Bruce's Travels

Saturday March 24 - Wednesday March 28 Saturday-Sunday As is my custom, I lay low on the weekend, reading, answering emails, and catching up on the blog. I start planning a "final week" here, filled with activities, some new, some old favorites. I continue my emailing and researching the "Long Island Sound" of rock music via my musician buddy, Grant Werner, and music historian Richard Arfin. Thanks to Youtube, there is a generous amount of clips showing the various bands: The Rascals; Vanilla Fudge; The Hassles (with a very young Billy Joel playing the Hammond B3 organ); The Vagrants (with Leslie West on keys); The Rich Kids (with Richard Supa); The Illusion; and others. This sound became what was known as "The Long Island Sound" when these bands finally "hit" and promoters and agents started putting them on tour, and recording them and so forth. The early videos are grainy and kind of "raw," but you can see the early influence of...

Friday March 23 I rise and pedal my bike to what will be my last Farmers market at Lake Park. I have a bran muffin, coffee, and a pint container of strawberries. All very delicious. I hook up on last time with my musician buddy, Grant, for whom this is his final performance, and he and wife (who sells soap at the market) will be heading back to the Hamptons on Long Island. I don't buy any produce at the market today, because I don't think I will finish it in time for my departure. I bike back to the condo, then set out for the Fleamasters Flea Market. Mostly to give Randy, the bike dealer, a "heads up" that I'll be bringing my bicycle back next Friday, so that he will be sure to have $50 with him to pay me back half the purchase price of the bike. He remembers the bike, the Murray "Westport," and says it will be no problem, in fact he will be happy to have the bike back, as he has a particular fondness for vintage Murray bikes. I also check with Chri...