BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip

Subject: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Lanfranc
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 05:53 AM

Consistent with our impending antiquity (and post 9/11) "carpe diem" policy, Elizabeth and I are proposing to visit the US and Canada in late July/August this year. At present the itinerary includes visiting friends in New York, Devils Lake (Ontario), Winnipeg and Los Angeles. That leaves a lot of gaps in between, but it would be good to meet up with a few Mudcatters, if at all possible.

Still at the planning stage, and flexible.

Are there any Festivals during that period where we could meet up with a number of otherwise dispersed Mudcat people?

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:16 AM

Please see my wedding thread. Rebecca and I will be married on July 14 and there is a standing invitation for Mudcatters to attend. I expect there will be about a dozen in attendance plus a lot of non Mudcat musicians. We will have a mother of a music party for the reception. Come on by!

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:18 AM

Click here to see the thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:29 AM

Well, several of us are "between NY and LA"......but there is quite a bit of Between in there, lol!

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Lanfranc
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:29 AM

Brett, I wish we could make it (I always have an eye for the Maine chance!), but Elizabeth is a teacher, and the school term doesn't end until the following week.

We wish you both all happiness, nonetheless, and will be with you in spirit, at least.

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Naemanson
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:35 AM

Ah, too bad. We will think of you as we sing and celebrate. Have a great trip.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:50 AM

Finger Lakes Festival July 18-21,Trumansburg, NY
Falcon Ridge Folk Festival, July 26-28, Hillsdale, NY
Winterhawk Festival August 2-4, Hillsdale, NY

Great festival listing page! Lists by state and clickies on most for more information.......

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: GUEST,Margaret V at work
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 02:32 PM

Alan, I'm in New York and hope your itinerary allows for us to get in a visit! Keep us posted about the NY end of the visit as the time draws near. Margaret

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Melani
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 02:50 PM

Well, gee, if you're gonna be on the West Coast anyway, come on up to San Francisco. The weather will be much nicer here at that time of year. I will politely refrain from comparing SF and LA so as not to upset any So. Cal Mudcatters, so let's just say it's worth visiting.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 04:15 PM

Colorado is in between and there are a few of us there, well, I will be, soon: Lonesome EJ, BlueJay, Rex, and a couple of others, plus Sorcha is just up the road in Wyoming.

Sounds as though you are going to have a great trip!

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Peg
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 05:41 PM

Devils Lake Ontario! I went there a number of times as a teenager; my Dad's boss used to let us use his lovely cabin. Right on Devil's Cove. This is a beautiful area, full of lakes. be sure to go to the Portugese bakery! Great bread.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: SINSULL
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:01 PM

Kendall expects to be back in form by then and has a concert scheduled with Gorden Bok - August...Portland.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From:
Date: 18 Mar 02 - 10:44 PM

how will you be traveling? Train sounds the best, given the distance between your destinations...do you have one of those tickets where you fly to New York and fly out from LA? mg

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:12 PM

And lest Idaho be forgotten - you have to drive close to the S-Bar-J to get anywhere West of us! We have a small bunkhouse, the smell of horse manure, Jan's Bar and Grill is usually open, and we can arrange a spur of the moment musical get together with you if you wish -

Steve

Get a map out and start sticking pins in it!!

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Lanfranc
Date: 19 Mar 02 - 06:50 PM

Map and pins being set up!

We hope to have at least three weeks for the trip, but the logistics are going to be interesting. I must admit that the rail option is being considered, but I am so disillusioned with rail travel here in the UK that I will need reassurance that it works better in the US and Canada. Car hire or some form of bulk buy air ticket are also being investigated.

At least we won't be hanging around anywhere long enough to outstay our welcome!

Thank you so much for your encouragement and the welcome offered.

"... the way that you greet me, and offer to treat me, and eagerly ask if I'll stay for a rest." John Sebastian "How have you been?"

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Naemanson
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 04:48 PM

Don't abandon the mass transit idea completely. It's a hell of a drive from one end of this country to the other and you don't want to wear yourself out. I can't offer any comparison between US rail and UK rail so I won't try but someone might be able to reassure you on that point. Maybe even a train thread soliciting train travel stories would be a good idea. You should get lots of input from poeple about what its like to travel by train in the US.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Steve in Idaho
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:18 PM

The major problem with AMTRAC, our rail system, is that it doesn't go a lot of places. It doesn't even have a stop in Idaho. And it is expensive. To just drive from coast to coast is a week out of your life. BUT - if you had a list of places to stop on the way - it could really be deluxe!

I call it "Riding the Grub line." Back in the days of my misspent youth I'd take off and stop at friends along the way and could spend a month goofing off, never wear out my welcome (bearer of recent news of friends to share and a willing hand to help in whatever project was at hand), and came back refreshed! I'd encourage you to do the same with us. I am speaking for myself - but my experience with others of this forum is that it is universal for the most part.

Let us know -

Steve

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 06:55 PM

How are the Greyhound Buses about guitars?

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Susan from California
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:08 PM

Keith and I are a couple of hours from LA, and will be around at the end part of your trip, so if LA is the at the end, PM me!

Sue

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: michaelr
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:16 PM

Hi Lanfranc - congrats on your upcoming nuptials! Like Susan, I'm north of L.A. (a little north of San Francisco, actually) in Sonoma County. This is one of the world's great winegrowing/winemaking regions, with the Napa Valley right next door, so if you're into wine, consider a stopover. The ocean and the giant redwoods are quite nice, too.

Feel free to PM me if it looks like you'll be in the area; we can put you up for a couple of nights.

Cheers,
Michael

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 10:21 PM

Parts of AMTRAk are wonderful rides and the best of them all comes right through where I am moving to. Takes you up and through the Rockies, then through glorious canyons with Vistadome cars to sit in, glass all the way round, so that you can see everywhere. A VERY nice stop a cople of hours up the road from us is Glenwood Springs where you can swim in what is said to be the world's largest hot springs pool. Aspen is just up the road from there and there is tons of stuff to do in that area, musical and otherwise.

My daughters and I took AMTRAK out from Connecticut, through Chicago, to Colorado and back about 10 years ago. We didn't have sleeping compartments and it took thrree days but it was a BLAST. We made so many friends, I taught The Prairie Lullaby to a grandmother from Utah and we played Uno with a student from Japan who didn't speak any English. he was delighted we knew the game and we gave him our deck when we left as he'd not brought his with him.

The trains TO Chicago were a little grungy and not very roomy, but from there on they were quite comfy. AMTRAK used to offer a special pass for foreigners; one price for a certain amount of time and you can go to and get off at as many places as you wanted. Don't know if they still do or not.

We aren't going to have lots of room and you'd have to dodge cats and the dog, but you'd be welcome and we've got a vehicle with plenty of room for people and instruments, so could pick you up at the rail station. Remember, Colorado is Bee-You-Tee-FULL!**BG**

kat and rog

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: katlaughing
Date: 20 Mar 02 - 11:45 PM

Oh, I forgot, that we DO have a vintage (1963) 13' caravan, which has been Roger's little "shop," though he's been living in it for the past two months until we get our house. It is not fancy, by any means, but there's a double bed in it and there would be air conditioning if you come when it is hot, plus lots of privacy, with no cat hair.:-) Otherwise it'd be the floor or a rented roll-away bed.

kat

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: GUEST,Lanfranc at the orifice
Date: 21 Mar 02 - 07:01 AM

Many thanks again for all the feedback and the invites. I have a feeling that we'll have a hybrid trip, part plane, part train, part car.

BTW - It's Brett (Naemanson) whose nuptials are impending, me and the missus have been together for 34 years, 31 since duly nuptialised!

Planning starts in earnest this weekend, geographical acupuncture will be the order of the day!

Alan

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: MMario
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 08:55 PM

Any updates?

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Alice
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 09:56 PM

Alan, I missed this thread the first time around. I am in Montana, just between the Idaho and Colorado/Wyoming 'catters. If you are traveling this way, it would be a grand tour to go through Yellowstone and to my town, Bozeman.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:13 PM

I hope you keep us all posted, as I will travel up to 6 or 7 hours to sing a song with you if possible. If you make it to Toronto, Detroit, Chicago, Cleveland or any stops in that area, I will try and make it.

Or you could build a few days into the schedule to stop at the Lane household on beautiful Gun Lake in the great State of Michigan (where we recently have been allowed to swear......LOL)and I will take you swimming, fishing, hiking, or sitting on the deck playing music. Would love to meet you!

Mick

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Alice
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:17 PM

The AMTRAK route called the Empire Builder runs from Chicago to Seattle, through northern Montana and the fantastic scenery of Glacier National Park (USA)/ Waterton National Park (Canada). It is along the tracks that used to belong to the old Great Northern Railway, the railroad company my dad worked for all of his life. Here is a page of its route and all the stops:
click here Empire Builder is the last route listed under the heading WEST.

Alice

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Alice
Date: 05 Apr 02 - 10:35 PM

Alan and Mrs., here is a website of Glacier Park (on the train route mentioned earlier). Check out the Prince of Wales Hotel. There are superb historic old lodges and hotels in Glacier/Waterton.Prince of Wales Hotel, Waterton, Canada.

Subject: RE: BS: Lanfranc & Mrs planning N America trip
From: Dave Swan
Date: 09 Apr 02 - 09:28 PM

Alan,

Give a shout if you're to pass through Northern California. We're not far from michaelr. No doubt we can get some music and M'cats together.

Dave