Post by reckoning on Aug 15, 2022 10:44:32 GMT -5
Hi folks. Haven't been here for a while but hope to be back more now as we look forward to whatever L23 might turn out to be... Thought I would post a report on a last minute decision to swing by Catskill Mountain Jubilee this weekend. I didn't have my rig available or even my camping gear but I landed a room last minute off someone who was very accommodating on Cash or Trade. Two amazing DSO shows on an excellent show field in perfect weather. Very good sound. Had seen them before but they are so darned proficient it's really something to behold. Morning Dew with White Rabbit encore on Saturday were ground-shifting. Could dance and hang or sit with your chair wherever you wanted right up to rail. Left Sunday didn't stay for Disco Biscuits. Rest of bill was kind of thin and I didn't spend a whole lot of time with it. Couple of good funk-ish groups, especially Karl Denson. Left for afternoon on Saturday to do a really nice short hike south of the location in a great state park.
East Durham is even more falling down than much of Catskills. Blackthorn is a classic, actually quite humorous, neglected old Catskills resort, in the core historically Irish part of the area (a good Guinness at the genuine pub across the road). Room and bed were ok as long as expectations very low. I thought the room price was too high tbh (I got it for under face). I would definitely try to go with the rig next time. There a lot of options where to camp and almost no pushback on what you want to do. The security check at the entrance literally says they are just looking for smuggled humans, haha. Some good food trucks on site, I was able to avoid the restaurant which sounded awful. Very reasonable beer prices at show field and good real bathrooms. This was the least rule-oriented and policed fest I have been to. Anything goes, almost to a fault. E.g., the people across the hall from me had a big nitrous tank, among other things, going all weekend. A (kind of creepy looking) guy was vending shrooms on the show field like he was selling beers at Yankee Stadium. But I at least didn't witness anything that looked hostile, dangerous, or anything like that. Seemed fine. One young woman who looked significantly mentally unwell roaming around talking to the air and going topless at times for a couple of days. Security talked to her a little but that was it. People were cool. That said, security was almost zero I might not want to go alone if I felt vulnerable. Woodstock in the light of history wasn't all peace and love, if you know what I mean... If a bad person wanted to go free range this weekend, there would not have been much in the way... Hope they try to do this again with a little more infrastructure and a fuller bill. Very glad I made it.