Once Blakeslee and Billy arrived, the Walking Tour began much like it does every year - with bags being stuffed to their brims and slung over zealously over backs, excitedly anticipating the use of built in amenities like reachable water hoses and secret pockets for stashed granola bars. To get to our send off party in Woodstock CT, we crammed into my car and drove 20 minutes to the Artists in the Country barn - this will be the last car ride for Raianne, Billy and Dan until June 24th.
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| WT Logo Handkerchief designed and silk screened by Dan Blakeslee |
Paul Gandy was there with portions of the edited documentary footage projected onto a large screen, while his family and Ann Chuk assembled a spread of potlucky favorites. Local CT songwriters started off the evening, ending with a "performance," if you could call it that, by members of this year's Walking Tour. Last night was the first time we all played together, but the audience was forgiving - we would spend the rest of the evening rehearsing for the official shows.
After a quiet night's rest inside the nice dry barn, I saw Raianne, Dan and Billy off on their first walk from Woodstock to Dudley.
Woodstock-Dudley Route
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| On driving this morning's route ahead of the gang, I'd hung bright new WT markers to guide the way. |
-MM
