The BMA Trip - and then some!!

WARNING! 

This will most probably be the longest blog you will ever see on Jazz Blues Florida! It chronicles a 2,600 mile trip that began with the BMA's in Memphis, Tweed Funk at the House of Blues in Chicago, north to Wisconsin where the first night we caught Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin' Alter Boys, then The Dave Potter Band with guest Jimmy Voegeli (of The Jimmys), then traveled to the Capitol to catch The Jimmys themselves... We experienced a lot of beautiful country and some wonderful adventures. This blog takes you along... and back home again to Florida! Enjoy the pictorial!

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DAY ONE: STRAIGHT-SHOT W/ A LATE START TO PARADISE IN PENSACOLA
Started the trip by heading up to Pensacola Beach to the Paradise Inn - got there too late for music, so just over-nighted...

DAY TWO: ALL THE WAY TO MEMPHIS!
Took off Thursday morning for Memphis for the 35th annual Blues Music Awards. What a night!! And part of the drive through Mississippi was so fine, we saw it THREE times! LOL - don't ask!

We were told "No cameras or video" so... did not take ours inside.

Turns out that wasn't the case however, so we will know better next time.

The few photos we have from the BMA were taken by cell...

Can you guess who this award winner is???

Pics below taken on our way to Memphis... and then onward to Chicago for Tweed Funk's performance at the House of Blues... 

Lauderdale, eh?? Wanna' get that map out?!

Taking some Florida along for the ride!

We saw this road sign more than once. Don't ask!!

This sign needed to show up sooner!

DAY THREE: FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE WINDY CITY W/ TWEED FUNK
Friday night found us in Chicago at House of Blues for Tweed Funk... Super great night!

Next morning... On the road again......

Saturday we made it to Mom's place in Watertown, WI and after a couple meals, headed back into Milwaukee for Reverend Raven & The Chain Smokin Altar Boys show at the Brookfield American Legion post. 

DAY FOUR: REAL MUSIC MADE BY REAL PEOPLE IN A REAL PLACE

DAY FIVE: THANK GOODNESS FOR GREAT MOMS!
Mother's Day Sunday... food, family & haircut highlighted the day! And... some nice drives in the country....!

  

DAY SIX: A DRIVE DOWN BELOW MADISON TO BELOIT -
Monday evening found us taking in some Dave Potter Band and guest Jimmy Voegeli (of The Jimmys) hitting all the right keys.

DAY SEVEN: REST, MORE FOOD AND COMPUTER CATCH-UP TIME! 

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DAY EIGHT: A PRE-FESTIVAL VISIT TO FOX LAKE, HOST TO THE ANNUAL BUNNY BERIGAN FESTIVAL!

Geese in flight!

DAY NINE: COMPUTER REPAIR AND GETTING READY FOR DAYS TEN, ELEVEN, TWELVE... AND SO ON...

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DAY TEN: SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES OF COUNTRYSIDE MEANDERING...
Friday was full of beautiful country and back roads with Charlie's Mom, including stops along the way at Amish Stores, and taking a friend of Charlie's mother to lunch at "Maggie Mae's".

DAY ELEVEN: BREAKFAST SPECIAL: $2.80, TO REWARD OURSELVES FOR THE EARLY MORNING START TO THIS DAY!
Went rummaging and thrifting... checked out quite a few spots in the town-wide Rummage Sale and a couple of Thrift Shops as well - with some nice finds for all! Too bad we don't have a trailer to haul some larger finds back home! <---- Debby said that.

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DAY TWELVE: TRIP TO THE MAD CITY! 
First, a stop at Rookies Restaurant & Bar to meet up with a WI friend and visit with Charlie's brother who runs the place. Had one of the specials for the day: Spam-a-Lot Sandwich! How could we pass up this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for home-made spam deluxe?? Have to say it was delish - and very ample!
Then, off to take in the sights of Wisconsin's Capitol city of Madison... the nicely lit Capitol Building, U of W, a quick stop at their lakeside Rathskellar, took in other sights of the city including where Charlie used to live as a student, and the memorial for Otis Redding overlooking Lake Monona where his plane went down.
Somber. 

On the way, Charlie spied some wild asparagus...!

The Capitol Building taken from the Memorial area for Otis Redding on the bank of Lake Monona

Then, to end the night in an upbeat way (to say the least!), headed to The Harmony Bar to catch The Jimmys show. GREAT!! They need to come to Florida! In fact, Florida needs them to come down! Jimmy Voegeli on keys and vocals leads this high energy, accomplished and fun 8 piece band with 3 piece horn section, plus West Side Andy was sitting in on harp while we were there.

DAY THIRTEEN: LOTS OF FOOD...
more food, and then, some more food!! Beautiful weather for a 'Family Day' gathering and picnic ending with a beautiful sunset. Then NAP TIME!

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DAY FOURTEEN: BEGIN PREPARATIONS...
for the trek homeward which is planned for Day Fifteen - the original plan. However.... NAPS mainly prevailed!

DAY FIFTEEN: REAL preparations for Return Trip...
Leaving Today??? Maybe Baby! 

Buh-Bye....

CALEDONIA Haulers!

B & B for the night atop a mountain...

Sunset on the balcony...

Morning from the balcony...

Always workin'.......

Photo taken from across the street on the second floor
balcony of us on the deck that sticks out of the side of the mountain!

UH OH!! They're BAAAAACK!!

This wren is glad we are back!

Charlie and his helper back at the "normal" work desk... at last!

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THE END.