March 7th - Dave and Daphne

In the world of music, there are often performers who aren't the total legends we always think of, but still have their own accomplishments. These people are the type who make the "big" people successful. Through their talent, dedication to their craft, and such great loving personality, they make the world of music work.  We were privileged to see Dave and Daphne perform.

We arrived and hoped for yet another great show at the Buckboard Cafe.  We sat in the front table and waited patiently.  Dave was on the stage getting ready and when he had a second to sit, he did.  He sat across from us and we got engaged in conversation.  What a great guy!! Big heart and passion.

The show started and they quickly showed us the level of ability they have.  They completely owned the night.  Daphne was a great singer having been an accomplished gospel and country singer and Dave played his guitars as well as anybody.. We somehow formed a bond with these two great people.  I hope we can reconnect someday with them again.  This is a show you want to see over and over. (And I love his Strat)

Visit their website: https://www.daveanddaphne.com/

Yeah, "Flight of the Bumblebee" Awesome

 

Great people

February - March. Hanging out at the Rio

The tissue box is empty

No coffee for my cream

Dogs howl in the alley

Crazy women scream

Some kids shout from there pick up truck

There stoned on life and beer

Fifty radios playing in this street

But I'm still hardly here

Exquisitely bored in California

We take our trouble to the Crest

Exquisitely bored in California

Exquisitely bored, Just like all the rest

- Peter Townshend

Days seem to run together, but we still have fun.  We often meet people who have been around us all year and you  unexpectedly become friends. There is a lot of beauty here, between the grounds and the amazing sunrises and sunsets.  So, I wander around and let things catch my eye..

The old bridge

Sunrise

Lazy kitty

New Friends

February 21st - Danny Vernon

 

We had the opportunity to attend a few new events at Rio Bend.  This night we got to see Danny Vernon, Illusion of Elvis.  I thought he did a very good and professional show.  It was, for me, really all about the music and getting to see someone perform it well.  My thanks to all the people involved in bringing Danny to Rio Bend.

His site: www.dannyvernon.com

Danny Vernon, Illusion of Elvis

Crowded venue

My partner

Meeting and mugging with new friends

March Sometime - Some random photos

I thought I'd share some various random photos.

Alpine Brewing in Alpine, CA.  We stopped there on the way from San Diego to El Centro one day. We also picked up a geocache there.  We then had lunch at their restaurant which was really goo.

I was geocaching and had to look into a utility box in the ground.  There were a lot of big spiders.

Cool clouds and sun rays.

Gypsy loves to play with the water dripping into the sink.  Strange cat.

Cuban cigars picked up in Mexico

The cat needed to supervise my putting away groceries.

Bug on the ceiling.

March 7th - A Day At The Fair

As most county and state fairs are held in the summer, The Imperial County fair is held in the end of winter.  It makes sense, who would go to the fair for a good time if it's 120 degrees?

It was a Tuesday near the end of the fair.  Just needed to get out and do something, so we went to see what it was like.  It's not a big fair, the fairgrounds are permanent buildings on the north side of El Centro by the airport and the beginning of the sister town of Imperial.  Entrance was pretty cheap.  There is a senior discount I qualify for, a couple of bucks, but we didn't see that until we had just gotten our tickets, and the girl said we were out of luck.  $2.00, oh well. 

We took Janie with us.  She was going to be moving on soon. 

We walked around and I tried to take some pictures.  There was an art exhibit and a law-enforcement exhibit.  Lots of crafts by local schools and colleges.  We came across an exhibit by the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association Branch 22.  Laurie knew most of the presenters there as it is a club her mom and dad have been associated with for a very long time. 

A couple of guys in bad superheroes costumes were going around on unicycles.  One was tall and the other normal size.  they juggled pins between them and told jokes and basically clowned around.  That was fun to watch.  There was a beer pavilion but the most exotic beer was Sam Adams.  We found the beer garden where the locals of Humble Farmer and Pentagonal as well as Mike Hess from San Diego had offerings.

We didn't try any of the rides, but had some of the food sample.  we had some great street tacos from one of the booths.

I haven't been to very many state or county fairs, but attended the San Diego County fair many, many times.  This was just another county fair.  A bit of diversion and fun.  Worth the meager cost.

Entering the boardwalk

This might have been a fun show, especially for the kiddies.  It wasn't happening while we were there.

One of the permanent buildings

Branch 22.  I've seen this guy many times at many shows.

Fun guys, but not mushrooms.

Beer Garden

March 2nd - Pentagonal Brewing

Only the second craft brewer to open up here in this part of the Imperial Valley, Pentagonal Brewing is in the town of Imperial.  Imperial might as well be called El Centro North.  It's hard to tell where one stops and the other begins.  It might be at the railroad tracks up by the Ford dealer or just as you get to the local airport.  You can tell the neighborhood looks a little better.

Pentagonal is easy to get to and is very roomy inside.  They are working very hard t create some nice brews.  They have a porter which is pretty good and a barleywine that is great.  For this visit they had a bourbon barrel brewed version that was excellent.

The whole idea fo dogs and children being allowed in these places is weird to me, but the law allows it.  They have karaoke nights and usually a decent food truck there as well as board games.