Headed out today. Very mixed feelings. Absolutely sure that I need to be on the move. But that doesn’t prevent my having great sadness about walking away from great friends, family, and great, and painful, memories. That is the path I have chosen, thinking it best.

I would like to be in Washington, DC by November 21st, for holiday baking, and Thanksgiving with Brittany. It is good to have that mid-term anchor. And family connection. And honoring of Janelle Holiday cooking. Between today and the 21st, I have a number of song-cities to hit. Bangor-Waterville-Boston-Chicopee-Pittsfield-Haverstraw-Glen Rock-Hackenstack-Buffalo-Pittsburgh-Parkersburg-Washington.

I am fortunate to have a number of friends that I will be visiting at the start of my trip. I’ve got connections in Portland, for two nights, Providence for a night, and Boston for two nights. Then I’m off on my own to set a daily plan to hit the target cities and get to DC on time. I do have one more connection that I hope to make in Pennsylvania, but that is yet to be determined.

I realize that I haven’t fully explained the significance of Asleep at the Wheel. It is true that I love their version of I’ve Been Everywhere, and so did Janelle. It is also true that the song provides a useful skeleton for a road trip, of which Janelle and I had many. But there is also the band itself. I’ve spoken of the trinity of bars, music, and food that brought such joy to Janelle and me. At no time was that more intense than the several years we attended the Austin City Limits Festival. When we went it was three days, seven stages, and 135 bands. In Austin, Texas – known for the 6th Street bar scene and BBQ and Tex-Mex cooking.

We had dinner one night at El Sol y la Luna, a converted gas station, right down to the white and black tile floor. It was good, very good. The next day, when we asked our cab drive (no Uber in the day) for dining recommendations, he asked where we had already eaten. When we told him, he said we’d already eaten at the best. Once again, the benefits of traveling with Janelle.

Was I talking about Asleep at the Wheel? The very first act to play on the Austin City Limits TV show was Asleep at the Wheel. 1975. And the first act of every Austin City Limits Festival was Asleep at the Wheel. What great stage presence. What ability to work a crowd. What a group to kick-off three days of craziness. What a group for Janelle and me.

My goal today is to share the near term plan. My hope is to post daily my progress and status. We’ll see…