Pat's Peeps Podcast
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Pat Walsh
Pat's Peeps Podcast
Ep. 268 Ep. 268 Today's Peep is a Sunday Escape with Pat and his friend Jefe: A Convertible Ride to The Final Day of the Strawberry Music Festival in Grass Valley, Memories, The Bear River Bridge Beckons, the Beauty of Local Discoveries and Dan Tyminski
Escape to the foothills with us as we journey through the idyllic town of Colfax and experience the final day of the Strawberry Music Festival. Under perfect late May skies, this adventure celebrates the often-overlooked treasures hiding just off the beaten path.
The morning begins with a drive through downtown Colfax, where we discover local gems like Buzz Through Joe's coffee shop and The Basement restaurant. These family-owned establishments represent the heart of small-town America, offering experiences chains simply can't replicate. Just outside town, we explore the Red Frog bar—a quintessential local watering hole complete with vintage jukebox and stunning views of passing trains against rolling hills. These businesses aren't just charming stops; they're the lifeblood of communities that deserve our support.
Nature's beauty takes center stage at the Bear River Bridge, where rushing waters and lush greenery create a postcard-perfect scene. This peaceful interlude prepares us for the festival's final day, where we enjoy performances from Rose's Pawn Shop, the Slow Can Ramblers (performing a bluegrass rendition of Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown"), and headliner Dan Tyminski. Known for his work with Alison Krauss and Union Station, plus his iconic vocals on "Man of Constant Sorrow" from "O Brother, Where Art Thou?," Tyminski's performance provides a perfect conclusion to the weekend.
As Memorial Day approaches, this episode reminds us to appreciate both the natural beauty around us and the authentic experiences found in small towns. Whether it's community radio like KVMR broadcasting festival performances or riverside moments of tranquility, these connections matter. Discover why sometimes the best adventures happen when you simply turn off the highway and explore what's waiting just beyond.
Good morning. It's Pat's Beach, 268. It's Sunday morning, it is beautiful out and I just thought I would do it a little different this morning. I am on my way with Hefe. Say good morning Hefe, good morning everybody. We are headed to. Cousin Nick, by the way, took off early this morning Back up to Spokane. Thank you, cousin Nick, what a good guy. But we are headed up for the final day of the Strawberry Music Festival, which we've been for the last four days here enjoying great music and a little politics. Last night, which I was not, jeff, did you enjoy the political aspect of last night's fan.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was kind of crazy, kind of out of left field there kind of for me. But yeah, you know it is what it is. It's a political time, so people are making political statements.
Speaker 1:I guess. Yeah, stop it already, please. I'm here to enjoy music, like I said on last night's show, but whatever, that's beside the point, can't let it ruin a beautiful strawberry. The weather continues to be just absolutely amazing. Honestly, again, I know I keep saying this over and over, but it just, and I understand it's going to get warmer soon, but that's the way it should be. It's going to be June soon, but that's the way it should be. It's going to be June. But all I know is that since April and now all through May here again we're at May 25th it has just been beautiful, Not too hot. You know, sometimes you go right from the winter right into 100-degree temperatures or 95 or 99, whatever, but not this time. It's just, I don't know, incredible. So we found a place yesterday, me and FA and Nick. You know, please, support local businesses. That's one of the things Pat's Peeps is all about, patspeepscom.
Speaker 1:We went to a place in Colfax yesterday because you know, nick being from Spokane, you know Jeff is from Lancaster or Palmdale. Is it Lancaster or Palmdale? Actually, courts Hill, courts Hill, okay, valley of the Sun, for sure, right, right In that area. Yeah so, but neither one of them are that familiar with the foothills, like I am, and places like Colfax even though Jeff's been there several times, but Nick has not and I took him to see the Bear River, the little bridge there, which is awesome, on 174. It's so beautiful. Nick is very adventurous. Nick does things that I would never dream of doing climbing mountains and doing crazy stuff that I'm just not up for. But we found a place yesterday called the Basement. It's a restaurant and I know we mentioned that yesterday you had great chicken tacos, the best had a pizza over there and Nick had a big salad. But the thing about it, the point, is it's really amazing what you can find when you explore towns that are right off, let's say, in this case the freeway sort of off the beaten path. But some of these places I'll give you an example here.
Speaker 1:I am now going to go through Colfax and I love this place and I don't mean to disparage anyone or anything, because you know, even if you're a Starbucks, you know whoever owns that Starbucks here in town. They're trying to earn a living too. It's their local business, part of a franchise. Next to it there's my church. I go to church right there, but there's a place called Buzz Through Joe's right next to it. That Buzz Through Joe's is so good, man, you drive through, they got your coffee. They even have French roast. That's why I go there. Plus, I also want to support that local mom and pop, so I go through there. I get my French roast. They have great food. Now, if you come down in here, we are going, jeff, into the town of Colfax.
Speaker 2:Your thoughts on the beautiful town of Colfax. Oh man, I love Colfax. Jeez, it's a beautiful, quaint little town. Man, it's just a gorgeous day today, boy, it could be not even 80 degrees and just oh wow, what a beautiful day to be cruising through such a beautiful little town. Yeah, they have these little businesses.
Speaker 1:It's just like very much a throwback. There's the wrecking crew, snapdragon provisions, there's the basement pizza, salad, wings, luminaires, crafts, games. There's a way around. You could go on 174 and kind of not have to go through. You know downtown Colfax if you're trying to go that way, but at the same time it's good to show off beautiful downtown Colfax.
Speaker 1:So we are on our way to see the final day of the Bluegrass Festival. Well, it's not the, the Bluegrass Festival. I'm sorry if I said that the Strawberry Music Festival, not the Bluegrass Festival. The Strawberry Music Festival. And tonight is going to be a real treat. Dan Cheminski is going to be playing. If you know the, either the band Allison Krauss and Union Station. He's a guitar player and sometimes vocalist. When Allison's taking that song off, it's his song. He plays and sings that. If you're familiar with oh Brother when Art Thou movie and the soundtrack which won a Grammy for the best album and you hear I am a man of constant sorrow that's Dan Terminsky. Oh, nice, nova just passes by old school. To me that's one of the best voices in bluegrass.
Speaker 1:We're going by the Red Frog. You want a treat? Come up 174,. Just out of Colfax You'll see a place called the Red Frog. The people are just great there. I actually went for my birthday. I like it so much. Someone heard it was my birthday A guy within the bar and bought me a big shot of Irish whiskey Nice, yeah, isn't that nice? Yeah, beautiful. You know there's a great jukebox in there. Yeah, I love the Frog. What do you like?
Speaker 2:about it. It's just kind of a you step in kind of like the old days, you know, yeah, right Back in 19, 1960, 1970, you know, or earlier. Really, it's just a beautiful little place to be, you know.
Speaker 1:And they've got food and drinks and good people and good owners and a jukebox. The thing I like most about it is that they have. If you're sitting in the bar area, let's say, okay, is that they have? If you're sitting in the bar area, let's say, okay, you can sit just right there in the bar, or you can sit. They have an inside bar as well, a couple of like an inside bar and then kind of an outdoor patio bar, let's say, and from there you can watch the trains go by in the hills and you just have the most beautiful view, right.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it is.
Speaker 1:It's a great place great views, beautiful, great drinks yeah, great company yep, so yeah, I highly recommend the red frog up on highway 174 just out of colfax. Right now we are headed down at 174 to the Bear River. We're going to go to this little bridge over the river. I've taken FA and my cousin Nick there a couple of times on the way down. It's always nice to stop there. Do you have any impressions of that bridge?
Speaker 2:Yeah, I was glad you brought me there yesterday, man, that would uh, that would have been a bummer if we would have missed it. But um, yeah, it was a beautiful place.
Speaker 1:Oh my goodness I'll post a picture.
Speaker 2:We took pictures above the water there and um, just yeah, it was beautiful and I love listening to this as we drive.
Speaker 1:You can listen to Hog Ranch Radio right there on the radio as you're driving back to the festival. It's on KVMR, community radio, kvmr in Nevada City and on Saturdays. I love their programming in particular. But yeah, what I love about Hog Ranch, again two different things. Kvmr is community radio in Nevada City, hog Ranch radio is the radio station at the campsite or at the campsite, the festival, excuse me and KVMR being sort of the cahoots there with the Strawberry Music Festival. They play what they're playing on Hog Ranch Radio, what Hog Ranch Radio's playing. So I love the way they work together.
Speaker 1:All right, we're going to pull into this parking lot real quick, one last time for the Bear River, and we're going to go check out the bridge one last time. Take you a couple of more photos which I shall post there you go and we'll get back to you here. I'm loving this. This is a very, again, relaxed, nice day here on Patch Peeps 268, my friends, by the way. Pat Walsh of the Pat Walsh Show, kfbk Radio 93.1 FM, 1530 AM. I have Memorial Day off tomorrow. I've taken a couple of days of my vacation. I do want to wish you a happy Memorial Day. You know, sometimes it's odd to say happy in Memorial Day, but you know still, you, you know what I mean. I wish you nothing but happiness and a blessed day and a blessed weekend with your family and or friends, or whatever you happen to be doing. And then we also keep in mind what Memorial Day is all about. And so with that, we will venture out to the bridge and we'll continue on Pats Peeps 268.
Speaker 1:All right, now we are on the bridge. We're at the Bear River. See if you can hear the water. It is beautiful. I'll be quiet so you can see if you can hear the water. And I don't want you to hear the water by me dropping my phone off the bridge into the water. So here we go, and I don't want you to hear the water by me dropping my phone off the bridge into the water. So it's a beautiful breeze blowing. There's a beautiful breeze blowing. It's so picturesque.
Speaker 1:We are on this. I guess this would be, I don't know, maybe the south side of the bridge. Here it's just gorgeous, and you can walk over here. Over to the north side of the bridge, it's a little quieter. The water's running through. Oh no, no, there's some rapids right there. There go, oh my god, it's beautiful. You know I'm gonna show a video. I'll shoot a video and put it on my Pat's peeps page. Okay, on Facebook, pat's peeps on Facebook. I'll put it there as I'm trying to build that page. But I got to show you this. Take a listen. The thing that strikes me, f Hefe, is just how full the river is right here and how green everything is. It is a beautiful sight.
Speaker 3:All right.
Speaker 1:Well, I think I'll shoot a little video here. We have people now joining us on the bridge, so I'll shoot a little video and after the podcast is up or even before, I will post the video. Okay, off to the festival. Maybe lunch here on Pat's Peeps 268. Okay, we are now out at the meadow on this beautiful Sunday and you're about to hear from the band Rose's Pawn Shop. Rose's Pawn Shop. We're in the back of the meadow today versus being up in the front. It's a little warmer today. We're trying to find some shade.
Speaker 1:I'm really looking forward to Dan Chminski tonight. Like I was mentioning earlier, that's going to be great. It's going to be a great show. They've got Amy's Orchid Lounge, where they have artists as well. Let's see strawberry way station. What else do they have here? What is that? Daily music, stories, movement and spontaneous fun. Check the posted schedule or sign up to share your own magic. Let's see. What else do they have that I can tell you about? Strawberry Makes me really like I say, look forward to the Bluegrass Festival coming up.
Speaker 1:Father's Day Quiet camping available for those who prefer more peaceful surroundings at night. Music and celebration are not allowed between 11 and 6 am daily. You know, um, I don't know if that was always the rule when it was a camp either, because it seems like people were playing all night, which I mean in some cases. You can certainly understand. People want to get some sleep and rest up.
Speaker 1:Obviously, in terms of the front row seating on the Music Meadow they say note the start time and the location for the stroll line changed this year. A lot changed this year. The line will be located on the Music Meadow. It can only be entered from the South gate. Blah, blah, blah. You can line up at 2 pm on thursday and at 4 p, 4 am friday through sunday, and the staff will guide you where to place your chairs, at 3 pm thursday, 8 am friday through saturday. You know, I mean, it's a real dedicated person that comes out here at 4 am to place your chairs wherever you feel like putting them up. I've never done that, although in retrospect there's probably some artists that I would have probably done that for John Prine, maybe Leon Redbone and some others.
Speaker 3:Junior Brown.
Speaker 1:My dad loved this song, this Gordon Lightfoot song. What's the name of this band?
Speaker 2:Slow Can Ramblers, Slow Can Ramblers okay.
Speaker 1:Bluegrass-y version of Gordon Lightfoot's Sundown oh yeah, it's rough.
Speaker 3:Is that all I got? It's like magic. I love it. All the kids are returning. Are you ready, ready, chris? Hi, sometimes it's easy to see when I feel better than I used to be. Sometimes it's better to hear my pain. Sometimes it's better to hear my pain. Sometimes it's easier than I used to be.
Speaker 1:Sometimes it's easy to see when I feel better than I used to include this one for my dad. What are the odds they'd play a bluegrass version of this song?
Speaker 3:You know, this is really good oh my gosh. All right, give me a kiss now, get rekt.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, Wow, what a time at Strawberry. Everything ended up wound up, I should say, with Dan Tominski. Dan Tominski, of course, as I mentioned throughout the podcasts there, wrapped up the 2025 Strawberry Music Festival Again, thank you. Well, he was fantastic. By the way, most people remember this song, as I said, from oh Brother, where Art Thou, there's Jerry Douglas, who I've had the pleasure of meeting, took a photo with. I just think Dan Tominski has one of the greatest bluegrass voices.
Speaker 4:Perfect.
Speaker 1:Everyone sees George Clooney's face singing this song in the movie. Oh Brother, where Art Thou? Thank you to my friend Hefe. Jeffrey, thank you for coming up. Brother From the Valley of the Sun. My cousin Nick, thank you for coming down from Spokane. Thank you, guys for just kind of following along here on my podcast and on social media. You know, if you're ever interested in the Strawberry Music Festival, it'll continue to go on. Next up in terms of festivals, the Father's Day Bluegrass Festival from the very same location. Alright, alright, thank you for listening. We'll see you. On what is this? This is 268. On Pat's Peeves, oh, and on my radio show, the Pat Wals, for listening. We'll see you. On what is this? This is 268. On Pat's Peep oh and on my radio show, the Pat Walsh Show. We'll see you. On Pat's Peep's, number 269.
Speaker 4:Perhaps I'll die upon this train. Perhaps you'll die upon this train. Guitar solo. You can bury me in some deep valley For many years, where I made a way. Well then, you may learn to love another while I am sleeping in my grave, while he is sleeping Sleepin' in his dreams. Well, maybe your friends think I'm just a stranger. My face you never see.
