CCR was classic rock when I was in high school. John Fogerty is 80. It rained the entire show. None of that mattered last night as Fogerty radiated peace, love and joy throughout the entire set. With his two sons from his current marriage leading the opening act and then flanking him on stage all night, a new record coming out later this month, and control of his music back where it belongs, John Fogerty seemed like a guy that has never been happier as he ripped through his greatest hits last night.

And ripped is the operative word, as this was a loud rock and roll show. I guess I knew intellectually that Fogerty was a solid guitar player, but I did not have John Fogerty finger tapping his was through a solo on my bingo card. Several tunes featured extended solos with John trading licks with his son. We even got a drum solo and a killer saxophone solo during the set. He talked several times about how happy he was that his wife, after years and years of negotiation, finally got the publishing right back to his music. Run Through the Jungle will not be in an Army recruiting commercial anytime soon, and it was very obvious just how much it means to him that he has that control of his legacy.

The opening act Harty Har has been his two son's project for about a dozen years. They are a psychedelic / garage rock band, which if nothing else proves the boys were paying attention while they were growing up. Also, when you are John Fogerty's kids you can start a psychedelic garage rock band in the 21st century and not worry about paying rent. Don't get me wrong, the band rocked. Both of the kids are very talented musicians, but that is not the band you start if paying the rent is a primary concern.

Also, I'm 57, and I may have been below the average age of an attendee last night. But full props to RVA. A bunch of boomers and older GenX types stood for the entire show in the rain. We showed up. Or maybe we just didn't want wet asses from sitting on wet chairs.

The pictures suck. I've never been able to get decent photos at concerts. Given this has been an issue through 4 or 5 phones at this point, the equipment may not be the problem.

Peace, love, and rock and roll. Not a bad way to spend a Friday night. Or a life.

Trip: 52
Nights: 178-179

The weekend got off to an interesting start when I thought I knew better than Google Maps how to get to Seneca State Forest in WV. We arrived 90 minutes later than planned, and got to cross a mountain on a sketchy barely paved and then not paved road as part of the trip. We followed the Google directions home. I do learn from my mistakes.

Once we arrived we found a really great dry campground. There are only 10 sites, of which 3 or 4 had tents, and us in the Ascape. The Ascape is about the largest camper you can get into the place. There were several clean pit toilets throughout the campground, and showers at the ranger station about 1 mile away. We were there because it is about 30 minutes from Showshoe Resort, where Robert John and the Wreck where headlining the Saturday night of the annual Blues and Brews festival. We will get to that in a minute.

So on Friday night, we did the campfire and chill followed by board/card games thing, then went to bed. I had intended to get up and do a hike to a fire tower on Saturday. I ended up not doing the hike, which was a good thing. Michelle and I drove up to the fire tower to climb it for the view, only to discover that you can rent the fire tower as a campsite, and it was occupied. If I had walked uphill the 3 odd miles to get there and then been immediately kicked out after the hike there, I would have been pissed. We did some birding in the AM, then after lunch at the camper headed to the Green Bank Observatory and the largest movable radio antenna in the world. They make a big deal out of not allowing cell phones or even digital photography, basically anything with a circuit board is not allowed because it can cause interference. There was a sign stating that they can pick up your cell phone in airplane mode. On Saturn. The entire county is supposedly a quiet zone for wireless signals, although that appears to be more myth than reality. I followed the rules so the photos below are from the public domain.

After doing science, we headed up to the ski resort for the concert. Prior to the show we had dinner at The Village Pub, where I had a fabulous grilled ham and cheese sandwich made with Pimento Cheese. I will most certainly be recreating that one at home. Tickets for the festival were $15 for non-drinkers, or $55 for drinkers. I knew I'd be driving back to the campground after the concert, so I went with non-drinker tickets. When we got in I saw that Athletic Ale (the NA beer) was one of the sponsors. So I asked them if I could get Athletic Ales without having a drinker ticket. The official answer is no, but what they told me was that I was welcome to all the free samples I wanted. So I ended up drinking 2 Athletic Ales during the show. So a big shout out to the staff there that let me drink their NA beers for free. I don't think their booth was particularly busy, as the brewery booths were pouring 8-10 oz samples, and all the drinker tickets came with 10 samples. Thankfully, it appeared as though 99% of the people there were staying at the resort, so not driving.

Speaking of the resort, I loved Snowshoe. The scenery with the "village" sitting on a mountain top with stunning views in all directions was sublime. It was 90F and humid at the campground, but only 80F and not so humid at the mountain top. There was some affordable rental property for sale, and I found myself wondering if I could make enough during ski season (as we don't ski) to cover costs and give me a "free" mountaintop condo to spend a chuck of the summer at every year. I have not done the research but I suspect the answer is yes, or close enough. Note, I just started a company. I'm not buying a ski condo. Not this year anyway ;)

The show was fabulous. The first band was Jake Walden, a young bluesman from Florida. His set kicked ass with a mix of originals and covers, including particularly inspired takes on Dark Side of the Moon and Whipping Post. Robert Jon and the Wreck did not disappoint, as they played a couple of tunes off the new record coming out in August, and a bunch of their "hits," or songs that should be hits if we had any taste in this country. I was very into the moment with the music and all I have for media is one photo of each band. So the links below are all from Youtube.

The Blues is Back - Jake Waldon
The 12 minute Pink Floyd jam from Jake Waldon
Oh Miss Carolina - Robert Jon and the Wreck
Gold - Robert John and the Wreck

After the show we headed back the camper and after a 3 mile walk in the sun to get close to the that largest antenna in the pictures above, plus standing at the concert for 4 hours, I was beat. We barely got through 1 game of Gin Rummy before I was falling asleep.

So that is 3 times in the last three years that I've visited West Virginia. And it's 3 times that I've loved everything about my time there. Yes, the state is struggling in many ways, with an economy still too dependent on fossil fuels, some of the worst Oxy issues in the county, and bottom of the list rankings in healthcare, education, jobs etc. And you can throw in a population that overwhelmingly thought the answer to all the above was Donald Trump.

I should kind of hate the state. But instead, I love it there.

I’ve had a couple of the 2024 Weller by Cohiba cigars resting in my humidor since November. I wasn’t about to light up such a pricey cigar in the dead of winter, so they waited patiently. After a recent pour of Weller Full Proof, I was reminded of the cigars and finally pulled one out to enjoy.

This 2024 release marks the third annual collaboration between General Cigar and Weller/Buffalo Trace. For this edition, the binder leaves were aged in Weller Full Proof bourbon barrels — shipped from the Buffalo Trace Distillery to General Cigar’s factory in Santiago, Dominican Republic. The cigars come in sleek aluminum tubes (which I removed before storing) and are presented in a classic 6 x 50 Toro format. 

The draw was on the snug side, though it still produced ample smoke. Unfortunately, the first inch and a half developed a significant run, leaving much of the wrapper unburned. A touch-up fixed the issue, but not without some regret for the wasted leaf. Thankfully, the remainder of the cigar burned evenly and without incident. 

The Weller by Cohiba 2024 settles nicely into a full-bodied profile. Dominant notes include oak, leather, and black pepper, supported by underlying sweetness — fruit, cream, and occasional hints of sweet bourbon. Compared to the 2023 version, this year’s release has a bit more body and complexity. Overall, it was a very enjoyable smoking experience.

Naturally, Weller Full Proof was the pairing of choice. The bourbon’s rich profile — caramel, brown sugar, cinnamon, and candied fruit — drew out the sweeter tones in the cigar, creating a balanced and decadent pairing.

Yes, this is a pricey cigar and a hard-to-find bourbon, but the combination made for a rewarding treat on a (relatively) cool evening. I’ve still got one more from the 2024 release, along with a few from 2023, in the humidor. While I may not always pair them with a pour of Weller, both versions are exceptional cigars for bourbon lovers.

Cheers!