Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW

Subject: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Aug 09 - 08:42 PM

My wife and I will be doing a tour of the Pacific Northwest in late September. Here's the schedule:

We arrive in Seattle on Tuesday evening, September 15

Judy has legislative workshops for much of the week but I'll be free to prowl around.

Friday, September 18, I'll be joining the jam session at Stewart Fredrickson's.

Sunday, September 20, we head north to British Columbia where we'll be networking with eagle watchers associated with the Hancock Wildlife Forum.

Thursday, September 24, 7:30 pm, I'll be leading a Cicely Fox Smith workshop and concert sponsored by the Steveston Folk Guild in their lovely Murukami Boat House. Do attend if you're in the area.

Friday, September 25, we're off to Victoria on Vancouver Island to do more research on C. Fox Smith's residency there from 1904 to 1911; we'll also be meeting with more eagle watchers.

Saturday, September 26, we'll be joining the Victoria Song Circle at the Bent Mast Pub, 512 Simcoe Street.

Sunday, September 27, we'll be joining the Victoria Folk Music Society Sing, 7:30 pm, at the Norway House, 1110 Hillside Ave.

Monday, September 28, we ferry over to the mainland.

Tuesday, September 29, we fly back to Maine.

I'd really love to meet any Mudcatters that are in the areas we will be in. It's been almost 5 years since we were out there the last time and it was lots of fun!

I'll be posting a journal as we travel via this thread, and a set of pictures after we get back home on my website.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Jon Bartlett
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 02:49 AM

I wish we were here to welcome you to the Wet Coast, Charley, but we'll be crossing paths on our way to the East. I know you'll have a good time, especially with the Victoria shanty crowd.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 04:19 AM

Hey, Charley,
I hope I can join you at Stewart's on Friday the 18th, but even if I go back to PDX on the 17th, maybe I can meet up with you somewhere (there's folk music somewhere in the Seattle area every day of the week) on Wed. or Thursday.   It'd be good to see you and Judy again.

Sorry you won't be gracing Portland with your songs this trip, but I know it's a bit difficult to be in 2 or more places at once.

Genie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Deckman
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:18 AM

Merry Morning Charley ... That looks like a very fun few days (daze?) in our Northwest. Has it really been five years! Judy and I will be gone on our own trip while you're around these parts, so unfortunatly we'll miss seeing you again. I would have especially enjoyed trading songs with you at Stew's jam session. We're heading to Idaho, Montana on the 14th, and we're back on the 25th. CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:32 PM

So everyone is off somewhere else! That figures.

Actually I knew that Jon and Rika were going to be at the Portsmouth Maritime Festival (NH) and that William Pint and Felicia Dale were also on the East Coast. So now Deckman's off to Idaho and Montana.

Genie-

I'm booked Thursday evening but Wednesday is wide open. What are the options for Wednesday in Seattle?

Dave McArthur is my contact with the Steveston Folk Guild [phone].

Bill Huot is my best contact in Victoria, coordinating the Victoria Song Circle at the Bent Mast Pub; I do hope they have a larger room than the one I was in five years ago.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: olddude
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 05:43 PM

Dear Charlie
watch out for "bigfoot" they say he lives there

have fun

Dan

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:05 PM

He doesn't come into Seattle proper much, though. They say he hangs out around Skamania or Mt St. Helens - both of which are closer to Portland than to Seattle.

But if Charley encounters ol' Sasquatch, he'll prob'ly write one helluva ballad about it!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Aug 09 - 07:59 PM

It all depends on how much I've been drinking.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 12:38 AM

It may turn out we're on opposite sides of the border beginning and end, but the middle of your trip offers some promise to meet. I'll do my best to get to Seattle on the 18th if the Victoria days don't work out.
Carter B

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Rapparee
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:39 AM

Ya oughta come here. Sasquatch was sighted around in a few years back (by a sober cop) and the might be Other Things.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:19 AM

Actually I'll be on the trail of my favorite nautical poet Cicely Fox Smith again while in Victoria. She was resident there from 1904 to 1913. Last time I spent some time in the BC Archives but didn't have enough time to go through the microfilm of the local newspapers. I'm convinced that she would have published some poems and other observations while in residence. I know she entered a poetry contest.

I did take a photo of her initials "CFS" carved into an old door of a derelict building on the waterfront, but they looked suspiciously fresh.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 09:29 AM

Ghosts?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 12:59 PM

Genie-

Victoria is a harbor town full of ghosts.

There are the bones of the old Outer Wharves that CFS liked to hang out on in the evening, ostentatiously fishing but actually collecting the yarns from sailors that became the fodder for her nautical poems.

I also would love to locate the boarding house CFS stayed at, which she describes in her romantic novel Peregrine's Love, somewhere in the neighborhood of James Bay.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: mg
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 03:35 PM

There is a red-headed woman on the island who has the most powerful beautiful voice I can think of. Ask around and someone will refer you. I would try really hard to meet up with her. mg

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 04:44 PM

MG-

Thanks for the heads-up!

I will endeavor to track down "the red-headed woman with the most powerful beautiful voice."

Any other missions?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Deckman
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 05:09 PM

I sure hope name isn't "Mary" ... as in "Stay away from red haired Mary ..." bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 08:49 PM

Making personal note: "Stay away from red-haired Mary!"

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Fidjit
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:04 PM

Quote Charlie
< Thursday, September 24, 7:30 pm, I'll be leading a Cicely Fox Smith workshop and concert sponsored by the Steveston Folk Guild in their lovely Murukami Boat House. Do attend if you're in the area.

Friday, September 25, we're off to Victoria on Vancouver Island to do more research on C. Fox Smith's residency there from 1904 to 1911 >

That sounds interesting Charlie. You'll have to tell me more.

I'm visiting San Francisco as from the 28th.. Sept to 12th. October.

see here

Miles apart I know. Didn't know my world tour was to start there and so early.

Chas

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: olddude
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:37 PM

You can also look for the money that DW somebody or other stole back in the 70's when he jumped out of the jet liner he hijacked. I guess that is a pretty popular quest for some treasure hunters.

Just watch out for bigfoot ...Some say he makes ya a sex slave if you are captured ... LOL

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: olddude
Date: 01 Sep 09 - 11:43 PM

I remember now, the guys name was DD Cooper ... that jumped out of the plane.   I think Rap already found it however and just won't tell us

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:15 AM

Chas et al-

Here's a link to Cicely Fox Smith's on-line anthology of 625 poems at Oldpoetry, including a brief biography: Click here for website!

Jim Saville (aka Shanty Freak) and I are primarily responsible for posting her poems at this website where we also function as moderators.

Here's a link to my own website where I have adapted some 30 CFS poems for singing: click here for website!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Rapparee
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 08:33 AM

D. B. Cooper.

The man who learned that you shouldn't get your parachutes from the same people you're robbing.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 10:08 PM

They did find some of his plunder on a sandbar a few years ago.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 02 Sep 09 - 11:22 PM

Between salt water & sea strand?

Barry

Subject: Song about Harry Truman, Bigfoot and D B Cooper
From: Genie
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 04:11 AM

In the early 1980s I heard a guy sing a wonderful song about Harry Truman -- the one who refused to leave his Spirit Lake Lodge on Mt. St Helens in 1980 -- which ended with something like
"... or are you hangin' with Bigfoot and D B Cooper?
Well, I guess we'll never know."


Hey, Charlie, maybe you can find all 3 of them?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 03 Sep 09 - 08:16 AM

Meanwhile, I've been in contact with an interesting lady from Victoria, Danda Humphreys, who has published Building Victoria: Men, Myths, and Mortar, a historical overview of this fair city with old photos and full of details. She hadn't run across any references to CFS but she is now intrigued and we plan to conduct a mutual tour.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 08:37 PM

Things are looking good for the Steveston Village concert Thursday, September 24, 7:30 pm, at the Murukami Boat House. Dave McArthur has invited Simon Trevelyan from the Vancouver Folk Song Society to lead the opening set. Simon is also a shanty/forebitter singer and I look forward to hearing him live. I'll be doing an hour set of primarily C. Fox Smith songs, with a few others added in. Hopefully there will be some singing afterwards as well.

I haven't heard much from the Seattle folks except for the ones who plan to be away. Is anyone planning to go to Stewart's Friday evening session other than me?

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Peace
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 09:18 PM

Looks like you're having a wonderful time, Charley. I'm very happy for you both.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: autoharper
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 09:41 PM

Charley: Sorry I won't see you when you're out west, as I will be touring in Kansas. Have a wonderful excursion. -Adam Miller

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 09:45 PM

Peace-

I'm still in Maine doing all the kinds of chores one needs to be before this fascinating trip. We're, among other things, editing a new CD, Sailortown Days.

Adam-

It will be nice to hear you again when you venture back to Maine.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Sep 09 - 11:37 PM

You haven't even left yet????

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Sep 09 - 11:00 AM

Barry-

No, Roll & Go has a gig in Provincetown, Cape Cod, next weekend and then Judy and I fly out to Seattle on Tuesday.

Of course we'll miss Jon and Rika at the Portsmouth Maritime Festival, not to mention you and the other members of the Finn & Haddie Trio.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:19 AM

Here's a list of "Open Mics" running in Seattle which I'd like more information on:

Wednesday

- Hopvine Pub - 507 E 15th Ave., Seattle, 206-328-3120 / 8:30 pm
- Ould Triangle - 9736 Greenwood Ave., Seattle, 206-706-7798 / 9:30 pm
- Skylark Cafe - 3803 SW Delridge Way, Seattle, 206-935-2111 / 9 pm
- The Blue Moon Tavern - 712 NE 45th St., Seattle, 206-675-9116 / 9 pm

Thursday

- Murphy`s Irish Pub - 1928 N 45th St., Seattle, 206-634-2110 / 8:30 pm
- The Dubliner Pub - 3517 Fremont Ave N, Seattle, 206-548-1508 / 9 pm
- Mr. Spot's Chai House - www.chaihouse.com - 5463 Leary Way NW, Seattle, 206-784-5415 / 8 pm
- Piecora's Pizza (Back Room) - www.myspace.com/pickleopenstage - 1401 E Madison, Seattle 98122, 206-322-9411 / 8 pm (Every 3rd Thu Of Month)

Most appear to be Irish or singer-songwriter and I'm not sure how welcome what I do would be in either of those venues.

We head out to Seattle on Tuesday, September 15.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: ChanteyMatt
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 07:18 PM

Ahoy Charlie!
The open mics you've listed are pretty tough to play. On Wednesday nights, the Hopvine is the best but tough to get a spot. It's pretty well known. The Blue Moon is legendary but loud. On Thursday nights, your best bet is Murphy's Pub. I play there sometimes. It's an american pub so it's loud but the musicians are respectful. Forget all the rest 'cause you'll be competing for time against a lot of very young and loud folks. Perhaps I'll see you at Murphy's.

Fair winds

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 08:18 PM

Charley, you're not gone yet?????

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:11 PM

Victoria has some fine little boutique hotels.

Be sure and eat the curry at lunch or dinner in the Bengal Lounge of the Empress Hotel. A treat not to be missed. Very reminiscent of the days of the Raj.
No chanteys, but live jazz Friday and Saturday.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:18 PM

Forgot to mention the afternoon tea at the Empress. A bit of England.
The scones with thick Devonshire cream and preserves are tops. The mango and curried chicken sandwiches ...

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 Sep 09 - 09:42 PM

Chanty Matt-

Actually, looking at my wife's schedule, it appears I'm going on a cruise Thursday evening. Maybe you could join us Friday evening at Stewart's session. I'd really like to hear some of your songs live.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 11:54 AM

We'll be off to Cape Cod for a Roll & GO concert this weekend. I'll check back on Monday for more feedback.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 05:51 PM

I plan to go to the house concert at Stewart's, Charley.

I hope the SFS folks (Bruce Baker, et al.) are promoting it.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 11 Sep 09 - 05:57 PM

Oops! I lied.
Sort of.

A gig I had booked for Wed. afternoon had to be rescheduled to Friday eve., and it's in Des Moines.   It'll be over at 8 PM, but since it's Friday and Seattle, it'd probably be at least 9:30 before I could get to Stewart's.
If you folks think things'll still be going strong till 10 or 11 PM, I'll come up there after that gig.

Genie

I'm up for joining you at a Thursday evening open mic, etc., if you decide on one, and I'll stll be in town Saturday, in case you find a jam or something.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 12 Sep 09 - 01:12 AM

ETA, I see now that you'll be away Thurs. eve, so I hope I can make it to Stewart's before everyone's done singing.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 03:30 PM

Briefly back from Cape Cod and repacking for the Pacific Northwest.

My new CD, Sailortown Days is holding up well. So we'll run off some copies for the trip, and then most likely do some more editing when we return.

It's so hard to believe that we'll actually be in Seattle Tuesday evening. Our cats are not going to be happy when we leave again, and this time we'll be gone for two weeks. But they do have a dedicated "slave" to address their every need!

I'll be taking along a new "netbook" so I should be able to post updates as we journey.

I do wonder what city my banjo will be visiting this time. I still remember waiting several days for it to catch up with me in Sydney, Australia, and then when we flew from Melbourne to Port Douglas it decided to visit Tasmania. That banjo is considerably more well traveled than I.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Deckman
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 04:11 PM

I'm sure you'll enjoy your Seattle visit Charley. Judy and I are leaving in the morning for our own trip ... what does that say when your friends LEAVE town as soon as you arrive? If it wasn't for this necessary timing, I would have enjoyed sharing songs with you again. Best wishes, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 09:14 PM

Bob-

I'll certainly miss sharing songs with you again but there will be another time. Consider venturing on to Maine!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:12 PM

Christ CHarley, will you go already. :-)

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 14 Sep 09 - 11:17 PM

Barry-

Well, I finally did find my passport. It was still in the glove compartment of my van from my trek out to Michigan via Ontario.

Passports come in handy!

Still repacking!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 02:50 AM

Hey, Charley, they haven't started makin' ya show yer passport when ya come from Maine to Washington,

Yet.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 07:35 AM

Genie-

True, but it's still useful for crossing into Canada.

Just when we were finally getting to sleep late last night our calico cat brought in a live mouse. She was very pleased with herself and dropped it on the floor of the entry way, when we responded to her proud mews. Of course the mouse then sped under the baseboard heater, which runs behind the cabinet where we keep office supplies and the copier. We hope mouse has an enjoyable time while we are away.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, out the door to catch a plane!

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: GUEST,iancarterb
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 01:54 PM

Charley- We're all sorry that the Massed Pipes and Drums to meet you at SeaTac bailed out at the last minute. Security issues... those airort police have NO sense of humor OR pageantry.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 03:16 PM

Ian-

Well, you've still got time to shift up to Seattle. We fly in around 6 pm.

We're in Chicago now, having dined at a German style restaurant, and there's little to do other than puzzle out how to use this new Notebook.

I did meet a mandolin player in Portland-East and if I hadn't had to check in my banjo we could now be making big money busking.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 15 Sep 09 - 08:12 PM

Yeah, that banjo busking really does rake in the dough, dunnit?

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 16 Sep 09 - 07:20 PM

We did make it into Seattle early last evening, registered at the hotel and then walked down to McCormick's Fish House and had an excellent light dinner.

Today we rwegistered for my wife's legislative conference and then I went off to Fremont to poke around again; our last visit was about 4 years ago. It's really great to be in a city where public transit works, where I can walk three blocks for a trolly which takes me all the way over to another side of the City, $1.75 round trip. Once there I walked the 6 blocks to Sea Ocean Books, bowing to the Troll under the bridge as I went. Sea Ocean Books always has interesting nautical books; it's a regular Fiddlers Green of used salty literary efforts. I found several things of interest and had them ship them back to Maine.

I then walked back to Fremont Bridge and paid a visit to Dusty Strings, to admire their old and new instruments and review their CD's for sale. And then I had an excellent lunch at the adjacent Greek restaurant.

Life is hard for the wanderer!

Now I'm back at our hotel recovering from the exertion, and updating some Word projects.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: iancarterb
Date: 17 Sep 09 - 12:59 AM

Charley - I sent a PM when the Mudcat server was being a bit squiffy -on and off - but it should get to you before November. There'd be some window to meet up on the water on Thursday. I'll check again in the morning.
Carter B

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 17 Sep 09 - 08:47 PM

The Victoria Inner Harbour area is much changed. It used to extend inward, into the area now filled in and occupied by the Empress Hotel and grounds. The old buildings along Wharf Street are gone, some cast iron columns from San Francisco in the 1100 block of Wharf Street about al that is left.
http://www.victoria.ca/visitors/pdfs/wlkngt_flsrsh3.pdf

The Shanty Camp Workshop Sept. 19-20, I guess you will miss- Maritime Museum of B. C., 28 Bastion Square. I don't know anything about their holdings. They have a room devoted to whaling.

Someone at the Museum may be able to help you find the house(s) where Fox Smith lived- I don't know.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Franz S.
Date: 17 Sep 09 - 10:18 PM

Charlie, I'm really sorry I won't be at Stewart's tomorrow night. I just left Seattle two weeks ago. Drain a bottle of Red Menace for me, will you?

PS Me and the other Stewart are still making friends with each other. I like him. I'm just not sure he likes me.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 12:20 PM

Ian-

Sorry but I didn't check Mudcat after you posted Thursday.

Franz-

Sorry to have missed you. We could have gone sailing again from the Wooden Boat Museum and this time around we might even have had some wind!

Yesterday I did some music practice. A finger tip is still recovering from having its tip sliced off while dicing up some onions before we left Maine. I find that a finger "condom" works well to protect it, although it looks a little strange.

Then I went off in search of an Ethiopian restaurant on the east side of the city, the Mesquel. The reviews looked promising and it was right on the #3 trolly bus line, East Cheery St. We passed several other Ethiopian restaurants and stores along the way. When I got there, there were several Ethiopians dining and I found the food excellent.

I then took the trolly bus back down to the waterfront and nosed about the Public Market. The musicians are growing older and much of what they sing sounds rather mournful. There was a group of older Blacks singing blues and gospel songs, and an ancient Chinese gentleman with a two-stringed fiddle. The flower, fruit and fish displays looked lovely.

Last evening I joined my wife in a dinner cruise around the bay and got to talk with some of her legislative staff friends. Evidently they don't sing, nor did they express any support to taking over the cruise boat and heading out across the Pacific for China. Odd, really, given that several were dressed as pirates.

Today I reserve our rental car for our escape north on Sunday. This evening is the session over at Stew's house; I'm looking forward to meeting Shantymatt there, one of the captains of the replica tall ship the Lady Washington.

I may stop over at Dusty Strings on the way out to the session and see if they can re-glue the 5th peg on my banjo, which was shaken loose on the flight out; it's stressful for the player when the 5th peg pops out in the middle of a song, although others might consider the moment amusing.

Q-

I should have plenty of expert help re-tracing C. Fox Smith's path in Victoria. One of the local historians Danda Humphreys seems intrigued and actually lives a block or two away from the likely location of the boarding house where Miss Smith resided. I'll also have access to local newspapers from the period at the BC Archives and the public library for more systematic research.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 05:59 PM

Ouch, Charley! That slice-off-part-of-a-finger thing - been there, done that. About 10 years ago (making a salad and cutting carrots, IIRC).   I must've cut off more than you did, though, as I had to have my finger tip sewed back up and it's never been quite the same. (But it did force me to learn barre chords, as I couldn't use the end of my left index finger for a week or so, even with "protective gear." Hope you fare better.

Now, as for your concert at Stewart's, would you guys either post or PM me the info on how to get there and how long you expect the music to go on, please?
I'll try to make it for the latter part of the evening if you think you'll still be pickin' an' fiddlin' an' grinning till 10:30 or so.

I'll miss the formal "concert" part, unfortunately (as explained earlier), but do break a leg (or tap a keg - or both).

Genie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: iancarterb
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 11:25 AM

Charley- Hope you had a fine night at Hendrickson House, an excellent venue, and that ChanteyMatt did in fact make it (and Genie). Matt and I shared much music over the water on the BI ferry before he moved from Bainbridge Island onto his beautiful old boat moored near the Fremont Troll. Doesn't look like Victoria will work out either- various difficulties. Are you taking the Coho from Port Angeles or the WSF Anacortes to Sidney ferry? Of course, the BC ferries have a few nice ways of getting there too- so many boats, so little time! Have a continuing good time, and maybe some year I will make third Saturday at the Press Room.
Fair winds - Carter

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 12:57 PM

Well, I did make my way out to the northern frontier of Seattle to Hendrickson House yesterday evening.

Actually it was pretty direct, the #26 bus to Fremont where the repair surgeon at Dusty Strings was kind enough to assess my 5th string banjo peg; he agreed that the bore hole really needed major filling in but that my idea of wrapping the peg stem with foil would be a reasonable quick fix. 5th pegs should not be glued in but they do need to be friction tight, and the foil is helpful for that. I then had another fine Greek dinner and caught the #5 bus north which took me up Greenwood Avenue to within two blocks of Stew's new abode. Stew and Betty have a nice big living room, lots of room for the 10 or so folks that assembled. Betty plays hammered dulcimer, Stew sings and plays fiddle and guitar. Jerry, whom I've met two times before, sings and plays guitar and banjo. Bob sings and plays guitar and his wife Linn sings and plays fiddle and guitar. There was another fiddler (whose name I've forgotten) who had met my old mentor Bill Bonyun at an educational folk song workshop years ago. Another woman was there who sang and also played guitar. And there was another fine singer and guitar player in residence. Judy, my wife, joined us about halfway through the session, having escaped the dinner party in honor of her boss who is the presiding president of the legislative conference this year.

Most of the folks were leading songs that had something to do with the sea, in my honor. I led off with West Indies Blues, and then in turn Pagoda Anchorage, Mobile Bay, and Midwatches. Judy led A Parting (Goodbye Old Ship). There were also some fiddle tunes, some of which I knew by other names. My only regret was that the session ended around 10 pm, just when folks seemed to be warming up. There also wasn't much time to actually talk with anyone, except for Stew and Betty before others arrived.

Jerry graciously offered us a ride back to our hotel and we did get a chance to remind ourselves of when we first met at a Seattle folk music party back in the 1990's; we both are admirers of Obray Ramsey's singing and banjo playing.

I do hope that Stew posts some supplementary comments of who was at the party and what was sung. Some of the other songs I recall include Sunny's Dream, the Jeannie C, Stew's adaptation of a salmon fisheries poem, Deep Blue Sea, Do-Re-Me, Paddy's Lamentation, Linn's cowboy song, and Bob's rendition of a Bill Staine's song.

I invited everyone to attend the next Press Room session in Portsmouth, NH. Maybe they'll all show up!

There's not a whole lot going on today for me. It's actually raining for much of the day and it's probably better that I practice some of the songs I'm supposed to sing next Thursday at the Stevenston concert. My finger seems to be healing nicely; I didn't need the finger "condom" last evening.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, adrift in Seattle

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:18 PM

I'm really sorry I couldn't make it to Chez Hendrickson to hear you last night, Charley. I could have been there by 9:00, as it turns out, since the traffic was light, but I didn't have Stewart's address or phone number any more (earlier hard drive crash).   I was tied up most of the day travelling and posted and emailed my request for info too late.   (I can blame a lot on the blasted stomach flu or food poisoning that made me postpone my Seattle trip to Friday.
Now that I've had a good night's sleep, it dawns on me that I could have called Bruce Baker for Stewart's address and phone, but I was still pretty sleep deprived Friday.)

Anyway, it sounds like it was a wonderful concert (as usual) and I'm sure there were some rollicking and rowdy songs swapped.

Genie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:37 PM

Genie-

I'm also sorry that we couldn't reconnect but the "traveler's life" is a hard one, even with a wireless notebook to reconnect with the outside world but if and only if you remember your password!

I did print out much of what I needed for tracking down Stew's new abode, about a block from his old one. And I did manage to find what I had printed out when I needed it.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, admiring the rain swirling by the 18th floor

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Rapparee
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:16 PM

Charlie ... Bob Nelson here, staying at "Rapaire's" home in Pocatello, Idaho ... and (obviously) using his puter. It sounds like you all had a good time last night at the session at Stew and Betty's. Wish we could have been there, but were over here, miles from everything familiar to us. But ... the folks here are very friendly and welcoming ... and they love the music. We could use some of the rain here ... it's 190 degrees in the shade and it's turning my hair white! CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:10 PM

Bob-

Thanks for checking in and give my most sincerest regards to the Right Honorable Rapaire.

Your Seattle friends by the way were delighted to "cover" your songs in your absence.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Genie
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 07:45 PM

Ah, you have trouble with them pesky passwords too, eh, Charley. *g*

Yeah, I'm really sorry I had to miss you. But I'm not sure how much steam I'd have had left by the time I got to Stew's (Even if I'd had the old address, I didn't realize they had moved).   I'm still getting over some sort of bug and I pretty much pooped out by 10 PM as it was.

Sounds like several of us 'ships' kind of missed each other on our various routes. Do come back out this way again when you can -- and you don't have to wait 3 or 4 years -- and try to put "the other Portland" on your itinerary next time. OK?

Genie

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 12:09 PM

Genie-

I'd certainly love to revisit Portland-West as well. I have fond memories of that city and the folks we met and shared songs with.

This morning it's off to the North in our rental car and cross the border into British Columbia, assuming they let us over the border.

We'll be staying with some of Judy's eagle-watching friends for a couple of days on the coast. Next it's up into the mountains for a night, and then on to Steveston Village for my Thursday evening concert at the Boat House.

We should be over to Victoria on Vancouver Island by Friday afternoon.

Time to repack!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 02:59 PM

As we drove past the Sasquath Lodge I suspected this would not be the usual day.

Judy and I had made it safely across the border into British Columbia, into the Fraser River Valley Town of Surry where the Hancock Wild Life Foundation is headquartered, and where we would be residing for the next few days. We knew that our host David was over on the other side of the Valley making final arrangements for placing a camera tower on the banks of the Harrison River and that we were expected to join them for the general festivities. His friend Mary and his son Jeff were there to make us welcome. After unloading our travel gear, we piled into Mary's car and sped down the road to The Sandpiper Resort where Dave and the rest of the crew were doing their work.

For much of the way the road actually parallels the Border and it is somewhat weird to be able to peer into the US as we cruised along. We saw no signs of security operations but evidently there have been and continue to be smuggling operations in this area. We did cross the Fraser River at some point and entered a steep well wooded river valley, high mountains on each side. When they do logging here they actually use helicopters to lift the logs out. Mary and Jeff regaled us with tales of the local wild life: the black bears, the cougars, the moose, and the sasquatch. Still, we were quite surprised when the Sasquatch Lodge hove into view. It was well fashioned from logs with a wide welcoming porch, the roof covered wit5h moss, and a row of motorcycles in the parking lot out front. There appeared to be several large hairy creatures lounging around and drinking on the porch but we didn't stop for we had our mission.

A few minutes later we pulled into the Sandpiper Inn and made our way down to the shore where the tower was being assembled. There was quite a crew and the pipework structure was already 20-feet high. The helicopter wasn't there yet but there were five pilots who had just landed their acrobatic airplanes on the adjacent golf course/air strip. They had flown in for a drink at the local pub and were curious about the purpose of the new tower next to the runway. David explained that the tower was going to be lifted over the river by helicopter to the far bank as an eagle observation platform for a new set of web cameras, to better observe the eagles and other wildlife dining on the salmon when they came in to spawn. After a while the pilots decided to fly out again and we wished them well. As they were warming up their planes we heard to copter coming in and for a while it got quite busy as the planes took off one by one, with golf carts zigzagging for cover, and the copter landing. Then the planes came back and in close formation and dive bombed the golf course, with smoke streaming from their wings. All very exciting and I think at least one golf cart ended up in a small pond.

Next, the ground crew made their final preparations to transport the tower. The copter took off again, dropped down a big hook and line which the ground crew attached to a sling strapped to the tower. And while we backed off well out of range the copter actually lifted this heavy structure and swung it on its way across the river. David by this time was on the other side of the river with the rest of the ground crew to help ease the tower into its resting place. Amazingly the whole operation was executed flawlessly. The local wildlife, the great herons and geese, didn't appear to be greatly impressed, however, and went about their work of fishing and browbeating one another.

Well, eventually we all got together again on the same side of the river, congratulated the pilot and the ground crew and went off to the Sasquatch Lodge for something to drink and eat. Judy and I were disappointed that the large hairy ones were no longer in evidence, although there were several large mats of hair on the floor and some of the door trim and posts appeared to be recently clawed. The food was quite good, the meat was somewhat gamey but very tasty, and the stout was excellent!

Driving back home we were impressed with the number of brightly lit patrol cars stationed along the border, each one flashing like a Christmas tree. We never found out what they were doing, whether there was a general alert for smugglers or an impending invasion.

Just another day in the Pacific Northwest!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 11:35 AM

It's off to the Mountains this morning, Whistler or something, so Judy says.

Charley

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 10:19 PM

Well, we reached Whistler, high up in the Coastal Range, an hour North of Vancouver. It was a lovely drive along the coast, with deep fiords to one side and high escarpments on the other. Judy says it was all beautiful while I was more focused on driving.

Whistler itself is a winter recreation area which will be the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics. I had fun looking at the landscape and Judy did some important shopping. Our hotel window looked out on the mountains and the sky lift to the mountain top.

Our personal GPS unit in the rental car did a reasonable job of navigating; it did get briefly lost in Vancouver when we were amidst tall buildings and on the recently reconstructed road to Whistler.

Now we're back in Steveston Village, part of the Town of Richmond just south of Vancouver. It's a traditional fishing village which now is the site of a very active tourist outreach effort. No longer are the thirteen salmon canneries active. We just had dinner on the wharf, along with the film crew for some extraordinary film that featured some talent that evidently appealed to hordes of teenagers, who were everywhere in evidence. I thought briefly about doing some busking and then thought, "No!", best to keep with the program. My concert will be tomorrow evening at the historic Britanian Boat House, and some nautical folks are coming over from Vancouver to do the opening set. This should be fun!

We're sending this our from the Wave Coffee Shop which has free wireless and delicious deserts! Life is hard on the road.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble in Steveston Village, British Columbia

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 23 Sep 09 - 11:54 PM

Who's the nautical folks coming over to do the opening set Charley?
Enjoy

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Sailargh
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:08 PM

"Bill Huot is my best contact in Victoria, coordinating the Victoria Song Circle at the Bent Mast Pub; I do hope they have a larger room than the one I was in five years ago."

Mmm, nope. Both song circles use the same room as on your 2005 visit.

One of the nicest venues the VNSC had was use of the ROBERTSON IIs foredeck, summer Saturdays, 1999-2001. However, the Bent Mast Restaurant space is gratis, they have the best cost on good beer in town, minors are allowed, it's not too public for newcomers yet isn't something hidden away in a hoose with the associated invitations and decisions surrounding whether to publish addresses and the like. Also, if we are downstairs, usually with the Morris, there aren't any #*&^@! TVs to contend with and they let us sing.

The Bent Mast has some new brews on tap since then and some hardy favourites. Several local (Phillips -- try the Longboat Double Choc. Porter, Lighthouse -- their Race Rocks is our Morris sides default and the Keeper Stout is VG) and some "Imported" ales (from the Lower Mainland, including Howe Sound s -- nut brown Rail Ale. Mm.) Right, also Merridale cider.

Too bad re the timing. The VSC evening alternates with the VNSC (both every two weeks). As Q mentioned the Sea Shanty Camp was last weekend as well, however we've passed the word of your visit.

For CFS or other try Alan Sibley, program director at the MMBC. 250.385.4222, #106 for Programs.

Welcome, good luck with the research and connections. Hope to see you, at least at the Victoria Folk Music Soc. on Sunday.

John (aka 'JD')

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Barry Finn
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 04:51 PM

Charley, if you get to the Bent Mast say hi to my friend Redmond, great singer & champion "Town Crier"

Barry

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: iancarterb
Date: 24 Sep 09 - 07:46 PM

The Bent Mast IS a good pub: good pub food, good draft, open late, and very encouraging of various kinds of music (and well, musicians, a gnarley lot as we all know.:) I attend the Tuesday night celidh much more often than the Saturday Nautical and the Sunday night Old Time, mostly on account of personal schedule. I was hoping to make this Saturday as the last chance to meet Charley, but it's still 95% unlikely at this point on Thursday, stuck here at latitude 47 by out of control circumstances. Another time, another place. I hope the night at Steveston pleasant, the ferry ride to Vancouver Island devoid of disaster. Fair winds-    Carter B

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 09:41 PM

The Steveston Concert went very well I'm pleased to report. Dave McArthur, the Steveston Folk Guild coordinater, did an opening song, followed by a short set by Simon T. from the Vancouver Shanty Crew, and another short set by John. After a break I tried out the room with Fire Marengo, explaining that with a little help from the 30 or so people there that John Bartlett might be able to hear us over on the East Coast at the Portsmouth Maritime Festival. At least a dozen were quite happy to resond to the challenge.

I'm glad that I had a chance to observe audience reaction before I began my set. They seemed very attentive, and quite a mix of ages. I was working without a sound system but the recently renovated shed had excellent acoustics. I continued with West Indies Blues, Outward Bound by C. Fox Smith and Pierhead Chorus by John Masefield as setting out songs. The rest of my songs were all by C. Fox Smith, including a couple that were either set in Steveston or neighboring Vancouver, Lumber and Hastings Mill. I ended the set with her hard driving song The Long Road Home.

Afterwards the audience made for the CD table and relieved me of the burden of carting around half my CD's. Nice that they've found new homes. A couple of the fellows were very interested in my Stewart banjo, and all in all I was very pleased with the evening.

Dave gave us a ride back to the Steveston Hotel where we were staying, and we later joined him and John down in the very noisy bar; it was kareoke night and maybe another night I might have risen to that particular challenge. Instead, we had a couple of rounds and had a fine talk about music, BC, New Zealand and Australia.

This morning we caught the 10 am ferry to Vancouver Island, landing in Sydney and driving down to Victoria where we've settled into the Laurel Point Inn. For the rest of the afternoon I did about 2 hours of CFS research in the BC archives, not turning up much of significance in my review of a periodical that she contributed some poems to.

I've also contacted Danda Humphreys, local Victoria historian, and we plan to compare notes Saturday afternoon.

Later I'll be joining Judy and some of her eagle watching friends for dinner.

Then it's off to the Bent Mast Pub. I do appreciate the encouraging posts above from JD and Ian but it's still unclear how many people might be attending. I know it's not supposed to be strictly nautical music. I have been known to sing a few other songs.

On Sunday we'll find our way to the Norway House, which I haven't been to yet. Richard Grainger from the UK, I believe, will be the featured singer.

Right now we're waiting for the sun to set over the mountains of the Olympia Peninsula. Life is hard on the road!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, in James Bay, Victoria

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 10:17 AM

Sounds like a wonderful trip. I've enjoyed reading about it, Charley.

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 26 Sep 09 - 07:13 PM

Well, I hit pay dirt today while trolling through the microfilm pages of The Daily Colonist, Victoria's primary daily newspaper. In the December 17th, 1912, p. 8, issue there's a favorite poem by C. Fox Smith titled "The Long Road Home," one which I've recorded as set to music by Peter Massey. So there are probably more of her poems published there for someone else to harvest, and maybe a few that we've never heard of before. I found lots of other interesting stories, primarily in the shipping news column, but I only had time to review issues from December of 1912.

Then I went off to the James Bay Cook & Book Shop to meet with the local historian Danda Humphreys that I've been in e-mail contact with. She's a very interesting lady, having grown up in a town across from Liverpool, and having sung with an early group of folks called the Spinners back in the 1950's, not to be confused with the popular folk group of the same name. She's going to read over my notes and see if she can dig up any more clues to CFS's residency in Victoria. She now has a full set of my CD's and a draft copy of the CFS Songbook which she'll donate to an appropriate archives when she's done with them.

Late this afternoon I'll be joining Judy and some of her eagle watching friends at a restaurant called the Superior on Fishermen's Wharf. Then we'll journey on to the Bent Mast Pub and see if anyone shows up to sing.

Sunday, it looks like I'll be taking a river boat tour of the harbor and the gorge, past the site of the Rock Bay lumber yard where CFS used to watch the lumber ships being loaded. Then in the evening we'll join the folks at Norway House for more music.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 02:00 PM

It's another bright and breezy morning in Victoria Harbour. Have I mentioned that we've had perfect weather this entire trip?

Yesterday we had dinner with Judy's eagle-watching friends at the Superior, a restaurant just down the street from the Laurel Point Inn overlooking Fishermen's Wharf. Appropriately enough it used to be a sailor's hostel, up until 1961 when it became transformed into a Unitarian Church; it's latest transformation is to an eclectic cafe. We found the menu somewhat bewildering but everything including the waitstaff and musical performers was organic. While Judy and her volunteer forum staff discussed eagles and the changes that will be taking place next year on the Hancock Wilflife Forum, I enjoyed talking with the associated husbands about building construction and music. I nipped out early to pick up my banjo and backpack for the walk over to the music swap at the Bent Mast Pub, about 20 minutes away in the heart of James Bay.

Of course I was the first one there so I settled in at a table with a nice dark ale to await what would happen. The first people to show up were Danda (the local historian) and her husband Julius and we continued our conversation about C. Fox Smith. Then Ross showed up as coordinator of the music circle and invited us upstairs. While we were setting up chairs, two other regulars showed up including a fine singer I had met previously, Aziza I believe.

We started a round of songs and as I was winding up "Shipmates" Judy and her gang came in. So there were 12 of us in the circle, and several of Judy's new friends were also good singers. I managed to get Danda to lead "Leaving of Liverpool" and followed that up with "Bound Away" another leaving of Liverpool song that I've set to music by old-sailor poet Bill Adams. Judy led two songs, "A Parting" by CFS and "Trafalgar" by Ron Baxter of Fleetwood. Ross led some interesting variations of traditional shanties, "Haul Away Joe" and "Santianna" among others. Aziza led a lovely song about "sailing away" which I've never heard and I hope she sends me the lyrics. Julius led "Yellow Submarine" and Linda led "Day-o." Lesley led a lovely rendition of "The Skyboat Song." Somewhere in between I led "Lumber", "Mobile Bay", "The Long Road Home" and "Pacific Coast", all songs based on CFS poems. There really was a great variety of songs and we all had a whole lot of fun.

Today we do some preliminary packing, some final shopping, and prepare for the evening at the Norway House. I'm hoping to meet some of the same folks we sang with last evening as well as some of the ones I sang with 4 years ago.

Monday, we run up to Sydney and catch the morning ferry over to Anacortdes, Washington, cruising through the islands of Puget Sound.

This may be my last post until we return to Maine late Tuesday.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 02:34 PM

Correction: it was Russ Leech who was coordinating the song circle at the Bent Mast.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Sailargh
Date: 27 Sep 09 - 08:20 PM

Glad you had a fun evening and connected with so many folks. Aziza really is a lovely singer. She wrote that song. If I have it correctly, inspired by the sea song singout we had at the time of the last (2008) or first (2005) tall ship festival in Victoria.

I'd been trying to remember something I wanted to suggest to you and it finally returned with your mention of the micro-film records of the Victoria Times Colonist. The British Colonist, the forerunner of it, published it's digitised version of it's holdings in conjunction with UVic in the last year. There are references to other sources and indexes on its home page.

I haven't yet turned up anything useful from it, however did determine the usefulness of the Show button. This allows a quick view of the line in which the search term is included.

Maybe those interested will extract something helpful from it at some point.

Cheers, JD

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 02:36 AM

Ian-

But thanks for the thought!

Things went well this evening at the Norway House in Victoria. It's a big square room with a high ceiling, takes a lote more volume to power without an amplified sound system than the room at Steveston Village. I found the folks there very friendly, with several already interested in C. Fox Smith.

Most of the floor singers did a couple of songs, and I was next to last so I got a good idea of how well the audience responded, and they did pick up fast on choruses; there most of been about a 100 folks in the hall. I led Mobile Bay and Old Pagoda Anchorage at full throttle, both of which benefit from a strong chorus. During the break I got rid of almost all of my CD's and have an embarrassing amount of Canadian dollars to deal with. Maybe I'll just have to come back here and spend them.

The featured artist Richard Grainger did an interesting set, some very strong songs that I was not familiar with and a couple that I'll look up when I get back to the States. I do wish he had sung more songs. I found myself growing increasingly impatient with his rambling introductions and asides. He has a lovely song with a chorus about a "flowing rolling river" which I have to learn.

Afterwards I did enjoy talking with some of the regular nautical singers who were attending, and they're all invited to sing in Maine and at the Press Room in Portsmouth, NH. Some even sail! And at least one young woman wants to follow up leads on the trail of CFS in Victoria; Danda also has some ideas that she wants to follow up as well. Folks invited us out to a neighboring bar for more singing but we sadly had to defer. We just can't do that the night before leaving.

Now it's back to packing for the morning run to the ferry.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 28 Sep 09 - 11:56 PM

JD-

It was certainly nice chatting with you about sailing, and hearing you sing Sailortown. I'm sure our courses will cross again.

This evening we are staying at a motel formerly known as the Mountain View Inn in the little town of Buckley, in the shadow of Mt. Rainier if there were any sun shining. We may have run out of great weather but we shan't complain. We've certainly had two weeks of glorious warm and sunny weather. But if we're murdered here tonight, we'd like someone to know where.

We had a lovely ferry trip from Sidney on Vancouver Island through the San Juan Islands, briefly stopping at Friday Harbor before continuing our sail, and ending up at Antecortes, Washington. The islands are every shape and size, some gently rounded, some with steep cliffs, but all crowned with tall trees. We say a few harbor porpoise but no larger sea mammals. We were joined by a British couple who have been traveling the world for the last two months and who were coincidentally at the same concert last night in Victoria as we were; in fact Allan led three songs after my set. So we had a fine time comparing notes about folk clubs around the world.

Tomorrow we venture up to the Seattle area airport, about an hour north of here and fly home. Our cats, no doubt, will be pleased to see the return of their customary slaves.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble, safe in Buckley, Washington, hopefully

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 01:53 AM

Everything went smoothly despite our fears and alarms.

We're safely back in Maine and our abandoned cats are very, very happy.

No more wandering for some time.

No more listening to the GPS unit chattering its distress on the dashboard as we ignore its explicit instructions. It really was distressed when we boarded the ferry from Sidney, BC, to Anacortes, Washington, as if it feared getting wet!

More to report tomorrow after a reasonable night's sleep in our own bed.

Thanks again to everyone who made this trip so wonderful.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Deckman
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 08:04 AM

Charlie ... sounds like you had a successful, and fun, trip. As Judy and I recently discovered also ... there's no place like home! bob

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 30 Sep 09 - 11:28 AM

Deckman-

It really was a great trip for us but it's also great to be back home! I did miss swapping songs with you and several others on this trip but I'm sure I'll be back out in a couple of years. The Pacific Northwest can be addictive. The Coast of Maine ain't too shabby either!

There isn't really a whole lot to add with regard to our musical experience in this thread. With better planning I might have been able to make more contacts but we didn't have a lot of flexibility with regard to our schedule. I was lucky to have done as much as I did: one major concert, a floor set, and several music swaps and sessions. And I did manage to sow a goodly number of CD's in what looked like fertile soil.

Of course I could say a whole lot more about the fun of prowling around Victoria. The well established Chinatown is still a jewel, with its small traditional shops, Fan Tan Alley, and restaurants. This time I found a really good family restaurant in the back of a bakery shop, not listed anywhere in the tourist guides; everything was fresh and delicious and no fortune cookies were offered after the meal! The long term residents of Victoria we met typically mourn the loss of "Old Victoria" but so did C. Fox Smith a hundred years before as she mused:

Has it gone beyond my finding, gone forever, ship and man,
Far beyond that scarlet sunset, flaming down behind Japan?
But perhaps I'll find the dream there that I lost so long ago,
Half across the world to westward, in a harbour that I know.

Alas, the port she knew has indeed "grown strange" from what she experienced but it's still a very beautiful harbor city, and with a very robust folk music community.

There is a touch of irony that the poem I did find while sifting through the newspaper archives was "The Long Road Home," almost as if it were a message from the poet herself!

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: Charley Noble Off to the Pacific NW
From: Charley Noble
Date: 01 Oct 09 - 09:05 PM

One of the pleasant memories while wandering along Victoria's waterfront was looking over two traditional schooners moored in the Inner Harbour. One was the topsail schooner Pacific Swift and the other was a Gloucester style fishing schooner the Pacific Grace. Both were operated by an organization called SALTS. No one ever seemed to be around so I couldn't get any more direct information. I did take some photos which I'll post later if anyone is interested.

Maybe JD would fill us in on what these schooners do, beside look pretty.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble