Go east, middle aged man!

[Michael H Geimer]

Folks,
It's taken us a whole year to sort out the details, but finally the truck is booked, the boxes are packed, and now "I'm on my way back to the old home" (note: winding road shown below).

The Lovely Wife, the devoted dogs, and myself are all moving to Mars Hill, North Carolina. I have no doubt about finding the music I enjoy in that part of the world. Madison County is home to some of the oldest musical family lines in America ... it's a bit intimidating, really.

Along with the change of venue, I asked Scott to change my handle over to just plain old me (I've been Benignus here for several years now).

I'll be out of touch for a while, as the house itself is not yet on-line (my first home improvement project).

Look for me at the Mountain Music get togethers in Old Fort, or at Jack-of-the-Wood in Asheville if I can stay up late enough for their Bluegrass jam. I might even brave the smoky fog of The Town Pump in Black Mountain once in while.

- MG

[mandolooter]

Mike...I'll be sounding WAY better once your there! Best of luck my brother to you and the new wife...the dogs will be fine! Picking up your roots is a brave and scary move but if i can do it (repeatedly) you can too!!!
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif jeff
PS good-by to the benigster.....

[olgraypat]

Congrats on the move. I'm sure you will like Asheville, Mars Hill and environs. I live over the mountain in TN where there are lots of pickers as well (Wayne Henderson will be playing about 100 yards from where I live Friday nite) so if ever you want to venture over the mtn, let me know.

[harwilli55]

Congrats Mike !!!

There is a time to return home and it sounds like it is your time !!! Some of the most beautiful country on the east coast is where you will be living. As for musically, you will add to the long distinguished list with your talents. I am sure you will find your community and rapidly establish yourself as the go-to-musician.

I look forward to hear of your adventures and community building!!


Harlan

[MikeB]

Good luck, Mike (now that I've found you!) Moves like this can be tough. I hope you are both very happy out there. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif

[evanreilly]

Bloody Madison! More pot produced there now than 'shine, tho.
I frequent a lot of the local jams, so be on the look-out.

[Michael H Geimer]

mandopluker, that's pretty funny! It took me a second look to notice the avatar.

The tobacco barn in the photo belongs to my neighbor, and is left over from the original Eatman family farm which occupied our whole small valley. The home I'm moving into was built by a member of that family when they eventually split up the property in the 80's. It's ain't much compared to the Joneses' place, but I think he chose the location wisely (sunny side of the mountain).

Last night I had a dream I lost my Martin guitar. Left it somewhere! Oh No! I did have a mandolin on my back, however and when I wandered into a music store, Norman Blake was about to put on a small clinic (there's some minimal mando content).

I'm hoping that once I live close enough, I'll have the chance to see and hear Norman and Nancy perform.

Evan, I'd like to pick your brain about local teachers for both myself and my wife once we're settled.

OK ... truck is coming (movers come tomorrow). Time to get busy again.

- MG

[duuuude]

Het Mike, great to hear the time's finally come for you, we're gonna miss yer poppin' in at the 'Berry from time to time but very happy for ya all the same!

[45ACP-GDLF5]

Congrats on the move to my neck of the woods!!! I was born and raised in Buncombe County, but I have a lot of kin in Madison. Great trout fishing streams, grouse hunting and lots of farms with lots of cows!!! The smell will clear your sinuses and make you a better picker!!! Bobby Hicks moved to Madison County about 4 years ago. He hosts a jam there too, but I've forgotten where. Spring Creek is a good community. The Big Ivy is a great trout stream, and you can soak away your troubles at Hot Springs Spa!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif

[billkilpatrick]

Congrats on the move to my neck of the woods!!! #I was born and raised in Buncombe County, but I have a lot of kin in Madison. Great trout fishing streams, grouse hunting and lots of farms with lots of cows!!! #The smell will clear your sinuses and make you a better picker!!! #Bobby Hicks moved to Madison County about 4 years ago. #He hosts a jam there too, but I've forgotten where. Spring Creek is a good community. The Big Ivy is a great trout stream, and you can soak away your troubles at Hot Springs Spa!!! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif
... sounds like heaven!

[steelbuddha]

Mike,

I moved to Mars Hill back in '89, when there were still a lot of unpaved roads in the county. Still used to see old guys plowing with mules then up around Big Laurel. Spent a lot of time picking up there, and many happy days exploring in my old Jeep. Plenty of good folks in Madison, although there's no doubt a lot more "hybrid vigor" these days. Between the hippies, the retirees, a few on the lam, and the home folks, it's quite a mix. I left for the flatlands in '94.

After you get settled, treat yourself some weekend morning to a ride up to the top of Rich Knob, the base of which is skirted by old 25-70 between Marshall and Hot Springs. Climb up and sit on the fire tower and watch the sun come up over the Black Mountains.

There's some picking to be done right in town at the Bascom Lamar Lunsford Festival at Mars Hill College, which happens in early October if memory serves.

But whatever you do, don't get married and move away. Big mistake(s), from which I am only just now recovering.

[jbrwky]

Welcome Mike. If you're ever in the Ebbs Chapel area we could get together and pick some. The porch is ready.

[Keith Erickson]

Michael,

Congradulations to you and Reneé !!!!!

This is way over due and you've waited a long time to do this.

I guess good things come to those who wait and you waited long enough http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Warmest regards and Merry Christmas to you http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

Keith & Family

[Michael H Geimer]

Hey everyone! I didn't think I'd make it back onto the Internet so soon, but we returned from visiting family in Ohio last night, and discovered a DSL modem on the porch. That Santa guy is pretty hip to modern technology, it seems. Darned thing is even wireless.

The drive out was East along Hwy40 was smooth sailing, with good music for the road. I traded in some old CDs on my last day out west, and ended up with a Watson Family CD that is really great (we're already singing Your Long Journey Home together), some Flatt & Scruggs stuff, and a Grayson & Whitter disc that is really old-timey guitar, fiddle and vocal stuff, right up my alley.

One of the technicians who came out to hook up our phone line (and who probably helped get this DSL going) saw our instrument cases and asked about the music. Turns out he is a player himself and also an in-law of Doug Phillips, a local old-timey player. I have one of Doug's discs (with Roger Powell), and I really enjoy his playing. Small town.

There's still so much to do to get settled, but between the cord of wood outside, and this DSL inside, I think it is all going to work out fine.

- Mike

[duuuude]

Well Merry Christmas to ya buddy, good to hear the move went smooth and yer sttlin' in. Almost missed yer original post due to the name change, lol. Bet you & the missus had a fine first Christmas at the new homestead, wish her well and keep in touch through the new year.

[mandolooter]

Best wishes Mike & Mike! Melody sez hello too! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

[mandolin123]

just got back from Asheville area,

[Michael H Geimer]

jbrwky,
We aren't too far from each other at all. I'm also on the eastern side of I26, off Hwy19. Ebbs Chapel is only about a mile away as the crow flies, but that's across wild hillside. Probably best to drive around the mountain.

Back in March I saw some folks playing down at Billy Jac's Flea Market. Seemed informal, and sounded good. I could practically walk there, so I may try to get in with that crowd once spring comes around (it's pretty much closed down right now).

- Mike

[jbrwky]

OK Mike. I'm here till Jan 2, then it's back to Ohio for work for a while. You can email me if you want to get together before then. If you come down Puncheon Fork, I'm up the mountain from the Ebbs Chapel Fire Dept. On the left the sign says "Toad Hollow".

[hanknc]

Welcome to the Old North State!

The official toast of NC:

"Here's to the land of the long leaf pine,
The summer land where the sun doth shine,
Where the weak grow strong and the strong grow great,
Here's to "Down Home," the Old North State!

Here's to the land of the cotton bloom white,
Where the scuppernong perfumes the breeze at night,
Where the soft southern moss and jessamine mate,
'Neath the murmuring pines of the Old North State!

Here's to the land where the galax grows,
Where the rhododendron's rosette glows,
Where soars Mount Mitchell's summit great,
In the "Land of the Sky," in the Old North State!

Here's to the land where maidens are fair,
Where friends are true and cold hearts rare,
The near land, the dear land, whatever fate,
The blest land, the best land, the Old North State!"

Quickly, what's the state reptile?

The Eastern Box Turtle!


http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/SYMBOLS/images/turtle.jpg

(for more go here (http://statelibrary.dcr.state.nc.us/NC/SYMBOLS/SYMBOLS.HTM))


welcome again,

Hank
Clemmons, NC

[Alex Fields]

I too live right over the mountain in TN...I have never gone to any jams in Asheville but maybe I should make the drive sometime.

[Michael H Geimer]

Hank,
That's the spirit! A good friend of mine has this idea that when a person moves into a new town, they should have to take the local site-seeing / history tour before they can vote on local affairs.

My friends from here (NC) always talk about "displaced Northerners coming in trying to change everything around!" They're just kidding (mostly), but I understand the concept.

Mars Hill has a lot of history, so I'm looking forward to learning more about this place.

- Mike

[mandolin123]

that happens in the North Ga mtns too

[james condino]

Mike:

Welcome to the neighborhood. Stop by the new shop the next time you are in Ashville. I'm about a block up from the Orange Peel.

james
www.condino.com

[Michael H Geimer]

Will do. We head into town about once a week, so I'll drop in one of these days.

Just discovered WNCW 88.7 FM.

[jbrwky]

Ain't it grand? http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif