Neil Young - Good To See You - Live Acoustic

Thinking at the moment. Got a lot of things to think about. Went through my discs the other night and played memory while finding the right case for the right disc. Thinking about the coming week of traveling and fond farewells along with gypsy ways in the city near the bay.

I've got some ideas of how to survive the moment but the uncertainty is strangely familiar to my last visit gone so terribly wrong. This time my survival will be based on my skills as a mechanic. Hopefully I count my clothing to last the trip. I've got a day to get a car running good enough to make it to a show in the City. If it all works out I should be spending my time hopping from the Oakland pic n' pull to the GAMH in the Tenderloin. If I can land in the City in time for fridays show then the BART will get me into Oakland for parts if needs be.

The time it takes to plan a trip such as this parachute ride is a bit daunting. When I don't have plans to spend money the options get interesting. I've always said I'd like to travel in a Volvo 245 truck stop style. I'll be attempting it and seeing how it fares. I've got a couple hotels but I think a gap of car camping in the City rather than the desert will be an adventure. Definitely has its survival plans. I mean I'm no Bear Grylls but one must do what they need to do in the wild.

If the method of staying safe works out then I may have a new approach to traveling to the City. "the city is expensive today"

Its been 6 years since my last visit. I'm hoping to shoot some shots like the way I did in the old times. Not really all that keen on seeing the sights. I've got to prepare for a journey across the great desert to deseret. My real confidence booster comes from my experience the last time I made it to California.

Driving a solid piece of technology and design across that expanse will be far from that old Van that I rode in to Folsom late summer of 2005. Hot and not really bolted down to the frame. The Sierras never felt so much like an airplane as the Van careened down through the road construction. Maybe like a bobsled coming out of a corner wobbly. White knuckles and prayers as traffic stayed back to allow for both lanes to be travelled in by 3 musicians and a photographer.

The driver awoke not too far outside Reno after being a sleep for the past 9 hours across Nevada. Hung over and ready to fly the plane. The curves into Reno where pretty crazy. But nothing like the decent to Auburn. I told him upon safe arrival, " I didn't realize you had a pilots license?" with his response, "I'm actually in the process of getting my pilots license." I told him how the ride felt more like an airplane because the suspension was so bad that it was always swaying and moving in all directions.

That night after the show I drove the van being the only sober one. I didn't make it a few blocks before I had to pull over. The steering was not responding and the play was 45 degrees out both directions. Nothing felt right. I understood then why it would sway and fish tale when being passed by semi trucks and busses.

Thinking back on that puts my future at ease some. I mean it should be a bit better than when I drove out there and back without zero mechanical abilities. I'll be flying in with a tool box and essential spare parts.

Oh ya, the Neil Young vid was inspired by finding my Silver and Gold album. I played it non stop for some time back in late 2000 and early 2001. Also found re~ac~tor. (no mash potatoes)