2002 Camp Harmony (Northern California)

Subject: Camp Harmony
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 04:52 PM

Here's an invitation to all mudcatters to join us at Camp Harmony, the winter gathering of the San Francisco folk music club. Just slide on over to the club's web site to find out how you can come too. It's been going on for much longer than the 25 years I've attended and is still going strong.

If you have any questions which aren't answered by the web site, post 'em here and I'll answer what I can and lie about the rest.

See you there!

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 05:22 PM

My one regret about the FSGW Getaway was that it was too short, all that wonderful music crammed into two days. The San Francisco Folk Music Club's Camp Harmony is very similar, but it runs five days - from 2 PM Friday December 27, to 2 PM on New Year's Day. It has the most extraordinary New Year's Eve celebration you'll ever see, and it still has food prepared by Debby McClatchy (and floors mopped by Joe Offer). It all takes place in the redwoods outside Santa Cruz, a beautiful setting.

There is dancing every night for those who are tired of singing, and many varities of song circles and jams. It's interesting how the workshops work - most aren't formally planned in advance. At registration, people sign up to lead workshops. I suppose they plan in advance to do a workshop, and then fit it into the schedule when they arrive. However it works, the workshops turn out to be wonderful.

It would be nice to see a few more Mudcatters there. It really is a wonderful camp.

-Joe Offer, Chief Floor Mopper-
(that really is my job, washing dishes and mopping floors. DADGBE is my boss.)

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 05:32 PM

And what a fine job you do, Joe.

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 05:58 PM

Hi Joe, Hi Bev and Jerry,

Good to see your names here. Thanks Joe for the kind words.

Bev & Jerry, would you like to tell the nice mudcat folks about camp? After all you're stalwarts and I expect you'll be there as usual.

Best to all,
Ray

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 07:56 PM

Hi Ray,

What can we say? Great Fun, Great Music, Great Friends (old and new), Great Concerts, Great Food, Great Dances, Great Workshops, Great FOOD, lousy weather(usually). Although the weather is usually wet and cold, the cabins are heated and most have inside bathrooms so you don't have to slog out in the middle of the night (although all the bathrooms are in regular buildings with running water).

Twenty four hour a day music is available in some rooms and some cabins are designated as quiet cabins. A capella singing after the concert each night.

And oh by the way did we mention the Food (it's not your usual camp fare)

Bev and Jerry

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 04 Nov 02 - 09:13 PM

There goes the diet!

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 12:10 AM

Let me add my endorsement to Camp Harmony. Rika and I went down with our two kids when they were 6 & 4, and had a ball: we didn't see them for the whole weekend! (Funny what memory does). We took the train down from Vancouver BC because there was a special on. Stayed with Dick & Carol Hodstock, Pat Thompson and Tony Latimer and a bunch of other wonderful folk. Those were the days however when the Canadian dollar was worth a damn sight more than 63c: it's a little out of our reach now, though one of the best New Year's we've spent anywhere. Good luck to you Harmony folk!

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:06 AM

Have a great time there! The setting is fantastic (I go to a fiddle camp held at the same place in the summer) and having been at Harmony years ago, I still remember how good and healthful the food was, and the 24-hours a day camp life. I'll have to get back to Harmony, but can't this year. All those considering it, GO! You'll have the time of your life.

Chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:09 AM

....and ask DADGBE to tell you the joke about the cowboy with the party invitation.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:19 AM

Damn! There goes my good reputation.

Hey Joe, we could have a mudcat gathering for a workshop. Waddiya say? We just have to pry some more 'catters loose and get 'em to camp.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 01:48 AM

Well, hell, we had a Mudcat workshop at Whitby. Maybe we should - we can use it to distribute the Digital Tradition, too.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:16 AM

The latest word from the registrar is that there are still some places available at camp. Better grab 'em while they're still available. It tends to fill up quickly.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: sharyn
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:30 AM

Tips for newcomers (maybe for next year): there are usually some campership funds available to help with the costs and sometimes they need kitchen crew members, who camp in exchange for labor. (Joe mops floors and I do breakfast dishes). I've never visited the Harmony site, but if you post inquiries here it looks like the powers that be will see them.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:32 AM

Yeah, DADGBE is chief slave driver for Debby McClatchy. That way, Debby can preserve her image as a nice person.
We won't talk about DADGBE, but he does play a mean guitar...
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:49 AM

This here's DADGBE, one mean, mop-totin', hash-slingin', guitar playin' sumbitch and don't y'all forgit it. And my guitar is even meaner! Why, jest yesterday the damned thing kicked me in the cojones and durned near bit my right knee cap clean off...

I was too quick for it, though.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: DADGBE
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:38 PM

Well, camp is almost upon us. For those of you who will be anywhere in the region, you can still come as drop-in registrants. The cost per day (from 2:00pm until the following day at 2:00pm) is $43 for Adults, $33 kids 3-12. Camperships are available: up to $20 off the adult price or $15 off kid price. Food may also be available for purchase but can't be guaranteed at this late date because the shopping is well underway.

You can find the directions and address on the club website. There's a blue clicky in the first posting of this thread.

I hope to see many of you there.

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: mg
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 02:49 PM

Wish I could make it but I can't. But watch for my friend Joanne Donatelli..she wrote and asked if I could come and she'd pick me up at the airport and everything but I can't...but have fun and give us a progress report.\
mg

Subject: RE: Camp Harmony (Northern California)
From: Bev and Jerry
Date: 13 Dec 02 - 08:34 PM

Hey DADGBE:

We're lookin' forward to it (isn't that the phrase Bush uses about three times a week?). Oh, well, we got our long underwear packed and we can't wait to go sloggin' through the mud.

See you in two weeks!

Bev and Jerry