Palisade Bluegrass Festival 2026

There Is An Army On The Dance Floor     It's A Fashion With A Gun My Love       In A Room Without A Doctor       A Kiss Is Not Enough     Love My Way    It's A New Road     I Follow Where My Mind Goes    They'd Put Us On A Railroad        They'd Dearly Make Us Pay         For Laughing In Their Faces And Making It Our Way     There Is Emptiness Behind Their Eyes      There Is Dust In All Their Hearts      They Just Want To Steal Us All And Take Us All Apart         But Not      Love My Way       It's A New Road      I Follow Where My Mind Goes       Love My Way       It's A New Road

The Psychedelic Furs

All Of This And Nothing 1982

FRIDAY:

I've been fantasying over this weekend for months. Like , whenever it was announced that Magoo was playing my anticipation built. I was so fired up about the whole idea , scheduled the entire weekend off. The only aJENda on the day was strutting around like a rock star , supporting my mitochondria function , socializing like a painted face rodeo clown , and dancing like nobody was watching. This entire festival weekend was exactly what I was in search of. Drama free , our parties ran like a well oiled machine , timing was spot on for every occasion , and catching up with everyone was such a delightful treat. Sharing vibes with faces from the past was a hoot. Walking the talk of the talk we walk , that sure is the cats meow. Sovereignty 

All chores were properly accomplished , my festival gear was packed , and The Dude was on his way. We chatted about the trials and tribulations of the week and quickly got all that Sh&t out of our systems. Arrived at the Firehouse in downtown Palisade for the FREE shuttle pick up with plenty of time to spare. Walked up to the main gates , which was an effortless entry by the way compared to years past , we were on the list and our wristbands found our right arms. In We Go 

Talk about mind expanding moments in time!! All of the coolest friends were in attendance. I had no idea Kal and Monica , Leann and Jenn , & Guy and Deb would be there. A little birdie mentioned that Amber and Judd were here for the weekend. The Yopners were obviously the main attention and of course JandK were in the mix. It is always a pleasure cross pollinating these these individuals and we always seem to start from where we left off. And keep in mind , we all began these friendships back in 2000/2001. A Quarter Of A Century 

Our other local Palisade tribe sorted out blankets and chairs next to the Soundboard. After a brief encounter with the happy volunteers at Community Hospital , to the rail I jet. Community Hospital provided free nylon mini towels , soaked in ice baths , refreshingly around the neck , and to the stage I skipped along. Yup , I merrily parked my happy A$$ in the shade near the front of the stage with my new ice cold towel around my neck , on top of my head , and then hanging from the back of my shorts at any given time. While Magoo was in soundcheck mode , I socialized with all kinds of creatures. Some I knew , Some I Didn't. But we all had one common goal , Entertainment!! And that is exactly what Magoo provided during their one hour and forty-seven minute non-stop set. Them boys were returning from a two week break after touring all over the west coast recently. This would be their first show of an upcoming back east summer tour were they will be headlining a number of festivals along the way. Righteous Set 

As a byproduct of attending this year , I was beyond stoked about Daniel Donato headlining Friday Night. I have now seen this cat three times and each performance tops the next. Cosmic Country is ridiculously far from bluegrass and this other end of the spectrum so pleased me. All day , Bluegrass Bands. So many notes all day long. Offering up a psychedelic desert jam band as the headliner made my heart smile. At one point , they brought out a Mike somebody to cover Poncho and Lefty. Willie Nelson would have been proudly thrilled to hear that magical rendition. Those two voices were perfect for that song!! The light show , the band , and the attendees generated a truly special event. Almost Monumental 

SATURDAY:

My particular Saturday began with an early A$$ move out the door. I am currently watering three homes , watching a female dog , and responsible for the first month food pick ups and all tallied by 9am. And on a few winks of sleep , I managed. After a very cold shower , Saturday's forecast reads 98F / 36c and the morning was already brutally hot while it was still mid 80's , my backpack was ready for pick up. Let's Dance 

My in was with Magoo!! Wasn't planning on attending the festival but D&K made it clear that I was going. A casual drive towards Palisade , an easy drive into the festival grounds via hand gestures , and parked once again in vender / artist camping. I was blown away by how smooth of an entry it was. Boom Shakalaka Boom

By far , one of the coolest acts of the day , Liver Down The River. This group of five were on the side stage while the main stage transitioned between sets. Believe me , they deserve to perform on the main stage. Thanx to the Magoo boys for turning me on to this group. Back to the van we meandered and this would be when I introduced to Golden Summer. WoW !! The bummer , GS claims residency in Golden Colorado. Total Drag 

Back and forth to the van , over to our blanket , checked out the vendor booths , and simply roamed around with enough time to check out the banks of the Colorado River. I was rather embarrassed for the KAFM Community Radio Station's tent. On Friday , gotta think someone dropped the ball and spaced on bringing ANYTHING and clearly left the tote box at the station. Just a mini oversight. At least on Saturday their table showcased some effort with a few useless items. But it was so disappointing to recall that KAFM's Tent was a hub years ago. This year , it was represented with the ED , Guy in the Sky , and a few random folks with their backs to the crowd all sitting in chairs. Like way uninviting for sure. Of course I checked myself a few times as I tend to be over critical but quite a few current and past KAFM members pointed out more the same. The one and only question I would purpose to throw that lit match on the gasoline soaked logs ,"Where is the 5 gal carboy for collecting random karma donations?" The older KAFM Veterans jumped on that and couldn't believe that KAFM wasn't offering free stickers , shirts , or even a Phuc-N raffle for collection $$$$. We all understand that The Donald cut funding , KAFM included , where is the sense of urgency?? KAFM is such an embarrassment. Then , what totally blew me away , two current members informed me that the ED sent out "tons" of emails fishing for volunteers to man the booth for exchange of a free 3-day passes. Years ago , you only needed to pitch once , total no brainer. Now , with that C*NT Katie , calling on volunteers produces crickets. Wake Up KAFM 

Thanx for putting up with another KAFM rant as I really needed to vent. Never hearing of this Mark Fransco , strap on your seatbelt for Saturday Night's headliner. Once again , NOT a bluegrass band what so ever. Thank You Palisade!! We caught the sound of banjos and fiddles all day long and a non traditional bluegrass band for a headliners so rocked. Of course the tired old people couldn't hang and departed early. Classic 

Andy And The UN were marvelous and brought the entire venue together. I understand that this is his choreographed deal but damn was it entertaining. The band never stopped playing while he did his thang or story telling or bringing life to the crowd. Numerous cover tune teasers and shorter riffs from King of the Hill and other random sketches. At one point , Andy has everyone take a knee while the band was softly noodling. Andy says ," Even you Richies in the back , take a knee." Another thing Andy did , climbs off the stage and joins the crowd. He has everyone hook arms and then he says ," Step twice to the right. Now three to the left. Two to the right. Two to the left." My point is , he had the crowd moving and dancing and singing and was beyond encompassing and interactive. I love that !! Everyone was involved and the band was tight. They ended up performing 4 separate songs during the "encore" portion of the show. They would pretend to walk off stage and then Andy yells ," We are the headliners so let's play one more." Total Showmen & Talented 

SUNDAY:

Hippy Jim was true to his word and shot me an early text that he was on his way to Watson Island. And was that ever a remarkable morning on a number of levels. First of all , Mr Jim has improved dramatically!! We briskly walked the front nine , we shared stories , we asked thought provoking questions , we threw at 6 of the 9 baskets , and we both drove off the tee-pads without deceitful motives. We both agreed we threw fairly adequately , we walked at a satisfactory pace , and we never stopped the neurological simulation. And I am not referring to theoretical BS but catching up like two friends that hadn't seen each other in decades. Last year in Vail for The Cheese show , but still. Walking & Listening 

After parting ways , my gears were switching as our immediate tribe would be floating the Mighty Colorado Creek. Quickly I organized myself for the first float of the season , shuttled vehicles , and on the river by 11:30am. Yes , the water levels are shocking low and only becoming more and more problematic with each passing moment. Wait a second , let me go flush the commode just because , back to the story. One beauty of the float , the water was remarkably clear. I Love That 

We took amble time , giggled about everything , and recapped different events from the month of May. We actually should have been planning upcoming events on the calendar but what is the fun in that?? Like my internet birthday , Iris has a birthday coming up , family coming to town , Robert coming to town , and the 4th of July to deal with. But we decided to play like teenagers and laugh a lot while the current allowed us to move towards ease. Determination Or Evaluations 

Peanut butter and jelly jam sandwiches were consumed on beach front property. Rocks were scoured through in the ankle deep water. Quietness aloft at times. Loads of Blue Herons along the shore or in flight. Hell , tons of birds in flight. The water was scary warm for sure and could have used a few more clouds for some needed much shade. Yuck 

But as you can see , my knee was wrapped in a wet towel , I wear my UV long sleeve shirt , and my UV gloves , and my wide brim hat as I avoid Mr Sun at all cost. Burn No More 

After cleaning/washing kayaks and the hardshell boat , I devoured a righteous veggie noodle dish , and found the lane heading east once again. Drove out to JandK to close out the weekend with Mr Jim , Susan , and The Blue Z. We sat out on the back deck , which overlooks the river , sharing all new stories while recapping our experience from the festival weekend. I obviously kept a close watch on Jupiter and Venus , numerous satellites gracefully skipping across the moonless sky , and I even treated myself to a bowl of ice cream with a special Guy and Deb birthday Cherry Crisp that Janet made earlier in the day for Guy's birthday. But because they had to hit the road , we ate it for them. I enjoyed that fresh crisp and all but I loved the flavor of vanilla ice cream!! Boy I Miss Ice Cream 

TODAY:

Well today is my internet birthday and that make believe number lands me at 57 years old. Yahooo0000 When the internet asks for a birthday verification , my standard entry is June Ninth Nineteen Sixty Nine. For years and years those CrackBook well wishes would pour in. I still randomly receive texts , chiropractors spam flyers , and random happy birthdays from spontaneous avenues. My Google Docs , my iCalendar , and my old iPhone 8 have HAPPY BIRTHDAY reminders above Tuesday. Cracks Me Up

But today is a banner day. I am off to DMV for a new drivers license and a motorcycle endorsement!! Thats right , my endorsement expires after 90 days of issue date. My previous license dates included Palindromes like August 9th 1980 , 8's across the board , 11/11/2011 , February 2nd 2002  for 02/02/02 , and my all-time favorite was Sept 9th 1990. Do you have a favorite date in mind ?? So this new drivers license will honor my internet birthday and just might be my last issued ID. Totally morbid to state aloud but it could be a fact. We never know just when our number will be called upon and it is our time to shuffle off this mortal coil. We Eat , We Breathe , We Die 

Slow Down And Believe In Good , 

Cheers 

Keller Williams Lands in GJ

Walking On The Moving Sidewalk      At The Airport      Moving Faster Than Everybody Else    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk         At The Airport      Just Like Life     The Left Side Is For Passing      Put The Pedal To The Metal And My Head Flew Back    Pedal To The Metal And My Fair Flew Back   Put The Pedal To The Metal And My Head Flew Back    Pedal To The Metal And My Fair Flew Back    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk     At The Airport     Suitcase On Wheels In Tow , Close Behind    Walking On The Moving Sidewalk     At The Airpot     Please Step To The Right   Right Side Is For Standing 

Keller Williams 

Home 2003 

FOLLOWING:

First time I crossed paths with Keller , he was dancing next to a lobby speaker in Las Vegas at the Thomas Mac Arena. The String Cheese Incident were about to perform their most legendary concert on Hula-ween 2003. That Hula-Ween  Freak-IN-Convention stands the bar of time for all who were lucky enough to have been in attendance. Pretty sure that show will be my #1 Cheese show on that list that doesn't appear anywhere of my top five Cheese shows. Anyway , Keller was dressed as the "Freaker" by the speaker stacks and was handing out painted car keys. You know , your own personal key to freak freely. SCI Baby 

The Cheese obviously blew my mind during that first set. Opening the show with Shel Silverstien's Freakers Ball was astonishing. And here comes Keller Williams covering Ani DiFranco's Freakshow on the hand drum only to open the spellbinding second set. The Cheese immediately bring the vibes of Being for the Benefit of Mr Kite while Keller methodically smacks the Sh*T out of that djiemde drum. Now , never hearing of Nelly , The Cheese in full on funky jam back up mode , Keller begins singing Hot In Herre. I highly recommend clicking HERE and have a listen to 'in Herre'. while you continue to read along. Or , if Nelly isn't your jam , click HERE and listen to Pink Floyd's Instrumental Money Jam while you read away. Then the Colorado Famous Liza Oxnard roller-skates out to let us all have it during Ozzy's War Pigs with The Cheese playing a dark A$$ nasty version of the song. I have never heard anyone since cover War Pigs by Black Sabbath like this collaboration did that night. Oh , and the videos on the three long screens behind the band were flipping outrageous. Burning Man meets Robot Chicken meets Historical Events meets Rodeo Clowns meets UFOs. Mind Bending 

October 31st 2003 ( Yes , the CD above is still wrapped in its original plastic ) and November 1st 2003 hooked me good and touring was on my radar for the next 15 years. Not just touring with The Cheese but all the Jam Bands from Radio City Music Hall in The Big Apple to the Convention Center in San Fran. Every venue here in Colorado during that time frame for sure. Those stunning three night runs at Red Rocks with The Panic , floating rivers with New Monsoon & Yonder , to late night super groups in T-ride , Salt Lake City , Chi-Town , San Diego , Madison Square Gardens , Santa Fe New Mexico , Greenville South Carolina , and the night we ( The Blue Z & I ) snuck up to the VIP Lounge at the Hard Rock Casino in Vegas to witness Jason Hann joining The Cheese officially. Spent something like 5 back to back August shows at the Mishawka with Moe for the lead singer Rob's birthday. Sure wish I could produce all of those ticket stubs from back then. Souvenirs 

Anyway , it was rather difficult to comprehend the news when this show was announced that Keller would be playing the Mesa Theater. He previously played in Palisade with The Keels ( I still have those photos from the rail on my phone ) during the Palisade Bluegrass Festival years ago. But his first performance here in GJ??  And I Was Stoked 

This barefooted bard middle aged looper rolled out onto the stage finessing a skateboard around the stage for the Sunday night crowd. Keller toggles from acoustic guitar to electric bass to a righteous drum pad that is obviously way easy on his hands. The first set was a crowd pleaser as a majority of the concert goers knew the lyrics to those covers , I was thrilled beyond all words when he busted out an instrumental looping phase for gradually morphing into Moving Sidewalks , and then smoothly transitioned into The Grateful Dead's Sugaree , Chad "Gravy" Graves joined Williams. I knew nothing of this cat on the Dobro but he brought a new dimension to Keller's already multitalented sounds. Bitchin 

The second set topped the first set in every way shape and form. Keller rocked out all the recognizable tunes from long ago. Gravy joined Williams for FREAKSHOW by Ani DiFranco and basslines created by the late Phil Lesh. These two honored The Grateful Dead in a magical way without overplaying or loosing touch with the atmosphere or us standing there in awe. Freaker by the Speaker , Doobie in my Pocket , and a heartfelt Freshies made the cut for a Sunday night. Bad A$$

Another moment for me was his latest rendition of Gatecrashers!! The photo below is when he was singing this song and I couldn't even begin to put a number on how many times I have heard this song live by Keller. But on this night , he mentioned the Peace and Love attitude , how he really isn't mad anymore , and how he was able to incorporate the audience participation along for the ride. "Just the ladies" - "Just the boys" - Just the right side of the room" - "Now you all on the rail" - "Now just whistle along" 

Thankfully for all of us old timers , this show was an early 8pm start , an hour and five minutes first set , a 22 minute set break , and an hour and twenty-seven minute second set including an encore. And for the life of me , showing my age , do not recall what the Encore song was. No Clue 

But I know I throughly enjoyed that last tune. I most likely sang along. Pretty sure I even yelled out. Willing to bet that I shouted ," Love You Keller." Technically , I believe that it was ,"GJ loves you Keller." Who Knows 

Thank You Keller AND PLEASE COME BACK ,

Cheers 

Ride It Like You Stole It

Moving Forwards   Using All My Breath   Making Love To You Was Never Second Best    I Saw The World Crashing All Around Your Face    Never Really Knowing It Was Always Mesh And Lace    I'll Stop The World And Melt With You     You've Seen The Difference    And It's Getting Better All The Time   There Is Nothing You And I Won't Do    I'll Stop The World And Melt With You      Dream Of Better Lives    The Kind Which Never Hate    Trapped In A State Of Imaginary Grace    I Made A Pilgrimage   To Save This Human's Race    Never Comprehending    The Race Had Long Gone By   I'll Stop The World And Melt With You 

Modern English 

I Melt With You 1982

NEWEST ADVENTURE:

Yup , I enrolled in a two day beginner motorcycle safety course. The one and only prerequisite , passing an on-line 3 hour course. Those videos were rough to watch. Like watching videos covering three wheel motorbikes and automatic transmission scooters , who gives a flying monkey nut. I understand why and all but I found a majority of the sections of that course were totally useless. Finally finished that damn thing after 3 1/2 hours. Reason why the course took me an extra half hour?? I failed almost every exam after each chapter. The course tested your comprehension and each exam provided between 7 -12 multiple choice questions. I would miss a question , retake the exam before moving forward , and then answer it correctly but miss one of the true false questions that I answered correctly the first time around. Super frustrating for me and I almost threw in the trowel a few times. But stayed true to the course and quickly printed off my certificate after all green check marks were accounted for. Hot Dang 

The morning drive was flipping gorgeous as I rolled south towards Delta Colorado. The morning light breaking through the clouds was lovely and the desert floor actually looked alive compared to an aired hot August day. I was way A$$ nervous when I arrived as my motorcycle "skills" are limited. We ( 7 of us ) arrived to the classroom down in Delta by 8am. Filled out the required paperwork , process the formality of intros/goals , rolled through some basic knowledge, and then it was off towards the Technical College for hands on applications. My fellow students were all riders , owners of motorcycles , long time dirt bike riders , and where floored when I mentioned I do not own a bike or even plan on purchasing a bike. I was clearly the knucklehead of the group and zero to offer up during boys talk time. I was rather surprised how quickly we would be jumping on bikes but it sort of made sense to just hop on and learn. My ambitious practice took place on this Kawasaki 230 Dual Sport. Super Mellow 

Day one was very basic. Learning about clutch friction and how to use the clutch properly. Practicing front brakes only. Understanding the terms of power walking on the bike , acknowledging the instructors hand signals , and when to put one foot ( left ) down at stops or both feet down at stops. Speeding up and immediately braking hard with the back brake only. Rolling through cones in a straight line without putting a foot down for balance training while forcing our focus ahead and not staring at the cone below the bike. Understanding head movement with U-Turns , 90 degree turns , and where the eyes should gaze when practicing each exercise. Basic , but fun for sure. I totally surprised myself with how my body mechanics played out , how my coordination abilities danced around for me , and how freely I was able to anticipates the motorcycles responses to my input. I learned very quickly that each exercise was much "easier" in second gear compared to first gear. In first gear , the bike wanted to jump. In second gear , the bike wanted to stand up straight after turns and the input response on my timing and control was immediately. Even with a U-Turn second gear was much smoother for me. Then , it was a return trip to the classroom for videos , pictures , and stories. We did the whole eye chart and I rocked everyones world by reading the very bottom line from 20 feet away. Yes , I have 20/16 vision and have always been able to see at great distances. Up close , blind as a bat. We learned about the 3 foot cone peripheral vision , practiced reflexes by catching falling rulers , and general hand eye coordination fundamentals to finish off the day. Back To GJ

Sunday morning's drive greeted me with ominous cloud cover but that desert is still so beautiful around daybreak. Day two definitely rocked for me. My confidence was much higher and felt comfortable with second gear maneuvers during our first hands-on exercise. I simply followed the instructors instructions , trusted the process at reduced speeds , and everything made sense as I successfully achieved each task for what it was. I believed in what he was teaching and applied each "rule" to a T. Definitely discovered that the exercises were "easier" at speed vs the slow novice 1st gear attempts. Again , we only only riding 230's compared to your massive 1500's and super sport racing machines. Our entire morning was centered around balance , seat/rider position, sight/search/execute , and evasive turning maneuvers and only then hard braking. When it boiled down to our "test" , they referent to this as Evaluations , no worries. Well , we did have one minor incident. Nerves play a factor when tested and in the photo above , one of our fellow riders grabbed a little too much front brake and the bike pitched him high side like a rag doll. No Blood , No Broken Bones , Just One Defeated Student With A Hint Of Embarrassment. We were obviously tested on everything we learned from the two days. I trusted the bike , pointed my head where I should , kept my eyes gazing far ahead , and road each section of the evaluation with pure confidence. Solid Balance Baby 

Now that I am officially certified , will head over to DMV on June 9th to renew my license. At that time I will add the motorcycle endorsement , along with my organ donor of course. The timing worked out well as my drivers license expires this July. So That's Cool 

Now this above photo is a classic. My tie dye makes me appear to be carrying a big ol beer gut. And I really crack up with how we stood in pairs and the group of three to the far right. It's kind of funny how we migrate together while discovering our own unique clicks. And I leave you now with a time lapse from our second day of class. And yes , if you watch closely during the evaluation , you will see the crash. 

Grab Some Gears ,

Cheers 

Science , Like Magic But For Real

Ha , It's Poetry In Motion    She Turned Her Tender Eyes To Me    As Deep As Any Ocean    As Sweet As Any Harmony    But She Blinded Me With Science    She Blinded Me  With Science    Failed Me In Biology  When I'm Dancing Close To Her   Blinding Me With Science   I Can Smell The Chemicals   Blinding Me With Science 

Thomas Dolby 

The Golden Age Of Wireless 1982 

YIKES:

For you long time followers , you know I mention every year that the Colorado River is in the worst shape possible. I mention every Autumn how we are living on borrowed time with our water usage. So I am not trying to brush the mane of a muddy horse but check these photos out and the calendar reads May. Shocking 

Above was snapped off on April the 13th. Not a Friday The 13th but a spooky A$$ day just the same. I rode my bike over the 5th Street Bridge and found myself facing East. Go East Young Man 

 

Hold on to your hats boys and girls , below here is a photo I captured today from the 5th Street bridge. And I broke Stephen Spielberg's number one rule in the above photo and leveled the horizon across the middle of the frame. oooooops

Above's angle is from the bike bridge next to the Los C put-in/take-out ramp. And notice all that toxic algae growing about. Apparently the fish are all turning belly up due to the lack of oxygen in the water. So Bald Eagle Population ? Birds of prey in general ? Local economy from boaters floating the river ? But these side streets with strips of lush green grass growing in the desert equal freedom and solitude. Praise Jesus  

This photo above dated January 21st , we hit 52F / 11C that day , notice the bank of ice to the right. Below was snapped off today. Pure Desperation 

And the same boat ramp from today May the 11th facing downstream. Will these waters survive all the way to Vegas? Must remember to wash the driveway this evening. MAGA 

Above from Mid February and below from Sunday. If we spun 180 , you would be standing on the tee pad for Hole #5 at Watson Island Disc Golf Course. The Dude & I are consistently throwing some plastic on Sundays since our March Madness vaca. Disc Is Free To Play 

The above photo was captured late February 2026 , one week before the official high water mark of the season was recorded. We normally peak Memorial Weekend for a reference. 25 years ago , we would peak shortly after the 4th of July. Our Mighty Colorado River now has the golden opportunity for turning itself into an Oxbow Lake. I cropped in afterwards because there is one starving Great Blue Heron on the hunt. Poor Bastard 

Above and below were photographed on Sunday along the fairway of Hole #10. I stepped down form the original bank to stand on the new bank to shoot this shot of the "river". Dire Straights 

Our tribe floated the Mighty Colorado River on May 23rd 2025 and the above photo showcases those happy characters from The Wizard of Oz with today's perspective just below. And back then I was teased about referring to the creek as The Mighty Colorado River. Shocking 

Our high desert's native vegetation is doing its best. The honey bees are really trying their best. Just Try 

BIKE NIGHT:

Friday Night Bike Nights are still the dangling carrot out there at the end of the week. The costumes have dropped off significantly but the number of rides has increased dramatically. That's Whippin 

Below's theme was recycling for that last Friday in April. A few of us went green but a majority of folks simply passed on the theme. No Worries 

The following week blew up with the Cowboys & Aliens theme. Not sure if we have ever topped the 200 count over the past five years. Maybe Yes. Maybe No. Our count for Cowboys and Aliens was tallied up at 183 riders. Check out this gathering below as we waited for the group to close in before turning onto Gunnison Ave. Almost 200 of us and pretty sure this particular ride would be the all-time largest number of attendees. Boom Shaka Laka Boom 

The Dude rolled with an Alien character and I posed as an outlaw all night. Spoke of my claim near Little Park Road and told folks that there would be trouble if you all start snooping around. Would randomly ride along someone and ask them when the next poker game starts. Rode up to other cowboy outfits and said ,"High Noon Tomorrow. You And Me." One small group of cowboys were riding along and as I slipped up splitting their group down the middle , "I hear the Wells Fargo Carriage rolls into town at 11am tomorrow." They didn't know what to think. But the gal in front of us looked back over her should and says," I heard they are carrying serious weight in gold!" She was my gal for the rest of the night. And I definitely let her carry around my Colt. I absolutely love playing dress up while role playing the night away. And check out this action!! Wearing Boots 

That pistol above , try an 1857 Navy Colt black powder packed six shooter. Sh*T you not. 1857 Colt and it's a heavy sum bitch. One of the neighbors is well aware we participate in Bike Night Shenanigans and when he heard the theme , wait here he says. Could believe it when he handed it over. And it fit perfectly into my holster. In my left holster , I pulled out my plastic fake pirate knife. The Neighbor Shook His Head 

I'm telling ya , this pistol totally made the costume!! I showed it off to everyone and even allowed a few folks to hold it. One gal , I kid you not , she asked me if it was loaded. I didn't have the heart to explain the working mechanics to her. "No" I assured with a smile as I handed it over. Classic 

RIDE & VIBES:

The weekend of all weekends out here in GJ. Unfortunately the city infected the event this year by inserting themselves into the mix. But I still maintained and made the best of it. Want an example?? 

All over AZ and New Mexico this "winter" , events were successfully held and attended within the mountain biking communities. The recipe is usually outlined like this. Friday offers up music , vendors , a Crit Race for the Pro Men and Women , and packet pick ups obviously. Before the Pro racers begin , there is a family friendly criterium ride to fire up the crowd while the Pro Women warm up for their 45min crit race. Costumes , tandem bikes , and kids all ride the one mile course ringing bells while firing up the crowd. Then , the Pro Ladies rip for 45 minutes and the Pro boys shred the criterium for 60 minutes. A Highlight For Many 

That is how it typically plays out. Not in GJ. The dipSh&ts out here decided to hold the Pro Women ( only 5 Pro Women in the field ) , then the Pro Men ( way down from normal numbers ) , then the awards  , and only then the family crit ride. So Lame

However , the evenings main attraction was The Lowdown Brass Band. This high energy Chi-Town based group flipping killed it. My first time catching these guys and they were off the hook. An amazing mix of Hip Hop , Jazz , And Funk with a hint for spiciness. Instrumental cover tunes with their own "rap" lyrics over the top. And they were able to teach the crowd a dance and was very well received. Excellent Performance  

Saturday morning showcased the kick off to the Fresh 15 miler , the Dirty 30 miler , and the Filthy 40 miler for those who just love to suffer. Fairly solid crowd representing GJ and a decent number of racers started off. Wouldn't say well attended by ether group but it is what it is. Only 65 completed in the forty and less than 200 in the 30. Past numbers showcased a cap for 300 in the 40 and cap 500 in the thirty. The women's Crit Race always featured 20+ girls getting after it. 

This Year , 5?? 

The other knock on the city was their decision to only have one musical stage instead of two. So after a performance , everyone stood around watching the change over , being subjected to the house music , listening to sound check , and observing the overall vibe dropping off rapidly. The two separate stages not only keeps the magic alive but offers the opportunity for beer sales as folks walk between the two stages. Why the city became involved , who knows. Dumb Phuc'ers 

But for me personally , I just make the best of the situation. I chat up all the vendors throughout the weekend. I cheer on clients and clap for the out of towners. My go to line for Friday when chatting with tourist , I ask them where they are from and where they are staying , no matter what hotel they mention , I replied with ," That's a great place and totally haunted." Yahooo0000000 

A new addition that was well attended was this motorcycle "cycle cross" event. All kinds of obstacles were laid out along the block between Rood Ave and Main Street. Riders in pairs raced the looped course three times and I couldn't tell you how many heats went off. And yes , tons of wild crashes. Had nothing to do with mountain biking but pretty cool just the same. Rowdy 

And then it was quickly back to the work week. Well , for some of us anyway. 

For All Of You Moms , Hopefully Yesterday Treated You Well As You Deserve Only The Best ,

Cheers