...I am pleased to report that Joe Offer is alive and well and on his way to the Okefenokee Swamp. Why he would want to visit a mosquito and alligator infested swamp is a mystery, however...

In spite of thick smoke, falling ash, and choking air from the Mallory Swamp fire, which I understand has burned thousands of acres, he made his way to the banks of the Suwannee River for the 49th Annual Florida Folk Festival!

Joe could be seen regaling a Saturday night campground song circle with songs in the "Key of R". He charmed troll, who was in the circle along with Cheryl and Ray Belanger, Kate Carpenter, Vgo, Sally Anderson of hammered dulcimer fame, Deb the fiddler, the enigmatic Klez Kamp whistle player, and of course, yours truly!

We had some delightful chats, traded music into the night, and he received his first and probably his last (it'll make a good dust rag for those seventeen book cases when he moves up the canyon) tie dye shirt!

The air was dry, the music drifted among the smoke, the wind blew it away, and Joe said goodbye and headed North into the swamp....hg