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Sandra and I set out from Scotland on my 24th US tour on Monday 28th March, excited that, for the first time, she didn't have to fly out later to join me. Not only did this prevent the separation we both find very difficult, but she was also able to enjoy the love and friendship I have come to know over the past 10 years. It's that support that got us through the rigours of 3300 miles in three weeks and 14 performances in 8 States! |
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Flying into Newark |
On The Road Again... |
...And Again! |
| We arrived at the home of our friends, Mike & Kelley Lefler in North Carolina, with only enough time for a few hours sleep before driving the 400 miles to the first gig at Reston/Herndon Folk Club in Northern Virginia (quickly adapting to driving on the other side of the road!). | ||
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At Reston/Herndon Folk Club |
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| The backcloth is not the only colourful thing at the Tortilla Factory in Herndon. Some wonderfully colourful characters made the first gig of the tour a memorable one! | ||
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With Members of "Spirit Wing" |
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| It's always good to know of my songs being performed and recorded by others. I was delighted to meet up with members of Spirit Wing at my gig in Richboro, PA. They recently recorded a great version of "Beautiful River" on their CD, "To Future From Past". | ||
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At the foot of the Empire State Building |
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| We only had two full days off during the tour but made the most of them! The first of those, in New York, was memorable, we felt like we were really tourists (for 24 hours anyway!). | ||
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Signs |
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| I was following signs on my pilgrimage to... | ||
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The Bitter End |
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| ...The Bitter End. To say that, in one's teenage years, an album can "change my life" may not be an exaggeration of the truth. My "life changing" album was recorded "live" at the Bitter End by the greatest of all my song-writing heroes, Tom Paxton. "The Compleat Tom Paxton" was a live "best of" from 1970 and it opened me up to what was possible in folk music. I couldn't believe how small that historic place on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village was and would love to know more of the stories it could tell. This visit was a real thrill for me. |
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Singing in Ithaca, NY. |
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| After a long drive, we made it through snow and flood to gigs in upstate New York at Penfield and the beautiful 1st Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. | ||
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An Informal Duet in Sparta |
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| Spending time with friends is one of the most enjoyable things about touring. Here we are at the home of Jim & Marie Chesnutt in Sparta, NJ, where we had a chance to relax with them and some other friends. Although Sandra and I sang together at some of the "official" concerts, this was the best (and most relaxed) photo. | ||
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| My concert in Steelton, PA was on Tartan Day. Many of the audience turned up, dressed for the occasion. I think we spotted the McFox, McLevi and McWalmart tartans among others! | ||
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Steelton, PA. |
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| I performed in many beautiful places, but the setting at Trinity Lutheran Church, Steelton, PA, was so photogenic that I had to find a place for it on this page. | ||
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A duet in Charlottesville |
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| It's a while since I did a house concert, as the economics of them don't really add up when set against the costs of touring. I've always felt that's a pity, as audience and performer really enjoy an "up close and personal" experience, which is sometimes lacking in larger venues. When a gig fell through elsewhere, it gave us the welcome opportunity to hastily arrange a visit with our friends, Len Jaffe & Ginny Gubser, in Charlotte for a wonderful 24 hours, which included a couple of memorable duets at the house concert. Nights like this don't make anyone rich, financially, but riches come in many ways and we were richly blessed at the first of the "Barking Cherry House Concerts". |
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Pink Cadillac Diner |
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| Sometimes we were lucky enough to find unique places to eat (i.e. not McDonald's, Cracker Barrel, Burger King etc.). How lucky we were to find The Pink Cadillac Diner in Natural Bridge, VA. We don't know if it was "fifties retro" or was original and had never been modernised! We do know that the food was good and the service & humour, wonderful! The perfect distraction on our 500 mile journey from Virginia Beach to Dandridge, TN. | ||
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"On the Deck" in Dandridge |
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| With Janet and Tom McLane (our Tennessee Mom & Dad) on the deck of their home in Dandridge. It's special people like them that make it all worthwhile. | ||
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Sandra with Laurene |
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| ...and if Janet and Tom make it all worthwhile, Laurene Bradford, in addition to making it worthwhile, makes it happen! She has not only been one of the best friends we could ever hope for, but is "always there" for the mulitude of other tasks that need a helping, caring hand and so much more. | ||
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A day at Dollywood |
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| As we spent four days in Dandridge, we took the chance to enjoy the local attractions. Dollywood is a great experience, an opportunity to learn and appreciate the beautiful riches of the Smoky Mountains and have some fun, too. Try to guess who had the most fun on the "Tennessee Tornado"! | ||
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Flower of Scotland |
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| It's always an honour to be chosen to sing a National Anthem at Highland Games. At Loch Norman, Huntersville, NC, Ed Miller and I shared the honours on a cold but beautifully sunny day. | ||
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Leaving Charlotte |
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| There's no place like home...so when we left our dear friends in Carolina after a gruelling three weeks, we were ready to make that homeward journey. However, it only took a couple of days for us to wish we were Stateside again. It may take a while but ...here's to the next time... | ||
