What a Weekend - Part Deux!

Let's go back to Friday shall we?

Keller "Hey, I think I can get Maiden tickets for tomorrow night, do you wanna go?"
Me "ummmm, YES!"

Saturday marked Catamount's 30th anniversary. Nat and I showed up with his truck full of 11 of our demo bikes. We were able to get some new folks a taste of what the big wheels are all about. The weather was beautiful, trails were fun, and turn out was great. After packing up, I had time to head home and get ready for Maiden.

We were able to go to the show in REAL style.
Just recently you see, Keller bought an 81 Z-28 Camaro. Beasts like this were the most coveted things for males our age back in the day (high school). I mean, who gets to drive to another country to see Iron Maiden in a Camero? With T-tops?


We do.

So we left on Saturday evening for Montreal.
Awesome!


Thank goodness for the internet, as we found a place to park right outside of the venue, just one stop away on the Metro. We rolled right up to the ticket booth and got our passes. We were at the headlining act of an all day metal-fest in Montreal, a beer in each fist, enjoying our favorite band, after spending 3 hours in some of Detroit's finest steel getting there, just in time for the band to go on.

The set list was the same as the last show, which was EVERY song that you need to see live. This time, instead of the second row, we were at the back end of 60,000 screaming Maiden fans, and I'll have to say that I really enjoyed the show. For one, I was not being crushed into the first row, and I could see the whole stage. They put on a very good show, lights, fireworks, explosions, and a giant Eddy.


To us, it was well worth the trip.


Sunday was spent lugging huge rocks around the forest in the rain, as we still have a lot of work to do on the new re-route. The trail is taking shape, and we got a lot done on some of the more difficult sections.

I need a week off to recover from the weekend!

Souvenirs from the Garden State

Well, what can I say? After a serious bought of indecision, I decided to leave my camera back at the hotel, only to see that everyone else brought theirs when we got inside. The parking lot was a trip, it was just like that movie "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." People tailgating, drinking beers, the evening air filled with the sounds of Maiden blasting from car stereos, and the smell of meat smoke rising from their grills.

I watched the show from the 3rd row, this time in a much tamer crowd relative to the Montreal show of last year. Not only did they almost every one of my favorites, there were some serious pyrotechnics, the heat was amazing as 15 foot flames shot into the air during Number of the Beast. The epic 13 minute Mariner delivered with a spectacular light and firework display. The infamous feather mask came out for Powerslave. It was mind blowing. Eddy made his appearance in the encore as the "futuristic Eddy" from the Stranger in a Strange Land album cover. I was kicking myself the whole time for not bringing my camera, but still managed to have the time off my life.

And what could be better than 2 hours of up close and personal, in your face, live Iron Maiden? One of your own coming home with a prize. Nat caught one of Nicko's drum sticks. Now that is a souvenir!


To add some more good news (at least for us), Maiden is adding more dates to this incredible tour in the US, including a show in Boston in June.
...hmmm, guess where I'll be?
With my camera this time.

MAIDEN!

This was my very first "CD", remember those things? I received this CD as a gift from my stepfather in 1985.

Before CDs, there were records. Growing up I had records. All of my Maiden records were played on an early 70s vintage Goodmans Module 80 turntable, with a SHURE diamond stylus. I know it was a diamond stylus, because I gave up candy for 2 weeks to buy the replacement for the broken one that came with the stereo. The switch was amazing. I loved my records, but holy cow! This newfangled CD thing was AMAZING!

Sadly, this particular CD is lost. The last time I had it was in an old car I used to own, where it resided in the 3 spot in the 6 disc changer. I distinctly remember having to drive to Burlington at 7:30 on a Saturday morning for a sales meeting, when I worked for a company that almost killed my spirit, and what got me there, was the EPIC, Rime of the Ancient Mariner. What an amazing song...

So, Maiden's new tour is a re-enactment of that most amazing album. I have floor tickets. For tomorrow night.

God willing, I'll make it to the venue unscathed, and will get to see the band I've loved for 25 years rock the house!