While in Florida, I stayed with good friends, Bertie Jim Broaddus at their wild and exotic cat sanctuary, Bear Creek Feline Center. They do a great job of caring for some really wild animals as shown in earlier Postings. And, they said, "ice cream doesn't grow on trees". Thanks again for your generous hospitality.

Atlanta Area - At the Harper Family Reunion on Sunday 6-14.

Atlanta Area - Katie, Neal, Grace & Olivia and Ashlee and Brinton joined me as we prepare to go to the Harper Family reunion on Sunday 6-14

Barbeque Reviews – Continued – Atlanta Area

Lakewood Heights - Atlanta, GA – Harold’s Barbeque – This BBQ mecca has been serving basic chopped and sliced pork since 1947 at this location. The sandwiches are made with loaf bread and lightly toasted over a grill. The Brunswick Stew was surprisingly good. They make an excellent cornbread to go with the Stew. Very hard to beat this food. Rated 7.0 on a scale of 0-7.

North Carolina - I stopped by the new Indian Motorcycle plant and showroom south of Charlotte. After many owners and troubles, hopefully this interaction will have the success that the heritage of this brand and the beauty of the machine deserve. It sure appears that they are building a quality bike and adhering to the classic Indian look. Top photo is of a 1947 Indian Chief and sidecar. The other is of a couple of the new editions. Very Cool!

While in Phoenix, I stayed with Mary Alice and Jim Fox. They are wonderful folks and a beautiful couple. Thanks again for everything.

Atlanta Area - Roswell - My business partner and good friends Kathy and Bill Blankinship were great hosts for a couple of nights while in Atlanta. Another dedicated and beautiful couple. Thanks again.

Atlanta Georgia Area - Met up for breakfast with a couple of my young high school buddies, Terry Bradshaw and Tony Ramsey. Wow, it's really fun to catch-up on where everybody is and relive old stories and memories. I'm looking forward to next years big reunion. Thanks Terry and Tony for meeting me.

Roswell, GA - My good friends, Sharon and Hal Sowders provided great hospitality while in the Atlanta area. Beautiful Home and Beautiful Couple. Thanks Again.

Barbeque Reviews – Continued – Atlanta Area

Chamblee, GA – Old Brick Pit – Highly respected for the light sauce, pulled pork and low key environment. I have been frequenting this BBQ eatery since 1983. The pulled pork and Brunswick Stew is excellent. I am not sure about the continuity of ownership and, based on this last experience, I feel that the quality has slipped a bit. Still, overall very good. Rated 6.6 on a scale of 0-7.

Sandy Springs and Roswell – Slope’s BBQ, since 1991 – www.slopesbbq.com. Not an old BBQ joint but, Bob White has built an excellent reputation for high quality good eats. There are now 6 locations …..I have tried only 3 locations. This is very good pulled pork with vinegar based sauce. The ribs are great and the Brunswick Stew is second only to that made by my sweet Mother. Rated a 7.0 on scale of 0-7. This is the place to get your fill of BBQ

Atlanta, Georgia area - Met up on Thursday morning with Mike Moss, husband to my cousin Denise. We met at Moto 400, a Yamaha, Suzuki, and Triumph motorcycle dealership in Dawsonville, GA. Mike is an expert offroader and he showed me some of Georgia's beautiful and challenging mountain backroads (all paved, fortunately). We had a great ride, a quick lunch and then back to the dealership to part ways ......... we thought. That's where I had a motorcycle breakdown. Thankfully, the breakdown occured at Moto 400 and not on some secluded backroad on a mountain where we had just been. The good folks at Moto 400 checked my bike and correctly diagnosed the problem but, understandably did not have the particular parts for my bike. Mike is friends with the owner and staff of Moto 400 and they were very nice to loan Mike a trailer so we could transport my bike to BMW of Atlanta in Marietta, where those good people turned around the repair in record time and had us back on the road with the new parts and new tires in short order. Again, many thanks to Mike for his hospitality and great help, and to the good folks at Moto 400: http://www.moto400.com/ in Dawsonville and BMW of Atlanta.

Note: I just gained access today to a great photo of a quite nice and very serious minded couple, Dwight Scooter Hughes, of Ruidoso, NM who were gracious to put me up at their home in Ruidoso a couple of weeks ago. They were very nice to take me in and I look forward to seeing them next year at the Blues Foundation Awards Dinner in May. Thanks to you both for your generous hospitality.

Panama City, FL - Bear Creek Cattery. www.bearcreekfelinecenter.org. I stopped to visit my good friend Jim Broaddus and his wife, Bertie who formed and operate the Bear Creek Cattery which is an exotic cat sanctuary here in Florida. Jim is introducing a very hesitant me to one of the Colorado Mountain Lions. In addition Jim and Bertie care for and maintain their sanctuary for African Servals, Florida Panthers, Central American Jaguarundis, Siberian Lynx, African Caracals, and various North American Bobcats.

Here viewing the feisty African Caracal

Panama City, FL - Here at the Bear Creek Cattery sanctuary viewing the African Servals

Panama City, FL - Met up with my good friend, Jim Broaddus who along with his wife, Bertie run the Bear Creek Cattery. This cattery serves as a non-profit sanctuary for exotic cats from all over the world. Among the cats they have are Colorado Mountain Lions, one of which slapped Jim last fall causing a cerebral hematoma. Here Bertie is showing me one of the Mountain Lions.

Highway 61 Blues Festival - Here with the vibrant Mississippi Slim.

Highway 61 Blues Festival - Lil' Dave Thompson

Highway 61 Blues Festival - Mickey Rogers and The Soulmasters.

Highway 61 Blues Festival - Jimmy "Duck" Holmes.

Highway 61 Blues Festival - Here with Bill "Howlin' - Madd" Perry.

John Horton performing.

I was honored be be able to meet David "Honeyboy" Edwards. 94 year young and still performing. This gentleman helped give birth to the Blues. A true privilege to meet this man.

Retired New York City Fireman, Dennis Taaffe with Mississippi Slim.

Highway 61 Blues Festival - On stage with Cedric Burnside and Lightnin' Malcolm - The 2 Man Wrecking Crew. Great Performers!

Here with Billy Johnson, the Director of the Highway 61 Blues Museum and founder of the Highway 61 Blues Festival here in Leland, Mississippi. Billy organizes this annual festival that draws incredible talent and delivers an experience of authentic Delta Blues for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

The brick that I bought in 2002 when Jim Fox and I last attended the Highway 61 Blues Museum Festival.

Friday evening in Indianola at the BB King Homecoming Celebration I saw David "Honeyboy" Edwards play and sing for the folks.

Later on Friday afternoon I attended a reception at the Highway 61 Blues Museum and was privileged to meet and spend a little time with T-Model Ford, 88 years young and a very interesting life.

On Friday afternoon I attended the unvailing of James "Son" Thomas's Blues Trail Marker in Leland at the Highway 61 Blues Museum location. Here is shot with Son's family along with his friend, T-Model Ford and the Mayor of Leland.