Howdy friends and neighbors. I'm writing from back in Louisiana to let you all know we made it home safe and sound from our summer touring, which took us from the gulf coast to the west coast all the way to the east coast and back. Yes indeed, if there be doubters as to whether the Ramblers deserve to be called Ramblers, let them be henceforth silenced.

Our 1999 Ford Econoline 350 (V8) seemed up to the challenge so we decided to drive out west for our first month of touring, which, in turn, meant we had to drive the whole summer.

The first day of driving towards Berkeley, CA ended unexpectedly in Schulenburg, TX, where the radiator cracked open. Say what you will about Texas, but they are a helpful and hospitable people. The kind folks at Chuck Brown Ford set us up with a loaner while they ordered our part forthwith and had us going again by noon the next day.

Following some of our first gigging in the San Francisco area, we made our way (via Seattle) to the Festival of American Fiddle Tunes, in Port Townsend, WA where we had fun hanging out with some of our Louisiana brethren and sestren like Dirk Powell and Christine Balfa-Powell and Jesse Leger and Joel Savoy. We also got to watch the fabulous 4th of July fireworks display over Puget Sound.

Before heading into Canada for a few gigs including the Vancouver Island Music Festival, we decided to get the van checked out again and put some new shoes on it. The good folks at Les Schwab Tires gave us new ball joints, tie road ends and an alignment along with new rubber and we were ready to make the ridiculous drive back east for Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. On that trip we were in the van for 55 hours straight, stopping only for petrol, pissing and pop-tarts.

Somehow we made it and did another month + of touring on the east coast, enjoying some great hang-time in Rhode Island (where I was lucky enough to become engaged to my sweetheart Emma!). All told, we covered approximately 11,679 miles this summer!!!!!!!

Now we're back home and resting up for a couple weeks before one last month-long jaunt up to Michigan for the Wheatland Festival, where we'll be joined by honorary Rambler Blake Miller for some more stateside fun before we head to Denmark and Ireland for a few weeks.

Keep in touch Rambler fans, and dog-bless.