HGC Foundation

Hello All;

It has been a busy weekend for HGC since the last time I sent an update, fortunately the Pacific Northwest has been a beautiful and relaxing area to visit.  With two more concerts behind us, the heart of the tour is really in full swing.

Friday evening saw us perform in Meany Hall on the University of Washington campus in front of a very passionate audience of around 350-400.  I believe that those who went on the 1978 tour will remember Meany Hall quite well, though it has just undergone a multi-million dollar renovation in the previous few years.  The acoustic was quite superb as a result, the stage was more than large enough even for Jim, and the concert went very well despite the slight distraction of having Polly sitting in the audience.

Saturday morning was an early departure for Portland to make it to Reed College and Kaul Auditorium for our next concert.  The group did very well with this time line, having to schedule two concerts in a row is never and ideal situation.  The auditorium, however, was one of the best acoustics Jim says he has ever had the opportunity to perform in and the group made good on it.  We had another great audience and the concert and energy level were certainly elevated by it; overall we have been quite fortunate with how receptive our audiences have been.

Yesterday was a complete break from performing and singing, but that is not to say it wasn't busy.  With an early hike up a mountain overlooking the Columbia Gorge (4 miles and 2400 feet gained on the way up - 2/3 of the group completed it in under 90 minutes), followed by lunch on the Columbia River watching wind-surfers, the day started out with a bang. 

A few of us took spills on the way down the mountain, but the only lasting result are a few sore tail bones and perhaps some small children who learned new "adult" words from these less-agile HGC members.

Visiting a strawberry farm, winery, and lavender farm afterwards turned out to be a good call.  The wine put much of the group to sleep on the way up Mount Hood to visit the Timberline Lodge. though the image of HGC eating pounds upon pounds of strawberries until our stomachs hurt calls to mind many an ignored lesson from children's books.  After Mount Hood, the group went to Powell's books and eventually to a banquet dinner in the Pittock Mansion overlooking downtown Portland.  It was a long and busy day, but no one can say they feel like they "missed" Portland!

At the moment, I am sitting next to Bernie in the Portland airport awaiting our flight to San Francisco.  Everything and everyone is on time and good to go, it is now off to Napa Valley and two of our biggest concerts!

Best Wishes,

Kelby