The Garth Guy, Hollister, California – 8/30/2014
AUGUST 30, 2014 (Friday)
Lazy morning. Not much fog and it burned off quickly and turned into a beautiful warm day, not too hot. Michael ran errands and I did my usual – laundry, putzing. Aaron, Arla, and a bunch (four others) are coming over tonight to spend the night and then head out early Sunday morning for a one night hiking trip to Big Sur. He wants to regroup at our place to make sure they have everything they need, and if they don’t they hope we can loan it to them.
Around 4:30 PM, Michael and I left for “The Garth Guy” concert in Hollister. “The Garth Guy” is Michael’s second cousin. He tours nationally as a Legends band and I think I heard was endorsed by Garth Brooks once. We had tried to catch his show when we were in Las Vegas – but he was never there when we were. Looked for him in Atlanta, he’d left. When we were in Ashland a bunch of our family went to see him at a Casino in Pendleton, Oregon. We were bummed we missed it but we had plans (and tickets) to Shakespeare in Ashland, which was too far in too short a time. When we got home we went on line and saw he had a show in Hollister and it was perfect ($20.00 a ticket). A short drive, good price, and a new place to explore as we had never heard of the Guerra Family Cellars before.
NSTAGATR We thought of several people that should have it on their car.
Guerra Family Cellars is a short thirty minute or so drive from our house. We got to Guerra Family Cellars around 5:00 PM. Parking was $5.00 but we were only a few feet from the main entrance. Nice. It was quite a distance off the main road on a gravel and dirt type road, about a mile. I was concerned about how the venue would be set up (dusty and dirty) but once we got in, it was beautiful. Lush green lawns that had been terraced. The stage itself looked like an old barn with the golden brown pastures and hills as the back drop. So lovely. We set up our blankets and cushions and then went in search of food. We walked over to the food booth and each ordered the tri tip sandwiches and water. Was nice that they didn’t try to charge an arm and a leg (the sandwiches were $8.00 each and the water was $1.00 each). We then walked over to the wine and beer tent and I got a glass of their sweet white wine ($7.00).
At exactly 6:00 PM, the show started with “The California Cowboys.” They are a mostly local band and are really good. Thoroughly enjoyed them. The only distraction was a bunch of kids having too much fun sliding down the hills on their blankets and would block our view. Wish the parents would have put them on the far end (kid area) or told them to stop but….parents were too into drinking and visiting. Anyway, the kids wore down about an hour later and we got to see and enjoy the show. “The Garth Guy” started at 7:30 PM. He was fun and lots of people were dancing and having a great time. Good show. Good to see Dean (even from afar) and his wife. We’ll try to catch him again somewhere down the road.
When we got home, Aaron and his entourage arrived shortly thereafter. It was kinda funny trying to find sleeping places for six people in a small mobile home (with one bathroom). How did they do it in the old days? While they were going through all their stuff, a school friend of Aaron’s showed up. Was nice to see her and her boyfriend. They wanted to stop by and say hi before they left for Kansas and then Hawaii.
We finally got to bed around 1:00 AM. That was our day. Hope yours was great!