Horsing Around And New York City

Writing a BLOG while constantly on the go can be a real challenge, I get so many ideas and take so many pictures and they all seem to get piled up before I finally get the chance to sit down and put them into some sense of order. With that being said, I am happy to let you know that I am writing this final entry from the “Spring Tour” from the comfort of my own home here in beautiful Englewood, Colorado. We arrived home on the 25th of May and I proceeded to get real sick for several days. I am back now and here are some highlights of our last leg of this amazing 4-month spring concert tour.

We left Nancy and Doug’s house in Maine and drove to New York City for a concert in Manhattan, what a change in scenery that was. The people in New York were wonderful and after the concert Dorothy Jordon and her husband David Ferber took us out to the incredible Mesa Grill, one of the hottest restaurants in New York City. We tried nearly every appetizer on the menu and feasted on great steaks, pork tenderloin and side dishes accompanied by great wine and a coffee dessert. For a bite-by-bite account of that dinner, Al plays restaurant critic on his website (http://www.everashleymusic.com/) you really should read it,it's great! I want to thank David, Dorothy and their wonderful son (NY stand-up comic Jordon Ferber) for treating us to something very special.

After New York it was on to Waterbury, Connecticut for another concert, once again we were spoiled rotten and treated to a wonderful night at the Curtis Inn. It's the oldest Inn in Connecticut. It was like a quaint little doll house. We had lunch at the restaurant which is one of the most popular in all of New England for local food. Every room at this Inn was decorated in different styles with tons of antiques on display throughout the halls and rooms. What a great experience.

After Connecticut it was time for another adventure. I had heard of a place not too far (90 miles) from where our next concert would be in Annapolis, Maryland where there were herds of wild horses that run free on the beach. We looked into it and with 2 days off between events we decided to stay in Ocean City, Maryland where I found another off-season bargain hotel overlooking the water for $49 on the beautiful boardwalk there. To our surprise there was also a “muscle car” event taking place in Ocean City, wow were there some awesome cars cruising all over town. The balcony from our hotel was perfect because we had the beach on one side and the street filled with passing classic cars on the other, it was a great place to have happy-hour and take in both views.

We woke up on Friday (May 16th, Ashley’s 25th birthday) and went to Assatee Island about a 10 minute drive from the beaches and boardwalk of Ocean City. It was more than a bit ironic that we would spend this day remembering Ashley in such a gentle and peaceful setting. This place was so unique, the island is a collection of dunes and marshes with beautiful beaches as far as the eye can see splashed by the sparkling waves of the Atlantic Ocean, and of course wild horses everywhere...Magical! The horses are managed by the state of Maryland, they are free to run and survive on their own with minimal intervention by vets who check them twice a year and also by a wildlife management group that helps control the size of the herd.

We played the concert in Annapolis, Maryland and then started the journey home which would include concerts in Albany, New York and then back to the west to play in Evansville, Indiana. We still had a couple of adventures left in the tank, including a couple of days in New York City and Niagara Falls.

David Ferber and Dorothy Jordon invited us to stay with them on our 2 days off in NYC. They live in a spectacular place located in the heart of Greenwich Village on 5th Avenue. We were welcomed with a Delicious dinner prepared by these two awesome people who we enjoyed so much. Our stay included a long walk through the city to Chinatown, and a Broadway show. I love New York!

We left New York city and headed to Albany for a concert. The next day we drove to Niagara Falls which is just northwest of Buffalo New York where the Buffalo River separates the United States from Canada. We had a day off and decided to spend it by visiting the original home of Buffalo Chicken Wings, and then taking in the Falls. Okay, these wings were really good, the Anchor bar is where they originated and it wasn’t just a tourist trap, it was the real deal. Al loved the spicy BBQ and I loved the hot wings.

Niagara Falls did not disappoint either; I can see why it is one of the 7 wonders of the world. There are two ways to see the falls, from the American side or from the Canadian side. We decided to skip the hassle of crossing the border and take them in from the US side…it was great.

We got many great views from above and below the falls, I will let the pictures tell the story.


We were tired, but very satisfied with our spring tour when we arrived back in Denver. Al gives so much of his heart every night and I know that he needs some time off, I'd be happy to take off again tomorrow. We drove over 19,000 miles and played nearly 50 concerts in 106 days spread across 33 states. I tried my best to highlight those times when we got to step back from the ministry of helping others and were able to take in the sights. I hope you enjoyed the journey through these pictures and stories. I will return in July when we travel the Midwest and then again in August when we travel to Northern California and the Northwest. Thanks for reading!

Seal-(ed) With A Hershey Kiss

After enjoying our sabbatical in Florida it was definitely time to get back to playing music. We left the pristine beaches and the roar of motorcycles behind and headed north to Atlanta, Georgia. We had one last concert to play on our southern swing before venturing to the northeast. It seemed we had passed through Atlanta twenty times while crisscrossing the south this past month. We had a nice event in Atlanta; many of the people who attended had seen Alan before. We woke up that next morning which was a Saturday and left Georgia, we were scheduled to play next on that following Monday night north of Boston. This was one of those times where it was petal to the metal and piddle when you can, without much stopping.

Our journey north did take us to a couple of interesting sites that we managed to take in. The Pennsylvania Dutch country located west of Philadelphia is a throw back to a simpler time. The Amish still live in their traditional ways and it was fascinating to experience a glimpse into their rustic lifestyle. We stopped and enjoyed a fabulous dinner at an Amish style smorgasbord out side of Lancaster. Our waitress directed us to a scenic drive through the heart of Amish country. It was a Sunday afternoon and the streets were filled with families traveling by horse and buggy. Traditional Amish shops lined the neatly manicured streets where craftsman and artisans sell everything from hand made furniture to beautiful and intricate quilts.

No drive through eastern Pennsylvania would be complete without a stop at the famous Hershey chocolate factory. Those of you who know me, know that this was like finding salvation, great s*^, or hitting the lottery all at the same time. I wanted Al to leave me there and come pick me up in a few weeks. Imagine a land so filled with chocolate that they named the city after it……HEAVEN!!!!

I love New England, Al has a large following in this part of the country and gets here quite often, but I had only been here once in the last twenty years. We played back-to-back nights in Boston and Worcester which is pronounced (Wusster)…go figure. We wondered through Boston before our concert in Worcester and saw Fenway park and the Boston harbor. It was great to share a slice of that famous Fenway pizza sold just outside this historic ballpark which is home to the Boston Red Sox

With a day off after Worchester and our next concert only a ninety minute drive from Boston, Al asked me if there was anything in particular that I would like to see while in this area. I pulled out the map and jokingly said….”how about Cape Cod?” He said, it is expensive but see if you can find a deal on it. I have learned a great lesson on this trip about traveling in the off season. Cape Cod which is one of the most expensive places in New England to visit during the summer and fall can be a bargain in early May. I did my hotel and motel coupon search and found a charming hotel with a harbor view on the water in Hyannis for $65, far less than it would have cost to stay in Boston.

With bargain hotel reservations made we decided to drive to Cape Cod late at night after the concert. The next morning when I looked out our double sliding door I was so amazed with the area as the view of the boats in the harbor were spectacular. We decided to spend the day by taking the ferry over to Nantucket. Located twenty miles from the mainland Nantucket is an island filled with a rich history dating back over three hundred years. I must tell you that this place didn’t even seem real. The beauty and charm of the shops and houses are like something I have never seen. It felt magical and I can see why the rich and famous clamor to spend time here. For those looking for a residence on this island, a two bedroom nine hundred sq. foot house will set you back a mere 1.5 million or so.

Cobble stone streets are lined with beautiful trees and millions of daffodils which have been a part of the islands charm for over a century. Built around the whaling industry this unique village has many historical homes that have been kept in pristine condition. One wealthy woman imported four tons of daffodils bulbs to be planted on the island in the 1920’s Everywhere you look you see daffodils.

Al read an article about some remote beaches that required a four-wheel drive to see. He asked if I would like to rent a jeep and be the driver for an adventure to the end of the island…. “Duh” Little did I know what an experience we were in for. The man who rented us the jeep said because of the slow season we would probably have the beach to ourselves and that we may see some seals. The six mile stretch of beach leading to Great Point was a blast to drive on. The sand was soft and we bounced around and laughed our heads off as we made our way to the far reaches of Nantucket.

There are no houses out here, only a distant light house that sits at the end of the point where the sand meets the sea.

As we neared the lighthouse we were amazed to see a colony of nearly two hundred seals bathing on the beach and playing in the water. For almost two hours we were the only people in sight and in awe of these beautiful creatures. They seemed to grow more comfortable with us the longer we stayed, and soon I would find myself with camera in hand taking hundreds of pictures. As Al sat a couple hundred feet away with his own group of seals playing peek-a-boo with him, I began to get closer and closer as I could feel the seals trusting me and eventually I was able to get within a few feet of several of them. I was so blown away by this experience it felt spiritual as I felt honored to be in the midst of nature in its true form. One of the seals had a plastic bag stuck around his neck, he looks like he will be okay but there are big problems with plastic in the ocean endangering the wild life.

We finished up our magical day in Nantucket by checking out a couple of cool harbor bars before catching the ferry back to Hyannis around 9PM. It was a great day and if you ever get the chance to visit Cape Cod….do it! We did not have time to go to Martha’s Vineyard which would have been another ferry ride and a day excursion on its own...maybe next time!

After our event in Webster, Mass it was time to head toward our friends Doug and Nancy’s house in Brunswick, Maine for the weekend. We were planning a stop along the way to see our dear friend Linda Riley who lives in Manchester, New Hampshire, she invited us to stay the night at her house after the concert. We drove from Webster, Mass to New Hampshire and arrived around midnight. Al was invited to speak at an elementary school in Nashua on that Friday morning so we go up early to present Flat Stanley which had traveled with us as part of a school project for Taylor Martel (the daughter of a TCF friend).Taylor was surprised as her mom had arranged the visit from us….Al spoke to the class about traveling and asked all of them where each of their Stanley’s had traveled, the kids loved him and so did Taylor as we gave her a bag filled with chocolates from our visit to Hershey, PA…(I stole a couple before I gave Al the bag….don’t tell anybody).

Al and I love to go to Diners-Drive Ins, and Dives…you know the ones from the Television show on the Food Network? He has been to many of the restaurants featured on the show, and this spring we have been to 3 together including the Mad Greek and The Keg in Nevada…and BBQ King in Charlotte, North Carolina. Al just happened to mention to Linda Riley that he wanted all of us to go to lunch in Manchester after his elementary school gig before we head off to Maine. He told Linda that he had circled a place from a TV show and definitely wanted to eat there….the name of it is The Red Arrow Diner.
Linda just looked at Al and laughed when she told him ”Alan, the woman who owns the Red Arrow knows who you are, she loves your music! Linda (sitting next to Al) called and arranged for all of us to meet there for lunch…this place was terrific. The owner Carol Sheehan (standing behind) treated all of us (not just Al) like we were rock stars. She brought us whatever we wanted to try or sample, took us on tours of the kitchen, and even let Al play on the grill pretending he was Guy Fieri (the host of diners, Drive-ins and dives). She sent us on our way with a bag of their famous baked goodies as well as with coffee mugs, and of course a cap for Mr. Rock star himself. Carol is a bereaved mom too, she had been touched by Al’s music when she saw him perform in Oklahoma City last July. Her precious son Jesse (a huge Boston Red Sox fan) died in 2006. She is an amazing person. Many famous people visit the Red Arrow as it has won too many awards to mention. Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Adam Sandler, and tons of other celebrities have their pictures on the walls. The Red Arrow puts plaques in its booths (they have only 4 booths) where celebrities and dignitaries have sat, Al sat where Ty Pennington had been. The Red Arrow is going to put a plaque there saying “Alan Pedersen” ate here…..oh brother, you would have thought he won a Grammy when they told him that!

Wow, what a week it had been….now it was time to drive 3 hours or so to Maine to see our wonderful friends. Nancy and Doug are two great people we have known for years. They used to live in Ft. Collins, Colorado and as many of you know I loved house-sitting for them at their awesome home on the lake. Al had never been to Maine, imagine that..in fact Maine was the last of the 48 states he had yet to visit.

We had some great times with Nancy and Doug, we drove to Portland to pick up fresh live Maine Lobster which Doug has mastered the art of preparing. We truly had a feast, we also drove to Booth Bay Harbor Maine, this is one beautiful place too. We enjoyed so much our time with our dear friends…we rested too….it was a great week. Well, time to go for now…next week we play in New York City, Maryland, Connecticut, and then we begin heading home…playing 3 events along the way….SEE YOU SOON! By the way, Big Al turns 50 on the 27th, Nancy made him an early birthday present, a made from scratch Cherry Pie...MMM

Beaches, Bikers, and Really BIG SHRIMP!

Ahhh, finally a few days off in one place. We left Tampa, Florida on Monday morning and planned to take a leisurely drive along the coast to Panama City where we had rented a condo for 4 nights. I had never seen the Gulf of Mexico in Florida and Al told me it would be spectacular...he wasn't kidding.
We stopped and had lunch at a really cute waterside cafe called surprisingly The Crab Shack in Tarpon Springs which was north of St. Petersburg. The coconut shrimp were great, I had a fish sandwich and Al had the French Onion Soup.

Our drive took us around the curve you see on the map which would be like the inside of the thumb of Florida. My gosh, you should see this place it is filled with thick and lush green trees and beautiful plant life. You see bear crossing signs, deer crossing signs, and the area is home of the Florida Manatee. Many small fishing towns dot the coast line as you move west along the Gulf, the highway we drove hugged the water and provided so many beautiful views.

We found a great produce stand along the way and loaded up on fresh fruit and vegetables as we had a kitchen in our condo and planned to make our own food, which is something we were looking forward to after too many restaurant meals. We arrived in Panama City fairly late and were pleasantly pleased with our condo, it sat across a two lane road from the beach, it was big and very well stocked with kitchen supplies and was very nice for the economic price we paid.

I woke up early Tuesday as sleepy head rested and walked over to the beach. Wow, the brilliant white sand on these beaches is stunning. I had coffee, read and relaxed for a bit before returning to the condo. This week was going to be a nice break as we planned to do some normal things that we rarely get to do when we travel. We went to a movie and then on a shopping mission to find fresh Gulf shrimp and seafood. We were directed to a place where the boats unload fish every morning which was about 10 miles from our condo. The selection was terrific, we loaded up on Huge fresh shrimp, crab legs, talapia, and some crab cakes & key-lime pie too.

We ate shrimp cocktail every night. One afternoon we went to the local dog track, we also sat on the beach nightly, one evening we saw one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen in my life.

We woke up Thursday morning to the sound of motorcycles, it appeared they were descending on Panama City...what was up?? Thundering groups of bikes came pouring into town. We bought a local paper and would soon learn that this was the first day of one of the biggest biker rallies in the south...nearly 65,000 bikers would be in town for the big event over the weekend....and our condo sat across the street from one of the 4 resorts hosting the event....oh my goodness, our lives could be in danger and our trip would surely be ruined..right?? WRONG!!! The fun was just beginning.

The bikers of today are more likely to be an attorney, doctor, or business owner who simply are escaping their everyday lives to enjoy the freedom and openness of the road on a Harley. As the bikers began showing up Thursday afternoon, some with dogs in tow.. the resort across the way had hundreds of bikes parked out front. We read an event schedule and learned that one of the hottest biker bands in the country would be playing at that resort and we decided to join in the fun and hang out with the bikers.

Al, looked sort of like a biker in his musle shirt, but his skin is so white and untanned that he jokingly told people he only "rides at night." One of the couples asked us where we were from and we said "Colorado" to which they replied..."did you ride or trailer down?" Our answer was...we Chevy vanned down!

***Authors Warning: Please do not read further or view if you are offended by scantily dressed biker girls at a biker party...I had to share a couple of pictures to give you an idea of what we stumbled into..but please don't show these to the kids or get the wrong idea...however, Alan is seriously talking about buying a Harley and learning to ride a motorcycle after his biker experience which I am not sure I understand what that is all about!*****

These people know how to party and are tons of fun...but we really didn't realize how wild they get until after we had been in the party tent for an hour or so waiting to hear the music. We noticed people gathered in one corner and walked over to see what was happening. Women were getting bodies painted....well, you get the idea. I just had to get some pictures, we listened to the band for awhile, the party was rocking when we went back to the condo, and believe it or not...it was only 8:30 in the evening...we had shrimp to cook so we left the wildest biker party in Panama City for an evening of Deal or No Deal and fish...are we getting old or what?

Our week in Panama City was restful, and fun and it was nice to stop moving for a couple of days and just relax. On Friday we drove up to Atlanta for a concert there. The following morning we headed out on the 1,200 mile drive to Boston where we have concerts next week. I hope all is well with everyone who reads this blog....we will be home later this month. I am looking forward to seeing New England.

More Journeys From The Songs!

This Beautiful Butterfly Bench Sits In Fron Of The Malone's Home In Blairsville, Georgia

Many of you have asked about the concerts and work we are doing, it really is amazing if I may say. I want to take a moment to explain it to those of you who don’t know about Al’s music and our ministry. Alan downplays much of what he does to family and friends, but I want to brag a little and tell you not only what he does, but how well he does it. There are hundreds of organizations around the country who help families whose children have died. Alan has worked with and donated his time to many of these organizations now for several years. His music and message have become very popular within the healing arts community. He has become nationally known and is sought after to play and speak because he mixes his music with humor wrapped in a hope filled message in such a unique way….there truly is nobody else like him. Every night he plays, he stays (as long as it takes) to autograph CD’s and to meet every person and to hug them and hear about their child…I know he is helping so many people and it is an honor to be a part of something so special.

I am writing this blog from Tampa where Al was the key-note speaker yesterday for a very big Angel of Hope fundraising event held here at the beautiful Quorum Hotel. With the Mayor, and other dignitaries and big donors in attendance I watched him take the stage and wow the big crowd….it was a fancy brunch and he had people belly laughing as he talked about finding a grape in his chicken salad sandwich during the meal and confusing it for a pickle…he asked all the ladies to applaud the few men in attendance who had the courage to show up at such a fancy “Tea” which included a fashion show and silent auction. You could have heard a pin drop and there wasn’t a dry eye to be found as he closed with “Celebrate The Children,” ..many thousands of dollars were raised for this beautiful Park being constructed here in Tampa that will have a special Angel of Hope statue in it for families who have lost a child to gather around and remember….just another day in the life of traveling with Alan.

I feel such a part of what we are doing, the stories I hear each night as I work the CD table are something I will never forget. We are reaching out to the smallest of groups too, Al’s heart and generosity toward others who have lost a child and for small grief support groups who can’t afford to pay our travel expenses are becoming a big part of his legacy. Many nights we donate the money from CD sales to help pay for the cost of the event and our travel…it seems that angels appear along to way just when we need them who make up the difference.

It’s been amazing to watch Alan transform his deep sadness and grief after losing Ashley into something very special and wonderful. I’m sure he could make more money if he wanted to cash in on his popularity and play for big churches and other commercial motivational events that are available to him, but he is determined to make a difference and wants a ministry more than a music career, you can’t put a price on helping people, and I support him in this 100%.

There have been many newspapers around the country that have written about our journey and events, several have put a picture of Ashley in the article and I can’t help but think she would be so proud of what we are doing. So we play events large and small, and drive endless miles it seems…this is a journey to honor Ashley, and to help Alan heal…God lights the path…we follow that path…and somehow it all comes together.

My blog is meant to show you the things we do and see along the way, Al writes one on his website about the work we do. If you want to learn more about it, please keep up with Alan at http://www.everashleymusic.com/

Okay, now back to our travels!

It seems that when I left you, Al and I were leaving the Northeast and heading toward the South. After saying so long to Mom and Dad we played concerts in Wilmington, Delaware…Fairfax, Virginia, and then drove 540 miles for a concert in West Milton, Ohio which is near Dayton. That next morning we drove down to Frankfort, Kentucky where we spent the weekend playing and speaking a couple of times at a Regional Conference of The Compassionate Friends (TCF). Sometimes we get spoiled rotten at our events, and sometimes not so much…Frankfort was great because we were definitely spoiled. Frankfort is the capitol of Kentucky, yet it is a small and quaint town. We stayed at the beautiful Capitol Hotel near the old town square, and what a room!

Al working hard at the conference table in our "Rock Star" suite in Franfort, Kentucky

Al played at this event last year and they love him, and love to treat him like a rock star. They put us in a huge suite which you seriously could host a party for 50 people in this room. We stayed 3 nights, and it was very nice…on Sunday we ate their very famous brunch which included prime rib, crab legs, and all the usual yummy brunch fare.

We left Frankfort for a concert in Marietta, Georgia. One of my jobs has become hunting great hotel deals on the nights when we have to pay for our own room. Bingo on this one, I found us a cool Quality Inn with a kitchen in it for $69…this is a score when you are on the road. We cooked dinner and played the concert and then headed across western Georgia for an event in Huntsville, Alabama. Alabama is really a beautiful state; in many ways it may be the most beautiful state we have seen. Who knew? We took the back roads and saw some breathtaking lakes. Our concert in Huntsville was nice, and the next night we played in Auburn, Alabama and once again took the back roads. We stopped for coffee at a unique and wonderful little coffee shop along the way which was something we did for “Brenda.” Of course what would life be without paybacks, so for “Alan” we had to stop in Talladega which is the home of a huge NASCAR event and also the home of a very down home southern BBQ joint. Al had to have a fix of some Alabama BBQ, and I must admit…it was awesome.

We played in Auburn and then headed up to Charlotte, North Carolina for a final event before flying home to Colorado to celebrate our Gavin’s 7th birthday….this would be Al’s 40th concert since leaving Colorado…he needed a break too! The concert in Charlotte was for an organization who has already built a Memorial Park with a brick walkway dedicated to children who have died. It was a big event and Alan was the Key-Note speaker here as well, it was supposed to be held outdoors but because of the rain it was moved indoors. The people hosting the event had a special brick made and placed in the Park honoring Ashley; we were both very moved by this gesture.

We stayed at the Marriott in downtown Charlotte and got to watch North Carolina play Kansas in the Final Four of the NCAA tournament at the local sports bar, it was fun.

We woke up and flew back to Colorado for a whirlwind week of rest. We got to see most everybody and Gavin’s party hosted by the “Grandparents” was terrific, Dennis and Donna Bistram are the absolute best of friends and we love them..it was a great time as usual….Alan misses everybody more than he is letting on and can’t wait to get home at the end of May to be around family and friends.


We flew back to Charlotte and picked up our beloved Butterfly Bus (which runs like a top and is a great way to travel.) We grabbed another bargain hotel outside of Charlotte and drove west a couple of hours to Brevard, North Carolina for a concert. We are starting to stay at the homes of some of the people putting on events as a break from hotels once in awhile. This night we stayed with Bill and Marisol who are the TCF Chapter leaders. They are world travelers, connoisseurs of great coffee, tea, and wine, and Bill is a gourmet chef…we could have moved into this place. Bill made a fabulous Chinese Chicken soup that defies words, his homemade stock he makes with more ingredients than I can count…he served it with his freshly baked beer bread and topped it off with a wonderful wine that he had selected for our meal. This was one of the tastiest dishes I have EVER eaten…it was that good.

They had recently traveled to China and were introduced to specialty Chinese teas…we are talking expensive and rare teas. He broke out some of his favorites and we all enjoyed tea before bed…after of course the great wine, food, and somewhere in there Al played a concert. We woke up the next morning to another fabulous meal…Hubble Bubble which is made with fried mashed potatoes, pork, eggs, sausage, fancy cheeses, and who knows what else….it was spectacular too!

We left that day for another concert back in Charlotte, so we drove back down the same road we had come up a day earlier. We had a great concert there and a lady at the concert gave me her card and said she owned a restaurant and invited us to have lunch “on her” the next day if we had time…..believe me….free lunch…I’m the Treasurer of this big adventure….we made time! Wow, what a great place to eat….New York themed food with authentic NY flavors, they actually bring in all their meats and bread from New York….she sent us packing with a bunch of goodies too….MMM.

Our next concert was in Dalton, Georgia…not much to say about Dalton except that it is the carpet capital of the frickin world I think. Apparently they manufacture it there, and every other building has something to do with carpet selling. The event we played was nice because after Al’s concert they had a balloon release just as darkness was falling…I got great pictures of the balloons and the moon.

We woke up the next morning for a bit of an adventure, it was Friday morning and we didn’t play in Miami, Florida until Monday night…so I routed us a path that would take us through Savannah, Georgia and Daytona Beach. A couple of places I had never seen. Al seems to have been everywhere and most places more than once, but he had never seen Savannah and so we were excited.

This Beautiful Church Is in Old Town Savannah

This is a beautiful city indeed. I tried to capture the beauty of the trees lining the streets with Spanish Moss hanging from them…these oak trees are everywhere and the old colonial style houses near the old town square take you back in time. Al and I drove out to Tybee Island on Friday night to eat dinner at a very popular local place called the Crab Shack (not Joe’s). They have live alligators and a huge deck where you can see all the boats docked on the water…..they serve great crab legs, shrimp, and we had a great time enjoying the ocean breeze and food.

We had another cockroach incident however in Savannah….let me put it this way…..we thought we would be extra cheap and use our points for a free night and let me just say….the Roadway Inn in Savannah….has many cockroaches…baby ones, infant ones, junior sized ones, tiny teeny ones…and they all were having a party in room 106…..we had to leave the hotel and drive to another one as we discovered them after we arrived back at the hotel from dinner….it was creepy! This is the oldest school house in the US, it is in St. Augustine, Florida

Daytona Beach is AWESOME. It was between seasons when we were there, so we got a great rate on a room with a kitchen, overlooking the beach…..we got to spend 2 nights there and I loved it. Al had caught a cold and wasn’t feeling all that great…but we still managed to see some things, and I got in some reading on the beach time. On Sunday we went to the world famous “Drive In” church…it was across the street from our hotel. From the moment you drive in and are handed your plastic container of juice for communion until you drive out…the place is a hoot…..we took many pictures to share with you of course. The first picture is Brenda reading her bible at the Drive-In Church, The second is Al reading his bible at the Drive-In Church......we had so much fun!

The View From Out Hotel Room In Daytona Beach

After Daytona we drove to Boca Raton, Florida for a concert and then the next night to Miami for another concert. This was the beginning of a very long week for us. We would play 6 out of 7 nights beginning in South Florida, then back up into Southern Tennessee and Northern Georgia, then back to Tampa, Florida to end the week. After our Tuesday concert in Miami we drove to Blairsville, Georgia which is tucked into the Northwest corner of Georgia near the Tennessee and North Carolina border. Our friends Patrick and Kathy Malone (he is the former Board President of TCF) who booked us in Blairsville are wonderful and we stayed at their beautiful estate (the best description) called Irish Hills. They have an incredible house on 8 acres they are remodeling…and plan to retire there after selling their horse farm in the Atlanta area. Kathy may have the largest collection of butterflies of any woman I have met…hundreds of butterfly pins, art, and other items are a part of her collection.
Lake Ocoee In Tennessee

Alan thought this would be a great place to eat lunch...(this is in Blairsville, GA)

After our concert in Blairsville, we drove the back roads to Chattanooga for a concert the next night, within 30 minutes of leaving Blairsville, we were in 3 different states..(Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina)…we drove through the Ocoee National Forrest which is where some of the rafting events were held at the Atlanta Olympics, this is another spectacular place.

We played a concert in Chattanooga on Friday night at 6PM and had to play another event in Tampa, Florida at 10AM on Saturday morning.(if you do the math you will see that these two cities are 600 mile apart.) We actually had hotel rooms booked on Friday in both cites. Al slept a couple hours at the hotel in Chattanooga before the concert, and we slept a couple hours at the hotel in Tampa when we arrived Saturday morning…it is the first time I have ever been in two hotels the same night in two different cities! It’s times like these when I don’t see how Al does it. We played in Chattanooga for a Conference of bereaved families who had traveled from around the United States and Canada to this event and Alan was their special guest artist. He stayed after the concert for nearly an extra hour so that he could meet and give everyone a chance to talk about their child with him. We then hopped in the Butterfly Bus and drove until nearly 6AM when we arrived at the hotel in Tampa. Alan had to sound check at 9AM…and he showed up on time and smiling and like I said at the top of this blog….it was Alan at his finest!

We are staying at the beautiful Quorum Hotel. The organizers of the event provided this for us for two days. It is a very luxurious hotel, I think I could get used to this J Last night we were worn out from the road and had pizza and movie night in our room. We play another concert tonight here in Tampa and then we are OFF for 4 days, we found a cute little condo on the Gulf Coast of Florida near Panama City. We don’t play until Friday night when we will be in Atlanta for an event….then it is on to the Northeast and the Boston area; we are so excited that we get to spend a few days with our good friends Nancy and Doug in Maine. I have to go now…the Rock Star is hungry and so is his Tour Manager……Love YOU and MISS All of YOU!