Gabe and I survived our first Balfa camp. The instruction was great and we were really pleased with how accessible most of the instructors were.

We didn't do too much late night jamming (Gabe was too wiped out by 11:00 pm--and I was too, if I'm telling the truth), but we did play a good bit at the Sunday Superjams and at spontaneous jams during the day.

My decision to ditch the box for jams and play guitar was a good one. Those jams are a lot more fun when you can play all the time instead of waiting for a turn.

For us, some of the highlights were:
1) jamming with Ryan and Ed Poullard
2) listening to D.L. Menard talk (always a trip) and perform--plus there was cake for his 80th b-day.
3) listening to Courtbouillion perform for the nightly dances. They tore it up!
4) the McCauley, Reed, and Vidrine reunion--heard some great stories and Mitch was playing that fiddle like he was possessed.

Gabe got lots of props from his hero, Steve Riley, and I got some good advice (and props) on accordion from Ed Poullard.

The only downside to camp was that I had to leave early. Got a tick bite on Tuesday and started feeling bad by Wednesday. By Thursday, I felt like I had the flu so we packed up for Eunice. Two painful shots, an antibiotic, and some bloodwork later, it turns out I got something nasty from that bite. Next year, I'm bringing TWO cans of repellent!