Day 1...Blues in Birmingham

 Saturday 11/25/17

      With a four day weekend ahead of me, I hit the road.  Next stop, Birmingham, Alabama.  It had been a while since I had caught a show at Gip’s Place and the thought an evening in one of the last of the old school juke joints seemed just about right. 
      A few years ago, my friend Keely suggested I try showing a map of my route.  Since I'm not battling data limits in emails anymore, I'm giving it a revisit.  Let me know what you think.

      I checked to see who was playing. Tonight, Todd Simpson was sitting in with the house band, Uniontown Prophets. Here’s Todd with Elnora Spencer when he played Gip’s last May.  And here is is playing on a local morning show.

      I thought about coming out Friday night and spending the day in Oak Mountain State Park.  It’s a few miles south of the city and a really nice park.  I've done afternoon hikes here twice and will someday head back and explore some of the more remote trails.

     Instead, I visited the Ruffalo Nature Preserve on the east side of Birmingham.  My Alabama hiking guide mentioned a 3.7 round trip to a pair of overlooks.  The preserve was easy to find and obviously well maintained.  I could have spent the better part of a day here as well.  I would have liked to explore the mine ruins, but didn’t have the time.

     The trail to the overlooks was pretty easy, with just enough rocks and roots that I had to watch my step. 

 Trail junctions were clearly marked and I easily found the overlook. 

 What a view…

     From here it was another mile and a half round trip through the woods to the second overlook and a much better view. 

     Not wanting to get stuck on the trail after dark, I started back, watching the sunset begin through the trees.

     On the drive back to the interstate, I passed East Lake Park.  Considering the light show through the trees, I pulled over and grabbed the camera. 

     With the sun waning, it was back on I-20 westward to Bessemer and the Country Inn.  I had stayed here before,  For an inexpensive motel, I had absolutely no complaints.  

      It’s always an adventure actually locating Gip’s Place.  Far too many streets dead end or have a few blocks missing in the middle.  You have to zigzag your way through the neighborhoods and hope you don’t miss a sign or two.  But, it's well worth the effort to find this place.  

   The band was still getting set up when I arrived.  Gip was in his usual chair stage left warming up the crowd.  At ninety-seven, he’s still got it.   

    Around 8:30P the evening begins as it always does, with a prayer and Amazing Grace.  The prayer was centered around the safe travels of those who had come out that night.  
Gip walks off stage and the band begins...

    I've seen musicians here who were strictly blues and bands like this that played more uptempo blues and blues oriented rock. There were Muddy Waters songs, plenty of Jimi Hendrix and a few curious bluesed out versions of things I wouldn't have though possible.  Sure, "Purple Rain" works as a blues song.  But, for those of you who remember the band Cameo, try and imagine "Word Up" slowed down over a blues guitar riff.  Somehow it worked.

   When the band takes a break, they bring Gip's chair out and he plays.  The show begins around 8:30P and ends...whenever.  From what I gather that means around 1A.  Being an early riser on Eastern Time, I made it until around 11P and I knew it was time to call it a night.  And if you think driving in is an adventure, working your way back out to Hwy 11 somehow seems more confusing.  But in the end well worth it.