Put the city behind us. Up and over Snoqualmie Pass, escaping with all the other city folk in their SUVs.
Ellensburg to Columbia River, farmlands burst with fruits of labor. Our first stop, to enjoy some of that labor is Maryhill Winery. At first site, the venue for bands at Maryhill, fills our heads with visions of future gigs. Wine isn't bad either. We then "celled" Lucky Lefty, "see ya in 20 minutes at the River Rat. Winds are at 20 mph. Boarders and Surfers are flying across the Columbia. What a sight. Pull up to The RR with 20 bikes, as in Harleys, parked outside the Rat. I thought I had leather....those dudes got leather everywhere, 'cept on their butts...go figure that one.
Now we are into some serious gig surmising. Scope out the stage and set-up. We surmise in 20 that this is gonna work. Since it's only 2 PM, we've got the time to pre-function with Lefty and his brother, Rick, at Domaine Pouillion. Lefty left his wife (not for good), Karen to tend the wine tasting room, while the owners
scooted out of town for the day. Karen was serving up some mighty fine fermented grapes in a glass. T-Bone, resident dog, greets us. We are warned, "If you pet T- Bone, don't scratch anything, you might get a bad case of poison oak, as T-Bone likes to behave badly in that stuff." Poison Oak is not something someone would want prior to playing a gig. We obey for now. Unsuspecting gangs of wine tasters, don't call them drinkers, arrive. They come with willing ears to hear about our Rock and Roll gig at the Rat and they come with open mouths to taste the fermented grape. Fun start to "Functioning".
Closing in on 4 PM, we hop in our band sleigh for the Rat. Lefty is right behind in his F150.
To be continued.
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