Judy and I have been busy planning another trip to the UK. We'd love to connect with as many Mudcat folks as we can on this trip, and there are a number of folk clubs, pubs, and a festival on our proposed tour where this might readily happen. We have some flexibility, if there is something happening close by when we are not scheduled. We are open to suggestions.

Here's our schedule to date:

We fly into London (hopefully with my Stewart banjo) on Wednesday, September 1, and catch our breath .

Thursday I do C. Fox Smith research at the National Maritime Museum at Greenwich.

Friday and Sunday are currently unscheduled but Saturday, I believe, we'll be joining the Mudcat crowd at the Black Lion Pub in London.

Monday, September 6, we pick up our rental car, boot up the GPS, and we're off to the Navigation Inn in Buxworth with a spot at the nearby Stockport Folk Club (near Manchester). I'll be leading a song there based on a C. Fox Smith poem titled "The Jolly Bargeman" (which mentions drinking at The Navigation Inn, and some other songs based on C. Fox Smith poems. Tuesday, September 7, we're invited for a cruise on Ian Bruce's canal boat.

Wednesday, September 8, we're off north to Fleetwood to join up with Ron Baxter, Ross Campbell and company; I have a spot the next day at The Steamer gathering in Fleetwood and expect that my focus will be merchant sailor songs.

Friday, September 10, we motor over to Yorkshire to join Two Black Sheep & a Stallion at the Tap & Spile in York, continue the next evening at The Golden Fleece, and then it's on to the Golden Ball at Bishophill. I dare say I'll be leading some drinking songs and some sea shanties. Monday is recovery.

Lord knows what we'll be doing the rest of the week (still recovering or a side trip to Hull?) but we need to be at the Otley Festival on Saturday, September 18, to join Jim Saville for a proposed C. Fox Smith workshop (details still to be confirmed); Bob Watson is going to try to connect with us at the Festival.

Then it's back to London on Monday, September 20; turn in what's left of the rental car.

Finally we join the session at Cecil Sharp House on Tuesday, September 21. This will be my last opportunity to connect with some of the London Mudcatters.

Packing and last minute whatever Wednesday, September 22.

Then we fly out for Maine on Thursday, September 23.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble and JudyB