Back from great bus trip to Wisconsin - Bluegrass training

[plyonsMC9]

Greetings fellow busnuts,

This post is to further reinforce the fact that we do enjoy lots of FUN with the bus in addtion to maintenance  & projects.  Also to share a nice pic.    

We just returned from a fantastic bus trip up to Wisconsin.  Bus performed very well.  We took another bluegrass-pickin' couple with us.  Our bluegrass  "group".  We camped amongst beautiful pine trees & streams.  Made for a beautiful picture of the bus.      Normally, we camp with our kids at Yogi Bear & KOA parks.  Nothing wrong there, however, w/o the need for all the activities, it does provide a wonderful opportunity to camp with beautiful surroundings - more rustic.   

Bluegrass "camp" was provided by Monroe Crossing.  It was a BLAST!!!  For all you bluegrass musicians out there, if you do get the chance to attend one of their camps - i would highly recommend it.   At least for the beginning/intermediate level folk.

Kind Regards to all - now off to western Illinois in the bus for camping w/the family & more friends.   

Phil

[Dallas]

Phil,

We're glad you are having such a great time!

The "Moose Hootch" looks really natural out there amongst the trees.   

Drive safe, have fun and above all.... Keep on Bussin'!

Dallas

[Nick Badame Refrig/ACC]

Wait, Let me get my Rifle.... I think I see a MOOSE through the trees! "POW" "BANG"  OOPS! sorry man....
Hi Phil,

Thanks for the pic and the update of the Wisconsin trip.  Boy, it must be beautiful up there!

Have a great trip this weekend.
Nick-

[NJT5047]

Phil, that ain't no real "Bluegrass" get together...I don't see any coolers in that picture! 
I believe you're going to have a lot of time to practice your music...you ain't never gonna get that bus oughta the trees!
How's that bass playing coming along?  Basses and busses just go together.  Not many RVs have room for a double bass.  i use one bay for instruments...and my Jimmy Buffet LED palm tree...
Bring yourself down to NC and I'll show you some real Southern Style bluegrass festivals!   
Glad your enjoying your bus and your music! 
We had an interesting musical weekend last week.  Opened for Ralph Stanley.  Most pro bands these days don't want warmup bands.  They want the sound system untouched once they complete their sound check....RS requests local opening bands for his shows.  I think that speaks highly of brother Ralph!  We had a good ole time! 
Send me some pix of musicians!  Saw a post referencing a slide steel player somewhere here...wish he'd move to Charlotte!  I play with female vocalist would really work with a steel!
Cheerio, JR 

[wvanative]

Guy's, this is to all you who have put in the long hours, and you have done your way.
Enjoy

The " MooseMCIma  Mustwonderous "  or  MoosecreekMotorcabin A majestic creature standing tall and magnificent, Found today in the rural wooded area's of the North American Continent, where it is well camouflaged and right at home. For many years you would find them in large and small herds in many cities across the continent. Today you find that many have been domesticated and have private owners who care for them, and give them names. Their owners invest a lot of time, and money, for their care and upkeep. Their feed bills alone can run hundreds of dollars at a time, but with a proper diet they can make some beautiful sounds if you are close enough to hear them as they go by. They also have an odor that some find offensive, but many owners find quite pleasant, and people have been known to follow them around just to get a whiff of them. But this big brute has a wild side, and loves to wonder. They have been known to travel thousands of miles from their home wintering lands. Summer time is the best time of the year to see them after a long winter's hibernation. They seem to find each other, and herd up in big groups just like they did in the old days. Their life span can run from twenty five to fifty years, but there are quite a few that are still going strong at over seventy years old. There are many of them about, and you will find that no two will have the same markings. If you are lucky enough to see one of these magnificent creatures out wondering about, it will always brings a smile to your face. A word of "caution" though, please be careful if you see one in its natural environment, as you can be so totally mesmerized by them, to the extent that you can freeze like a deer in the headlights, and get run over or crash as you stare. But if you are careful you can spend many enjoyable hours watching these beautiful creatures as they travel about.

WVaNative

[ol713]

That is a cool pic.  That is "roughing it in style".
                        Enjoy;   Merle

[plyonsMC9]

Dallas, we (including Moose Hootch)  are definitely still bussin'!!  I've attached a pic of our group out in central Illinois. 

OUCH!  Nick - put down the weapon!!  No more bullet holes in the tires please.   

JR - I"m planning on hearing you play - BTW, I'm using the exact strings you recommended on my bass now.  Thx for the advice.  They sound terrific.  HaHa - very funny about the trees.  Tho', come to think of it, we did help some with de-forestation of the surrounding area.  Those low hanging branches were dead anyways.  And I'm planning on replacing the front cap at some point.  No problem w/the small dents & scratches.     My wife is the mandolin player on the left-hand side of the screen.  I'm not in this photo. 

WVaNative - great story.  I need to post that in the bus.   

Thanks Merle, that is indeed how we like to rough it.   

Kind Regards to alll,

Phil, family & friends in Amboy, IL.

[NJT5047]

Phil, I noticed you were looking a little younger in the band photo than I remembered! 
Looks like you got a real band!   How long has your wife been playing mando?  Terri plays a little, very little.  She'll carry it around and pick until her fingers are gone...and she quits.  Until the next festival, or jam.   Never gonna learn like that. 
Those Thomastik Spirocore strings are as good as it gets.  Once you get used to steel strings, you'll never go back to any other type. 
They stay in tune, last well, and are not affected by weather...the bass may be affected.
Watch out for those tree branches if you have rooftop ACs...you'll be fixing more than a front cap! 
Ya'll bring yourselves on down here!  I'll leave the lights on!
Best, JR
BTW, bring yourself down to Kyle's Non-Rally the weekend of Oct 14th.
I'll bet there'll be a few musicians there....did you know that Gary Labombardo sings?  Bet he'll be there...a few more musicians would be great!
See ya'll soon!

   

[plyonsMC9]

Hi JR - I am the photographer for that bluegrass pic.  My handsome young face isn't to be seen there.        I'm not sure I've posted a picture of myself yet. It may prevent us from ever getting 1,500 members.   

Best Regards, Phil

[Hank]

Basses and busses just go together

I'd like to second that notion. I've been playing upright bass for over 20 years...it's partly how I make my living!

and

...it must be beautiful up there!
Indeed it is. I live in 'Sconnie and nothing beats da nort woods and da UP eh? Dat's God's country up der. :-)

Hank

[NJT5047]

Hi Hank and Phil,
Never seen the 'UP country.  Seen a lot of the "Down" country!
Phil, how soon you forget--your whole family was pictured in a BC mag a while back. 
We knows what yo looks like! 
Hank, what genre of music do you play?   
JR

[plyonsMC9]

OK JR,

You are correct.  Mike did do a story as we purchased the bus.  I've never submitted a pic of myself in the interests of protecting the readers.   

Kind Regards, Phil

[plyonsMC9]

Hank,

Welcome to the group!!  I too would like to know what kind of music you play with that doghouse bass of yours. 

JR, my wife has been playing mando about a year now.  She's taken a few lessons, and practices very regularly.  We really have a lot of fun playing bluegrass, and we should be at a bluegrass festival w/ the Moose next weekend down in Springfield IL, with some very good friends of ours.  If we can just everyone's schedule to work out for that weekend.  Should be some good jam sessions down there.  The state park we'll be staying at should be mostly filled w/bluegrass folk.  What a blast!!   

Kind Regards, Phil

[JackConrad]

We really have a lot of fun playing bluegrass, and we should be at a bluegrass festival w/ the Moose next weekend down in Springfield IL, with some very good friends of ours.    The state park we'll be staying at should be mostly filled w/bluegrass folk.

Phil,
  Just curious, what State Park? New Salem?  My wife and I grew up near Springfield and lived there until moving to Florida in '76.  Jack

[plyonsMC9]

Yes Jack,  it is New Salem, IL.  Bluegrass jamming during the days, concerts @ night.   

Kind Regards, Phil