2005-10-25 - 6:19 p.m.
From High Sierra we made our way to the midwest to do shows in Des Moines, Chicago and finally ending up at Blissfest. Our first layover was in our favorite desert town, Elko, Nevada. On the way in we stopped at a rest area. We’d stopped at this one before. We’ve been back and forth across the country so many times now, pretty much all of it is familiar in one way or another. The first few times crossing Nevada reminded me of traversing the Moon. Mostly gray landscape and imposing mountains to the power of ten. Recently however I’ve come to realize, as in most things, beauty manifests itself in subtle ways and when we made our stop at the rest area this time I was struck by a feast for the senses. The sun had just dipped down behind the mountains to the west tingeing the sky, sage and juniper a soft pink. There had been a near record amount of rainfall in the area this spring and the desert for once was green and alive. The rest area is built on a rising prominence overlooking a deserted valley. Acres of wild flowers lay like a carpet on the valley floor below us, it’s collective fragrance floating up to us on the softest breeze. And the scents would change: First wildflowers then the slightly bitter juniper and then the sweet sage. All was magnificently quiet. I could have stayed in that moment for hours or days. Soon though my inner reverie was cut short and back in the van we went and on to Elko.
We always seem to hit this town when we’ve just been paid. Not a real problem for me as I don’t gamble. There are usually big winners and of course big losers amongst the other members of the band though. I have dinner in the Basque restaurant around the corner. Elko has a vibrant Basque culture and more than one good Basque eatery. Served family style, you pay one price and eat a ton of home cooked food. As I waited for it to be delivered I chatted with my fellow customers as we gathered out on the sidewalk in front to watch the fireworks display out on the edge of town, a colorful end to a lovely drive trough the Nevada desert.
Des Moines, Chicago... on to Blissfest. The air smells fantastic! Blissfest is a nice little festival up north on the lower peninsula of Michigan. After our set I took a walk through the woods out to an open field and stood for a long while looking at the clouds of stars in the crystal clear Michigan night sky.
The following day we did a workshop with a great band from Kalamazoo called Greenskye Bluegrass. We had a great time playing some tunes with them. Just like last year, Blissfest was the last date on the tour and we drove straight home.
