Happy Valentines Day.............

Its been raining alot here and snows down low today. There's some more storm coming so were watching the river again now. The upcoming forecast tells a tale of more snow and rain so pour yourself another cup of that Hot Chocolate and kick back, its the weekend my friends. Happy Valentine to all you lovers out there, give love and get love..................




Yesterday, Thursday, we went to Yosemite to go climbing again. The day didn't start out as a good day to get out on the rock though, with all the rain and cold. We just didn't know at all how it would be in the Valley of rock, but we decided to go anyways and were rewarded with a good short climbing time way up high and some great views too!

Lucky..........................

I've been riding with these guys for almost 5 years now. At least once a week, but mostly 2 to 3 times a week. We've all got differnt lifes and riding is our golf I guess. All this time, going down hills at 40 miles an hour and riding in traffic sometimes, in rain, hail and heat way back in the hills and we all got this big secret that's been in the back of our minds every time we go. We never talk about it.... its the fact that we've never had a crash!! Never hit pavement, that is till last Saturdays 50 mile ride. We were tooling along at 20 mph ( we just checked) and BAM! Out of nowhere appears a big chocolate Lab and he goes between my wheels!! In a second I was down. This could have been bad. As it was, I wasn't even cut or bruised!! This is very strange cuz usually this would be road rash and bruise's but there is nothing at all!! Only thing I can think is that I rode the dog down to the ground. The dog took off, never to be seen again. My bike on the other hand had a back tire that went bent real bad! Two hundred dollars later I'm ready to ride again...............
As for drumming, well we were outside around a nice big fire and it started to rain big drops that make you wet right away, so we went inside, and once again it was Great!! Thanks for all the 30 or so who crammed into that tight warm space and grooved the big groove around the cast iron stove. We all went to bed with drums in our heads that night!

Life and Times..........

We went climbing in Yosemite last Thursday. Its really not too far of a drive from here, 3 hours and your on the rock; the best rock in the world! We were there all day and it was warm and sunny with clear skies the rule. Nice!
Drumming was pretty nice too. We burned an old X-mas tree and it put the fire angst in all attending. Sparks everywhere, but not too bad of an ending....just warm and good smelling fire. Its a good life..........

Get outside and check out all this sun and warm weather today, its supposed to be 70 degrees! Enjoy and as always, Thanks for checking in.....

Come on and get around this Fire.........

The cold air was very biting when we headed down the hill from our ride yesterday. The little gullies we rode fast through felt like opening the freezer door! Last week we saw a huge Bald Eagle at this same spot, its white tail and white head showing up big in the foggy greenery that makes the hills look like some scottish backwater. All that said, and with all the rain of the weekend, we drummed inside Sunday night. I usually don't like drumming in the "BOOM" room, but with the big fire going and the gathering of us close friends it was great. We had a nice little group of about 20 of us, friends from down the hill and the regulars, who I never tire of. Even had dancers in that small space. Well, we'll see how the weather goes, supposed to be sunny for alittle now so we'll be enjoying it and thinking about all of our drumming friends back east and midwest, where its pretty darn chilly. Thanks for tuning in all of you, hope you feel the warmth..................

It's a Rainy Hot Chocolate Friday

Cloudy and rainy. Thats kind of nice because its Friday too. But don't let your guard down just yet, as alot of people do. You have to stay vigilante till you get home from where ever you are.
We had a real nice music jam here on Wednesday nite. Not planned, just happend pretty much. It was alot more disiplined because we're recording. The tape tells the truth, and its usually a reality check. But all that said, I'm glad we can do this kind of thing at all. I feel sorry for those who just watch the tube. Let's get together and have a potluck this weekend......??..........

The change is finally setting in over here, in the weather that is. Clouds and maybe rain. Now that's a change from the spring like days we've been having. You can see all the snow in the high mountains from down in the valley, but the rocks starting to show and man we need more snow for sure!
Yes, we have been ramping up on the riding. Three days a week and it's starting to feel good again. Did a 30 miler in some fine sun on Sunday. Lot's of uphill where you just have to get in a rhytmn and trance out to the pedal cadance. The downhills are like flying, making sure you don't just fly right off the road at the 40 miles an hour of the bicycle. We've been riding with one Fresno Bulldog football player and thats been interesting.
Drumming has been getting really good. Big fire and lots of folks have been coming out to dance and sing and drum and swing! Jose' led us in some nice vocals last Sunday and I'm sure the town of Three Rivers could sing them all after too! Come on out and join us. We have been getting together alittle on Wednesday night for music, down here in V town. Recording every session in hopes of getting that new CD out soon. Enjoy the weather...............

Map of Africa....

Thought I better put up a map of Africa so you all could see where our friends go when they go. We're very proud of them and they always bring back much richness of heart and culture.

Everyone's back for Drumming under a Full Moon

The Moon was really big last night. Perfect for drumming round the fire with all of us who drum, even when its cold. We welcomed Wil back from Africa. Asked all the questions we could think of about his African trip and showed him some drum circle hospitality. Wil surprised us by driving all the way over from Santa Cruz to join us in starting the New Year and letting us know that he's back. Also back was Jon who's been in Michigan for the last few weeks. We're all glad you guys are back and in good shape too I might add. We're looking forward to hearing more about Africa, where Wadaba and Keio are still in the village of Wadaba till March.




We've put away the holidays for now and drummed with the big groove we're famous for last night.


Now, it's getting back to the business of drumming and getting together with friends and guests around the fire in the center of Three Rivers .............

Happy New Year my Friends....2009..It's Gonna be Fine

New Years Eve Party at the Gallery...............

Yes, that's right, a party with a band, again, being held at the Cort Gallery tonite. Who knows what will happen or who will show. I'm sure you'll all agree that its a great place to spend the last few hours of the Old Year. Under a diamond studded sky holding billions of stars and by a river that's coming to life, we'll all be waving 2008 away. What a year huh??!! See you all at the party my friends.
And while I've got your attention, Thanks again for checking this blog out and keeping me posted with all your lives. It gives me stuff to write about. I plan to give you more of the things you like, let me know if you want photos of anything in particular and I'll get it up. Thanks my friends and Happy New Year to You All............

A stroll along the river on Wed before....

Just went down to the river with Gary, checking things out and it was fresh and clean and the river is coming up. Not so high though, but for this time of year its good. Lots of snow is up in them hills. We're looking good for 09, unless of course we get the dreaded "Pineapple Express", where a tropical storm comes through and melts the snow way up high and it all comes down as water. Right by the gallery here and on down to the lake. I remember that one flood where there was wood and lawn furniture and peoples belongings all along the shore. We walked all into it for a whole day looking. Not so bad like that here luckily. Just the edge of the river and the nice cool day. Caught up on all the latest gossip....wow! Christmas Eve was a happy getting together singing Christmas Carols at the coffee shop. Everyone was there and for me it was unexpected and next thing you know here's everyone and we're together again and its way down here in the valley on the old main street hanging out with my favorites and then eating chinese food. I'm Thankful for all that we have and Thankful for all my good friends. I get by real good with alittle help from my friends.....................

Monday before............

well, its sunny right now, but its going to be raining again soon. Real nice though, clean and fresh. We're watching the river now, its been a warm storm and so it could come up to floodish heights and that's always one to catch. Stay tuned to this station and I'll update as I see it. Thanks for checking in.....

Let's Go..............

It was an interesting group that gathered at drumming Sunday night last. The hardcore drummers, weather not a problem. These were the people who live there, the rafting brothers, Gary and Jimson and myself. Although I don't live there anymore, I'm still part of that invisible list of souls who have lived there and "made it".We drummed, even though it rained the whole time we were there. We just stood in it and enjoyed the heck out of it. It wasn't any kinda survival situation, we could go inside, but we didn't. Sometimes we all just feel like standing out in the rain.
While we were doing all our hiking the last few weeks we saw many lady bugs, I mean lots!! They were everywhere in some areas, the ground, the trees and bushes and all the rocks. So, hope your enjoying yourself...........

Into Hurricane Crawl Cave SNP

Hey! Hows it going?? Well, as promised, here's the Caving pics. I hope you like these slide show things. It makes it easier to post more pics in a row for you and its kinda show and tellish too. This was a "serious" cave trip. In that I mean it was pretty hard, physically and we went into the mountain more than a quarter of a mile, deep into middle earth. Deep into Sequoia. The Sequoia, Kings parks have over 200 caves, most gated and hidden. Almost all of the openings to get in are just barely passable and like the cave in the slide show, most of that distance was crawling through narrow passages, climbing up into another passage, doing a body crawl into a creek, getting wet was the way it had to be and then once in awhile, coming to big rooms where the real nice formations are. This cave "Hurricane Crawl" especially, has had very few people pentetrate to the deepest room known as the pumpkin palace. We made it to the pumpkin palace after about 2 hours of moving through all this in total darkness, If our headlamps failed we would be doomed till help arrived......if they could find us! The temp was a welcome 50 degrees, feeling nice after being out in the cold,crisp sunny day. The last pic shows the little opening that spells the end and back to life as we know it.

The Autumn Moon Lights My Way.......

A friend gave Gary a truck load of wood last week and he made a birds nest out of it down in the circle that was about 4'tall.There was a hole left in the middle for the kindling and after a few lighter swipes it took off. The flames were 20 feet and it was one of those classic drum circle times when you really wanted to stay and watch but you knew you should really run.
Alls well else wise, Done with the Bear project, now it off to do some Caving..........I put some pics up tom morrow...............

A Tuesday..........

We checked out the view over the valley yesterday after coming back from yet another hike looking for Bear Collars. We found another one!!!! Only 2 left. The fog over the valley makes it look like a vast ocean.................

After hearing a couple of reports of a abandoned campsite in the Twin Lakes area of Sequoia Park, a SAR was started. No backcountry permit for the camp and no vehicle at the trailhead?? I heard on the park radio a list of the stuff in the camp, which included alot of Marmot brand clothes, a high tech tent,and about 5 days of food, some already eaten. It sounds like the person was a climber?? No one has been reported missing yet either and its been around a week or so that this has been emerging.They've got the dogs out and a helicopter. The weather has been pretty warmish, but there's alittle snow on the ground at that 8000' level. Anyone know about this??

Drumming was foggy and kinda lonely.............

We actually set an all time record at last nites drumcircle, nobody came! Well, I mean nobody came down to drum. I guess it was the Thanksgiving weekend and all that. We did have a good visit with Wil and friends, but they all left at 8. Wil is leaving for Africa in alittle over a week. He's going with Keio and Wadaba to Wadaba's village. It'll be an unforgetable trip. It was just myself and Gary and Gabriel, and caught up with his adventures of which there were many. So, yea, we need you all to come and drum with us next week. Come and drum under the milky way next to the river by the road......