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September 19th Weekend Blog: MS Songwriters Festival, Desoto Artists Hike, and More Music

9/22/2015

It was set to be a busy weekend. During the week, getting in practices for the following Wednesday’s show at the Juke Joint in Ocean Springs (September 23rd) was my top priority. It would mark my band’s first original set and preparations were in full swing. Musician and current drummer Eddie Dixon was busy playing up in Chicago and would be returning down today to rejoin me for the performance. Besides this, enjoying the events of the weekend was next on the agenda, and there was no shortage of activities to be had.

Thursday night, The Weeks of Jackson, Mississippi, who are currently signed under Kings of Leon’s record label, Serpents and Snakes, performed at The Government Street Grocery in Downtown Ocean Springs. Employees of the venue confirmed a great performance, a display of showmanship that I would hope to see that Saturday night when they would play again at the Thirsty Hippo in Hattiesburg. On the Coast, the highlight of the weekend was the annual Mississippi Songwriters Festival which ran from Thursday to Sunday night. In this event, songwriters from all over the south rotate among close to a dozen venues and take turns showcasing original music while regional judges watch from the crowd. I would get my first taste of the festival Friday night. You can see the full lineup for the festival here.

I parked behind the Beer House in Ocean Springs around eight o’clock, with no plans to be anywhere specific. I had several friends coming to meet me later, but I was wandering rogue for the time being. Moonhawk, a local band I had not seen yet, was playing at the Grocery later that night, but, for now, finding the nearest venue for festival musicians was my goal. I had not even left out of the parking lot when I heard an MC introducing a group of musicians. I followed the sounds and came to stand at the east back patio of Salvetti’s, where three men with acoustic guitars were perched on stools in front of a full house of patrons and music lovers alike. I walked around the side of the building to come in from the front entrance. I was given the only remaining table toward the back, a high standing four top. I ordered a drink and waited for the first round of songs to begin.
One of the musicians, I believe it was Sean Gasaway, was ending his first number when I noticed two women standing behind me, peering over the crowd to see the performers. I offered two of my remaining seats. They said they knew two of the songwriters, one being local native Brandon Green of Ocean Springs, a young man who was currently singing his second song. As luck would have it, a group of people at the forefront table were making their exit early in the performances and we managed to move up to be directly in front of the action. An hour later the music had conclude for the rotation at Salvetti’s. This group would go on to Boots and Spurs across the street and a new set of three would come to the restaurant to continue.

“Let us introduce you to some of the musicians,” one of the women said.

I shook hands with Brandon Green who looked to be in his mid to late twenties. I asked him a little about his roots to the coast and what he thought of Nashville, a city I have yet to visit but have been actively seeking more information on in preparation for my future travels. He gave positive testimony to his experiences and thanked us for coming out. Next, I spoke with songwriter veteran, and one of my favorite performers of the night, Greg Crowe. Crowe, a native of the Mississippi Delta, has lived in Nashville for over 25 years, producing, recording, and performing a blend of blues, rock and country music. With mileage like that, it was a clear indicator that the city was worth closer examination for an aspiring musician. I also met with a fellow promoting the 2nd annual Gulf Coast Songwriters Shootout, an organization that boasts being one of the largest of its kind in the area, and is set to feature 50 artists in competition over the course of several days in the fall. This year, the contest will take place at The Hot Spot Music & Grub at the The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama.

Leaving Salvetti’s, I took for the Grocery to see what was happening there. I passed the Beer House which was full, but no sign of a familiar face in passing. At the Grocery, I got insider information about some of the details for Moonhawk's performance later that night. From the street corner, I could see a group of people gathering at the entrance to Murky Water’s Blues and BBQ joint. I walked over and examined the scene. Like Salvetti’s, Murky Water’s was also apart of the festivities and three more artists were seated on the small outdoors stage. Just then I was met by my friends Eddie and Kate who joined me just in time to hear the first round of songs. We decided to then head for Boots and Spurs to hear the previous three performers again. The atmosphere was a little more “in-swing” here, as B&S is one of the larger venues on the Government strip, and provided for a different listening experience.

A Songwriter's Round at Murky Waters

At Boots & Spurs. From Left to Right: Sean Gasaway, Greg Crowe, & Brandon Green

Once the trio had finished, it was back to the Government Street Grocery where the three of us sat down for beer and food. We had just settled in when Moonhawk took to the stage for their second half, opening with a jam-y rendition of Jack White’s “I Fought Piranhas”. The group of three proved able and kept the crowd grooving with a series of what sounded like original tunes. If you go to their Facebook page, you might just snag the 100th like for this up and coming indie rock group from Gulfport. Be sure to check out their sweet logo while your there.

Next, we connected with Lyle Stephens and Julia Reyes, who joined me on our recent trip to Colorado. Julia was putting together an artist hike that weekend in Desoto National Forrest and I set my calendar to be a part of the action. The songwriters festival was done for the night and Lyle and Julia were looking to score some chow, so we decided to make a move for the Juke Joint where we were bound to find another band playing. Departing with Eddie and Kate, I made for the Joint and took a seat at the bar. Party At The Moon Tower was in full swing with a heavy set that showed no mercy to the late hour of one o’clock. We enjoyed the music long enough for food to be consumed and then, seeing it would be 2am before long, called it a night.

Back home, I didn’t find sleep till after five o’clock when my alarm system suddenly went on the fritz. At least, that’s what our friend, returning with my roommate from Ocean Springs also, claimed. In any case, it was only a night of about four hours of sleep for me, but that didn’t stop me from making a champions breakfast of bacon, egg and cheese burritos in the morning. Despite trying to nap several times during the day, I found no rest as darkness began to fall again and I would soon be on the road to Hattiesburg with my cousin to see The Weeks. We originally seemed to have a potential group on our hands to make the journey, but now conditions reflected just the two of us making the journey, which was fine by us. The band was set to play at 10pm. We were on the road by eight. An hour and half and many of “The Simpsons” Ralph impersonations later, we were parked outside the Thirsty Hippo.

We were super un-stoked to discover that the building was running at full capacity and we would be unable to enter to see the show. What the heck! Even after a clever scheme in which we pretended to be applying for jobs (this had no chance) we were told we could wait until others left in order to have a spot inside. All around us, others appeared to be waiting as well. Worse yet, there was no waitress to order a drink with while we sat around. Weighing our options, we decided it would be unlikely that we would get our chance to go in anytime soon. Instead, we chose to head to the Keg and Barrel, a favorite spot of mine and many other USM students who prefer a chiller social scene.

As luck would have it, we ran into some friends at the Keg and had a good time eating and drinking at our table which grew to close to a dozen people. Around midnight, we moved to The End Zone to shoot pool. I was facing off with the group veteran who gave me a pretty easy game by providing me with his insight and tips on his methods of play. In the end, I was given the chance to sink the eight for the win, and flopped with a scratch. I doubt I would have even made it that far if my opponent had really decided to play to his full ability, but I learned a lot in the match and had a good time playing the game of physics. Back home on the coast, it was already three o’clock. I climbed into bed and reached for my phone.

“No guarantee I will be making this hike tomorrow morning. It’s already three and I only got four hours last night. Setting my alarm for 9 o’clock but who knows if I’ll actually get out of bed.”

I woke up on my own that morning, but was surprised to see my phone read 9:40. I had forgotten to set my alarm for the A.M. I called Lyle to find the statues of the group. They were in route to Desoto just then, so I jumped up for a shower, threw some food in a lunch box, grabbed my notebook and guitar and headed out toward Highway 67. The group met up just off of 420 Road near Bethel. The parking area had a large, scenic lake with a trail leading into the woods. Having just come back from excellent hiking spots in Colorado, I figured this would make for a great substitute.

We didn’t travel far before reaching a little beach clearing along a cool stream; the perfect spot for the artists to lounge and invoke the creative muse for the day. The two dogs that were accompanying us, a 120lb lab and a lab, pit-bull mix, had it made with two rubber balls and a shallow enough area to spend hours fetching. Looking over the group, I saw some drawing sketches in small notebooks, while another woman painted on a series of blank sheets. Others looked around searching for stones, arrowheads, insects, skins, multi-colored clays for potter, and all other beauties that filled the stretch of water. For the most part, I just enjoyed conversing with the group of new faces, and occasionally jotted notes down in my book about the weekend’s adventures. At the end of the day, we all parted ways, going our different directions to exit the forest, I myself taking my time to enjoy a long, slow cruise home, admiring all the beauty Desoto had to offer.

Julia Reyes sketches the stream scene

Lyle shows off some coral finds

Architect and graphic design specialists Mark Talley and Madison Talley of TALL Studios swap sketches

That’s all from me this weekend. A special congratulations to Della Memoria’s Emily Sholes and Josh Smith on their engagement. Band mates for life! Be sure to check out some of the upcoming events in our area such as The Landing Festival in New Orleans this coming weekend. I’m looking into the Mighty Mississippi Festival in Greensville the weekend of 2nd of October along with Delta State’s yearly Oktoberfest which is bound to be a good time. My next out of state trip is looking to be to Charleston, North Carolina with a day trip to Savannah if all goes according to plan. Be sure to check back with me, as I will have more travelogues and photography detailing my adventures to the above mentioned.

YOLO! (pending the validity of reincarnation)

"A name is just a label for the sum of your actions"

Stefan

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Labor Day Weekend in Colorado 2015

9/16/2015

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Announcements: I’ll be playing an original set at the Juke Joint in Ocean Springs next Wednesday, the 23rd of September, @ 8pm with drum machine Eddie Dixon. Please come out if your in the area. See the Music page for new demo tracks and date information. Latest podcast with Board of Supervisors candidate John William Faulkner IV is up on the Podcast page. Please like, share, or leave a comment if you enjoyed this post!

I've inserted pictures to help this piece flow. To see all the pictures in full screen, see the bottom of the post for complete gallery.

We were in route to the New Orleans airport. We decided to enter the city from the North, going over the Lake Pontratrain Bridge, a first for me and no doubt the best entry point considering the information that was just relied to me. Lyle Stephens and Julia Reyes were sitting up front.

“New Orleans is hosting the annual gay pride parade,” Lyle said. “We’ll probably have better luck from this route. “

We had made good time in getting to the airport, only being slowed down briefly by the parking lot that was too full to house another vehicle. We were in line with two other cars, debating whether or not we should find another lot. The woman at the booth said all the neighboring lots would be filled, and claimed even the airport parking was slammed. The convoy waited by, hoping a few returning passengers would come back to retrieve their vehicles and free up some space. Sure enough, our patience paid off just as we were about to pull away. We made it into the airport with two hours left till departure. Caring only back packs, and having already checked in online, we moved directly to TSA and made it to our gate with time to spare. We sat down for a quick bite at a Copeland’s close by to where our plane would be coming in. Just as I finished my Catfish Po-Boy, our zone was called for boarding. As I stepped on the plane I noticed a picture of a raccoon looking down from a snow covered tree. The caption read: “You are flying with Rudy today”.

“Please don’t tell me the pilot is a raccoon,” I told the young flight attended as we boarded.

“No, that’s just a sign. We have a human pilot flying us today.”

Awesome.

The plane ride was a brief one at two and a half hours. I had just finished the book I was reading that day, “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”, and had nothing else to read. I instead resolved to silent contemplation as the passenger next to me looked more interested in napping than conversing. About half way through the flight, I pulled out my iPod to pass the remaining time with Hendrix being my primary listen before switching to a podcast about life coaching. It was around 10pm Mountain Time when we touched down in Denver.

We were met by Ryan Vanskiver in the lobby and made for his vehicle with midnight not too far off. Crossing the Denver city, I could see many of the landmarks that were becoming increasingly familiar to me from my previous Colorado experiences. Not wasting any time, we threw our bags into the apartment where we’d be staying and made for the Lakewood downtown area. We stopped into the Baker Street Pub and Grill to grab some food and listen to some live music. Among the foods tried: Chicken Nachos and Shepherd’s Pie. Later that night, we walked out to exam the large center area of downtown, which had chairs and tables everywhere, but, in the winter season, converts to a skating rink for the residents of Lakewood to enjoy. No doubt a great way for kids to pass the time while parents make their purchases in the surrounding shopping district.

Saturday

When we woke in the morning, everyone but me took for the shower and changed their clothes. I remained in the clothes I left New Orleans in, which was also my sleeping attire: A pair of Express jeans and a casual blue button down. I laughed and vowed to not shower until the situation truly called for it. Equipped with only what I could fit in my book bag, I decided I was here to rough it out. After bagels and coffee the next morning at Einstein’s, we set our course for Denver’s downtown area. We walked about 16th street for a time, soaking in all that the city had to offer. One notices fairly quickly that there are no benches or seats along 16th, no doubt to keep pedestrian traffic flowing, and as a clever way to get people into stores to make purchases. The Coloradoans, who are some of the healthiest, most active people in the country, don’t seem to mind the extra demand to be in motion.

Julia suggested we stop into some local galleries to see some art. We visited several establishments, including the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art. Here are a few pics. Check out the cool egg huts we found on the roof level of the DMCA. Lined with grass on the interior, these bubbles are designed to block out sound and create a sense of isolation. Perfect for reading or napping in the city. Reminds me a little bit of isolation tanks!

We took back for our home base in Lakewood to revitalize ourselves. We ate and rested for an hour or two while planning our course for the night. Back in Denver, A Taste of Colorado was in full swing. This is a yearly festival that showcases great music, food, craft beers, artwork and more. It was a highly recommended event, both in the press and among residents, so we decided to go back later that night to take part in the festivities. But first, I suggested a sun down walk through a nearby park that I had discovered in my last visit. We gathered a few supplies for a quick trek and got out the door around six. Leaving the grounds from the appartments, we followed a dedicated path made for pedestrans, dogs, and even the occasional horse rider. We followed the path as it lead us under a bridge and out into the opening of the park. The wind was blowing pleasantly and a slight overcast made for a peaceful setting. We enjoyed conversing and taking pictures in the evening of our first Colorado sun set. Near the entrance of the park, we observed some of the old historic buildings and pieces that were dedicated to the park. One of these buildings was a small diner with a neon sign that read: “The White Way”.

Taking an alternative route to exit, we came across a small enclosed garden that was full of vegetation, located just a little ways from a library. I looked among the plants, identifying what I could. Radishes, cucumbers, carrots, and lettuce were among the harvest. An older woman seemed to come out of nowhere and stood next to me.

“Do you like carrots?” She asked.

“I love carrots.”

She waved me aside from the gate I had been positioned next to, opened the latch, and stepped inside. I followed behind her.

“I’m one of the volunteers who helps with the park, particularly this garden. We plant all kinds of things here as the seasons change.” She pointed out all of the vegetables and told me what each one was. Bending over, she pulled out a small carrot from the ground and handed it to me. I thanked her, admiring my new ediable souvenior. She produced another three more. “For your friends,” she said. I thanked her again and we stepped out of the garden. I had just been considering a day trip to either Colorado Springs or Fort Collins in my brief stay, both locations being a little over an hour away, Colorado Springs due south of Denver, and Fort Collins to the north. I questioned the woman as to which she would recommend. Colorado Springs being a more conservative, military based town, and the woman being a little older in her years, I expected her to suggest this location. When I put the question to her, she gave me a look and said, “Well, you know Fort Collins is a college town right?” I confirmed I did know. She nodded and simply said, “That’s where I’d go.”

Back at the apartment, I cleaned my carrots best I could and set them aside for later. Julia had picked an assortment of flowers in the park and, having no vase to put them in, resorted to an empty Coors bottle and placed it on the fireplace mantel. We relaxed for a short time and then began preparing to return to Denver’s downtown. Some of the party wanted to shower up before going out. Despite the hours of walking, the pleasant Colorado weather had not taken a toll on my sanitary factor…in my opinion. I sat by in the living room in my jeans and blue shirt, waiting for the rest of the group.

We decided to experience the Light Rail Service, which ran from Lakewood to Union Station downtown. A short drive put us in the Lakewood parking station for pick up. We became confused trying to make out the train’s maps, and resorted to asking a passerby what we should do. He appeared to be of Sicilian decent, his lively manner of communicating seemed to reflect the assumption. He wore a book bag and a black hat, appearing to be an accustomed pedestrian of the Denver area. He showed us the ticket vendor and instructed us on where to get off and what bus to take once we arrived to get to the festival. We later caught up with him while waiting around for the train on the upper platform. He stated he was from Chicago and had moved to the Denver area a few years ago. When the train pulled up we piled in and I could see the man taking a seat not far behind us. A few minutes later, when a man sitting across from us exited the Light Rail, the Sicilian man moved up to take his place as he finished up a phone conversation. When he was done I turned to him once again to confirm our route, as we were still struggling to remember the details.

He waved his hand and explained it was easy, repeating the steps once more. We talked for a few more minutes and shared our experiences thus far in the city. He agreed that Colorado was a place like nowhere else and expressed his content in being there. At one point, he stopped mid-sentence and looked at me directly.

“You smoke bud,” he asked.

He held up a finger and then plunged it into his book bag. He produced a small green container and handed it to me. An ink pen marked a white label as “Chemical Cookies”. I opened the lid to find a perfectly pre-rolled stick inside.

“That’s the highest strain of THC you can get here. It’s the only thing I buy. Really good stuff.”

“You don’t say. Interesting.”

I began to hand the green tube back to him.

“Nah, you keep that,” he said shaking his head. “I got another one for myself.”

“Oh. Well that’s very kind of you.” Within another minute he stepped off the train and disappeared into the night, his book bag over his shoulders.

We made the next stop at Union Station. We followed the crowd and began walking toward were we thought the buses would shuttle us to the festival. I stopped along the way to take a picture of a water pad that dozens of people were playing around. However, when I began taking shots, the result became a jumble of multi-colored lights across each picture that suggested my phone’s sensors were faulty. This bothered me, as I still had two more days for taking pictures, and my phone was a crucial device for getting the job done. Luckily, I had a secondary Canon Powershot, which I kept in my pocket. It would be my primary for the rest of the night…or so I thought.

We eventually found our way into the festival which had only an hour left. We began walking the street lined with vendors. A diverse crowd of children, teenagers, and adults moved lesiruely along the various pathways, taking in the last of the night’s major atractions. Not far off, on one of the larger green spaces, a band was playing their closer.

At one point, I hiked up some stairs that overlooked the area, stopping short of the top where a group of almost a dozen people stood around. I snapped a few shots with my Powershot and turned to go up the rest of the way. I bound up the dimly lit stairs with a spring in my step to cut through the middle of the group that was standing around chatting…not realizing that there was in fact one more step to take notice of. In my sandals, I slammed my right toe directly into the hard concrete of the final, slightly smaller step. My camera dropped from my hands and I took several unbalanced, half jog steps forward as I tried to recover from a near face plant. I could hear the group of men silent behind me. The pain was instantanoues and I swore aloud as I turned to face them.

“Man, that shit stings,” I said as casually as I could.

“You alright there,” one of the men asked with his hands tucked away in his pockets.

“Ya,” I said coming back to them and bending over to pick up my camera. “You think you got’em all and then that last one comes out of nowhere.”

“You sure you’re okay?”

“Ya, it’s all good man.” I can feel a warm, sticky sensation running down between my toes and my sandals. “I can guarantee you that won’t happen next time.”

I made my way back down, not sure whether I should be focusing on my toe now covered in blood or my camera that was now no longer functional. My attention went to the camera. When I realized it would no longer be serving me for the remainder of the trip, I began to look over my foot. Under a vendor’s street light, I could see my toe nail didn’t look so much bent back as it did shattered at the tip. A dark purple patch had formed under the very center of the nail. Blood was seaping from the front and all down the right side.I felt a slight pressure when I used the foot to step with. A vendor produced two napkins and I pressed it against my toe. The rest of the group was grabbing food, so we agreed to sit down under a tent with benches for a while. Lyle graciously gave me two tacos, which I ate with one hand while the other remained pressed against my toe. After eating, I looked around for something to wipe my hand with.

“Does anyone have a napkin,” I began to ask before remembering my situation. “Oh wait, never mind.” I wiped my hand on the exposed ends of the two napkins at the end of my right foot and said no more. Standing up from the table, I could feel that walking on the foot proved to be easy enough, as long as I took my time. I left it to the group to find a bar. Somehow we ended up diverging from 16th street which had buses shuttling back and forth; to a bar that was several blocks away. It was a slow, somewhat demanding walk but the blood seemed to have stopped, so I had little to be bothered by besides an occasional soar pressure sensation.

We eventually took rest at Scruffy Murphy’s where a music and beer was abondent . I took a water and a seat, happy to be sitting down somewhere. After a few minutes we agreed pizza was a good idea and Lyle disappeared into the streets, coming back shortly with four large slices of thin, greasy pizza that we quickly devoured. At just around midnight, we made our way back to 16th street where we hoped to catch one of the many buses shuttling people to Union Station. I was not entirely shocked to discover that the many buses had now become one lone bus that was causually moving down the street in the opposite direction, making rounds for every block. It would likely be over a half hour before we got back to the station.

As if sensing our predicament, a man on a bike pulling a two seater cart stopped next to us, facing the direction of our destination.

“Need a ride?”

We explained our situation and he confirmed my thoughts on the bus. At this point he looked to be our fastest extraction. He quoted us a price and the group agreed to board with him. The only problem was the seating arrangement. Julia had no problems sitting in Lyle’s lap. That just left me and Ryan.

“There’s gotta be a way we can make this work without looking ridiculous,” I said from the side walk as Ryan climbed up and took his seat next to them, leaving no room for anyone else. He gave his knee a slap and began to sing, “People let me tell you bout my beeest friend.” Before I knew it, we were riding through downtown Denver, Julia and I perched up high over Ryan and Lyle. One by one we took turns commenting on how stupid this spectacule must appear. Our joking was only cut short when a car from our three o’clock suddenly pulled out at an intersection, heading directly at us. Being on the high side of cart it was bound to collide with, I had a front row seat at our potential demise. Our voices rose up in unisen as we saw the car coming closer with no intention of stopping. Without a word or air of concern, our driver made a sharp turn that spun us to the left in a large 360 degree, the car just going past our right side. We all continued laughing, though with a more nervous air. We were safe within another minute as the cart pulled up just outside Union Station. We would live to walk the city streets another day.

Sunday

I woke up in a particularly unattractive state. My clothes, still on from Friday’s departure, were in noticeably bad shape. The hair on the right side of my head was sticking up wildly in the air while the other side showed it had undoubtedly been under a hat for many hours. I smelled. I rubbed the hair on my face as I stirred and gave a low grumble at the thought of going another day like this. Lyle, Julia, and Ryan came into the living room where I was getting up.

“We’re probably gonna take a quick shower and then head downtown to meet some friends for brunch,” Lyle said. I intentionally slurred my words while coming out of sleep, sounding a little like a drunken person when I jokingly shamed them for their practical hygiene rituals.

“You tourists and your damn showers!”

“Stefan man, what are you trying to prove?”

I turned to Ryan with still waking eyes. “I’m starting to think I should ride this train out just so I can keep this cool new hairdo.”

Ryan looked at me a little dumbfounded. “Stefan…take a shower.”

We laughed but my condition was getting pretty serious considering these people had to share a temporary space with me. I hung my head in mock sorrow.

“Okay you guys.”

Fifteen minutes later I was standing in the living room again with a new shirt and a pair of jeans.

“See, now doesn’t that feel better,” Lyle asked.

“I don’t like it! I feel like a poser!” I retorted. In secret, since I am very much a cleanly person, I did appreciate that fact that I no longer smelled funny.

I had decided Sunday would be a day of solo hiking for me. I had been scanning over various trails that lay to the west of Lakewood near the Rockies. I picked a point on the map: Morrison. It appeared to be the closest and would surely have a number of trails to keep me occupied for the day. Ryan was due for work from noon till after sun down. I figured I could stick it out around the mountains until he returned for me. Lyle and Julie, on the other hand, took for the city to meet up with friends for brunch. Just as I was about to walk out the apartment I decided I should take a weapon of some kind. Ryan appeared to have no practical blade, so I went to the kitchen and opened the first utility drawer I saw. Among the tools inside, I found half a handle and the blade to a pair of scissors. Who knows why it was still there, but I supposed it would do nicely for a temporary shank. I pocketed it and walked out into the late morning.

As we pulled into Morrison, I was not entirely shocked to see Red Rocks Amphitheatre was right in the area where I had planned to begin my journey. I had visited the spot once before, two years ago when I had done my first bit of real traveling around the city of Denver. I checked my backpack. I had three apples, two bananas, a few granola bars, my canteen, and a few miscallneous items. I had hoped to bring some water bottles but this was all I had for the time being. This I would have to make last for the whole day. We pulled into the south end parking lot. Dozens of other people could be seen getting out of cars to hike the trails and go up into Red Rocks themselves. I opened the door and took note of the growing heat as I scanned the high grounds. It was 10:30.

“I imagine I will be around this area most of the day,” I told Ryan. “If I do go any further, it will most likely be north of Morrison, toward Golden. I will try to keep you posted as best I can.” We talked for a minute more and then he pulled away. I made my way up the stairs to the theatre’s main stage. It was a lively scene with many people there to run the stairs and see the legendary grounds. A cleanup crew was near the stage preparing for the show that would take place that night. Only a few hours ago, comedian Brian Regan had been here for a Saturday night showing. I pulled out my camera and took some shots. I began to consider my battery life as my phone would be my only means of communicating, navigating and taking pictures. My current reading was 80%, but I knew it would drain quickly if not used conservatively. Sure would be nice if my Powershot was still working, I thought. I made my way down the other end of the main stage and found the Trading Post. This was a merchandise spot with restrooms and a water fountain. I used both, taking care to drink more water than I wanted at the water fountain and cleaning all three of my apples in the bathroom sink, since I had neglected to do so earlier before heading out. When I was ready, I began walking north along the road to the trail openings.

Photo By Julia Reyes

Red Rocks Theatre

One would think following the trails would be an easy affair if there is only a few options to choose from, but the mountain side proved confusing to me at first as I took down one path only to turn around to find my true course. Then I had to stand atop a rock near the road side to locate the start of a path that I could clearly see running through the brush, but no entry point. Twice already I had to turn my GPS on to investigate my map. Again, to take a video and a few pictures. My battery was a little over 60% and I had barely started my hike.

About a half hour later I was looking at a distant view of Golden. The path then cut into a small valley into the mountains where I temporarly lost sight of the road, the mountains closer than ever on both sides. I became acutely more aware to the fewer number of people around me as I got further from Rock Rocks Amphitheatre. The trail became hushed between the landforms that rose up around me and the brush became more prominent. I removed the one scissor blade from my backpack, loosened the strap on my left shoulder, tucked the blade between it, and fastened it tight so the handle faced me. The broken tool’s edge was barely visible from the other side of the strap. At first I had positioned it downward, but when I realized the blade was in direct line with the basilic vein of my bicep, I quickly adjusted it to avoid an unfortunate accident. I took a few more pictures and continued on until a found a split in the path. I took to the right on Morrison Trail which came up sharply to a more elevated plateau. From here, I found a diveriging path that went around the side of the mountain face to look back over the town of Morrison. That’s where I found these left behind man made markers.

My lunch spot on Morrison Trail

I continued along the east side of the trail. I had been sipping water here and there the whole way but hadn’t snacked since I left the Red Rocks area. I could feel the noon heat picking up to its worst and my exposed neck and arms were beginning to burn without sunscreen. My lips were becoming parched from the wind and dry air. I decided I had put off lunch long enough and began to seek a viewpoint. I found it at the edge of a large, somewhat flat rock which slanted down over the mountain’s edge. I sat down just as 1 o’clock was ticking by and ate a granola bar and an apple. I then helped myself to more water, as I was starting to feel the effects of dehydration. Behind me, the occasional hikers would pass by, sometimes with their dogs following behind.

I figured if I was getting tired it would be best to continue on so that I would not be caught on the mountain side without any supplies. I still had two apples left, which would suffice if I ran out of water, which was fast approaching as my canteen had only about a quarter left. In the back of my mind, I was hoping I might find a rest area up ahead and a water fountain. I kept going, the path was turning inward and edging toward the northern most point of the mountain. As I understand it, I was now close to the beginning of what was known as Matthew’s Winter Park. At one point, the trail became very tight with chest high brush that closed in on the path. Visibility became tough and I slowed my pace to listen to the environment around me. I heard no people, but there was a great deal of rustling among the growth. As I walked, I practiced drawing my shank a few times to make sure I had the motion down. I would reach my right hand up and rest it over my left pectorial, the middle finger looped inside the handle, with the rest of my fingers slightly spread like a spider. With one swift movement I could flick the blade from its holding and have it tucked under my palm in reverse grip with little effort. The thick brush subsided quickly and the path came out to look over the same trail further down, running north, deeper into Matthew’s Park. I was about to come to the spot where Red Rocks Trail meets Morrison and runs back south, up the mountain to its peak, and back down the other side to head back in the direction of the Amphitheatre. Two men were about to pass me by going the direction I had just come. I asked them if it was far to the top. They told me it was not. I was feeling tired and my water was down to just a few sips to keep my mouth wet. I ate another apple but it didn’t do as much for me as I’d hoped. The day was at its hottest and there was very few places to hide from the sun. Taking the mountain’s peak would be a fair and final challenge, as the trail elevated quickly. I examined it once more from the bottom, then looked at the trail running into Matthew’s Park. Just a short time ago, I had thought I would spend a few hours exploring this trail as well to pass the time. Now, I was standing at rest, panting slightly, wondering how I would ever manage such a walk at this time of day with what little supplies I still had. Even with the mountain peak so close, I was beginning to contemplate turning around the way I came to backtrack, where I knew the path would be easier.

After thinking it over a few minutes, I started up the steep side of the trail to the top. Within the first couple minutes I was out of breath and twice my hand wanted to reach for my water, but I knew I would be out if I did so. I tried to recall what my map looked like when I viewed the aerial shot from before, but couldn’t recall. I had no idea how many times this trail would wind back and forth to make its way to the peak. A few minutes later, I came to a stop and looked back down the way I came, then again to the path running deeper into Matthew’s. I wondered if there was a parking lot and rest area in that direction. I looked back up to the mountain’s top, in the direction where the sun was currently positioned, a giant foe that sought to deny me its seat. Its rays seemed unfiltered as they beamed down from me with the intensity of a broiling oven. I was out of my element in this kind of dry heat. In Mississippi, I imagined what I would be experiencing in similar a situation. Dying of dehydration or exhaustion in the south’s unforgiving humidity, covered in sweet as it is pulled from the body. Here, I envisioned it feeling much more like an extreme hangover in which I would be found dried up and baked out. If I keep going like this, we’re going to have a problem, I thought. I came to the mountains to be at the mercy of mother nature, and I would honor its many faces. I turned my gaze away from the peek I would not see on this particular trek and made my way back down the path I had come.

When I got back to the split path, I observed the northern path into Matthew’s. Just then, the two men I had just spoke to were coming back from the trail I had come in on.

“Second thoughts,” the first man said.

“I think I’ve gone far enough for one day. I’m not use to the terrain and I’m out of water. I still have a long way to go and I don’t want to get caught out here without supplies.” I pointed to the northern path which had a few hikers going around its bend. “Does that trial lead to a parking lot or a rest area? Maybe a water fountain?” The man shook his head. “There’s a lot, but no water.” I made a small noise of acknowledgement. I would have to take my original path back all the way to the Trading Post for water.

“Here, why don’t you take mine,” the man said removing his backpack bladder. I put up my hand in protest, “No, no, that’s okay, I don’t want to leave you in a rough position.” He shook his head, “It’s nothing. We are actually over prepared and have more than we will need. Our hike is almost done for the day. I’d rather it go to good use.” This was a gesture I greatly appreciated. The man was juggling his own canteen and trying to remove his backpack at the same time. He reached out with his bottle to the other man who was standing just behind me. “Can you hold this for me babe?” The other man, who I had not looked at directly till just now, was certainly not the man’s son as I had thought might be the case before. This other man now spoke to me for the first time as the other began pouring water into my canteen.

“You’ve come a long way for a Mississippi boy.”

“Oh yes,” I said, keeping my attention on the flowing water in front of me, not wanting a single drop to go wasted from missing its target, “this is all new territory to me.”

When the first man finished pouring, he slung his pack over his shoulders again. “Well, at least now you won’t die of dehydration.” I thanked them again and took off back down my path. As we parted, the man commented on the hours left till sundown, no doubt to make sure I didn’t find myself in another equally bad position in which cold, frigid winds from the Rockies would likely find me, showing me yet another dangerous face of the mountains character.

My battery was showing about 25%. I had left it on for a time in between taking pictures. It had drained considerably, especially from use of the GPS which I had been using earlier to find my exact location and route. I hiked back with my canteen in hand for the first fifteen minutes, drinking regularly. I was not even half way back before I had almost emptied it again. I drank it to the bottom, not worried about running out at this point. I would be at the Trading Post in a little over an hour if I did not stop. This required a little will power to press forward, as previous hiking around the city from the last two nights and most of yesterday had taken its toll. When I finally arrived back at the North end parking lot, I had about 15% and my water was depleted. I recalled the woman at the register in the store saying the show tonight would call for a shut off of the roads around Red Rocks. Only concert goers would have access. I made my way down to the trading post, where, in the back yard behind the building, a wedding was in progress. Bystanders peered on as the bride and groom made their commitments in the heart of Red Rocks.

I looked at my clock. It was a little after three. I knew Ryan had a second shift at 4:30, but I thought it might be worth a shot to see if he was free at the moment. I sent him a text saying I was done for the day and if he happened to have any free time, I would be ready to go. “I’m on my way,” came the response. I put my phone away and sat by. After a minute, I remembered the situation of access and called Ryan directly. I asked him if he wanted to pick me up at the Trading Post or down in the south end lot where he dropped me off. He said he didn’t know where the trading post was, so I told him I would go down to the south end. After I hung up, I realized the trail I had taken up this morning to the south end was closed off. There was another trail and I hoped that it would connect to the same path that led to the parking area. I text Ryan again saying I would try to get down. He would be arriving in approximately twenty minutes.

I started off down the new trail, my legs feeling a little sore to walk again after having rested for a while. About five minutes into the walk, I realized if this path didn’t lead to the south end, I would have to back track all this way, a situation I did not want to find myself in, as this would undoubtedly put Ryan late for work. I began to jog down the path and could feel my shoulders becoming tired from carrying my book bag all these days. A few minutes later, it became evident that this new trail was not leading to the south parking lot. I had asked two other hikers along the way, but neither seemed to know what I meant when I inquired about the lot. Okay, I thought, they must not be locals. Now, I realized I was the one who looked like a tourist. I gave a grunt, spun around, and started jogging in the opposite direction, my pace quickening. I pulled out my phone and squinted under my cap to see the screen. Less than 10% battery. I called Ryan again while still running. “Listen, your going to have to locate the Trading Post on your GPS or something. This path doesn’t go to the parking lot and I have to back track to get to where I was originally. How are we on time? Are you okay with work?” I could hear the uncertainty in Ryan’s voice. He was very close by and commented on the traffic coming from the mountain. Just as I was about to tell Ryan to leave me and come back after his shift at nine, he pulled up to blocked gate with a posted attendant. “Hold on, let me talk to this guy.” I slowed my pace for a moment to catch my breath. Ryan came back on, “Okay, he’s letting me through. I’m getting closer.”

“Good, I’m gonna let you go because I gotta keep running. It’s gonna take me another five minutes to get back there.”

I hung up and started running again. I passed one of the hikers I had spoken to earlier. “Not the right way,” she asked. “Not for me,” I said without stopping. The trail went up and I began to climb a set of stairs. When I reached the top, the trail cut across the road briefly to continue on to the Trading Post. Preparing to cross the road, I was almost hit by Ryan’s car as he came around the corner. I threw my hands up and he pulled over to the side, traffic still behind him. I climbed in and we backtracked down the mountain. My adventure for the day was complete.

Monday

Our last day in Colorado would be spent in Boulder. The plan was to go down to a breakfast and lunch restuarnat called Dot’s Diner On The Hill that I had been exposed to the last time I was in Colorado almost a year ago. After that, we would make a brief visit in with Will Lammons (see Coastal Noise Podcast #50 ) who had just moved to the Boulder area a month ago. Just the day before, I had called Will to see if he’d be interested in going on a hike with us up into one of the nearby mountains. I was shocked to discover that since I had last talked to him that Saturday, Will had been in an accident involving a motorist while riding his bike. A woman at an intersection hit him from the side, sending him flying, with his bike going under the vehicle completely. Boulder is notorious for a higher number of cyclist accidents, as the town has a very active community. From the looks of his condition, Will was fortunate to have walked away sustaining only what injuries he had.

We drove up the western side of Denver, making our way through Morrison and Golden. We reached Boulder in under an hour and seated ourselves in Dot’s before ten o’clock. Most everyone ordered some form of eggs, biscuits, meats, and hashbrowns, with Julie opting for a bowl of delicious looking granola cereal and Ryan upping the ante with banana pancakes on top of his main order, which he shared among the group. Organic coffee and crème was served to all. We happily ate with the rest of the patrons who filled most of the diner’s inside and outside seating. Business had not slowed down for Dot’s since I had last visited.

Dot's Diner On The Hill

Stepping outside, we witnessed a flock of sorority girls running down the street, no doubt engaged in some sorority silliness. I was reminded of one of my favorite aspects of Boulder. No matter where you go, you will never find a shortage of stunning looking chicks in this town. On a pricey, nationally revered college campus known for its active lifestyle with tons of surrounding outdoors appeal, you can be hard pressed finding an out of shape girl. Boulder is like heaven for a boy out of Mississippi, but with an average median home price of close to half a million dollars, you pay for the sights.

We stopped in with Will to see how he was fairing and to talk about his experiences in town. He had made a big jump in coming out here and seemed to be rushing to catch up with school, housing, and social affairs, but overall was in good, positive spirits as always. From his living room, a large window facing out to the south displayed a scenic view of the mountains. He wore two casts on both forearms from his collision yesterday, but seemed to be in functional shape otherwise. He was reading through various texts when we arrived. Lite music played from a speaker on the floor next to his sofa. We talked for half an hour or so and then bid him farewell so we would have plenty of time to take to the mountains and see more of the area.

Our main attraction for the day was Mt. Sanitas on the lower west side of Boulder, recommended to us by a local Denver transplant and home state connection, Kenton Norris. As we made our way up to the parking lot, we passed a gated pathway that looked very familiar to me. After parking and looking at the area map, I realized that the mountain we were about to ascend was the first mountain I had ever ventured up in Colorado almost four years ago. I was excited to revisit it, reconnect with old memories, and share the mountains tucked away views with my friends. The hike was much more pleasant at first than my expereicne yesterday, mostly due to the calm, breezy weather and abundant shade coverage, thanks to the many trees that lined the trail. We weren’t without our difficulties however. Ryan was forcing himself to work extra hard having only brought one 12oz bottle of water and no additional supplies. Julia on the other hand, was attempting to climb the mountain with the only shoes she had, a pair of Converse All Stars. In the end, the mountain would make us all pay our dues in some form. We began hiking up before noon, sharing the trail with a good number of people. At first, the way was a series of high step ups, then a period of smoother, steady inclines. Before long we were met with the mountain’s most difficult part. A section which was a particularly steep ascent with less footing on the smooth, red rock surface. It’s areas like this that often forced us to use our hands against the ground to balance and make the climb more manageable. A wrong misstep could have you sliding or create a scenario for a twisted ankle. We made several stops along the way up, but it was after this section in particular that we were most grateful for the shade and a fallen tree for sitting, pointed out to us by a seasoned local. From this angle, we could see off into the western mountain line a little better. Clouds gathered around their distant tips and an advancing breeze cooled us down as we worked to regain our breath. After a few pictures of our progress, we continued on with the peek not far away. Within another twenty minutes we had reached the top. A small crowd, dogs, and the occasional wild chipmunk crowded the small clearing. From this vantage point, we could see clearly down over all of Boulder, its distant northeastern neighbor Gunbarrel, and all the way to the barely visible outline of the city. It was a grand sight, just as I had remembered it four years ago in the slightly colder conditions of October, but it was the view from behind us that stole our attention. Gathering like an ominous sign, dark rain clouds blocked out the blue skies from the west as the wind picked up to its strongest gust yet. A forbidding breeze that seemed to single us out as it rushed passed us on Sanitas secluded peek. We would have no time to enjoy our victory up there on the Mt. Sanitas secluded clearing.

We began out descent in haste. All around us people were moving up and down the mountain, those in flow of our direction moving with a greater since of urgency. Many trail goers were equipped with rain coats and other useful accessories to fair the weather. We had nothing to make the trip more bareable in that regards. Going down was a great deal easier for all of us besides Julia, who had to take extra care going down the steeper sections with her grip-less, flat bottomed shoes. At one point she took a spill that left one of her knees badly scraped. Half way down, the rains started on us. Despite what was coming, we were shocked to see a steady stream of people hiking up toward the top. I took comfort in thinking they surely must have investigated the weather before coming out and deemed the conditions manageable. Still a ways from the bottom, the wind and rain continued to pick up noticeable. Ryan and I huddled against a large boulder, which blocked the downpour sufficiently, while we waited for Julia and Lyle to catch up. Out of humor, I snuck around the face of the boulder and peered in the direction of the coming storm. I was hit by a fierce gust and my glasses were sprayed with hard rain. I yelled back into the beast and then ran back to Ryan so he could hear me over the noise.

“Don’t stare directly into it!”

This made for two days in a row I had gone seeking adventure and had gotten a bit more than I bargained for, but I felt no desire to wish for a lesser experience.

Before long we had reached the bottom…just in time for the storm to cease completely. At the base of the trail we found a gazebo where we took a moment to rest and stretch are tired legs. We made our way back down to the car with the sun finding its way through the clouds, beginning to drink up the soiled Earth. On the road back to town, I made the motion for a celbratory lunch at the best Mexican restaurant we could find. Boulder, aside from its stellar women, is also well regarded for its fantastic food selection, with many ingredients being sourced locally to the wide variety of independent businesses.

A made a quick call to Will for his opinion, and he pointed us in the direction of Sancho’s, a small eatery inside one of Boulder’s malls that boasts fresh from scratch authentic Mexican style food. I went with two traditional tacos, one steak and the other a vegetarian style wrap. Lyle and Julia split an entrée of beans, rice, and selfmade tacos with their choice of meat. Ryan won this round with his discovery of a New York buritto that was stuffed with beans, meats, fillings and, the most impressive feature, French fries. Well played Sancho’s.

Glacier Ice Cream

After the Mexican food, I insisted on treating ourselves to some well deserved ice cream. Last year, due to time, we had missed out on an opportunity to score some of the great ice cream that I knew was bound to exist in Boulder. A quick Google search showed me the Glacier Homemade Ice Cream was one of the top dogs in the area and fairly close by to our current location. I am convienced this was the highlight of my eating explorations on this trip. I generally don’t keep ice cream at home, but the trip to Glacier has tempted me every day after to make a special trip to the grocery story to purchase any number of flavors for personal consumption. Upon entering, ice cream fiends have their choice of dozen flavors, several which were created by the members who run the store. Julia went with the first sample we tried, a Jamaican white chocolate blend. I came close to picking this flavor too, but I had only had three scoops to choose for my ice cream cup and unfortunately the Jamaican chocolate, as incredible as it was, was down the line of so many other fantastic options. In the end I went with a base of traiditional, loaded cookie dough (my personal favorite), with a scoop of salted caramel cookies and crème (Lyle took three scoopes of this), topped with chocolate fudge, caramel cookie dough swirl (this blew my mind). We sat contentedly eating our desserts while making small talk with the owner. He had moved from his home in one of the states to the east, in love with Boulder’s abundant selection of independent businesses and small town, community feel. He abandoned his old job and started up his own ice cream store with his family, never once looking back. He gave some great advice for potential movers as well, citing particular areas that were less expensive but fairly accessible to both city life and Boulder itself.

We left Boulder the way we came in and, for the third time in my life, I watched one of my favorite places in the country fade from view, quietly nestled against the foothills of the Colorado Rockies.

Departure

The night after our travels through Boulder, we spent the evening relaxing at the apartment, watching a show that we were all sufficiently hooked on called Narcos. After the second episode, I deemed it the programming that would fill the whole in my heart that Breaking Bad left behind. As I am finishing up this travelogue on the 14th of September, I am already eight episodes deep and still watching. The next morning we made for our 12:20 flight out of DIA. Driving closer to the airport, we all took special care to observe the unusual facility. I am now conveinced more than ever that DIA is a preimer location for the conversion of a military complex. I could rant on and on about why I think this is, but all the information is already avalible online for those who seek it. It is the second largest airport in the world, it contains huge underground complexes, miles of open roads to cover before accessing the building itself, large man-made geographical structures and mounds for strategic positioning, international accessibility to and from, a large natural barrier in the form of the Rockies themselves to protect from nuclear blasts or invasion from our unprotected western coast, a large number of solar panels for plenty of backup power, apocalyptic artwork and free mason symbols in the terminals, the red eyed horse of revelations out front…the list goes on and on. Seriously, go check it out. I’ve looked into it here and there over the course of several years. The more one looks, the more it all makes sense. Fortunately, we got on our plane without any sign of empending nuclear distruction. We would arrive back in the south with little issue.

Once back in New Orleans, we made east for Mississippi. It was close to rush hour, so we made quick to get out of the city. Once across the bridge and into Slidell, we began considering options for dinner. Our time in Colorado had passed, but that didn’t mean we had to slump back into the mondane of typical fast foods. Another Google search showed all the restaurants in the area with ratings. I found a spot called The Southside Café with favorable reviews. We pulled in to the parking lot, only a five minute detour from our original path. Inside we were treated to an elaborate atmosphere of WWII memorobila and snappy bar accessories (A sign above the center bar read simply: Shut up and eat). We spotted an M1 Garand and an AK47 hanging from the rafters, as well as two individual newspaper clippings, signaling the beginning and end of the war. Model planes and pictures of military personal hang all around. A look over the menu proved making a dinner deicison would be difficult.

I’ve never been one for Reubens, but this one claimed to be “famous”, so I thought, what the heck, I’m here for the unordianary. As a failsafe, I also order a cup of Southside Café’s French Onion Soup with crutons and mozerlla cheese. As an additional failsafe, I also order an Oktoberfest speciality beer from Abita. The French onion soup was the top dish in my book and made the Reuben, which I was only partial to, that much better when dipped. The fact that the soup came with a tray of four different kinds of assorted crackers gave flair to a dish that could have otherwise be seen as typical. We polished off our beers, took some pictures to document the encounter, and piled into Lyle’s car to make the last stretch home to Mississippi.

This concludes my travelogue to Colorado. Thanks for reading. I hope my accounts have provided you with a glimpse into places you have yet to visit or given you insight into new possibilities for the familiar. Follow me online and lets continue discovering together.