thatpatguy

when you say shot in the mouth.. do you mean a punch in the teeth? cuz that's messed up man

I was sad that I didn't cross paths with any of you on the weekend.. I was really hoping to faces to names (except for Velvet.. like I said.. I'll never shake that guy.. it's kinda creepy)

I did meet lots of cool people though.. and drank many a free beer (though I don't know if Michelob Light counts as beer.. maybe just poorly flavoured water)

Well.. my write up won't be nearly as detailed as Velvet's (though we did run into him in the lineup on Friday night)

I swear man.. I'm going to be 60 years old, vacationing in Tahiti and I'll run into Velvet.. but that's another story..

Anyway.. I got a drive with Jakis on Friday night and we hit the line about a mile closer to the exit than Velvet and his crew, but pretty much had the same experience.

When the call came in on Saturday morning we hooked up with three guys from Virginia and headed into Newport (from what I could tell it was the closest town to the venue) to look for parking.

We totally lucked out and ran into a guy who owned a business and was letting people park for free in his lot, and then was driving us down (again for free) to the roadblock.

We hiked in with just our clothes and a tent (I was able to bring my sleeping bag, and Jakis brought a blanket). No food, no cooler, no cooking supplies.. just the bare survival essentials I guess.

When he got into the venue we immediately starting looking to see if there was a camp canada. We wandered aimlessly around the site for at least an hour before giving up. We ran into some guys with a camper from BC and were able to leave our gear there. I figured maybe there was a note at the message board about where camp canada was.

Nothing at the message board, so we went back to our gear, and went to set up. We find a nice, dry spot right close to the Airport road (which separated the camping area from the stage area) which totally worked out for us cuz it allowed us to take the nice dry road into the concert area as supposed to treking through fields of mud and slop.

It also meant it was super easy to go home on Monday, again, hop the fence, and thumb a ride.

Anyway.. we got the tent set up around 3:00 pm on Saturday (though we entered the venue at around noon or 12:30) and crashed for about an hour before heading to the gig.

The first set on Saturday (which I think was the hotest of the weekend) we were right down next to the taper section. Mud everywhere!!

It was cool to be that close, but by the end of the first set I had enough of the pushing and shoving and mud up to my ankles.

I wandered off, got some food and found a great spot further back, up the hill. The ground was dry, I was close to a tower so the sound was good, and I was on a hill so I could see just fine.

I was so beat though that I wandered off to bed and missed the last two songs of the third set of Saturday night.

I slept for 10 hours or so.. it was great, and woke up around 11:00am on Sunday, went for a walk to find my heady breakfast and ran into another guy we were inline with selling the heady pharms.

He had a buddy selling pancakes and I got hooked up with a big plate of chocolate chip pancakes and real maple syrup for three bucks.. sweet!

We hung for a bit and then Jakis and Matt (one of the guys from Virginia that was crashing with us.. they didn't have a tent) walked by and we wandered off together.

We ran into CanadianFan from this board (he admits he's largely a lurker) and some other cool people, and found a guy selling water for a dollar a bottle.. sweet!

We went back to our tent to crash again around 3:00 and slept until 4:30 and headed off to the last phish show ever.

We did all three sets further up the hill, around where I was on Saturday night and hooked up with some people with a huge tarp so we were able to sit down between sets and not get muddy.. sweet!

Monday morning we got up around 8:00.. we wanted to beat the traffic and rain out. We packed up.. jumped the fence and were able to get a ride back to Newport for $5.00 a head. Best $5.00 I spent all trip.

We got back to our car and just as we started to pack up to head home it started to rain. So we just missed it.. it was great.

The people who worked for Doug, the super nice guy who gave us the parking spot, let us use their washroom and directed us to our heady breakfast.

Man.. we ordered so much food.. it was awesome.

After stuffing ourselves silly (it was still dumping rainoutside) we exchanged emails with the guys from Virginia and went our seperate ways.

As much as the weekend was crappy, what with the mud, and the wet, and the no food, and minimal gear we had, it was still a great weekend. We met lots of really cool people, we were treated really well.. luck was really with us.

Anyway.. I was glad to get home, shower and climb into my warm soft bed, but I'm also really glad I went. All in all I had a great time. (and I've got pics to come)

I second the Long & McQuaid vote..

I rented a small PA from them for a gig a while back and we got two speakers, two stands, an amp and the appropriate cables and what not for like $20.00

call the ministry of transportation.. you can probably get a 15 day travel permit.. you might need insurance for that though.. but give them a call (oh.. and I don't know what that'd be like to cross the border with)

but at least an avenue to explore

rock on man.. congrats!

meeting all of you fine folks..

and checking out my first phish show (I know.. it's sad.. but at least I'll have this one to look back fondly on)

though I'm not a fan of Bruce.. and I think John is a bit past his due date.. I'd totally check out that show

I love John Fogerty.. awesome song writter and a great and under appreciated guitar player.. too bad his ego could fill the grand canyon

face is $235.00 Canadian.. at least that's what my MC statement told me

I'm leaving Friday around 5:00..

I wonder if there is a Caravan leaving from Ottawa

Europe - The Final Countdown

We're leaving together

but still it's farewell

and maybe we'll come back,

to earth, who can tell?

I guess there is no one to blame

we're leaving ground

will things ever be the same again?

It's the final countdown

the final countdown

We're heading for Venus

and still we stand tall

cause maybe they've seen us

and welcome us all

with so many light years to go

and things to be found

I'm sure that we'll all miss her so

It's the final countdown

the final countdown

we're leaving forever

It's the final countdown

but still it's farewell

It's the final countdown

http://www.musicsonglyrics.com/E/europelyrics/europethefinalcountdownlyrics.htm

oh too bad.. I just rented the bachelor that I had available.. nice and somewhat central.. in a jamband friendly house oh well.. sorry man.. still sending you the vibes though

hey Jay, if Blane isn't going to take a spot maybe you might want to give 2 (maybe just 1 but probablyl 2) fellow Ottawa guys a lift down and back? obviously we'll help out with gas and all that good stuff

hey everyone.. well.. though I've been a fan since 94, coventry will be my first show.. sad eh..

anyway.. I'm heading down from Ottawa and would love to hook up with all you great folk.

I haven't finalized what I'm doing for a ride yet, I have two tickets and the second one is apparently spoken for but I dunno.. we were talking about renting a car to go down, is anyone here in Ottawa hip to getting in on that?

or.. if anyone has two available seats that would be great as well. I'll (we'll) obviously supply gas money and good company.

also.. how can I hook up with all of you down at the gig, I'd love to set up camp in "camp canada" and get to put faces to names.

Anyway.. either respond to this post or email me at pat AT thatpatguy DOT com

alright.. I can't wait.. just over a week away!

oh.. and the reebok Terry Tate "office linebacker" ads are way too funny

here's an oldy but goody.. the debut MAC ad, the 1984 inspired one, directed by Ridley Scott

not only is it a cool ad, but it was the first of the "super bowl ads" that are now such a big deal..

I also loved the etrade.com ads from the superbowl a few years back. There was one with a couple of hillbillys sitting on a porch with a chimpanzee dancing to bluegrass music beside them.

Then they fade to black and the text comes up "we just wasted 1 million dollars" and then the etrade.com logo.. too funny

I don't think it will help much.. but I'm going to have to go with George..

man.. this one is tough now.. the first two were easy..

I guess I'd have to say BB King, even though he is my favourite of the three that are left.. I just don't know if he has been as influential

wow.. lots of Joni votes..

I'm going to have to rock the boat with a Bela vote.. I just don't see the influence he has had in comparrison with the others (yet.. he's still young.. ask me the same question in 20 years I could have a very different answer.. and we could be surrounded with banjo players)

retail for $9.99!! what a bargain!!!

oh wait.. maybe he meant $999.00

I wish that you people went to the Eric Clapton concerts at the ACC and/or the HSBC Arena this month. I would argue that Eric Clapton has influenced more kids to Pick up the guitar than any on this list. More than one of his heros B.B. King, and more than one of his best friends George Harrison. Clapton did the guitar solo on "My Guitar Gently Weeps" for God's sake.

As Cartman always says to Stan, Kyle, and Kenny "I hate you guys."

I vote off Bela Fleck again.

I totally agree with you Timmy.. to bad to see Eric go..

I'm going for Mr. Weir again

since I can't vote for Bob Weir I think I'll have to go for Bela Fleck..

he kicks ass.. and though many seem down on Clapton, I don't think you can deny that he has inspired many a young kid to pick up the guitar... and it was really fun to watch him get smoked by Robbie Robertson on the Last Waltz

I say we start up a heady floating craps game

as much as I love Phish, and as much as I think this is a wonderful idea and will allow a lot of fans who couldn't other wise make it coventry, and as much as hopefully this will ease some of the strain by giving non-ticket holders an option other than trying to crash the gig..

I think the lads should learn "For the Love of Money" for the gig.. I'd laugh so hard.. it would be great

too bad they got bought by (merged with?) another ass tasting beer company.. why couldn't have have been bought by someone like Guinness?