Sue,
Thank you for that. It all sounds amazing. I can hardly wait now. It takes me an hour to get to work in the morning's here and I only live three miles from the office so thirty miles in ninety minutes seems pretty speedy to me. I rang to ask about tickets cos coming from London it'd be anightmare to get there and find out we couldn't get in. They assured me that they'll be room for everyone. I do agree that it's probably going to be extra-busy this year. I'm not really sure how I'm going to be able to concentrate on my work for the next three days. Tim ----- Original Message ----- From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 14, 2002 6:51 PM Subject: Re: BG: hills of home festival > > Hello Tim, > > I live in Maryland and I have been going to Ralph Stanley's festivals almost > from the very beginning in the '70's. The area has changed a lot since then. > The roads have improved, but they are steep and winding. It is in very > mountainous country where there are a lot of coal mines. If you have ever > read books about Appalachia, that's what you can expect. Beautiful, but > isolated and less prosperous than other regions of the country. > > There is a stage on higher ground now. It used to be down at the bottom of a > steep hill, but when it got muddy you would slip and slide. Now there is a > covered shelter where you can set up your lawn chair. Everyone won't fit > under the shelter, so you may have to sit out in the sun or rain if you don't > get there early. The music area has a chain link fence around it. I doubt > if the area will hold everyone this year unless they have enlarged it. > > There are food vendors and other vendors outside the music area. It seems to > me like I had to wait in line a long time to buy food. It's best to bring > some water and snacks at least, because you won't want to get up and leave > the music area once it gets started. Then during the break everyone tries to > get in line for food all at the same time. Tell some of those nice people > with the big motor homes that you are from London. I'm sure you will make > friends that way, and maybe get some home cooking too! > > I pulled up some directions on Mapquest from Wise to McClure. The fastest > route is 31.61 miles and it takes 1 hour, 36 minutes. The shortest route is > 25.96 miles and it takes 1 hour, 44 minutes. That should tell you how > winding and steep the roads are. After you get to McClure, you still have to > go up to the top of the mountain where the festival is located. I couldn't > believe it the first time I went there. You go round and round the mountains > and there are steep drop offs on the sides of the roads. Back then the roads > were mostly rocks, dirt and ruts, but they are better now. Just be careful. > The people who live there are used to it. You see a lot of big coal trucks > going fast, so I try to keep out of their way. > > The festival usually starts about 10 a.m. I think. It runs until around > midnight. Then some people stay up all night and play music out in the > fields. Up on a hill is the family cemetery where Carter Stanley is buried. > He has a beautiful tombstone and you can hear his music playing when you > visit the grave. > > I have never been to London, but I'm sure it is a big city. If you are not > used to going to rural, isolated, mountainous areas, it might be a culture > shock for you. The weather ranges from cool and rainy, to hot and sunny, > sometimes on the same day. At night it gets pretty cool at this time of the > year. > > I hope you and your cousin have a great time at the festival. I hope the > weather is good because there will probably be a big crowd this year. > > Sincerely, > Sue S. > Bluegrass Bulletin Board brought to you by the fan club of > Dr Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys > subscribe or unsubscribe at http://drralphstanley.com/ > Bluegrass Bulletin Board brought to you by the fan club of Dr Ralph Stanley & His Clinch Mountain Boys subscribe or unsubscribe at http://drralphstanley.com/
