My wife and I just got back to Maine from a week long stay in San Francisco. She was conferencing but we also got to share a lot of good music thanks to resident Mudcatters and associated music friends.

Radrino was kind enough to ferry us over to Alameda, across the Bay next to Oakland, for a weekly Tuesday chantey session at an Irish pub. There we meet our co-hosts John, Brian and Denny, and a bunch of other enthusiastic singers. Skip Henderson was also there and I was delighted to hear his rendition of the Bob Roberts' song "Stormy Weather;" he's a seasoned storyteller and threatens to sail his schooner over to the East Coast for pillaging and plundering. The session lasted until 1 AM, which is amazing given that this was a weekday evening.

I ran into Chantyranger a couple of times at the Hyde Street Pier and he was nice enough to invite me to join him and another ranger Kathy for some chanty singing aboard the magnificent museum ship Balclutha.

I also dropped off a dozen Roll & Go CD's which are now for sale at the Museum Store.

Radriano also hosted a music party on the weekend at his apartment next to Golden Gate Park. There we met Skip, John and Denny again from Alameda, and Sharyn and Bill whom we'd met on last summer's trip to the Bay area. It's nice to be able to get to know some of these people better, and bounce a few unfamilar songs off them and hear some new/old songs in return.

I forgot to print up any cards with the e-mail address of my personal website, which has lyrics and MP3 samples of some of my favorite songs, so here it is:Charley Noble Website

Remember, if you're traveling within range of Maine, we'd be happy to repay your hospitality!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble