counties
A nice road-trip the first 3 days, going south: 460 miles on Thursday, 442 miles on Friday, and 353 miles on Saturday.
But let's back-up one night, to Wednesday June 25, when I saw Counting Crows up
Gilford, New Hampshire - WONDERFUL Show. I was far enough back that the sound was Just right (not too loud, not too soft):
By Thursday afternoon, I was having a great time grabbing Post Offices in the Susquehanna River Valley:
I ended as far west as
Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, before heading to my Super 8 in Mifflinville (460 miles today):
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Day 2 - Yesterday morning as I drove Bill Cross into our Thursday Men's Breakfast in Boston, I told him about my travel plans. He said: "You're going through Bloomsburg, PA? You have to stop at the Bloomsburg University Library - they have a couple of Tiffany stained-glass windows!!!" So that's how I started this morning - 8 miles west of my hotel (you can see the windows above the Library entrance):
"Truth and Virtue":
And then it was time to collect Post Offices in the Susquehanna River Valley, from
17821 - Danville, PA to
17751 - Mill Hall, PA. Highlights include - the shortest Freight Train I have ever seen:
I wanted to end this day going to
The Fralin Museum of Art, UVA, Charlottesville, VA. They have Friday hours until
8 PM! I figured I would check my route/timing when I finished in Mill Hall, PA - it was 300 miles/5 hours to get down to Charlottesville, so no more goofing around! 5-and-1/2 hours later, I was at
The Fralin:
Unfortunately, I liked only a single piece - Roman marble:
I checked into the Super 8 Charlottesville, VA a little after 8 (442 miles today):
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Day 3 - After my Saturday Morning Bible Study, I hit the road, grabbing a quick look at my old Business School:
Some lovely countryside, making my way south through Virginia and North Carolina to the Raleigh-Durham Airport:
I collected 34 Post Offices today, ranging from the Humble (24539 - Crystal Hill, VA) to the Grand (24592 - South Boston, VA):
I picked-up Wendy at 6 PM, and 90 minutes later we were at Ken and Cacci's in Pinehurst, North Carolina. Thank you God for these GREAT Adventures:
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Music for Day 1:
various -
America's Top Ten 90's Rock Hits, 2007 album, last heard 4/30/2021 - very good songs:
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes -
I Don't Want To Go Home, 1976 debut album, last heard 8/14/2019 - really good album- I remember buying it in the summer of 1976:
various -
I Heard It On NPR: Jazz For Blue Nights, 2007 compilation album, last heard 9/15/2021 - good compilation:
Jackson Browne -
I'm Alive, 1993 album, last heard 2/24/2023 - I really like this album. The title track is great, plus "Sky Blue and Black" just may be his best song ever:
various -
Amerikinda: 20 Years of Dualtone, 2021 compilation album, last heard never. ok folk music, but I don't need to keep it:
Garland Jeffreys -
American Boy & Girl, 1979 3rd album, last heard 8/09/2019 - I like Garland Jeffrey's albums. NYC vibes and recollections:
Pat Metheny Group -
American Garage, 1979 2nd album, last heard 7/03/2024 - Of course I really like this album! 1st song is "(Cross The) Heartland":
Afro Celt Sound System -
Volume 5: Anatomic, 2005 5th album, last heard 7/04/2024 - I like their stuff, but I have 4 albums by them - maybe I should trim that down?:
Patty Larkin -
Angels Running, 1993 album, last heard 9/18/2021 - Wendy and I like Patty a lot, and have seen her many times:
various -
Animal House soundtrack, 1978 soundtrack album, last heard 9/22/2023 - WOW, what A FUN ALBUM!!!:
Josh Ritter -
The Animal Years, 2006 album, last heard 9/22/2021 - very nice album, and a good introduction to Josh Ritter:
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Music for Day 2, starting with 7 selections from my purple nano:
Al Stewart -
Past, Present & Future (Nostradamus), 1974 album, last heard 5/22/2017 - excellent song:
Bill Morrissey -
Picnic (from "The Silverwolf Homeless Project"), 2005 compilation album, last heard 8/16/2017 - this is Bill's contribution; a song about a homeless man "Everything tastes better outdoors":
Chick Corea -
Trio Music, Live in Europe, 1986 live album, last heard 8/22/2017 - excellent jazz from Chick Corea – piano, Miroslav Vitouš – bass, Roy Haynes – drums:
Jamie Cullum -
Twenty Zer05, 2007 live album, last heard 8/22/2017 - I like Jamie Cullum's stuff, and this is a really good live album:
Joe Jackson -
Two Rainy Nights: Live in Seattle & Portland, 2002 live album, last heard 8/22/2017. I like Joe Jackson's stuff, and this is a really good live album:
various -
Ultra-Lounge, Vol. 5: Wild Cool & Swingin, 1996 (18 songs) compilation album, last heard 8/22/2017. The Ultra-Lounge cds stand the-test-of-time, and listening many years later; the music has a great deal of integrity, and no one is trying to be sarcastic or just "put on a show":
various -
Ultra-Lounge: Vegas Baby!, 2014 compilation album, last heard 7/12/2021 - see comments above:
The purple nano ran out of power, so it is back to the iPod
Pat Metheny Group -
Still Life (Talking), 1987 album, last heard 2/26/2017 - excellent album:
Warren Zevon -
I'll Sleep When I'm Dead (Anthology) (2 cds), 1996 anthology double-album, last heard 3/2/2017 - very nice when you are in the mood for a career-spaning retrospective (with a smattering of live tunes):
Blood, Sweat & Tears -
Child Is Father To The Man, 1968 debut album, last heard 9/22/2023 - this album (the only BST album with founder Al Kooper) was recorded just after Kooper's "Super Session" (with Mike Bloomfield and Stephen Stills) (both in 1968). What a great time to be getting into music!:
Cat Stevens -
Teaser And The Firecat, 1971 album, last heard 3/13/2017 - very nice album:
Cat Stevens -
Teaser And The Firecat (Deluxe Edition [Disc 2]), 1971 album, last heard 3/13/2017 - pretty cool collection of live tracks, demos, and outtakes:
Tears For Fears -
Tears Roll Down (Greatest Hits 82-92), 1992 greatest-hits album, last heard 1/13/2024 - just because I really wanted to listen to this:
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Music for Day 3 - back into the purple nano:
Dave Matthews Band -
Under the Table and Dreaming, 1994 debut album, last heard 8/23/2017 - wonderful album; I look forward to getting to know it better:
Herbie Hancock -
V.S.O.P.: The Quintet [Live], recorded and released in 1977 (live album), last heard 8/23/2017. V.S.O.P. is made up of
Freddie Hubbard – flugelhorn, trumpet
Wayne Shorter – soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone
Herbie Hancock – piano, keyboards, vocals
Ron Carter – double bass
Tony Williams – drums:
Rihanna -
Unapologetic, 2012 album, last heard 8/23/2017 - The 3 songs I like are "Diamonds", "What Now", and "Stay":
The Byrds -
Untitled, 1970 double-album (one live, one studio), last heard 8/23/2017. I saw The Byrds at The Boston Tea Party in the Fall of 1970, right when this album was being released. I remember the long version of "Eight Miles High"; and when they played "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n' Roll Star", that was THE FIRST TIME I recognized a song from the radio, played live:
U2 -
The Unforgettable Fire, 1984 album, last heard 8/23/2017. Of course I have listened to this album since then, but not in a blog:
Coldplay -
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends, 2008 album, last heard 8/24/2017. Once again, of course I have listened to this album since then, but not in a blog:
The Rascals -
Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest Hits, 1968 Greatest Hits album, last heard 8/23/2019 - The Rascals were mentioned in this morning's Bible Study:
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