I left Canada on Monday night with my mom driving me to the Bus Station. We were really late, and I'd already realized I'd left some integral stuff behind. Go Figure! We came up to the border with no time to spare, a ton of luggage, drums and food. The questions were basic, and our answers were on point. We had a lot of momentum pushing us and the Greyhound was pulling us, and, before I knew it, my mom had shown him the trunk, got our I.D.'s and we were on our way. I think it's our experience as cross-border shoppers when I was younger that really made this possible.

We made it to the Bus Station six minutes before it was to leave, and they told me the bus was full. Even though I had a specifically reserved ticket for that bus. I also had forgotten all my American Money on a dresser in Canada, and my mom couldn't get her bankcard to work. Well, a seat was available on the bus, and I got on, with my mom handing me $30.00 Canadian, for the Trip down. Thanks Mom! You got me on the bus, on time and un-hassled. You Rock!

The Bus ride was underway. I managed to trade my $30.00 for an American $20.00 with a dude on his way to Bonaroo. The idea was to trade back there. That didn't happen, but Eric helped me out in a pinch, and maybe I'll see him at the Gathering of the vibes.

The bus ride to New Orleans was fun and long and was an adventure, in and of itself. I'd recommend taking a long bus ride through the South sometime. You'll meet some neat people.

I arrived in New Orleans later than scheduled, and was happy to see Ariel and Dave, the people who came to pick me up.

Hemphry was actually not ready when I got to New Orleans, causing a few logistical problems in my life, including the likelihood of getting to Bonaroo late. Ces't La Vie.

I got Hemphry from the auto shop on Thursday at around noon. I quickly ran around New Orleans, tying up all the loose ends I could reach. One of the biggies was getting my license back from where I'd left it the day I left N.O. Phant and friends were heading to the Rainbow.

I left New Orleans after picking up some Hummous and Falaffel, and Pita, and Olives and Dates from Mona's down on Frenchmen. I got Hummous and Pita because my mouth was swollen where my Wisdom tooth had been removed two weeks earlier. I'd woken with it swollen, and figured I'd slept on it wrong. It was sore and I didn't know what to make of it. I drove away from The Big Easy with a puffy cheek, a beard full of hummus and tahinni and the Sun sinking over my left Shoulder.

Mississippi, and Alabama are known for their tough attitudes on anything bad, and I headed straight for them. I got into Mississippi just before sundown, and was looking for my first Cop (who wouldn't see me). It got dark before I came across one. I kept driving. I drove for a long time, until I was getting quite tired. Before I fell asleep and drove off the highway, I made it to Birmingham, Alabama, where I saw my first Cop car, who'd pulled someone over already. I had to get the valves adjusted, so I tried to find a VW mechanic before sleeping, but I could not, so I slept where I was and Rolly called with directions to one. It's a good thing Rolly found him in virtual world, because in the real world he was really hard to find, but we connected. Dude had started working on VW's in 1962, and now his son does it. The two of them keep the Volkswagons alive in Birmingham and around. Anyways, me and Hemphry left there around 1 pm, bound for Ft. Paine, where my next shipment of papers was due to arrive.

I got the papers, and headed North, through the country up into Tennessee. I got to a gas station on I-24, filled an empty tank, and then I found out Neil Young was playing tonight! And I was only 20 miles from the site! Woo Hoo!

Neil Young played a great show, and started the festival off in a good way for me. He was mellow, but rocking. He felt very comfortable on stage, and really excited to be playing for Bonaroo. He's been one of the most versatile artists through the ages. Remember his Grunge affiliation?

Cortez was just splendid. You are like a Hurricane. There's calm in your eyes. Hey, Hey, My, My Rock and Roll will never Die! Down By the River, and a new one that I personally loved went like "Save The Earth For Another Day" It was full-on, talking about environmental devastation, and the Bush administration. Drilling in Alaska, and clear-cutting the trees, are two of the issues I heard Neil yelling about. There was a beautiful Goddess dancing on stage, signifying Earth's beauty and desperation. I was proud of Neil Young, a Canadian, standing up and saying that which so desperately needs to be said. He closed with Keep on Rocking in The Free World. I saw my brother's friend Johnny, there during the show and Cheeks and friends after the show. Big upps!

I bounced between Sound Tribe Sector 9, which was a lot of fun to dance to, and the Funky Meters, who are the basis of modern Funk as we know it. I was falling asleep when Warren Haynes came out with the Meters, and soon after, I decided I ought to head to bed. My face was hurting and I was tired. I caught the Parade with Galactic playing on the float. That was cool.

Walking back to the Van, I stepped on a plastic baggie, and thought I'd check it out, because you never know, and lo and behold, I had an eighth of headdie nuggs in my hand! Woo hoo! That picked up my spirits, because I'd been sort of bumming earlier.

At some point I bumped into some Canadians from St. Catherines, and they convinced me to come back down for Sound Tribe. It was a good move, because they had on a good groove, and then from out of nowhere, Mike Gordon came out, and levelled the place with his bass. It was great. Sarah was saying she'd never heard music like that before, and I'd have to agree! It was intense, and so worth the second wind.

I enjoyed the Wailers at first from far away, but I made it up to the stage before the encore, and I really enjoyed the energy of the Wailers. Exodus, movement of Jah people was definitely a highlight for me from the festival. They were sooo good! My face was really hurting at this point, and I sort of really wanted to find some friends, so I lay down in the middle of a field, and then under a tree, and then I went to a drum booth, played a bit, talked glass, was helped by some nice folks, and then went to the First Aid tent.

That began the long story of me going from the First Aid, to the Field Hospital, to getting a prescription, because with an infection in your head that bad, "you don't mess around." I had to get antibiotics, and I knew it. An ambulance dropped me off at Wal Mart, but their Pharmacy was closed, then I walked and Hitched (barefoot) to the Rite Aid to get my stuff. I got it, and made it back to Hemphry shortly before Widespread started. I stayed by the van for most of the show, but managed to get down there to lie down on the ground near the cardboard and paints I'd left for people at the beginning of the day, during the Wailers. Saturday was a washout for me.

I woke up early on Sunday morning, and my face was even more swollen. At that point I decided to go to the hospital, so they could lance it. I'd tried to get first aid to do that, but they wouldn't. I made it down to the hospital pretty easily, and soon I was being treated. They hooked me up to an I.V. and gave me some strong antibiotics, but they wouldn't lance it.

I went back to the site, and tabled for a few hours. I was going to get my prescription, when I realized I didn't really need to go until Monday, so I turned around, and drove Hemphry down to where the action was really happening. Spirit brought me to the right place, because no sooner had I started setting up the table, then Dave and Cassandra came up and were so happy to see me, but I must of looked bad because Dave's reaction to my face told me I must have been in pain. I was really happy to see them too! Like what a relief. They helped table until we went in. I went to Spearhead while they went to G-Love.

Spearhead was rocking it, sounding really tight, being their uplifting selves. It was Fathers Day, and many of us have had intense experiences with our Fathers. Michael Franti's Father passed away two weeks before Bonaroo, and he was still freshly coping with that reality. He dedicated a song to all of our Fathers, and it was totally moving. I cried, and it felt good to visit my Father/stepfather space. My Dad died a few years ago, and my stepdad and I haven't always seen eye to eye. It's been a bit of a struggle at times, and I know that I still have had resentment towards him. During the Show, Michael had us get down and feel the ground, giving thanks to the Earth for providing for our lives. Then he had us think of something to release. I immediately thought of Carl, and was able to let go of some of my angst, and resentment toward him. It hasn't been easy, but I can honestly say I'm thankful to Carl for working to provide for our family, and for putting up with my mom's two sons. Thanks Carl, if you're reading this.

The Dead came on while we were walking over to the stage. My face was starting to feel better, even though I was hurting and somewhat out of it. The amount of people there was just incredible, and we were all excited for the beginning of Dead Tour. The first set sort of slipped by. I think there was a Candyman, or maybe an Uncle John's Band, I can't really recall all that happened because I was on drugs. The pharmaceuticals I was prescribed had an effect on me that I'm not used to.

They played Dark Star in the second set and I swear, The Boys are Back! The Space was great, and the crowd was really excited for their return. I was happy because puss was slowly draining into my mouth and I could spit it out, and the pressure in my face was going down. I'd been chewing on my cheek, and I had a huge pocket just waiting to burst. After the show, Dave and I performed some parking lot dentistry, and I was able to poke my mouth with a needle, and even more gross stuff came out, and my swollen face went down. I was smiling, and felt better than I had at any point leading up to or during the festival. I went to sleep feeling good about the future of my face. Give Thanks.

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Johannes Chapman, Pure Hemp Caravaner
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www.thebet.ca