Portland, Oregon 15 Oct. 2012
3 cities, 2 flights, 1 show.
I began the morning in Seattle with a short walk to the Seattle Coffee Works Cafe for an eye opening large latte with four shots of their spectacular espresso. A real jump start to any day. Walked downtown Seattle for a a couple of miles after that then back to the hotel for a couple of hours before bag call and check out. A bus ride to the airport and boarded our Embraer Legacy 600 for a short 20 minute, bumpy flight to Portland. Ace flight attendant Dianne managed to serve a a beautiful Greek salad and cold cuts in that short time while deftly keeping her balance through the turbulence and we devoured it with no problem.
We arrived at Rose Garden Arena with just enough time to sound check, have a quick dinner, change clothes then hit the stage. It was superb show in spite of the stage sounding a little thin tonight. They are all different, still very little deters us from making the best of every situation and having a great show. Tonight's highlights: Marbletown, Song for Sonny and Hill Farmer Blues. The rest of the set was no slouch and the audience was thunderous. A glass of wine backstage, change back to our civilian clothes, a quick bus ride back to the airport and the Legacy.
Once again, Dianne had everything under full control, gin and tonics for Guy and I, wine and beer for the rest. Exquisite Indian dinner, garlic naan, chicken tikka masala, sag paneer (spinach and cheese cubes) and vegetable biryani all tasting like a million bucks. A few laughs and before we knew it we'd landed in San Francisco.
What do you know.... another day off tomorrow in this fabulous city before our two night stand at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Too lucky.
So long,
Richard