I haven’t been there in three years, and the signs had changed, so it took a “test exit” or two before finally finding myself on a road that I knew that I recognized. Like always, I never saw the small green “Hostel in the Forest” sign on the left of the road, marking the main road. In fact the only reason I know it’s there is because my band van broke down beside it once upon a time.
So I found myself again on Mister Road at twilight. At the end a small array of parked cars and trucks were lined between the road and the forest, as if they had been recently abandoned by a Book Club just finishing “Walden.”
The back gate to the Hostel had been painted in flower graffitti, reminescent of the art that covers the entry arch into the lawless, broken streets of Christiana in Denmark. Having been so long away, when I took the small path around the gate and stepped into the forest, I felt almost like the kids in bridge to terabithia who swung across the creek.
Amazingly, and immediately, a huge doe sprung from the patch somewhere to the right of the path, and bolted across not 12 feet in front of me. As I watched it dash off into the distance, I noticed that more gardens had been planted among the trees, and decorated benches had been set along the garden trails.
I couldn’t hear any human voices in the forest as I walked along the trails, but the sounds of birds in the underbrush and squirrels in the trees mixed with the familiar sound of ducks sqwawking in the pond and chickens fussing up ahead at the main dome. Flowers buttered the leaves of the plants and trees along the path, and as the wet leaves brushed against me from the sides of the path, the mingled scents of nature began to penetrate my mind. I passed a few treehouses on the way up, and soon was at the main dome complex where you check in, sprawling like a Ewok home from the movie Star Wars on the forest floor before me. I found that it was quiet because it was dinner time, and everyone was chowing down. Instead of checking in I was given a plate and a smile and sat down to have dinner with the people of the forest.
Dinner was garden salad and vinegerette vegetables grown organically at the Hostel itself, rye grain macoroni and cheese, whole wheat brownies and cold cous coux (sp?) which I thoroughly enjoyed.
Not surprisingly, I only knew one person there; a guitarist from England in Savannah named Murray who plays some awesome jazz. After dinner we sat around the fire playing old songs until the first drops of cold rain and thunder forced us to flee for our Martin’s and Ibanez’s lives…
Have you been reading The Other Side of Yore and find yourself able to imagine the voices of the frogs and toads singing the songs you find between the pages? Have you ever wondered what Frawg’s voice might sound like, as he’s poling down the river on his tortoise shell boat? Do you imagine that Dr. Croaks has a deep, sonorous singing voice or that Buzz sings in a high falsetto? Have you ever wondered whether or not Frawg’s theotar sounds more like a guitar or a mandolin?
Well we’ve got great news!
Next week, Kenny Savage and my brother Eric Layden will be entering a state of the art studio in Savannah to record the long awaited album! All of the songs in the book will be recorded and mastered, and soon you will be able to listen to the music while you read the book!
Eric and I recently played together for the first time since our tour of Europe and the Atlanta Jazz Festival with Saskia Laroo, and it’s like we never skipped a beat! I am truly excited about this new album, and quite proud of the songs that are coming out of this reunion. And I am equally happy that Kenny is playing rhythm guitar and keyboards: we haven’t played with him since our early 20s when we were just starting out in music.
So in the next few months, check back here for sneak peeks! We’ll be releasing several of the songs on the album for FREE!
Well I played my first real music gig in about 4 years last weekend with long time partner Kenny Savage and my brother Eric Layden. The show was on a dock bar called It’s 5 O’clock Cafe at the Richmond Hill Marina, which is one of the coolest laid back bars I’ve ever been to. It’s got a great atmosphere with the Ogeechee River always rolling by and unique decor and artwork, and the show was a real hit with the locals. We played mostly rock and old school cover songs, but slipped a few originals in there, too. Since the owner and crowd enjoyed the show, we’re going to be playing again tonight, Friday the 30th, from 9:30 until about 1:00, so if you’re in the neighborhood please drop on by!
Once in Richmond Hill, you take turn off Hwy 17 onto Hwy 144 (into Richmond Hill and away from Ft. Stewart). Hwy 144 goes about 7 miles before you’ll see 144 Spur/Ft. McAllister Rd. on your left. Take 144 and once you come to the breezeway the Marina/Bar will be on your left. If you get to the actual Fort, you’ve gone just a little too far. Hope to see you there!
Just in case you missed it, our first species-naming auction ends tomorrow. Other auctions will happen over the course of the summer and fall. Here is a link to the auction site: http://www.charitybuzz.com/area.do?id=773. If the idea of supporting Amphibian Ark and having the honor of naming a newly discovered species is something you’re interested in, please go to the auction site, learn about the new frog, and make a bid!
Jean-Michel Cousteau has joined Amphibian Ark as a patron and taped a special video message for all of us. You can see it on TreeHugger.com: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/05/frog-help.php
Everyone is encouraged to do something to support amphibian conservation under our summer-long 5 for Frogs campaign. Learn about it here: http://www.amphibianark.org/50ways.htm
Finally, as always, please pass this along to anyone you think would like to learn about the amphibian crisis, sign the Amphibian Ark petition, or make a donation.
Here is the petition page on our Web site: http://www.amphibianark.org/online-petition.php
And here is where you can donate: http://www.amphibianark.org/donations.htm
Well it’s been a while folks, and I apologize for neglecting my blog. I’ve recently moved and had a few big changes in my personal life, so it’s been hard to keep the blog rolling. My biggest announcement today is that my old band, The Looters, has gotten back together and we played our first show last weekend at It’s 5 O’Clock Cafe in Richmond Hill, Georgia. It happens to be one the coolest bars I’ve ever been to- a well kept secret that’s nonetheless always backed with a great bunch of people. The bar is on a dock on the Ogeechee river and features excellent artwork by Sandy of 606 Cafe fame, who owns the bar with her husband Peter. We’ll be playing there this weekend, too, if anyone is in the area who’d like to come on out. You can find it by following 144 through Richmond Hill and turning left on 144 Spur/Fort McAllister Rd. At the causeway he marina and bar will be on your left- if you reach the actually Fort, you’ve gone about a mile too far. Show starts at around 9:30 Friday night and lasts until….
Playing with me will be Kenny Savage on rhythm guitar and my brother Eric Layden on acoustic bass. These are also the main musicians for the upcoming “Yore” children’s music album, so you parents will get a sneak peek at the quality of musicianship you’ll be getting with those albums this November!
Are you looking for an online short story for your kid that you can download tonight?
An Adventure in Yore for Bedtime Reading is available on Amazon Shorts for instant download, is instantly readable as an e-book with free adobe software, or can be sent directly to your email as text to be printed out in an instant! You can buy it now for just 49 cents!
An Adventure in Yore for Bedtime Reading
* Uses visualization and word patterns to fascinate children, settle them down, and get them dreaming in no time!
* Is a 20 page stand-alone prequel to “The Other Side of Yore”
* Features the cover art of artist Kenny Savage
* Is available exclusively on Amazon Shorts
* Inspires a restful nights sleep through sleep therapy
* Suitable for children 5 and up
* Instantly downloadable for only 49 cents!
And if they enjoy “An Adventure in Yore for Bedtime,” they’ll love “The Other Side of Yore!”
Happy St. Patrick’s day folks!
Frawg didn’t even have to change close to keep from getting pinched!
In fact, he didn’t have to wear clothes at all!
Savannah of course was packed for the festivities, holding the second biggest and absolute best celebration and parade in America for the holiday, but that was on Friday, because no one likes to party on a Monday!
The festivities came to a halt Saturday night when the electrical storm knocked out all the lights in a 100 mile radius of Savannah, and crazy zig-zag lightning danced across the sky.
But today was an absolutely beautiful day with lots of good news and the Irishman in me smiles at good fortune!
I just ran over to Mr. Kenny Savage’s house and kidnapped a bunch of art to show you guys!
The guy is a notoriously modest recluse, so this was the only way.
Just thought you guys deserved to see a little of what he’s up to, besides the painting of the color edition of The Other Side of Yore.
