Mississippi Along the Skagit

 

Just a shorter, post-card moment: my dear, dear wife isn't in the best of health, so many times, my day off is basically spent getting her out of the house for a drive. A week or so ago, sun unseasonably beaming (as it continues to be), we took off. On to Lake Cavanaugh, over a former logging road to Oso, then north to Darrington, desperately in need of a restroom (found a park -- whew!) Arrive in Darrington, which felt like a town hanging on for dear life before all that's left is a gas station - slash - mini-mart - slash - nail salon - slash - tattoo parlor. And yet there's a library AND a bookstore -- so maybe

there's still a chance for D-town to get through the tough times.

 

Darrington is surrounded by amazing mountains, but...well, here's the deal: Concrete and Rockport and Marblemount have built a 'American Alps' tourism campaign -- and it's working! Eagle viewing, wineries,  gluen-free bakeries and ghost tours -- Concrete is finding a way to capitalize on the gorgeous, inviting surroundings. Darrington, it seems, not so much. 

Anyway, we drove the Concrete-Sauk Valley Road, late afternoon sun illuminating the river and so many are-you-kidding-me-you're-right-on-the-banks-of-the-freakin'-river cabins. What music could we listen to that would accompany, even enhance, this journey? Turns out this album did just fine.

The songs are tradtional, but Mississippi John Hurt's singing is kindly and delicately subtle. It suggests slowing down, seeing the beauty in the common and the everyday. We drove on, past kids (babies in tow), walking dogs - or rather, accompaning dogs on their walks -- farms, ranches all lit up in a golden glow -- man, what a fine, fine, fine day. And we both agreed --- Mississippi John was the perfect soundtrack.