We had not heard of Sandi Thom but are glad to have seen her - a really lively and accomplished set.
The afternoon was breezy but as you can see, good enough to sit on the grass. The audience was a bit sparse, put off by the weather forecast perhaps or maybe there aren't so many old rockers and hippies about these days, though we did see tie & dye Grateful Dead t-shirts adorning the ample torsos of a few pony tailed, sandal wearing festival goers. We were in anoraks, not at all fashionable, but they came in very handy later on!
Next up was Bobby Valentino. He has played in a few bands over the years (e.g. Fabulous Poodles, Hank Wangford) but this line up was called Bobby Valentino and the Musicians. Good stuff!
One reason I went to the festival was to see Jack Bruce. The very accomplished Norman Beaker Band kicked off with two numbers before Jack joined them during a very heavy downpour. This prompted him to call for 'Sunshine' which went down very well. We got what we came for, some old favourites, including Politician, Born Under a Bad Sign, We're Going Wrong
and White Room. Great stuff! The voice isn't what it used to be but the bass playing is still top notch and the sax player was superb.
So that was five outdoor concerts in summer 2011 and we got wet at four of them; the only dry one was in New York. It's going to take somebody special to get me out there next year...
Continuing via Winslow and Twyford we called it a day after 73 miles in the attractive village of Duddington, where we managed to find a room in a pub/hotel. Day two was through hilly but beautiful north Oxfordshire but we were still cycling into a steady wind. The Lygon Arms in Chipping Camden served us tea and cakes, and thus fortified, we continued west through Elmley Castle and Pershore, veered south-west to cross the River Severn at Upton and then travelled the last flattish miles to Malvern Link for two nights at a spa with our wives. The warm, bubbly water certainly rejuvinated those weary thigh muscles and good food at the Abbey hotel in Great Malvern. We passed on a cycle ride to the summit of the Worcester Beacon. Been there, done that already! 
After 73 miles we pitch up in Wem. A rockabilly place, as you can see from the photo below, and no room at the inn for us. It's too far to get to Cuddington before darkness and so we call it a day - train to Shrewsbury and then on to Chester. A kind of failure - Nigel reckoned that we should have booked accommodation in advance - a fair point!
The rain was hammering down in Chester so the venue for the celebration party the station bar. The beer was tasty ebnough and chats to fellow travellers provided additonal fun. The girls picked us up after having watched As You Like It in their cagouls!
Charelstown is a lovely part of Boston and it was a pleasure to walk the quiet, sunny streets and admire the houses. Down in the Navy Yard is the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned warship in the world. You will need photo i.d. to go on board. 
On boston common we started to watch a Shakespearian performance but unfortunately for us the afternoon was too hot. Strolling on we came across a one man band - can't remember this zany chap's name but he was most entertaining, particularly his song about his love of chocolate.
Who has performed at The Apollo Theater? Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, James Brown, The Supremes, Gladys Knight, Mavin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Aretha Franklin and the Isley Brothers to name but a few!
The apartment block where Billie Holiday first lived when she moved to NYC.
Walking in Central Park is never anything less than a delight and there are always new things to see. The singers below entertained a very appreciative audience with their wide ranging songbook and superb musicianship.
