"Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke I caught a trucker out of Philly"

"Headed down south to the land of the pines
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
And pray to God I see headlights"

I haven't painted in 4 days.

I've seen so many things in these past four days that have inspired me.

It's very important to me to be present in my work. I've been scattered.

"I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight"

This town is amazing. Its late; I am just going to briefly list the things I have been gifted with these past few days. Let's see if you can find them in my next body of work.

"So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me"

Music. This town is bustling with music. On Thursday evening this great wine bar on Walnut Avenue had a street party. My old neighbors are in a jazz band called Big Nasty.




Seriously. I'm not a fan of jazz normally...but this mountain influence is different from the Cape May jazz I loathed back home.

Or maybe its just me.

suspenders
horns
pianos
bucks
stand up bass
all resting on the black top of the street
jugglers (these guys were insanely amazing)

"I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time stringband
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now"

unicycles
banjos
hula hoops
drum circle
river

"Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more"

rafts
floats
vintage cars
vintage cars
vintage cars
vistas
valleys
views
farmers markets
cats on hammocks

kindness

oh...and a handmade hammer dulcimer and a guy who lite up like
Christmas lights when he played it.

Such a cool town.
Its been a good few days. Clean eating.
Good people. Great Conversation.
Birthdays. Mountain songs. Validation.

Safe travels Ryan. See you on the wrap around.

"But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee"
xo

Bob Dylan
Rock Me Mama

Headed down south to the land of the pines
And I'm thumbin' my way into North Caroline
Starin' up the road
And pray to God I see headlights

I made it down the coast in seventeen hours
Pickin' me a bouquet of dogwood flowers
And I'm a hopin' for Raleigh
I can see my baby tonight

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

Runnin' from the cold up in New England
I was born to be a fiddler in an old-time stringband
My baby plays the guitar
I pick a banjo now

Oh, the North country winters keep a gettin' me now
Lost my money playin' poker so I had to up and leave
But I ain't a turnin' back
To livin' that old life no more

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me

Walkin' to the south out of Roanoke
I caught a trucker out of Philly
Had a nice long toke
But he's a headed west from the Cumberland Gap
To Johnson City, Tennessee

And I gotta get a move on fit for the sun
I hear my baby callin' my name
And I know that she's the only one
And if I die in Raleigh
At least I will die free

So rock me mama like a wagon wheel
Rock me mama anyway you feel
Hey mama rock me
Rock me mama like the wind and the rain
Rock me mama like a south-bound train
Hey mama rock me