I never thought I could come so far so quickly. When I started this blog it seemed as if there was an enormous number of trips, that the 23 years Steve and I spent together would take me years to sort through.
I have tried to post more than once each month, so short clips and drafts accumulated quickly, and here, coming up on the second anniversary of Steve’s death I find myself at the brink of 2011- the last year we were really free to travel. Shocking! that all the time spent visiting S in prison we were more free than after I bought the screenprint business. Big Red was stolen in May of 2011, and was gone for ten days, found on 82nd Avenue in Oakland, somehow not stripped . . we got her back the night of the eclipse.
The next day, June 1, Ann and I hung my ART SHOW! at Chester’s.
Just before the Opening, Jean and I finished placing the artist’s statement and labels, and afterward, went over to visit Pavel–what a mistake that was! My life was perfect just then. What else did I need? I was on the verge of Satori, but didn’t know the form it would eventually take. 
One sunny Sunday, Steve and I went to the beach with Hans and Jean. We had a lovely day, a hike, and a picnic, and a few beers afterward. The pictures of him show me a side of sadness-I have no idea what he was pondering. Maybe he is happy, relaxed–looking back I search for clues in every photo, every memento he left behind. He had stopped drinking, and tried for a while to stop playing music. They were inextricably linked in his life, and we often, usually play for tips and beer. Playing music in bars–it is a dilemma many of us struggle with. Then later, Point Richmond, hiking with Jean-
Jean and Steve- so funny, such good friends. Both gone now. the data files says these are the same day, 6/26/2011 but I think not . . ? It may be soon after we got the Westy–June 21.
July 2 we drove the new Westfalia to Black Butte River Ranch to play the July 4th Weekend party. 
This is the type of event that we wanted the Westfalia for. A weekend festival with parking-lot camping where there is no privacy. The band we are in is the Possum Family Singers–all fired Ex-Cavepainters and Silver Kittens.
The band lives on to this day.
Travels With Stevie 