Tour!!!! Lack of Internet and Updates!
Ok, so unfortunately we’ve had very bad luck with internet at hotels on the tour, so I was unable to keep my promise and write every day! But..I’m about to go backwards and share with you what has happened since last Wednesday until today (Saturday).
Wednesday Sept 22nd,
We all got up around 6 a.m. and had a quick breakfast and stuffed the stuff back into the car in pouring rain! We still planned to go by the Grand Canyon in hopes the rain would hold off or at least where we could still see the Canyon even if it kept raining!
So we started the amazingly beautiful drive through Flagstaff and up the mountain to the Grand Canyon. Before we went into the Park, we stopped at a cute little cafe to get brunch and some more delicious coffee. We had a lot of fun looking around at all their goodies and drinking delicious lattes!
Then it was time to go to the Grand Canyon. There are no words, or truly any pictures to describe how amazingly astounding and breath-taking it is there. The wind that sweeps up from the mile deep canyon was so refreshing and just incredible. There was a certain quiet from everyone viewing the Canyon as it’s just so incredible, no one wants to speak loudly or disturb this astonishing site. I highly recommend visiting to anyone if you ever can possibly go. It’s truly inspiring and incredible!!!
We left after a little over an hour as we had to be to Grand Junction (9 hours away, w/ no stops..yeah right!lol) by that evening as I had a radio interview the next morning. We stopped at an awesome authentic Indian Art Stand a few minutes after exiting the park and I got a Dreamcatcher. I’d been wanting one for a long time, and it was so picuresque with smaller canyons behind us and the wind sweeping around us. I will post pictures when I get home and upload them for you to see!!!!
A couple hours back on the road and the weather took a turn for pouring rain and thunderstorms. And it didn’t let up until we finally reached Grand Junction at 10:30 p.m. at night! As stressful it was to drive in the pouring rain and how SLOWLY we were moving because of it…we saw 6 rainbows!!!!!! I’ve never heard of such a thing, and 2 of those rainbows were double rainbows! It was just incredible and we felt so blessed! What a wonderful blessed day we had!
Thursday, Sept 23rd
Well, we finally got to sleep in a little bit. Mom and I did a Jillian Michaels workout video while West played in the Hotel room and worked out a little with us! :) We ate a quick breakfast and got cleaned up and it was already time to go to my radio interview!
My mom dropped me off at KAFM88.1’s Radio Station in Grand Junction to do my 30 minute interview and live performance on air! I had SO much fun there. It was such a cute, fun building and everyone working there was so nice. Dave, who interviewed me, was so gracious and very prepared! You can actually hear the recorded interview at http://www.facebook.com/mesacountylib?v=wall&ref=ts
So I had a LOT of fun there and then it was over so quickly and it was time to head to Silt, CO -about an hour and 15 min east as I had to get checked in to hotel and get ready for my Library gig that evening! WHEW!
So, we headed out to Silt and arrived at one of the most beautiful hotels I could ever dream of right on a huge river with a beautiful river walking trail beside it. It was also a nice relief to know we’d be staying here two nights and have a little break in between gigs.
I got ready quickly after arriving at Hotel, and headed out to the Silt Branch Library. The people greeted me there so nicely. Helped me unload my equipment and were just SO kind. I was so impressed with their kindness and hospitality. I made some awesome new fans and friends. I also recorded the whole show on my FLIP cam and will post the songs that turned out good as soon as I figure out how to splice them! ;)
Then, I went home and swam in the pool with mom and West and then relaxed in the Hot Tub! What an awesome day!!!!
Friday, September 24th
We slept in! YAY! Since I didn’t have a show until that evening in New Castle, we decided to head up to Glenwood Springs as we’d heard fun things were waiting for us there- and were they ever!!!!
We started out our hunt by trying to find a Starbucks…which the GPS didn’t pick up the one right beside us, but it was a happy accident as we got to drive through downtown Glenwood Springs and ended up driving through a local coffee place and seeing downtown, which was adorable!
Then, through backwards, forwards, turn arounds, and a couple “I told you so“‘s we found the TARGET (and of course it was right around where we’d been as well as had a Starbucks in it and another one OUTSIDE!). We had to get our pictures on discs and some memory cards, but a Target stop is always a happy place to me!
Then we checked out this awesome Health Food Store connected outside to Target. It felt like California!!! Is it just me, or do Health Food Stores have a certain scent? I think it’s the vitamins! :) Mom got some awesome hummus and pita bread and I got a smoothie and some interesting pumpkin seed/cheddar crackers that were delicious!
Well, then the place we’d came to Glenwood for in the first place, the Community/Rec Center was just across the street! WOW!!! I was so glad to the librarian at Silt who told me to go here as it was amazing. They had the coolest, most incredible heated child’s pool (that of course mom and I went in- and no one else was in it). It was the size of half a football field with several different water things pouring all over including springs spouting up, waterfalls, buckets that filled up and then dumped ove ryou at different times, and a whole train contraption kind of water spouting thing. And most of the water was only to West’s waist (he’s two- so not that high). So he could just walk around and feel safe and we could swim/float beside him and just laugh! It was SO special.
On top of that! The windows in the pool area were about 60 feet high and all around giving us the view of the amazing Rocky mountains everywhere we looked! It was all just so amazing!
Well, as all good things, time goes so fast and it was time to go already! So we headed back to Silt so I could get ready for my gig at the New Castle Branch Library. I arrived an hour ahead to set up and upon pulling up saw a big sign with my name on it!!!! YAY! I love when that happens.
Before I’d even gotten out of the car, two awesome dudes (Perry and Dan) came out and said “We’re here to Help” (I wonder how they knew it was me- perhaps the deeply stuffed vehicle and lost looking woman?:)
So they loaded me in so nicely and the Librarian and ‘Friends of the Library” were there and arriving to set up home made snacks and goodies for everyone! The place filled out by show time and I was already so touched before I even began!
A fellow Californian transplant to CO helped me with my merch booth and everyone else helped me in anyway I needed. I felt so loved and touched. It was a shining moment for sure!
I performed my oldies and some brand new songs for the crowd and sold CD’s, merch, and got to meet everyone after. There was even a woman, Violet, who was there and it was her 94th birthday!!!! We all sang her happy birthday!! How cool of her to come to a concert on her 94th Birthday. I told her I wanted to be like her when I was 94! I feel a song coming on!
So, thank you to all at New Castle and if you’re reading this- please know how much you touched my heart!!!
Saturday, Sept 25th (TODAY)
We got up a little late today and Weston was still sleeping so I went down and did some cardio in the excercise room while Mom stayed in our room. I then got to sit outside by the river and relax while eating breakfast. It was a wonderful way to start the day!
Then, the stress unfortunately started to mount up. So, anytime on this trip that we have to load/re-organize the car, it’s a little stressful because, to be honest, there’s not quite enough room. I mean there is, we made it, but to get anything out, things fall out, things get stuck, people get hurt, and it’s just hard! And it’s all worth it (I think! :) but it’s just a little stressful. So it took some time to get everything back into the car after a couple nights of gigs and repacking of other travel stuff.
Well, we were finally off and on our way to Denver!!!! Well, at least until Glenwood Springs where we stopped at Target (again) because I’d forgotten apple juice for West and some more snacks for the road- and of course COFFEE!!!! :)
Finally, let’s go- DENVER BOUND!
Wow, what a beautiful drive through the rocky mountains! It’s just unbelievably gorgeous. The Aspen trees were all changing to Gold and sparkling in the wind. There were so many interesting Tunnels and we were beside a river almost the entire time!
Hours later, after a few stops we finally made it to Denver- but we got a little lost. We were trying to meet some friends that are in Denver but the GPS wasn’t my friend for a while, but then he came back just in time and we finally found our friends!!!!
Then we met my sister-in-law, my little niece and other friends at this amazing restaurant called Casa Bonita. This place is HUGE inside- like a mini Disneyland! It’s got Cliff Divers, Gorillas, Artists, Pinata’s, almost everything! And besides that- the food is mexican and AMAZING!!!!! We had a wonderful visit with family and friends and it was time to go rest!
So here I am typing, when I should probably sleep, but I’m afraid I’ll forget details and so I wanted to get all this out! Tomorrow I’m performing in this gorgeous town, Lyons (about 15 min north of Boulder, CO) from 2-3 p.m. I’ll look forward to writing about our experiences tomorrow! Should be interesting!
