We headed out of Black Mountain about noon and got off the mountain
when a weird light came on in the car dash.
It took me a few minutes to realize it was the tire warning, about then
the car started handling funny. I guess it was a good thing that
it didn't happen coming down the mountain.

The rental car road-side service about drove Brock insane and we might
have been in much worse shape, had the tire change fellow not
known the right things to do. We ended up paying to have the tire fixed
ourselves and heading down the road, after about a 3 hour run around.

I'll tell the full story sometime, but the big question I have is... Why can't
two grown men put a doughnut tire on a rental car? Are we too mentally
deficient to be allowed to put a spare on a Corolla?
Also, how can a road side service company have and not implement 4
different plans in a 60 minute period?

We rolled into the Pittsboro area and went to check in at the performers
gate. Shakori Hills is a huge and well run event. We were checked in
and had our passes in about 25 minutes. I don't know what their attendance
numbers are for the weekend, but it has to be over 20,000.

We played Thursday night at 11 and got a really appreciative reaction.
It's really fun to see people walking by, stop, stare and come over and
listen for the rest of the set. I think we made some fans, as a lot of them
came back the next afternoon to see us.

After we finished up, we rolled back to Rodger's campsite.
Brock joined the general jamming. I watched and drank many Yuengling's
until it was time to pass out in the tent.

I got up the next morning and wandered about until it was time for the 1p.m.
two step lessons in the dance tent. I discovered I still don't need any two step
lessons. Then it was time, time for the big event.

At 2p.m. Friday afternoon my number 1 Honky-Tonk Hero, J.P. Harris took the stage and it was amazing. People were two stepping, there was a tripping balls hippy kid doing some kind of crazy shimmy, who hit a back flip in the
middle of J.P.'s version of "Bright Lights and Country Music". Probably the
first back flip ever performed during a Bill Anderson song. Brock danced with
an obviously nervous and confused girl in a fedora. It was perfect.

We headed back to the camp afterwards, got our stuff and went to play our
set.

We played, had a good time, ran into J.P. who reminded us not to let him
do fire tricks after 10p.m.(cost him some beard) and loaded up and headed for Kansas.

We had a great time at this festival and once again we have to name check
Rodger Lenhardt, who got us there. We'll be back in the spring, if we're allowed and we'll be spending the full four days.

I'll have the theme done for the Elderberry Cordial by then.