Well, it’s been quite a while since my last and first post here. Four years isn’t a lot of time when time seems to be flying by at an alarming rate!
I’ll be taking another Grand Tour of the US this fall. After my well received presentation on traveling to Morocco for fiber-y things, several friends asked (begged, pleaded?) for me to post about the fall trip this year. Since I’ve only done this one other time, we’ll see what technological mishaps await on the trip.
Anyway… it won’t start for a couple of weeks but to whet your appetites… here’s a short run down of where I’m headed off to:
First off, the trip was inspired by the SOAR (Spinoff Autumn Retreat) being held in York, PA this year with some amazing teachers that just don’t get out west very often. First off, I was just going to fly. One week in PA at an all-inclusive retreat… then I thought “hmmm.. wonder when Rhinebeck is?”. That’s the big (HUGE) fiber festival for the New York Sheep and Wool (www.sheepandwool.com) Festival, simply known to many as Rhinebeck. And to my surprise and delight (and to the detriment of my finances, I’m sure) it’s the weekend SOAR ends.
And Rhinebeck, NY is only a short 4-hour drive from York. So, of course, I had to go to NYSW. And then if I’m in NY, I might as well hit up my actual day job clients in Syracuse… Then reality hit and the cost of a flight and rental car for 2 weeks was astronomical. Probably way worse now, actually.
And so, the Grand Fiber Tour via car was launched. And then, if I’m going to be in the Eastern Time Zone, wonder when SAFF (Southeastern Animal Fiber Festival) is? Pretty sure in autumn sometime! And yowza, it’s the weekend after Rhinebeck.
If I travel from Syracuse to Asheville, NC, and hit up a couple of people I know in between, that takes up the week between NYSW & SAFF.
And then, I wondered what was going on at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, NC? Hmm… LOOK! a rug weaving class…
And then home. Via Pendleton, SC and Raliegh, NC to visit other friends with a travel path through at least 10 states. All in the lovely Autumn traveling through various national and state forests and other cool places to visit. Including stops along the way for yarn, quilting, fiber, weaving, and other good stuff like burial mounds, museums, fabric stores, and art galleries.
And, I still have to do “the day job” in between all the fun stuff.
But the bags are getting packed, the house sitter is engaged, camera bag ready, projects for competition are being finalized, and fiber-y tools are being selected, discarded, selected again. We’ll see what makes the final cut of stuff to go on the Grand Tour. All while tying up loose projects at home and keeping my sanity and health!
I hope to post at least every other day, but there could be a few days missed or multiple posts. It’s unknown and unknowing. That’s why it’s the Grand Fiber Tour!
Welcome aboard.
