My bluegrass band, Hard 2 Git, and a bunch of family and friends usually make the trek to Mountain View Arkansas on Memorial and Labor Day weekends. We typically leave the Paris area sometime Friday morning (some earlier than us others!) and make a couple of stops on the 325 mile journey. Most everyone has arrived there by around 4pm Friday evening. That’s when the fun starts! (Of course, there is checking in at Pine Wood Cabins and unloading your automobile at your weekend home.)
After unloading and saying hello to everyone, it doesn’t take long before someone breaks out an instrument. On that signal, others follow suit. An hour or so later, it’s time to eat! How about everyone meeting at Bar None Barbeque?! Gotta jump in the car for a short drive to the east edge of town. After a lot of good food and laughs, it’s back to the cabins.
Back at the cabins, some sit down in the porch swings and chairs. There’s always some reminiscing and humor about the last time we were here. Some walk to downtown to shop a little and see what’s going on. There’s always groups of musicians playing in different spots around town… music store porch, novelty shop porch, one of several gazebos, courthouse lawn. Maybe a treat from the Soda Shop would be good right now?! “We’re going to Wal-Mart to get a few things. Anybody else need to go?” “Naw, I’m going to the music store and buy a new set of strings.”
Back to the cabins for some late evening pickin’ and grinnin’! The sun’s going down and the temperature is just right! Pull up a chair and pull out an instrument. Here comes the folks from the other cabins with their lawn chairs. There’s some strangers walking by. They decide to stop and listen for a while. Song after song after song. A few instrumentals and a lot of laughs. It's been a whole year since we've seen the Nichols family! Boy, it’s fun to pick along with them as they sing and play!
Finally, we (or some folks) just can’t keep their eyes open any longer. With the trip and all that evening fun, it’s been a tiring day. “Good night everybody. See you in the morning.” “Goodnight.”
Saturday: Same fun and no LONG drive from Paris. Get out of bed and put on some coffee. Sounds of guitar and mandolin next door. “Coffee and Music Lessons by James” on his front porch. 9am, breakfast and laughs at the Country Tyme Restaurant. Back to the cabins. “Let’s go see what’s happening up town.” Listen to music, shop, visit, meet new friends. Back to the cabins. “A nap would be nice right now. It’s getting’ a little warm outside!” Some of the kids… and a few grown-ups go to the pool. A few hours later, nappers slowly drag out to the porches and strike up more conversation... some awfully humorous! “I’m getting hungry. Ain’t it about supper time?” “Where are we going?” “How about Jo-Jo’s Catfish down on the river?” “See ya there!” Luckily, Jo-Jo's had a room big enough for 30-something cut-ups from Paris and Heber Springs!
Back to the cabins. “There’s a gazebo empty up town!” “Somebody hold it and we’ll be right there!” Hard 2 Git opens for the Nichols Family. After a couple of hours of pickin’, it’s time for a soda or some ice-cream. Sounds of music everywhere. Bluegrass, Country, Gospel… Banjo’s, guitars, fiddles, dulcimers, basses, dobro’s, mandolin’s, singing… Let’s head back to the cabins and see what’s going on down there.
Before you know it…it’s time for “Late Evening Pickin’“ again. Strangers walk up and sit down to listen. Other strangers walk up and ask “can I sit in?” “Sure, pull up a chair!” …tick-tock…tick-tock…tick-tock… “Man, I didn’t know it was this late! Guess I’ll call it a day.” Others slowly drift away.
Sunday: Some visit the local church at the top of the hill. Breakfast at Country Tyme again? Repeat a lot Saturday’s activities. Maybe see some of the local attractions…Ozark Folk Center, caverns, swinging bridge, outdoor amphitheatre…
Monday: Coffee on the porch, pack the cars and trucks, breakfast at Country Tyme, checkout of Cabins, goodbye’s, “Y’all take care!” “See ya next time!”
If this all sounds like a lot of fun to you, why don’t you join us sometime?! From what I wrote above, it may sound like the same thing each time, but I guarantee you that it (…pardon my Texan…) AIN’T!
BanjoBoyd
