Dan had come from Portland, Or., On trailways and grayhounds and said he was not getting on another bus this close to the gathering. I told him it was his lucky day and we loaded his gear into the car and headed north. We arrived in Ridgway, Pa. at 9 am and stopped at the local IGA so we could get some fruit and last minute supplies. We met Charlie a rainbow road dog who offered to show us the rest of the way to the parking area. Charlie was living in his hatch back vega and his sole interest in the gathering seemed to be working the parking lot. Each trip back to the car I saw him helping direct traffic and making himself useful in other ways. He really had that car equipped for comfort and convenience. When he raised the hatch his portable stove popped up and omelets were ready in a flash.
Owls nest parking was quite a movie. There was a Jesus Camp with helpful things like jacks, jumpers and pumps. A beautiful sister was getting hippie shuttles loaded and helping with directions. She was a hard worker and with about 4 other regulars kept things moving from the time I arrived till I left. These were long days and lots of problems. The thing was to keep things moving and quickly give vital instructions. People were being pulled over for such things as items hanging from their mirror to too many people in a vehicle (people giving rides to others). I gave her an envelope and a 5th of wine which she said was the best thing to happen in the last hour. I had established that she had a fondness for a-camp.
I took the shuttle in to Chico's which was at a trial head and than from there to the inf. center was a hike about 2.5 miles. I decided not to carry my equipment in right away. This is my way of enjoying the first day to the max, get there early, walk in light, have fun and than go back out and bring in supplies. The trail was steep and muddy in a few places, just enough to make it really hard for those who over packed. For families and elderly it was really hard and traveling lite I was able to help a few through the hard spots. Kiddie village was on a pretty hilly location, again making it hard for families. I passed Serenity ridge, brew ha ha, and musical veggie kitchens. Later ran into Luke Jones my "Brew Ha Ha" (no smoking, alcohol) friend and his family at the main circle dinner.
I had heard the Jah Love and Bobo d Clown were staying in Taos, NM due to kids being unable to make the trip so I went back to the ghetto for the second year. The ghetto "anything goes in the ghetto" was located on a hill above the gathering. I had to cross the creek twice to get there from the boggy main meadow. This was a nice walk over a hippie bridge, past the booty beach, fiddlers camp and through the deaf tribe, up a steep hill, than along a trail with many campsites and lots of friendly people. Toby sticks in my mind. He had been there for a week when I arrived and had selected his campsite for the view of the swimming hole and the acoustics resonating from the main meadow. His camp was nice and had a nice place to enjoy the view in the shade and there was always a few people ready to hang out. He had made a bench which was really a lux. The last three days I was there Toby was not in residence so I world just stop and enjoy his nice camp. He showed up again as I was leaving saying how he had meet these wonderful folks from "the end of the universe" and he had been staying with them.
After I set up my camp, above ghetto gourmet kitchen, I hung around the oven and got caught up on what was happening and where. The ghetto family had changed again and Button and Leanne left the gathering early to have their baby in Asheville, NC. Wingnut was movin and shaken things around the camp. The drummers were hot and getting warmed up for later at "granola funk kitchen" and bliss pit, + there was of a rave happening near "ananda", the 47 hour library was happening and everyone was heading to the piano bar later that night. I took me about 3 hours to set up my camp and than I just blissed out for a while listening to the drums and resting up for the night ahead. The ghetto family was rockin as usual, dogs were everywhere, and Wingnut was the main man along with Raven as far as getting anything done around the kitchen. Of course the sisters were busy cooking for the main meal. This night they were to supply 10 gallons of food for main circle.
Wednesday night the rains came hard and long. The next morning I heard that bridges and crossings were washed out so I stayed around ghetto all morning. The place was jamming. A brother was just putting out so much love you could say he was raising the entire kitchens spirits. Wingnut suggested brownies and the cooks went to work. Soon the ovens were cranking out the best brownies and also some fried potatoes. Things were getting crazy and lots of folks were stopping bye since word was out that "there ain't no party like a ghetto party because a ghetto party never ends" I left about 2pm and headed back to owl's nest parking area to resupply and see the sights.
I was able to help several people along the way and meet my friend Mark Sebly, who said I was the first person he had seen who he knew. This is hard to believe but an hour further on the trail in met my friend Andy from "nick at nite" fame (see Missouri gathering) and Andy said I was the first familiar person he had seen. I ran into Andy and his new sister friend several times over the nest couple of days and he did a medicine card reading of my life. This explained the animal guides who on and accompany me on life's journey. All this was recorded and took about 2 hours. I was surprised at how it worked out. Copy enclosed.
Mark Sebly was the last familiar face I saw on the way out of the gathering. He had been up early returning from Lovin' Ovens and was in good spirits. He had a guitar he had bought just for rainbow. One that could take the elements and in the worst case be sacrificied to the music gods if it got caugth in bad weather for too long.
On the way back to ghetto I stopped by the showers that Tom sets up every year. Tom keeps a scrap book from all the gatherings and had kept the envelopes I had given him in Or., Missouri and Arizona. We talked awhile; I had a nice hot shower and headed across the creek towards my tent. At the beech I met a Russian masseuse form Alexandria, Va. and was treated to a great shoulder massage. Stopped by Toby's but he was not there so as folks wandered by (thinking it was my camp) they stopped and since it was about 4:20 p.m. we just chilled for awhile then I continued up to ghetto.
Ghetto kids got all the dogs up for barking at the moon that was coming up over the far peak. This was wild, dogs barking, people howling, horns blowing. The nice thing was that it tried out the dogs and they stayed quite the rest of the night.
My neighbors camped close by were Merkle and Sara, Merk had been there two weeks and was staying through clean up. He was getting very involved in the main meadow/wetland issue. He was right in his thinking that the meal had to be served in the main meadow by the peace pole as is the custom. Since the main meadow had some wetland issue going there was a faction who wanted to feed everyone at the kitchens. This point of view was being but forth by a very beautiful sister, who in three minutes could articulate her thoughts very well. she also commanded attention because she was not only articulate but topless.
Of course I got lost and generally this is fun because it's really hard to see everything and also when I realize where I am I have generally found a few short cuts. The gathering grows in size every day. When I arrived the really hard working seed camp hippies had made trails, bridges, laid miles of water pipe, moved large rocks for stepping stones across the creeks, built elaborate kitchens, information center, supplied the kitchens, started the ever in progress map, dug the shitters, and built the ovens. I met Charles the plumber along the trail one night. I had decided to go up to the "gong show" at the Granola Funk theater. It was late, no moon and the trail was dark. I had my trusty flashlight but to conserve batteries only flashed it on occasionally. The trail followed bear creek. In any event half way along the trail I step in a mud hole up to my ankle, oh well I have to cross the creek anyway to get to g-funk and I will get cleaned up at that point. Needless to say is was more than sorry I had not use the light more. I'm thinking how dark and alone I am on the trail when from nowhere I hear "can I borrow you lite?" "Sure" I reply, totally surprised, "what do you need it for?" Turns out it's Charles and he is fixing a low pressure problem that developed in kiddie village (aprox. 1/2 mi. away) I watch in amazement as he fashions a plug, with attached handle, out of a piece of dear tree branch and of course duck tape. As he works we talk a little and again I feel like it is just Thomas and I in this deserted spot along the trail. Thomas is working about two feet lower than where I'm standing and the pipe has water running near my muddy foot so I suggest, after explaining my misstep, he direct some water on my muddy foot. Charles is more than accommodating and tells me of his experience at the Jesus kitchen (not the Jesus camp mentioned at the beginning) where they washed his feet and how good it felt. So Thomas washed my foot and thoroughly cleaned out my moccasin. In any event when we were saying goodbye and he walked off he said "ALL DOGS COME" and to my surprise three large dogs jumped out onto the trail and walked away with him. And I thought I was so alone. But go figure a plumber in the woods with no light, a roll of duck tape and three dogs…………..
The "gong show" on July 2nd is only exceeded by the "no talent- talent show" which is usually the next night. These can go on till dawn and are presented on the elaborate stage which these wonderful folks at g-funk assemble for these occasions. Remember there is no electricity in miles of the gathering. Flashlights from the audience provide the illumination for the performers. Spent some time just following the drums and stopping by Katuah and Kind Café. I was in my tent before sun up.
The ghetto was pretty quite the next morning. Only four early risers were making any effort to get the fire going and bring in some water. The cooking started around maybe 9:30. By 10:30 they were getting really loaded. Generally getting in practice of the 4th of July. There seems to be this disregard for the silence around the ghetto and I also so noticed some Jah Love family (ghetto was begotten by Jah Love) not following the silence. Anyway the ghetto seems to practice it on the morning of the 3rd; this is mainly because they were all partied out. On the 4th when everyone else observes the silence a few ghetto family craw out still sleeping but making loud noises and generally acting out against the whole rest of the family. Life in the ghetto. I'll be rethinking my kitchen for the year 2000, which will be held in Montana/Idaho area.
I am just in awe of the scouts who work so hard to find these beautiful locations. I live in this area and it is hard to find level ground. In any event I quickly learned that the trails on the East Side of bear creek were less muddy and also generally more level. Two days after the big rain storm things were drying out, although still bad in some areas, I took a long walk from ghetto ending up on the red trail. I had a nice visit at Tea Time, Turtle Soup and Share Kitchen. I ran into another mark that Makes drums and road with him to bus village. Mark is from Wisconsin and I first met him along the trail in Arizona. He was extremely happy about some the rare skins he had already acquired. After looking for Alice's Restaurant, my only friends in bus village, and not finding them I walked up to A-Camp and the road dogs at the parking lot helped get me a ride to owl's nest parking area. Hung around there and helped with the shuttles and informal information. Again it was a happening place that most people just past through. It was really getting crowded and new people were streaming in. The Leo's had taken the main hippie bus off the road for some infraction. These were moving slow and it was getting hot. I finally got a ride to the silver gate and was heading back to the ghetto via Lovin Ovens, where I ran into Elvis, the purple people and further down the trail a beautiful zu zu fairie.
Finally about Friday I headed for Bliss via Monterey Mud up from Om valley and Aloha. Everything had changed again as probably 5000 people had arrived the pervious 47 hours. By July 3rd I'm sure 20,000 were there. Yet no trash, litter, butts or for all the dogs no dog crap anywhere. The trails were full of new arrivials and their tents were sprouting up everywhere. These new neighborhoods were filling in fields and hillsides to the point that all my landmarks were blurred & I found myself making wrong turns and generally having a good time.
Bliss is known for have filtered water and also CALM was operating out of that
kitchen. I ran into Dragonfly, Rob, Laurie Starfire, Chrystalhawk, Glen
(missed his beautiful daughter) and many others including Guano and Pixie,
Hawker and his wonderful wife. All of these folks are extremely hard
working, dedicated and generally insightful family who have been know to
express an opinion or two concerning…… well tune into the family newsgroup
Around 4:20 that afternoon I met Liz and her husband Shawn, at their camp
along the green trail and they were getting a music thing going so I stayed
and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon. This turned into a real happening
thanks to Liz being such a good hostess. Later I was invited by some sisters
at Jerusalem to stop by and they were having a shabbat, excellent food and I
left just prior to a service the was taking place in a beautiful spot off the
main "learn/teaching" area. The bliss pit was a large 20' Star of David dug
three feet into the ground. It was very well done. Several members of the
kitchen were sponsored by the Israel government to study the gathering.
Jerusalem keeps kosher kitchen, down the trail is the House of David which is
more liberal.
Still heading back to ghetto I decided to get a hot shower and of course Tom
was cranking out the hot water. At the showers I met another sage of the
family, my first real rainbow sister Carla. As always she was full of good
cheer and we both lavished praise on Tom for his wonderful efforts providing
hot showers for everyone.
The main meadow and the peace pole finally moved for the 4th up to eagle nest
high ground/dry ground and the kiddie parade and peace pole ended up in heart
fire meadow.
Along the way I met so may interesting people many of whose names escape me
now. At a particularly beautiful spot along the blue trail I had stopped to
rest and found myself talking to Bubba. She was in from California and
camping at MNU. Of course as I introduced myself we were both amazed at each
others names. A couple of things I have not mentioned: the Krishna's camps
were real elaborate and they are know for the quality of the food they
provide, my friend Gentleheart must be at the big gathering now and I missed
visiting Faerie Camp and some of my friends there. Nick at Nite (24-hour
tobacco) was across form the Joseph Greenfeather memorial and they were crazy
as ever. I had meet Joseph in Arizona and was truly in awe of him. He will
be missed. I can see Gentleheart guiding him to all the short
cuts………….remind me to tell you about the wedding at the "47 Hour Library",
the family I met on the way to the gathering and old whitebeard. So many
more stories…"Someday we will all gather together again forever". Carebear
and I live on the Md./Pa. border near interstate 70 and interstate 81, we are
in the guide. Bubbalove.