Northern California

On the way to Petaluma we went through Santa Rosa. I started noticing surreal, moon like open spaces with random concrete pads and what looked like old swimming pools - it finally dawned on me this was one of the areas the recent Northern California fires had ravaged. Reconstruction had starting on a limited basis but it was clear there was much work to be done. My heart goes out to the folks who lost loved ones and property.

Time for another Uncle stop, this time Uncle Dan Hayes (Angela's Father's brother). I've always felt a connection with him even though we haven't spent lots of time together. He's a musician, a thinker and a talker. Dan played guitar and harmonica in many rock, county and blues bands in the Bay Area, rubbing shoulders with folks who "made it" but never getting the big break he really deserved. He doesn't gig anymore due to neck and hearing issues but still writes and records at home. Ironically, a cut he wrote and played on in 1979 called "Touch of Class" is very popular in European discos and since only 500 copies were released on vinyl, is considered extremely rare. He's working on getting it re-released.

You just never know what might catch on when...