Well, we crossed the finish line Saturday Aug 19 at noon.

It was magical and lovely ride up the coast to Legett. We ambled our way through old towns and prehistoric forest canyons, tracing the Pacific's edge viewing rock formations that thrust dramatically up from the pounding surf. Cloudy wisps of fog hung to the edge of the cliffs, trying to push their way through, evaporating into threads that filtered the light of the midday sun, a wonderful metaphor for the moment. The road turned inward and snaked its way up over a mountain ridge, the temerature changed from cool and salty fresh to the warm velvet of late summer. Trees everywhere, air so clean and full of oxygen it rejuvenated us from the arduous ordeal (an odyssey of sorts), and we were full of the bittersweet feelings that accompany every major event in a lifetime. We revelled in the successful completion of the undertaking, carrying with it a pionerring snobbishness, and we were all excited, discussing upcoming projects. Yet, we were all sad that the journey was nearing its end. We had created a family, a band of gypsies, a sound that was uniquely ours and a common experience that had forged lifetime bonds. I realized that it was a typical--yet profound--summer's ending. 

A pit-stop on the way home: We stopped at Mr. Rick's Martini Club, a utopian respite amidst the hustle of the Bay Area. It is a supper club setting at the Lake Merritt Hotel, everyone dresses vintage formal (we managed to pull out the only clean clothes we had left), music is swing, and there is plenty of food and revelry in a refined and sublime setting. The band was the Martini Brothers (featuring Kim Nalley) and there was a Busby Berkley style dance troupe called the Deco Belles. And get this: the Belles, clad in Hawaiian grass skirts, passed the hat for JMW. Wow, we could've used them out on the open road! Cow Bop played a few sets and we were very well receieved. Thanks Mr. Rick!
  
What a trip! Once again, we proved it could be done. That you can--though the power of music and with a true purpose in mind--travel the road of life and the universe will provide. The overwhelming sentiment I had was appreciation, for everyone who unselfishly helped out with food, housing, a place to play, were willing to share a smile with us and lend encouragment. This includes family and friends (both old and new). I have come to believe that appreciation is the key to life, that through it we can better coexist with others, and it ensures that we fully comprehend and honor the bountiful gifts that we receive daily. It also demands that we act accordingly, with generosity, integrity and concern for others. It encourages us to be gracious, as the gifts that have been bestowed upon us are the single reason we have attained what we have and enable us to be where we are.

In many ways, that really is core of the mission of JazzMasters Workshop. I encourage all of you to paticipate in any way you can, be it financial support, participating in a workshop, or taking the time to share your expertise with a young person. It is the only hope for our culture, civiization and the human values that make the world a better place.  We must all embrace the effort as the goal.

Appreciation for my fellow travelers:
Pinto Pammy: How did you manage to endure all the 'guy' road stuff? To sing hours and hours without a microphone, in both the wind and cold and the muggy heat, always smiling and giving it your all. You da woman!
Mike McKinley: Drumming up the beat, whether on a box or a set, helping keep the show on track, keeping the mission of JazzMasters Workshop firmly in focus. Your dedication to the organization is the reason we have achieved what we have, my enduring appreciaton and admiration.
Gabe Noel: I heard and saw so much talent in you during our lesson time at USC, but I never imagined the depth of your talent and personality. You are a joy to be around, to play with, and you give me hope for the future of the music that I have dedicated my life's work to and that I love so much.
Noah Freedman: Through the past two years at JazzMasters with you I have heard such growth, yet these past two weeks you have really helped prove to me that the mentoring process works, and for that I'll always be grateful. Your talent and humanity is going to take you far, enjoy the ride!
To the whole band: I appreciate your willingness to go along, to fight the fight, and I'm glad that you got experience the many unique and wonderful things in life (things that we often pass by in our hurry to get things done). I know I was irritable at times, please forgive me, sometimes the awesome responsibility and the pressure and fatigue got the best of me. I know we'll all remember this.
Monique Bourin: Thanks! Your support and positive spirit buoyed us during the tough southern leg. We all wished that you had been there as it all went north (literally and figuratively). We thought of you often and know we couldn't have made it without you.
To all of you who helped out: We'll see you in our dreams!  
To the readers of this: Thanks for coming along for the ride. Keep Swingin

IN THEIR OWN WORDS:
PINTO PAMMY: Yet again I am astounded by the love and generosity of my fellow human beings. I am one of those people that needs to be reminded of this on a regular basis, and this trip really brought the message home.  From dear friends and family to complete strangers, we were welcomed into people's homes, fed, entertained, and generally uplifted every day.  I thank all of you for that - you know who you are!!
NOAH FREEDMAN: Along with having an amazing series of adventures on the road, I learned a lot from playing almost constantly. We all came a lot closer as well, an unavoidable consequence of sitting in the same truck for hundreds of miles. Overall, I am so glad that I was able to help raise money for JazzMasters Workshop and have such a life-changing experience at the same time. 
MIKE McKINLEY: Once again, we met the challenge. Our success was really because we had a lot of fun, played a lot of music and met so many good people who helped us out with thier support and generosity. As soon as my laundry is done, I'm ready to go again.


Alas, the only casualty of the trip was the little cable that connects the camera to the computer. Not bad, no technical failures, vehicle failures, sicknesses or personality malfunctions that created meltdowns along the way. We came through unscathed and richer for the experience. 
Here are some images (as promised):
Harold and Fran send us off from Half Moon Bay:


Headed north (facing south, Vista Point the Golden Gate Bridge
Parked in Fairfax (sign reads: FREE, EVERYTHING WORKS, really applied to paper bag, it had the aquarium stuff)
Richard Yaski's Shibui Sculpture Garden (thanks Jack and Richard for putting us up and putting up with us)










of course we had to mark our territory (sorry Richard):


jamming around Mendocino: