We were on our way home from a really fun wine tour when we decided to take a detour. We've been on the lookout for a good location to play some music and shoot video. We decided to go to the Wildrose Charcoal Kilns in Death Valley. It was kind of on the way home, we had been there before and the sound in the kilns was awesome. The last time we visited was years and years ago with my youngest; camping out in our old 61 Suburban. It was an awesome trip, but by the time we got to the kilns it was winter and snowy and cold. It was Wakitu's first snowball fight evar and we decided then we'd be back.

So we had a plan and left on time to be there at the golden hour. The best-laid plans are often left quickly behind. We had the Jag packed to the gills. Trunk full, back seat loaded with sleeping bags and guitars, we rounded a corner and I spotted it. "You're gonna hate me," I said, and she squeaked "What?!" as I made a U-turn directly into parking lot of a used furniture store. There, on the sidewalk, was an old sewing chair. I have been looking for one of these for years. I didn't even negotiate at 40 bucks. I was so excited I just paid the man. Now we just had to fit in or on the car. We somehow squeezed it into the back and off we went with him shaking his head and my new favorite chair bouncing dangerously close to mine.

With a well-placed pillow we plowed on through our adventures: a pilgrimage hike, a closed road and a few coyotes later, we bumped up the road to the kilns.

With the road closure and having to go the long way around, we missed the golden hour but not by much. Luckily we had the place to ourselves and quickly set up. We carried in the rocking chair and my guitar, the audio rig and two mics.

Wakitu set up two video cams and we connected one to the Tascam. Man, it was cold in there as I tried to tune up and warm up. Still vibrating from the drive, I sang a few songs. As always in my head I could hear the orchestra and the harmony. The voice of that harmony will forever be my friend Laura Williams. It so happened to be very near the second anniversary of her passing. I hear her everywhere I go. So I sang her song. Thanks for listening, my friends. I miss her so much.
Sail on.