Day Two - Lanett Alabama to Charleston South Carolina - Still missing a ringer!

Day Two started out with a longish drive and a lot of napping, followed by some moments of panic as we searched for a restroom.  We'll make more regular stops starting today.  We made it to Charleston in the early afternoon and had time to meet The Peanut Dude.  It was an experience, and everyone tried southern boiled peanuts, many for the first time.  We also had time to stop at Patriots Point and see the USS Yorktown, a now retired battleship that served in the Pacific in WWII as well as in Vietnam.

We arrived at the church on schedule and set up in a beautiful sanctuary.  Fried chicken and sweet tea on the menu again - so good - and on to the concert.  The kids played great to a large audience.  A very successful concert.

Meanwhile, in Houston, we have a problem.  Wes Sawyer's flight was delayed and eventually cancelled due to weather.  The next flight United could get him on would have him arrive in Charleston well after our departure, so we bought a new ticket on Delta and now have him meeting us in Morehead City this afternoon.  For one leg all that was available was first class, so Wes is traveling in style, after spending all night in an airport.  At least, that's the plan.   Fingers crossed for better weather today.

Here are some pics from Day Two:

Day One - June 11 2016 SLC to the Deep South, Lanett Alabama

Day One of the 2016 tour was a long one!  We started out at the Salt Lake International Airport at 5:30 am.  Everything went very smoothly through security, onto a plane, off again in Denver, back on  just a few minutes later and finally arriving in Atlanta Georgia at about 3:15 local time.

Zack and the bus were waiting as scheduled and we were off for a one hour ride to Lanett Alabama. Here are two interesting but very relevant facts if you are ever traveling to Lanett.  First, the people there are lovely.  True southern hospitality.  Second, despite the fact that every map in the world tells you that all of Alabama in on Central time.  The town of Lanett  is on Eastern.  This apparently goes back to the town's founding by a company based out of New York who wanted to simplify things by keeping the whole town on the same time zone as headquarters.

What this means to the choir is, while we thought we were arriving early, at about 4:20 or so, we were actually arriving late, at 5:20 or so.  Yikes.

Set up took a bit longer than usual, in part because it's the first day, and perhaps in part because there are fewer ringers to move things this time around.

In any case, Katie was able to rehearse about four lines of the opening song and then it was off to a fast dinner.  A word about dinner though.  Wonderful.  More words:  fried chicken, sweet tea, tender ham, spinach and strawberries, many, many tasty desserts.

And then it was on to the concert.  There was a good crowd in a beautiful church.  Jack had no shoes.  (later found)  Ryan had a splinter.  Emma had relatives in the crowd.  We thought we overheard Mary Ann Alison several times.  Y'all know what I'm sayin?  Bryce was covering for Wes who joins us today.

The choir, at the end of a long day and many miles, performed admirably.  The crowd was appreciative and after a standing ovation were rewarded with an encore piece.    Tour is off to a great start!  Here are some pics of the start of Tour 2016:

Tuesday June 7th. Christ United Methodist Church. Salt Lake City, Utah.

T minus 3 days.  Perhaps.  I'm not really sure how they count those countdowns, but, we load the bus tonight and on Saturday morning we board a plane for Atlanta Georgia.  We meet our driver Zack at the airport and then travel by bus into Alabama for the first concert of the 2016 summer tour!

The kids are doing a full concert run through, as I type, for parents and friends, as final preparation.  The concert is amazing.  At least, what I've heard so far is.  If I don't come back and edit this post, you can assume the whole concert was amazing.  Katie Lay, in her first year as director, has this group of kids doing great things.  The music selection, the dynamics, the pacing, everything - really remarkable.  

Look for blog postings on nearly every day of tour and follow us along as the choir shares its music across the country.  Here are some shots of the kids in final preparation:

Day 16 - Meridian ID to SLC UT and the home concert.

Last blog posting of the 2015 summer  tour!  Can't believe we are at the end.  Today we'll stop in a park to sign tour books and enjoy a last bit of togetherness before heading for home.  Thanks to everyone who supported the choir and made this tour possible.  Bell parents, thank you.  CUMC folks, thank you.  Everyone is looking forward to a great home concert.

Here are some marvelous reflections from ringers, and a few final pictures of the kids having fun on tour!

This tour has been really good we’ve done so much I think my favorite thing we have done was the aquarium or the experience music project in Seattle it was so cool! They had props from famous movies such as harry potter, labrynth, game of thrones, and so much more so I was running around nerding out about all of it, we also got to play with a bunch of sound equipment and learn a lot about music. I’m very excited to go home but I will miss tour a ton. I’ve learned so much about myself and others in the choir this year. I’m excited to see what the choir will be in the next few years and to watch everyone grow –Bobbie Jacobsen

I’ve been on a few tours in my time, but I think this one will definitely stand out to me. I love the Pacific Northwest, so all the amazing sights we saw this tour (San Francisco, redwoods, the Oregon Coast, Victoria, etc) make it one of my favorite tours, not to mention the amazing people we have with us! I don’t think that the transition between Terry and Justin could have gone any smoother. This was a drama free, fun filled tour, and I’m really appreciative of everyone who helped out with it, and Justin and Katie for taking over this amazing organization. I will always cherish the memories of my time in the choir.

Jake Allison

This tour has been the most memorable so far. I loved being on the coast and being able to see so many new places, but the one activity that sticks out to me was tea at the Empress hotel. Ed, Gina, Alicia G., and I were able to go to high tea at the empress hotel. Not only was the tea and food great, but I was able to learn a lot about the choir, and it’s founding from the man who started it all. I also learned a lot about Ed and why he started music, and about all the things that happened in his life that led to the creation and continuation of the Wesley bell Ringers, an organization, no a family that I am proud to say that I have been a part of.

C.P. Anderson

Today is the last bus day of the last tour in my Wesley Bell Ringer career. Thinking about that is heartbreaking. The things I have learned in my four years are all lessons I will never forget. This choir is truly one of the most important things in my life and it is also the one thing I am most proud of. Every person in this choir is my family. There isn’t one person who I don’t love unconditionally. Leaving this year is bitter sweet and won’t be easy. Fortunately, I will be able to take the choir with me through the way The Wesley Bell Ringers has shaped me as an individual. Often, the choir discusses “bell pride”. Bell pride is defined by many as the ability to have pride for the organization and the way in which we play. For me, the music takes second place. For me bell pride is love. It is a love for one another, for God, and for The Wesley Bell Ringers that has lasted 52 years and I am so grateful to have been a part of this organization

-Tim Hare

Today is the last day of tour, I can already feel the emotional and physical toll running though my body; however, today is the day were it tops it all. We say goodbye to some for a short period of time or for a little longer. This tour is one to remember. I enjoyed learning new things in all places we have been. San Francisco was such beautiful and vibrant city. The history is overwhelming with knowledge and emotions. There was one other place that I will never forget, in Washington about 20 minutes before we left for Victoria my sister called me to inform me that she had her baby that morning. Wow talk about timing. I was just full of emotions, happy, sad, excited, and disappointed. I couldn’t be there for my sister or my family. I had such a big support system here, my other family, to help me through all the emotions I was feeling. I couldn’t ask for anything else when I have the Wesleys and I am honored to be part of something so amazing..

-Alicia Griffing

Day 14 - Silverdale WA to Pendleton OR

A longer drive today, but still time for a quick dip in the lovely Pendleton Aquatic Center.  Refreshing!  The Church, Pendleton Presbyterian, and its unique stained glass windows were a welcome sight.  The kids played a great concert and the Chaperones were particularly well behaved.  Corey had family visit!

Day 15 - Pendleton OR to Meridian ID

Lost an hour somewhere today, but had time for the annual Senior's lunch and a stop at the Oregon Trial Interpretive Center and at a fun outdoor mall and still arrived early at the Church of the Warm Heart (United Methodist)

We'll hope to do one more blog entry with more reflections from ringers as we motor to our final destination and the home concert tomorrow!