Friday, September 18, 2009
Ragbrai Left Handed Banjo 'Tubes
Banjo playin' on the old RAGRRAI:
At the Peanut Butter Jam: Tom and Jim (The Roadside Boys)
Banjo Only
Labels: banjo, bike, music
posted by Bugman at
9:06 AM
Saturday, July 18, 2009
It's ALL about the RAGBRAI !!!
The next week of posts are going to be only about the RAGBRAI
On the Peanut Butter Jam Website
I ride a bike in the RAGBRAI (the Register's Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa) and I carry a banjo on my back the entire route. I sometimes will stop and play a few notes on occasion. Here is a collection of photos of me that people have taken and posted on the internet. The one above is from the Peanut Butter Jam in 2008.
I think this was in 2007 , maybe Manchester, Iowa?
Next to a drier bin in Stout, Iowa, 2007
On stage in Humbolt, Iowa 2006
On the side of the road in Humbolt, 2006
On stage in Clarion, Iowa, 2006
Someplace in Iowa, 2005
Maybe in Malcom, Iowa, 2006
Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005
Someplace in Iowa, 2005
A cornfield in Iowa, 2005
An intersection in Iowa, 2005
Fenton, Iowa, 2005
Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005
On the Peanut Butter Jam Website I think this was in 2007 , maybe Manchester, Iowa?This was something like the last town on the last day of the ride and I probably spent two hours in this town greeting the other riders as they came into town.
Next to a drier bin in Stout, Iowa, 2007There was this corn drier at the corner of the route that provided some shade and a good place to play as the mass of bikes passed through.
On stage in Humbolt, Iowa 2006The bank of Iowa booked us (The Roadside Boys) for early morning entertainment in Humbolt.
On the side of the road in Humbolt, 2006We found someone's front yard and just started playing stuff. In the black box is a melodion (accordion) that came in handy when a rider asked if we could do a polka.
On stage in Clarion, Iowa, 2006This was another Roadside Boys gig where we had a great time drinking beer and jamming with the local talent.
Someplace in Iowa, 2005This was near a rest stop. I found this picture by searching "Ragbrai Banjo" on Google. It's in Iowa, but I don't know where exactly.
Maybe in Malcom, Iowa, 2006The local fire department placed a water hose out to spray into the street to help cool off the riders on this 98 degree day. A rider took this picture of me playing under the stream of water and posted it with the title "Water Music".
Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005This photo was taken by a news reporter in a town that bordered Crystal lake. The two women sitting next to me were members of the C.U.B.S (see next picture below).
Someplace in Iowa, 2005I remember this guy who took this photo. He asked all sorts of questions. The jersey I have on celebrates the 10th year of the club known as C.U.B.S., or the Chicago Urban Bicycling Society. It was a bike club I joined in 2005.
A cornfield in Iowa, 2005This is me with Lee, the president of the Tall Dogs Club. Lee asked if I could play some banjo tunes while he relieved himself in the cornfield out back. He said it was the highlight of the ride.
An intersection in Iowa, 2005I felt that the volunteers who were out in the sun all day directing traffic needed some entertainment too, so I took some time to welcome them and their hard work.
Fenton, Iowa, 2005This is a picture of me with some veteran members of the C.U.B.S. I think I grabbed this from their website.
Crystal Lake, Iowa, 2005This picture was taken by a Register photographer. It clearly shows the "Ragbrai" logo on the head of my banjo.
I should be in Iowa tonight. I have no idea what I'll find on the road for the coming week, but I'll be sure to keep you posted!
Labels: banjo, bike, ragbrai
posted by Bugman at
3:53 AM
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Yet Another RAGBRAI banjo update:
This does not look good:
The old RAGBRAI banjo has a real crick in its neck!
Yes, the peg head came off and part of the fret board too!
A bit of glue and a few clamps should have it back in no time (I hope!) This gives me a chance to update the markings for the RAGBRAI XXXVII season! Just 37 days left! Yahoo!
Labels: banjo, projects
posted by Bugman at
8:43 PM
Thursday, October 30, 2008
The RAGBRAI banjo
The old banjo needs an update:
Here it is with some fellow school teachers at RAGBRAI XXXV
Here are some more recent pictures
Detail of broken tail piece
I was at Avo's bluegrass jam last night when the old banjo began to cry out for help. This particular banjo was made from an old pressure cooker and a furniture leg. It was played for many years, exposed to all kinds of weather, stored in a car trunk during the winter months, and it never, ever had it's own protective case.
Last night while at the Avo's jam, certain structural abnormalities of the tail piece were noted during the playing of the instrument. The banjo quickly lost tune and it became apparent that the banjo could no longer hold tension on the strings.
Here it is with some fellow school teachers at RAGBRAI XXXV Here are some more recent pictures Detail of broken tail pieceLast night while at the Avo's jam, certain structural abnormalities of the tail piece were noted during the playing of the instrument. The banjo quickly lost tune and it became apparent that the banjo could no longer hold tension on the strings.
The tail piece, which was probably 35 years old, decided to fold!
Labels: banjo, ragbrai
posted by Bugman at
8:39 AM
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Avo's Jam
Apparently every Wednesday night there is a bluegrass jam at Avo's!
It was dark, so these are the best pictures I could get.
There were more than seven banjo players in the place at one time!
...and only one dobro player!
Labels: banjo
posted by Bugman at
11:06 PM
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Poudre Canyon
North-West of town is Poudre River Canyon. We had to check it out for future kayak adventures.
You could walk across some areas. Maybe in the Spring it's higher!
We saw some people floating down the river on tubes! Hey, we have tubes! And we are only 20 minutes away!
You could walk across some areas. Maybe in the Spring it's higher! We saw some people floating down the river on tubes! Hey, we have tubes! And we are only 20 minutes away!Labels: banjo, nature, water
posted by Bugman at
10:31 AM
Sunday, August 24, 2008
UU Sunday Brunch
This morning we went to the UU Brunch. A fiddle player and two guitarists were there!
It sounded like we know all the old favorites!
We will do this again soon!
Today I'm hooking up the electrical circuits in the basement to get our hot tub working and to get better lighting in the work room. Jeanne is helping out at the UU yard sale. (As I am typing this, I can hear an old DC3 airplane overhead! I wonder if there's another air show at the Ft.Collins/Loveland airport?)
It sounded like we know all the old favorites! We will do this again soon!Today I'm hooking up the electrical circuits in the basement to get our hot tub working and to get better lighting in the work room. Jeanne is helping out at the UU yard sale. (As I am typing this, I can hear an old DC3 airplane overhead! I wonder if there's another air show at the Ft.Collins/Loveland airport?)
Labels: banjo, music
posted by Bugman at
11:44 AM
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Holy crap! Some guy playing banjo, but it's not me!
It's none other than Dr. Banjo, Pete Wernick!
...at Bohemian Nights 2008 in Fort Collins. I have one of his banjo books somewhere packed away in the basement.
Labels: banjo, music
posted by Bugman at
9:30 PM
Thursday, July 31, 2008
signs, etc.
Another jam with Mike McAbeeLabels: banjo, music, signs
posted by Bugman at
1:11 PM
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Le Claire, Iowa
Two Hobos together in one picture! Here I am with Mr. Rick Gage, otherwise known as Iowa Blackie! Mr. Gage remembers the exact day he jumped on his first ore car at the age of 14, and the very moment he gave his life to the rails. He was given the name Iowa Blackie by a group of hobos in 1984, at a hobo "circus" in Minneapolis. We exchanged a number of banjo jokes and went on our way!
Here I am with Mr. Rick Gage, otherwise known as Iowa Blackie! Mr. Gage remembers the exact day he jumped on his first ore car at the age of 14, and the very moment he gave his life to the rails. He was given the name Iowa Blackie by a group of hobos in 1984, at a hobo "circus" in Minneapolis. We exchanged a number of banjo jokes and went on our way!Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Tipton
Bennett
New Liberty
Maysville
Eldridge
Argo
Le Claire
Labels: banjo, bike, ragbrai
posted by Bugman at
5:29 AM
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tipton, Iowa
WELCOME TO TIPTON!
This is weird! Banjo and accordions in Tipton, Iowa!
We played 'Mama don't Allow No Banjo Playin' 'round Here'
The guy in the red shirt worked for the local newspaper. We might be in it! It turns out this guy and his wife are staying at a house about 20 feet from my tent. It looks like we might be doing polkas all night! (The guy's name is Ken Harris from Boise, Idaho. His band is called "The Hoochie Coochie Men". Listen here for samples!)
Today we are biking through these fine towns:
North Liberty
Solon
Lisbon
Mount Vernon
Martelle
Morley
Mechanicsville
Tipton
Today we are biking through these fine towns:
North Liberty
Solon
Lisbon
Mount Vernon
Martelle
Morley
Mechanicsville
Tipton
Labels: banjo, bike
posted by Bugman at
5:27 AM
Thursday, July 24, 2008
North Liberty, Iowa
Too much jamming last night! I rode into Tama about 8:30pm and had to pitch the tent in the dark.
Today it is cool with a light rain. I'm keeping the banjo playing to a minimum. At the free trade coffee place, I broke the D string on the banjo, so I had a good excuse not to play!
Gotta hump it over to North Liberty to get to our hotel early (I hope!)
Today it is cool with a light rain. I'm keeping the banjo playing to a minimum. At the free trade coffee place, I broke the D string on the banjo, so I had a good excuse not to play!
Gotta hump it over to North Liberty to get to our hotel early (I hope!)
Bikers on the internet! In Belle Plaine, Iowa!
Waiting to use the facilities in Belle Plaine
Today we are biking through these fine towns:
Tama/Toledo
Vining
Chelsea
Belle Plaine
Luzerne
Blairstown
West Amana
South Amana
Homestead
North Liberty
In Belle Plaine, Iowa! Waiting to use the facilities in Belle PlaineToday we are biking through these fine towns:
Tama/Toledo
Vining
Chelsea
Belle Plaine
Luzerne
Blairstown
West Amana
South Amana
Homestead
North Liberty
Labels: banjo, bike
posted by Bugman at
5:26 AM