Even though I haven’t been able to write about every show on the tour, they’ve all been great. Even on days when illness or lack of energy had me dreading the performance, there was always something that woke me up and made it easy to give 100%. I’ve never gone out and played this much without the feedback and interplay of other musicians, but even on my own with an acoustic guitar, the music seems to have a life of its own.

The show Saturday night was very cozy, at a home that felt like a real community hub in Philomath, Oregon. We had a good turnout. I was happy to see a lot of friends there, and we ended up singing together late into the night. The whole experience of rushing through Oregon is difficult for me, because I literally want to spend days in each area – getting to know people, getting lost in nature etc. – but this tour is more of a whirlwind, just laying the groundwork for for future visits. Eugene, Beaverton, Ashland, Vancouver, and Bellingham will all be down the road.

Sunday’s show in Medford, close to the California border, was the last one of this leg. Once again, awesome hospitality and a nice full room… and we sat and sang afterwards again. I’m impressed with the efforts of hosts to bring their community together around music this way, and it bodes well for future tours. Bigger & better!

Today, we’ll head back home for a few days of downtime, and then go up to the Bay Area for a couple of shows on the weekend. I’m ready to chill out a bit, and not have anywhere to go. I’m sure by Saturday I’ll be ready to rock again.

The basic reality has set in though: this is the lifestyle of a performer, as opposed to a producer, writer etc. Travel is the norm, and my musical family is expanding every day. I’m sure there will be times when I’m craving a more stable environment, but for the forseeable future, I belong to the road!

Onwards….

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