Cornerstone Festival 2003

31 June 2003

Tuesday was a nice lazy day before the real festivities began. Very warm. There was a lovely breeze in the morning but by midday it was gone. I pretty much sat around camp doing nothing. Once the afternoon set in, I rode up to the festival area to check things out. Got something to eat. Saw a guy wearing a Tilley hat and had to say, "Hi". Later I even noticed a girl with Chaco sandals on. She was in the midst of a hackey sack game so I didnt disturb her. Before the end of the festival, I saw several other pairs of Chacos. I was somewhat surprised by how many people I recognised from last year. It certainly reinforced the family reunion atmosphere (even though I didnt know them or talk to them). Hopefully as the years go by, I will actually get to know some of these people.

Speaking of Chacos, my sandals are great. I love them. Last year the water shoes I wore provided no protection from the rock roads and it was painful to walk. But my sandals have a nice thick sole and are a real pleasure. Just over a month ago, I crashed my bike and injured my left foot. The strap of that sandal lies right between two of the old wounds which is good but occasionally it rubs the one on the toe enough to irritate it. I did some hiking and running over the past weekend while wearing these and developed a small blister on my right foot from one of the straps. So I have a bit of pain on my feet sometimes. (With both left and right, you could call it stereo pain...) Fortunately I managed to tweak the straps enough to keep the rub to a minimum.

Tuesday is Tooth and Nail Day. A showcase for the various bands that are on the T&N record label. I dropped by the tent a few times but none of the bands playing were especially interesting to me.

After wandering around for a while, I went back to camp. There has been a red-headed woodpecker flying around. Beautiful bird. I suspect its nest is somewhere nearby. Actually there is a pair of them. Saw some hummingbirds too. Lots of fireflies at night. I have noticed that they seem to be much more common in IL than in WI (or at least the places that I have been). It is very pleasant at night. Close to perfect weather. Cool without being cold. Warm without being hot. I was right on the edge of needing my sleeping bag so I slept halfway in and out of it. It was so nice to have because last year it was almost uncomfortably chilly without one. I don't know - it may have been fine sleeping on the ground but in a hammock you have air flow over every side and I think one tends to feel cooler as a result. I can adjust the tarp to a certain extant to control drafts but there is always going to be a certain bit of airflow inherent with my setup. (That is part of the point!) Last night I was startled by this weird sound just outside the tarp (which nearly touches the ground). I was just dozing off and it kind of freaked me out. Then something attacked my tarp. It took me several moments to recognise that it was a young cat meowling and batting at my tarp. We meowed at each other for a few moments and it wandered off. It came back briefly this morning.

Tonight I went down to the Gallery Stage and watched the last 4 bands play. Jeff Elbel and Ping were at 7:45 and were awesome as usual. I have been a long time fan of Elbel and was happy to rediscover him last year. Then came The Regal Line with Jason Moody. Three piece band. Electric guitar, acoustic guitar and stand-up bass. The word ‘rockabilly' comes to mind. They played several Johnny Cash tunes. I was surprised how many punks were in the audience. It was interesting. I think I rather enjoyed it. They were followed by The Wayside which is another band I have been a fan of for some time. Then Ticklepenny Corner closed the night out. I joined Ted at that point. He was at the back of the tent by the concession booth. He had found a longtime Cstone buddy and they were hanging out back there. I really enjoyed Ticklepenny. The violinist had played on a song with The Wayside but I hadnt realised that. There is a lot of musician and instrument sharing at Cornerstone. Another hint at the family feel. After the concert, we talked for a bit longer and headed back to camp.