Twisted Pine & Tonewood Concert @ Velvet Elk Lounge ~ And Dinner Meet Up With Wilkes 07Jun24

Scooter & I drove the 2 hrs to Boulder yesterday to catch the unusual "bluegrass" band from Boston called Twisted Pine. Drive was sane really except for the last bit to Boulder on #93 during rush hour. We caught up with T&L in downtown Boulder at Japango for some fine sushi. They were well and glad not to be in Scott's shoes. I was glad to be in my new Twisted shoes - which Kala got me for dad's day, and she calls "clown shoes" ~ so little undue respect.

Scott & I were able to walk to the Velvet Elk and we were way before doors so sat in a booth and chatted. The bar was decent and affiliated with the micro-brewery next door. IPA was "ok." Yet dinner and brews were all on Scooter since I drove so, "pretty good" really. Opener was Tonewood, a new bluegrass band from Denver. They were good and displayed good 3 and 4 part harmonies, but often the fiddle or guitar guys would lead. They cheated a bit and added a capable percussionist; the crowd called him "box boy." A small treat when Anh Phung, the bluegrass flutist/vocalist from Twisted Pine joined for one cover song. They have a self-published EP but are starting a Kickstarter to do there first full length album.

Velvet Elk sound was "ok;" I did have to cup my ears toward the band on occasion to get better high-mids. Twisted Pine quickly followed the opener and started great with some of their "hits" and better covers (Lucy In The Sky). Twisted Pine is an unusual Boston-based "bluegrass" group of mandolin, fiddle, bass, and flute. Band leader and fiddle-player Kathleen Parks does a lot of the writing and is the lead vocalist; I noticed Anh doubling her vocals on many occasions during the show however now. Ultimately there were 100 folks in the club with us... not too crowded and the owner shared with us early that the pre-sold gate was just 44 tickets, so $1000 gate became $2K ~ wow that's small. You have to be a very hard working musician down the ranks to make a living. As Twisted Pine wound through the 70min mark though things changed... after a Zappa-esque cover they began playing longer jazzy instrumental segments. While well done, these weren't our favorite. Scooter said "they've lost their way," but one guy on acid thought these were the best parts and was dancing like a demon. We left a bit early with the turn so I did not grab the setlist. Good show and great with Scooter and seeing Wilkes.

Wow, Where's A Guy To Wade ~ Flows Are Raging "Everywhere" 06Jun24

I guess 11 Mile Canyon section of the S Platte will be pretty crowded... and it's kindof low. Elsewhere, river dancing is likely...

Grape Ck Outing 04Jun24

With the freestones mostly raging, the decent flowing tailwaters too crowded, and the alpine trails snowy and muddy, I chose to hit Grape Ck. I dropped in via the West Bear Gorge access; it's always an adventure. With #115 under construction it was 1 hr to Canon City; it was an additional 40min out to the West Bear turn; it was 30 min (1 album worth) down the 8mi 4WD path to the creek. I donned my Chota ultralight hip waders and Astral ultralight boots.

I was on the water 30 min or so later after rigging and walking 1.4 mi downstream to begin my pass back up. I moved past the barbed wire through fisherman access another 1/4 mile or so downstream and the wended my way back upstream to the car via the "upper" access point to the Crusher Too. Grape Ck is a quasi-tailwater tributary of the Ark available when other streams are in snowmelt runoff conditions.

Actually the ~60cfs here today was decently high (though I did cross in strategic spots) and the water was off color a bit. I kicked up plenty of yellow hoppers on the access gulch so went with a hopper dropper rig led by a #14 electric yellow chubby (I sense some of the wiser fish rejected it, especially on slower water). Given it's a trib of the Ark I rigged the Rodfather Endless Wisdom (ERN 2.8) like the Ark with trailer of chartreuse CDC caddis and rainbow warrior, to pierce the off-color water. I changed to BHFBPT during the meager mayfly hatch. My rigs worked decently well but nearly all the fish were in pockets along the banks. I caught nothing in typically great runs (I am a smidge early here) and tongues. The fish are NOT spread out yet at these flows.. they are bank-hugging. I nabbed ~20 fish but only landed about a dozen over 4 hours; 75% were on the chubby (read ~ fun AF). All were 10"-12" browns basically like those shown. I dropped quite a few with my landing technique today of flying them to hand mostly... I rarely used the net. No rainbows, which is a bit off for me on this stretch. The day was overcast but very warm and near hook-ups did leave me with a couple of tree rig losses behind me. Dang it.

Wildflowers are "on" here but few cactus had bloomed; I saw one. It was a blast being on Grape Ck as the only guy in the area all day. It's a beautiful spot. Downside was that no mates were able to join on the "investment" down West Bear.

Various Brantley Encounters & Other Endeavors In COS 02Jun24

Kala & I returned from Summit for some golf events and home duties on the Front Range after Memorial Day. But not before we sampled some trails in our 'hood... we passed through the "wildfire buffer zone" that save our home a couple years back.

Upon returning my research paid off and I convinced Kala to ride some cool eBikes. "She" chose (and I fiercely supported) getting the Santa Cruz Skitch. It's a killer gravel eBike with 1.75" AT tires, a strong motor, a flat bar cockpit and it's carbon and weighs <30#. Awesome. We also scored her a lighter bike tray hitch rack to tote it around. Yep... the maiden ride on the Monument Ck bike path!

I caught the Thunderbirds practicing for AFA graduation from our deck in Peregrine. Kala's lessons are going well and we hit Kings Deer for a fun outing with a dad & kid team (no pics). It was real graduation and we were delayed some in "Kamala traffic" on the way to the course with too many exists closed. We were fortunate to grab time with our world traveling friends the Brantleys, who'd just returned from Lake Powell visiting their kid, a federal ranger, with their daughter, a Blinken staffer and world traveler for sure! Always awesome. We hit Red Leg of course and had "lobstah" and nacho's on our 44th anniversary. Thanks guys.

My off-site camper storage site issued me a $70 to $92/mo increase notice (despite my having signed a price escalation agreement long ago, before 2 changes of hand however). I told them "no thanks" and secured a new, better, cheaper, and closer spot for the BC20X. I am pleased... I was always "dealing with the spot" in the old storage location and now it's easy peazy.

We were out again in COS to a new dining location for us ~ the SE Asia-influenced 503 for very tasty food, decent drafts, and camaraderie with Brantleys. We even returned for a pop on the deck for Scooter & me; we enjoyed a tasty Weldworks Space Tunnel XXX.

Update 09Jun24 - Ride Wrapped The Skitch... I bought the full custom RideWrap in matte for the Skitch... it is a flat olive color. Nice fitting pieces but golly that's a tough and laborious install. I took the 4 hrs today, after returning from Summit on Sat, to put the RideWrap on the bike. Looks great and will protect now some from whatever comes, that I hope never will.

Memorial Day WE And Before ~ Sat/Sun Lax Quarterfinals; Tue Golf @ PJ; Fri Drive & Dine; Sat F1 Qual & Bluegrass 24May24-25May24

Before Memorial Day kickoff to summer Kala and I caught the NCAA D1 men's lacrosse quarterfinal games and a nine @ Patty Jewitt. Kala's in the lead for the vaunted LaxBuddy '24 trophy but my bracket is busted as I took Lehigh but I can attest the M-43 is excellent and I haven't gotten rid of my short game error-ladden holes... we had fun.

Kala & I stole out to Summit Co on Fri AM early before the traffic ~ our newsfeeds suggested rental cars sales @ DIA were stronger than ever on Friday. We saw the weather forecast but what the heck... there would be a free bluegrass festival in Vail all weekend and Kala accepted the challenge. After a good southwest burger, onion soup, and "The Hazy" at Dillon Dam day 1 we caught up on "our shows" on the NestMT... Kala liked the updated system.

Saturday wasn't supposed to be a bluebird... but it was on our deck. After breakfast and some chores we jumped Vail Pass to Eagle Co for our first SpringFree Bluegrass Fest. Holy crap, we parked in the structure free!

While "I" came for the final 2 headliners on Saturday: Sierra Hull & The Infamous Stringdusters, there were to be four acts today and 1st and 2nd up were Colorado bands ~ awesome. We arrived just as Danger Mtn began. They are absolutely excellent and  hail from Eagle itself. There were a number of locals in the crowd and they matched the lead's garb. Tie dye was everywhere, including on my bod'. Too, Kala & I matched today, and matched the dobro player in green plaid flannel ~ ColoRADo.

The weather was awesome through the first act but as they closed a fierce wind and rain ripped through Vail Village. We high-tailed it to VBC for a hazy beer. We met a cool retiring to Green Bay couple there (the pic didn't render well) and had a fine talk inside as the storm passed.

We headed back out to hear 10th Mtn as the weather waned. Funk/blues/pop vibe and 115dB at the soundman. Weather was fine but we did not prefer 10th Mtn's full electric and indistinguishable vocals. They were fine individually on sound check but were not preferred during their set. We left for lunch after 2 songs and hit the good El Segundo Mex spot on the Gore. Tasty tacos and margs and an oddly ebullient waiter.

Back to our spot near the soundman for Sierra Hull, though separated initially (no friends on powder days); decent weather returned. And, very good music returned. Sierra Hull was awesome and as strong and in control of her band as I have ever seen her. Her set was excellent in all ways... we saw, we heard, we liked. She's a TN songwriter & strings artist whose been performing forever and signed since 13 yrs old! She's strong and her band of musicians of Nashville were great... including her friend on guitar whose 1st show with the band was this... he was excellent (expected, though noted, as she can hire whomever she wants).

Kala & I got together through the crowd (yep, to my spot) and absorbed the full Sierra Hull & band set... completely spectacular IMO... 3 awesome covers & many, even better, originals. The musicality was forward during every step and song. See though how the guitbox guy had an iPad throughout... I mentioned I thought he was new and Kala duble-taked on the announcement of same. Still, he was spectacular. And the sound tweaked by the guy with the band, was excellent.

Sierra Hull & band were absolutely great.  Kala rested her back while I reserved our spot for Infamous Stringdusters after her set. We reconnoitered @ 6pm for IS ~ as sleet and complete crushing wind & rain fell. Our mates in the 'hood said "I'm in" and we said "we're out" ~ as I read the Doppler ~ nothing good will happen hence. We missed 'em, if they played but NP, a great day in Vail Valley.

There are more concerts & festivals of which all should partake... go live when you can.