1985-the first time is always a strong memory, less people, no motor homes, bieng among the first dozen to bring a mountian bike, arriving in town park on the sunday before TBF, riding up Tomboy, the guy who got arrested with a trunk full of guns and explosives in town park, cold showers, and the woman I flew in, fetched in Grand Junction on Thursday, and went with me 3 times altogether.
'89 - Didn’t know any better…was travelling with a friend and catching a few Dead shows, and someone said, “You should get to Telluride”. So we bought Sunday tickets, and after a few days of camping in the Tetons, woke up at O’Dark’O’clock Saturday, hiked to the truck, and headed for Telluride. After a few wrong turns, we finally ended up at a Motel somewhere. Sunday morning we woke up late, rolled into Telluride around noon, parked in the old lot our near the Valley Cows, and took the shuttle.
What a day! We’d never experienced weather like it, scenery like it, or music like it. We had an awesome day, culminating in snuggling some cute hippie chicks we’d just met during the last acts (for warmth…of course). When the last act was done, we didn’t have anywhere to go, so wegot in the truck and started driving. My friend tossed me the atlas and asked “Where we going?”. 20 Hours later, we were in San Francisco 
You know how to do it right.
That same year I got out of the Army in Washington, DC. And I said the exact same thing. But I ended up in Thunder Bay, Ontario.
I like your atlas LOADS better.
I dunno…Thunder Bay’s a nice place, id you don’t mind the bugs!
No criticism of Thunder Bay, I certainly enjoyed it…but San Fran’s got a lot more going on for a guy of 22 (which I was at that time).
So, I’m at work last night, doing mundane things, when I started getting flashes of…
…banjomatic standing at the curb outside the terminal of DIA… playing banjo.
… going through Eisenhower Tunnel on Loveland Pass.
… Avon and Vail under a blanket of snow on the Summer Solstice last year.
… stopping at a coffee shop in Grand Junction two years ago, and they remembered my drink from the year before.
… driving South through Whitewater, Delta and Montrose watching for police cruisers.
… Rounding the corner in Ridgeway at the Shell station and heading up the foothills of the mountains.
… Sawpit, Colorado signage.
… The Valley Floor.
… Ingram Falls.
… and then I was home again, at least in my mind. 
(sigh)
Auntie Hope :festivarian2 :green
:clap. Can’t wait!
This may sound a little cheesey, but you all...and this forum...are one of the best things about TBF for me. I check this site more religiously than Facebook. Truth be told, because of this forum I rarely visit Facebook anymore. I've found this to be a tremendous improvement. And you all have done more to sustain my excitement for the coming High Holy Days and make the non-FESTIVALLLL time more bearable.
I can’t wait to make new memories over the coming two weeks with all of you.
Also…BACON! Lots of Bacon.
And parking in Mountain Village and getting pumped up on the ski lift ride down into town with a bunch of other people so excited the gondola could barely contain us.
And eating a breakfast burrito hauled over from the Steaming Bean while listening to Sol Chase.
The excitement in my 15 year old daughter’s eyes as she gets ready to go with me to her first TBF.
Running into Sam Bush with his wife Lynn on the festival field Wednesday evening while I was wearing a sombrero and fake mustache and trying to convince them that I was not a scary weirdo.
But you ARE, Hooch! :cheers :evil
Glen Hansard. WOW, he spoke directly to my heart. What an emotionally gripping performance. :medal
He would be a great writing instructor at RGA. Really like his style! :medal
rofl, Hooch!
My son getting a stack of pirate gold from a pirate at the fishing pond, and then using that gold to wish for a pirate sword while we’re having lunch at Smugglers. 5 hours later during the house band, a couple sitting next to us that we’ve never met turns to my son and just hand him a PIRATE SWORD! What the what?!?!?! We couldn’t believe it! We put a bandana on his head and he was a pirate for the rest of the night. Incredible TBF magic!
AHOY!!! :pirate :pirate :pirate :pirate :pirate :pirate
THIS is so COOL! AHOY INDEED! :pirate :pirate :pirate and also ARRRR!!
On the way home this year, the car broke down on Monarch pass with me and three others (Mel, Hot Mess, and Tom). We had to get towed back to Gunnison. Instead of riding in the cab like normal people, we piled into the car on the back of the flat bed tow truck and waved at drivers and pedestrians as we passed. Their faces were priceless!!!
Sorry to hear about the breakdown…but sounds like fun! :pirate
Oh no! That’s a bummer Sugar, hope everyone made their flights okay. Sure was great to see all ya’ll.
I looked at it like another adventure and enjoyed every minute of it. There is so much more to that story that I might get around to typing up later. It was fantastic.
Have no fear, Hotcakes is now here! :cheers I too broke down (car) on the way home but it still hasn’t dampened my spirits. Festival is what makes my whole year better. I think being serinaded was my best memory.
What?? Two breakdowns going home? Something must be telling us we shouldn’t try to leave in the first place.
Came home to a broken fridget full of rotted food. So still living out of our cooler! Keeping a small part of the experience going, anyway.