On the 55th anniversary of Woodstock I had a fun weekend.
After 5 days of Covid (I tested negative but someone who caught my “cold” then tested positive so I guess this was my second bout of Covid, 2 years since my last) I was 95% better on Friday, August 15th. And the good news is I likely have a full load of antibodies and won’t get Covid again before Ironman Florida which is only 2 months away now. My broken ankle is almost better after 6 weeks and next week I can start running on soft surfaces.
I drove down to Hamburg in the early morning to get in a long swim (I am working my way up to a 10K swim before the end of summer). It was not windy and the glassy lake made for a fast swim pace despite my lingering cold symptoms. I saw a bunch of minnows and seagulls and one large fish!
Afterwards I did some stretching/Yoga next to my car. I realized that I was giving a free show to the cars driving by on Route 5 as I was only in a Speedo 😉
I had gotten tickets for Alex and I to see the Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge at Chautauqua. I have been an Indigo Girls fan since “Closer to Fine” came out in 1989 but they have gotten a lot of new fans since it was featured in the Barbie movie last year.
It was an easy 90 minute drive there and we arrived early enough to get some food and walk around a little before the 7:30 show. Alex had not been to The Chautauqua Institution since they were very small. My mom had stayed there for a week of lectures by and about authors and writers. 2 years ago Salman Rushdie was stabbed by a fanatic Muslim and lost an eye and the use of one of his hands while lecturing.
Here is a link to Chautauqua. It is a very unique place and experience. And with global warming it is in a great location.
From a long distance Alex and I recognized this as an OSPREY, like the one that visits our pond sometimes. It was made out of recycled trash. I commented that the artist had the fish in the wrong orientation as Osprey’s carry the fish pointing forward.
We relaxed for a while on a nice bench with a view of the lake. My shirt got many positive comments. One woman bragged about having seen the Beatles in Toronto, a man told us about his brother seeing Janis Joplin for $3. I will be seeing Dylan again in September when he is touring with Willie Nelson and John Mellencamp. I took Alex to see Dylan (he was awful) and Mavis Staples (she was great) a few years ago. I always tell Alex that when it is his 100th birthday they can tell people “oh yeah, I saw him with my Dad”.
While waiting in line next to a rainbow flag we chatted with some people. A nice couple a little older than me were retired and spent summers at Chautauqua and the rest of the year in Austin, TX. There were others from all over the country that were at Chautauqua just for the week or longer. The people who lived there or were staying at the hotels on site had passes for all the concerts.
It was general admission on very comfy wooden benches except for the “VIP” floor area by the stage.
The view and sound was great from anywhere.
A woman came on stage at 7:30 and told the audience that the Indigo Girls would play for 90 minutes and then there would be a break (we could wander the campus, get food or drinks then, only water was allowed in the auditorium) and then Melissa would do her 90 minutes.
They played a nice mix of their 1989 album and their newer stuff. I didn’t like how they turned down their mikes so the crowd could sing along with Galileo and Closer to Fine but it seemed very important to those core fans.
Even when my phone is on “do not disturb” I get weather channel alerts. Usually they are for lightning nearby, etc. but during the concert ….
Luckily I wasn’t tripping on LSD or it might have been scary!!!
Melissa Etheridge came out in her hat to toe black leather for the girls last 2 songs.
During intermission we found an ice cream shop that was open. I also got a banana for $1.
There was a gorgeous moon as we headed back to the auditorium.
I took a photo of the shirts (I am trying to divest of possessions so can’t buy more t shirts !).
Melissa Etheridge has so many great hits.
And of course …..
The Indigo Girls joined her for “baby u can sleep while I drive”.
And … a Bruce Springsteen song!
It was a great concert, three women whose music I’ve loved for 35 years. I told Alex that now whenever I hear any of their songs I’ll remember the concert. On the walk back to the car we met a friendly cat and were able to grab a cart for the last bit.
Saturday was recovery day, I just biked for 2 hours on my trainer in the basement and caught up on some chores. I also watched some baseball and premier league soccer, it was the season’s opening weekend (of course Chelsea lost to Manchester City … ).
Sunday morning I was back in the Lake.
When I got home from swimming it was time for Alex and I to take Fifa to Lab Club.
There was only one other dog there (Josie, 3 years old) but they had a great time playing together!
On the way home we ALL got some ice cream. Fifa enjoyed her pup cup and then slept on the porch with Alex.
I had tickets for a musical boat ride with some friends.
It has poured in June when my friend Ryan went on the last cruise but we had perfect weather.
I got to wear my Grateful Dead Crocs!
We started off by heading West thru a few locks. Next year is the 200th anniversary of the Erie Canal! The music was not that loud on the top of the boat (the band was on the first deck) but in the locks the music echoed and was loud!
After going through a few locks we turned around and went back through them again. I went downstairs and “danced” for a while.
This was a collection of Buffalo’s best Dead cover band musicians and every song was excellent.
When I went back upstairs during the bands break (they played a full 3 hours with that a 20 minute break) the boat was traveling East through more rural areas of farmland.
I took an artistic/trippy video 🙂
We saw many vultures overhead and one Osprey!!! It never got close enough for a good photo but …
Such a fun 3 days!!!
A little Woodstock review for you younger folks … 🙂
https://www.biography.com/musicians/woodstock-1969-performers
The older I get the more I love Joni’s lyrics and her pure voice.