My Excellent Adventure to Kansas & Alabama

In September, 2014, I was preparing to teach at the Melodies & Musings Dulcimer Festival in Guntersville, Alabama, when I realized that the famous Winfield festival was occurring during the weekend just before I was expected to be in Alabama.  A quick look at both the calendar and the map suggested that this was the year to make the trek to Winfield.  Add to that the fact that I had taken delivery on a new Pleasure Way RV just a week earlier, and it was a no-brainer.  Some might even call it a Trifecta!

The Winfield Festival was amazing!!  So much music, and so many people!!  Absolutely overwhelming!!  Somehow I kept control of my nerves as I played my stuff for the judges in the National Dulcimer Championship, and made it to the final round, where I ultimately finished in the Top Five.  (They affectionately call this "tied for 4th place.")  As a "Winfield virgin," I was very happy with that result.  

Below is a photo gallery of the highlights of that incredible two-week trip.  If you mouse over each photo, a descriptive caption will appear.  Enjoy! 

I was headed to Alabama to teach at a festival, so it made perfect sense to swing through Kansas on the way. Drove through 16 states in 14 days!

Toto, I think we ARE in Kansas. US-166 heading west... and west... and west....

After 25 hours on the road, I arrived at the famous Winfield Stage 4, with a full day to spare before the contest.

My Toby sent me this Good Luck photo of Artie right before I went on stage. Awwww....

Audience members fill up this huge barn, but the judges are located elsewhere....

Talk about a hot seat... I was Number 8 in the first round -- I had a little time to relax and enjoy the other contestants while waiting my turn.

Woo Hoo!! Finished in the Top Five. What a great honor for this Winfield Virgin!!

This plaque is affectionately known as the Largest Belt Buckle in the World. It IS pretty big, and I am so proud to have it!!

16,000 people attend this event every year. All the action takes place in those white buildings, but every other square inch is filled with serious campers who arrive weeks ahead of time!

Stage acts provide continuous music from 9am to 1am, while jamming continues throughout the night all over the campground.

Now THIS is a camper!

Found Steve Eulberg and Bonnie Carol at Carp Camp.

And here is my little Pleasure Way RV (named Miss Daisy) -- tucked away amongst the big rigs on the tarmac -- but it was a nice air-conditioned retreat, away from the heat and the banjos....

The Main Stage -- music starts early in the morning....

...and continues until after midnight! Three other smaller stages also provide continuous entertainment.

On the road again -- Sunday morning, heading south through Oklahoma. Note the big green Winfield sticker in the windshield! That particular souvenir will stay there forever!

Oklahoma prairie -- wide open spaces. Toto, we are not in Kansas anymore, but neither are we on the New Jersey Turnpike!

Arrived at the Guntersville, Alabama Festival on Tuesday afternoon -- a fabulous Mountain Dulcimer Festival! Definitely worth the trip.

Miss Daisy taking a breather by the lake after the trip from Kansas.

Lake Guntersville, in northern Alabama, was created by damming the Tennessee River.

Guntersville -- one of the vendors tables - featuring McSpadden Dulcimers

My merch table before the crowd arrived.

Jean Ann Moon -- she works her magic to make this festival happen every year.

Jean Ann (organizer of the festival) copied all our handouts and had everything waiting for us on these carts when we arrived. Fabulous!

The instructors had dinner that first night at the Lodge -- Carol, Ernie, Lorinda, Cherie, Jim (Neal and Colleen were behind the camera a lot....)

Guntersville - Beginner Class -- (but they are definitely not beginners anymore!)

Guntersville Intermediate Class -- 34 people -- wow! What a great time!

And the Advanced class -- serious dulcimer players -- they gobbled up every piece of music I brought with me!

I was invited to join the open mic as a ringer with the Dixie Primroses. What fun singing Everly Brothers with dulcimers!

Teaching the Manx class in the Senior Center

I guess it shows how much I love what I do....

This Fun Pick and Choose session was a highlight for ALL of us!

Guntersville Concert Stage, with the lake as the backdrop. Spectacular!

Guntersville Concert -- Neal helping do the sound check for Jim and Cherie.

Guntersville Concert -- Jim and Cherie

Guntersville Concert -- Jim and Speedy

Guntersville Concert - Carol singing with Ernie and Lorinda

Carol on stage

Carol performing her Manx tunes in Guntersville

Guntersville Concert -- Lorinda

Guntersville Concert - Elegant Miss Lorinda and her elegant harp!

Guntersville Concert -- Neal and Colleen

Lorinda invited Neal and Colleen to join her.

Lorinda playing dulcimer, Jim playing mandocello

Concert Finale with Cherie, Carol, neal, Jim, Colleen, and Lorinda.

Guntersville Concert Finale -- Carol, Neal, Jim, Colleen, Lorinda

Guntersville Senior Center -- on the shores of Lake Guntersville, just before sunset and concert time

Lake Guntersville -- sunset on Friday

Mexican food after the Guntersville Concert -- Carol, Colleen, Jim, Lorinda, Ernie, Cherie, Neal

On the way home Sunday morning -- sunrise over the Blue Ridge Mountains

Fog in the valleys, sun coming over the mountains

After two weeks on the road, I arrived home to find this bouquet and congratulatory card from My Toby. Awwwww.... xoxo

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