Fresno and Kings Canyon Tour Diary 03/11
I wrote this tour diary while on tour last week! I hope you enjoy. It’s definitely longer than usual. But sometimes so much happens in a short amount of time. We just had such a fun trip and side trek to the beautiful and relaxing Kings Canyon high in the mountains
********* Tour Diary March 2011******* Fresno, CA and Kings Canyon, CA***********
Fresno and Kings Canyon Tour Blog
Wow! What a few days it has been! Now, I’m up in the middle of the beautiful nowhere in King’s Canyon, CA! There is 14 feet of snow outside and all around! It’s crazy! I just played in 75 degree sunny weather just 60 miles away in Fresno a few hours ago! How did I end up here? I will tell you!
Well, Tuesday morning (3/8/11) we (mom, my son West and I) started out the journey to Fresno, CA as I had booked a College gig there for 3/9/11 about 3 months ago. We had wanted to leave Tuesday after rush hour traffic to head up and stay the night, since the gig was an early one (arrival at 11 a.m. and perform at 12 p.m. during college lunch hour!)
So, that’s what we did! We loaded up the car again, our 3rd tour together since last September. All 3 of us! It’s always a journey when you’re in the car with your mom and 2 year old! We get to not only explore our surroundings, but also our relationship! But I think it’s only good when you can come out on the other side of a disagreement still loving and wanting to go on the next trip! J
So, a little off track…
Well we headed out to Fresno! It seemed like it took FOREVER to get out of L.A. It was just one of those days (which if you’re from the area, you know happens quite frequently). We finally got north of the city around 11:30 p.m. and took our first pit stop at McDonalds for my son to get a happy meal and play in their playground! Oh what fun!
Then we got loaded back in the car (that was also loaded down- but definitely nothing compared to our 10 day Colorado trip/tour in the mini mini van!) and headed up. Getting closer to Bakersfield we saw the sign for a Sonic! Well I try to stay away from fast food in general for health reasons-but with not many Sonic’s in the SoCal area, whenever on a road trip and a tiny bit hungry, we stop for Sonic! Unfortunately it was not our best Sonic experience- but West had fun running around, and I must confess we changed a diaper on the table- so remember folks, always wipe down a table, especially one outside, before eating on it! Lol. (This probably seems grosser if you’re not a parent, but you’d be surprised how few places actually have changing tables- I’m just keeping it real!) Here’s a pick of me stooping down to try to hear the speaker. :)
Loaded back up again- next stop FRESNO! And it actually was! We made it to our hotel just 10 min after check-in time! I had to leave in less than 2 hours (at 5 p.m.) to drive to the Tower District of Fresno (a very artsy part of town, reminded me of Belmont Shore in Long Beach) and set up and start a show by 6 p.m.
The awesome drummer that I hired to perform with me at the College gig, Aaron Wall (with the band 40watthype.com) actually booked us a last minute gig the day before- so instead of just rehearsing that night together- we got to play at this amazing theater/coffeehouse. It was the most unique coffeehouse theater I’d ever been in! SO beautiful! (check my youtube for my live performance there- called the Revue).
I made it to the show and we performed an hour set at The Revue. It was one of those gigs that there wasn’t much of a built in audience, but there were a few locals around- and the ones that stopped in bought one or more of my CD’s and were super nice! So, it was a great experience and I’m so grateful for people like Aaron taking initiative and not only booking me the gig, but setting up all the stuff and helping me load in! If you’re ever in need of a percussionist/drummer in the Fresno area (or recording drums long distance with wav files) He’s your man!
Well, once we got done and all loaded up it was time to finally go to the hotel and get a good nights rest before my big college show the next day at Cal State Univ. Fresno. My little son was so happy to see me and I was so happy to see him and remember why I take him on tour with me! It’s not the same without my little guy giving me hugs everyday!
So I put him down to sleep, and mom and me also fell asleep before 9 p.m., we were all SO tired! Then around 4 a.m. I woke up and could not go back to sleep. I heard mom playing on her iPhone and knew she was awake too. I tried to relax, do deep breathing, and get back to sleep, but nothing was working. Finally I was like “Mom, are you wide awake too” and she’s like “Yep”. So we chatted off and on for the next couple hours and I finally fell back asleep from 6-7:30 a.m. to my relief!
Well- then it was time to start getting ready- starting with BREAKFAST! Unfortunately the buffet breakfast was out of all the hot stuff by that point, so we had cereal and I am grateful they had decent coffee.
Then, as usual before a gig, the time got away from us and it was almost time to go. So we all got ready and loaded the car in time for us to even drive through STARBUCKS!!! Ok I’m a total fan of Starbucks, especially while traveling, because you don’t have to wonder what your drink is going to taste like! It’s awesome. Then I dropped mom and west at an outside mall, as they’d have more fun there than spending 2 hours watching me load and then mom trying to keep west from the stage and getting to me! Lol. They had a great time, and when I came back to pick them up, West was all wet from the fountain and with some new cloths and flip flops on! You can always count on a Grandma!
Well, while they were shopping and playing in water, I was busy setting up and talking with my awesome contacts at CSU Fresno. I had met the bookers for the college back at a big College Booking Conference in November, and they had wanted to book me then, so the time had finally come! They were SO kind and helpful! Gave me great directions, had parking passes waiting for me and Aaron, brought down the cart, pushed the cart- and unloaded the cart with my gear for me! They were so thoughtful and kind! Believe me- this isn’t how it normally goes down! So, I was very very grateful!
It was the PERFECT day to have an outside performance. I set up on this really cool stage that you go down stairs to, so there’s people below you (it was a cement stage about 5 feet high) eating their lunch, then there’s people behind you on the sidewalks, and people in front/above you on a balcony level that’s from the other walkways that connect people to other buildings. So, a very cool setup!
Well, the gig went smoothly and awesomely thanks to everyone involved. A special thanks again to the talented Mr. Aaron Wall. As mentioned I video recorded both gigs and check my youtube.com/coffeeeshopgrrrl site for the videos from The Revue and CSU Fresno!
Once again, after the gig, the awesome staff at CSU Fresno loaded my cart, walked me to my car and unloaded with me! WOW! I’m impressed! I drove off with a smile on my face (and a nice check, which felt awesome!). I picked up my wet son and my happy mom and then another adventure awaited us- and how beautiful and dreamy, we had no idea!
Before we’d traveled up here I’d booked us a lodge for that Wed night near King’s Canyon because it was only a little out of the way of going home (by little- compared to going all the way to Yosemite) and we wanted to have one extra night to just relax and enjoy nature.
Well, on our drive out we started to realize just how beautiful this part of the trip was going to be! The drive out on the 180 hw was just breath-takingly beautiful. The whole drive the snow capped mountains were in front of us, and thousands of blooming trees and wild flowers were beside us! It was just incredible!
As the drive ascended into more of the windy mountain climb, it was still just so so gorgeous. We’d roll down the windows and turn the music up to take it all in. At one point going up, Weston was saying “mommy mommy look down” because he wanted me to see how high we were it was so cute!
A few miles before we got to King’s Canyon- we turned off at the last overlook. I’m so GRATEFUL we did! This view was just extraordinary!!!! All around us was God’s beauty! Even across the hwy was water falling down over the huge boulders! The smell of Fresh air, clouds, blue sky, warm sun, and our smiling faces. It’s a moment I want to always remember and be grateful for!
Well we finally dragged ourselves back into the car because we wanted to get to our lodge before it got dark. Thankfully the sign said only 6 more miles! West had been such a trooper and was ready to be done with the car- and so was I!
The drive started taking us into the mountain instead of on the edge and the trees got bigger and taller immediately! Also- the snow started piling up. The closer we got the more snow was there! When we stopped at the pull off it was literally sunny and at least 70 degrees- just a few miles later it was around 35 degrees and when we pulled in – 14 feet of snow!!!!
We couldn’t believe our eyes! We’d arrived in a Winter Wonderland when all before had been like summer! The snow is literally as high as the buildings!
So that’s where we are- in this gorgeous gorgeous place where all we see are Tall trees, white snow, green pines, and smell the fresh air. There’s nothing like it! I just love when a place goes away above and beyond your expectations! It’s so awesome! Our lodge room is on the 2nd floor and has the view of these trees, a half frozen creek, and all the snow and wildlife!
We are still deciding if we are going to stay another night. We desperately want to, but we’re on such a tight budget, it’s hard to justify financially. But the truth is- I need a day off. Although we got here this afternoon, we’re finally loaded in our room and resting- I want like a WHOLE day of this! We all work so hard all the time, and although it may strain financially- we’re already here, you know? So must of the expenses and time it takes to get here again- it’s already paid for…am I talking myself into this? Probably. I’ll let you know- as we have to decide by check-out tomorrow !
My mom in this amazing fallen tree that my son was in love with and called “The Tunnel” :)
Either way, I’m so grateful to be here in this moment. To be smelling this fresh air, to feel the clean air, mountains, snow, trees all healing my spirt, and even body! I can’t explain it- but if you’ve ever felt that feeling leaving the city and getting into nature- you know what I’m talking about. It’s almost like your whole body exhales and feels cleansed! I’m loving it!
(We ended up staying an extra night and having a whole extra day of amazing memories!!!)
Goodbye King’s Canyon. We hope to see you soon!!!
