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!
