Ok, you filthy animals. It’s time to step back and regroup. Hot Springs or Busk (HSoB) phases I, II, and III covered the West and the Midwest. Now, with winter bearing down, i find myself learning some lessons here in the deep south (HSoB Phase IV), starting with Arkansas and Georgia. The lesson? It gets cold here too. Granted, we most likely won’t see any snow, let alone a bomb-cyclone blizzard in the Savannah area, but, it’s not what i had imagined. Specifically, i expected nighttime temps between 40 and 60 and day temps between 50 and 70. Apparently i brought the 20s and 30s from Kansas along with me for the ride… lol.

Anyway, i’m waiting for a response from a couple applications associated with solo-acoustic road dawg gigs. Both responses should come in some time in December, but definitely before the 1st of the year. So, we’re taking it easy in Georgia for a spell. The HSoB Phase IV itinerary will be determined by these results. We’ll either hit the road for the Coastal South states, or we’ll postpone Phase IV till March after the 2025 South by Southwest confab has concluded.

Either way, Phase IV will cover the Coastal South states. starting with South Carolina, the Palmetto State. Specifically Charleston, a city trapped in a time warp, a ghost town of antebellum mansions and haunted history. We’ll dive into the murky depths of the past, where the ghosts of Confederate generals and plantation owners still roam. We’ll take a midnight stroll down the cobblestone streets, with the chilly night air seeping into our bones.

Next stop, Florida, the Sunshine State. Specifically St. Augustine by way of Waycross, GA. St. Augustine is Near Daytona Beach and it is quintessential Florida. It’s a place steeped in early US history. Founded in 1565, St. Augustine is the oldest continuously occupied settlement of European and African-American origin in the United States. Forty-two years before the English colonized Jamestown and fifty-five years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock.

From there, it’s off to Alabama, The Heart of Dixie. Specifically Mobile, a sleepy port city with a pirate past. We’ll wander the historic district, feeling the weight of history in the air thick with the scent of decay and the promise of adventure. If Mother Nature cooperates, we’ll swing by Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, a place where time stands still. Maybe take some zen time just getting lost in the rhythm of the waves, the salty air, and the endless expanse of the Gulf Coast. I’ve been warned about snowbird season, that finding places to light might be a bit of a challenge… we shall see.

After Alabama, it’s on to Mississippi, the Magnolia State. Specifically Biloxi, a city of contradictions, where the glitz and glamour of the casinos clash with the gritty reality of the working class. I might check out the neon-lit gambling halls, but knowing me, the local libraries are more my speed. Who woulda thunk i’d be so “booky”? Either way, i need to find a way to soak in local flavor and/or convene with ghosts in Natchez, a city steeped in history… the grand plantations… the lives of wealthy planters and their enslaved laborers.

After that, Louisiana, the Bayou State. Specifically New Orleans, The Big Easy, a city of sin and salvation. We’ll check with a former colleague, a one-time NOLA native. She’ll help me navigate the vibrant jazz scene, the Creole cuisine, and the endless supply of cheap booze. We’ll explore the French Quarter, the Garden District, and the mysterious swamps, where the line between reality and fantasy blurs. I’ve always wanted to experience NOLA, and here’s my opportunity.

So… those are the broad strokes. I’m sure there’ll be hitches and wrenches in the works, but Rocinante has proven resilient, and by replacing her tires and brake pads we’ve added a layer of assurance. In addition, we have solar and shore power installed and tested. We’re ready as ever to venture outside familiar territory. With the West and Midwest being my stomping grounds, the easy part is over and so very grateful to have family in Savannah to serve as home base for Phase IV.

DAMN THE TORPEDOES… the Deep South and Eastern Seaboard states are mostly unfamiliar territory. I’ve been to Manhattan, and i’ve been to Daytona Beach and Nova Scotia. Otherwise, Phase IV and V will be, how did Willy Nelson put it? Oh yea, “…goin’ places that i’ve never been… seeing things i may never see again.” And that’s why, “…i can’t wait to get on the road again.”

Onward through the fog… Ron, Rohlfie, & Ronnie Hays