I fought hard for this one. I had envisioned this one, deep.

Through this seemingly endless pandemic maze, this trip was a driving force to keep me moving! I needed this one.

*Cactus Gordon ready to rock the LA Forum*

The plan for this Southwest journey was formed back when Phish announced their 2021 tour plans in May. Notions of doing all 13 Fall Tour shows were well considered. Thoughts and plans of driving out there were not off the table. Visiting every single person I knew on the West Coast was conceivable.

The excitement was heating up. This trip was well surpassing what became the Radical Sabbatical Trip of 2014 (also involved the West Coast). This one had it all, but it needed a title, it was missing a theme. A mission. It needed its second dose, before getting the booster of all boosters.

And then it happened.

It was mid-July and we’re in the thick of AKA Summer Camp season. I was closing on my house, going through a whole circus of sizeable personal events and celebrations, and Camp was running into its typical bumps in the road. The bumps that you don’t see coming and the people involved seem to be breaking down on the side of the road every direction you turn. Oh, it was all there.

So I booked a session with my Chiropractor, Brian Malzer, at his Lauderdale Wellness Center for some necessary adjustments that is guaranteed to make my week a heck of a lot better. (Highly recommended, see Dr. Malzer!) And when I sat down with Brian for our quick few minutes of catch up, I get the chance to vent the latest that parents are upset and the kids are in full bully mode. It’s sports camp…what could possibly go wrong?!

Brian says, “you know Chris, an old colleague of mine once said in these moments of frustration, to be reminded of the “SW” saying.”

The What? I’m not familiar!

He says that in times of business distress, “Some Will, Some Won’t, So What, and Someone’s always Waiting. SWSWSWSW.”

Sold. You can’t make everyone happy (You’re not a cold beer) Thanks Brian! This would be it. My Radical XL Sabbatical, SWSWSWSW 2021, would be loaded. Music (Phish), Friends of Long, SW Hikes, Ocean, me and some over-priced rental car, Let’s Go!

So if you’re still with me, here’s just a snapshot of a 10-day trip, the way I like to do it. Not your typical vacation, rather a journey of rock & roll, spiritual proportions.

The glory of this 4,500+ mile trip (3,000 by air, 1,500 by Silver Bullet Ford EcoSport) was that I did it my way which means we’ll just see where it takes us. As of the morning I flew out, I had no definitive idea where I was staying for 7 of the 10 days, true story. (Thank you smart phones and intuition). That’s Chris. I call it intuition, ya’ll call me crazy. We’re even.

Within this all, I’m highlighting 3 main themes though I wrote about 20 along the way. I call them Infinite Awareness #1, #2 & #3.

… To the Radical XL Sabbatical 2021 …

10.21.21 – Day 1 - 3:36a wake in St. Paul > Phoenix by 9:30a MT.
Quiet Mind, Strong Body. Maricopa South Mountains calling. Hiked and then hiked some more with Oakie, and hung out at Angela’s relatives outside of Chandler before driving back and staying in Glendale.

Day 2 – Phoenix (Glendale)
I thought I screwed my whole trip up by pushing too hard on Day 1 in the dry heat mountains and getting sick. Oh heck no, not happenin. Sucked it up, toured around, met an old friend from Minneapolis, Kyle!, who I hadn’t seen since 2004, and then went to the show with the Oakmans. Friday night, Phish in Phoenix, hot hot show!!

Infinite Awareness #1 – The Connection
The Connection. A theme I’ve played around with throughout the pandemic. Heck, even prior to the pandemic. As a society, for the most part, we’ve completely lost track of pure connection with one another. Maybe its just me? Nah. Blame social media, blame smart phones, blame covid or politics. Nah. Don’t blame anybody. Its all of us. We can all be better at connecting with others. Whether its family members or friends, co-workers or your kids, talk to someone. Uplift yourself and connect.

So I used SWSWSWSW to realign and Connect! Music, to save your relationships, huh. Phish does that. I was so looking forward to this trip but more than anything to see and hang out with amazing people, even if that meant only a beer at set break. Get some!

Day 3 – PH>SD. Hit the road to San Diego to meet up with JJ, Eddie and my boy Thurmes! Our stay in La Jolla and Eddie and Alyson’s was an oasis in itself. What amazing people! And then to hang out with these guys at a Phan favorite venue in Chula Vista! Saturday night… NICU Chula was another heater of a show!

Day 4 – SD (La Jolla) > LA (Santa Monica/Inglewood) Showtime at the Forum! It was Sunday morning… time to play some tennis at Eddie’s and then drive up to the Forum with JJ to meet up with more friends and see Phish at the historic LA Forum?! When Sport meets Music, and the other way around… I’m on cloud 9!

Mr. Mojo Risin… Sunday show @ LA Forum, 10/24
(I’m back on that floor and center about 30 yds)

Infinite Awareness #2 – Sport meets Music
Or Music meets Sport. This will be a blog post topic for the future, fo sho! I can’t wait. I’ve got stories and volumes of reflection/infinite awareness on this one but we’ll save that for another day. The IA is that to me, there isn’t a better intersection in the world. Whether running/working out to music or doubling down on a day of playing and watching the two. That’s the parlay I’ll put my money on every day.

So I’ll keep this chapter/mindset brief. I grew up an LA Lakers fan. In ’86-’90 when Magic – Kareem – Sir James and Coach Pat Riley were Showtime, I wasn’t even 10 years old. My formative sports fan days and at the time, I’d be lucky if dad let me stay up to watch the fast break of a Saturday night Lakers game at the Forum on TV! Magic and the Lakers at the Forum… what a dream!

Well Day 4 of SWSWSWSW, not only did I get to meet up with JJ and Dave, Sarah and Dan! and the cool kids from Santa Cruz, but I got to see Phish on the floor of the Forum. And it. was. a. Heater! The best show of the 5, without a doubt. Music met Sport that night my friends, on the Floor of the Forum!

The Great Western Forum, Inglewood, CA

Day 5 – Woke up in Santa Monica to rain in LA? Strange perfection for an off day as I got JJ back to LAX and caught up on ocean air and rest!

Day 6 – Phishing in Santa Barbara So this was going to be it. My 4th and final phish show of the tour and then off to wonder for a few days in Cali. The SB Bowl was highly anticipated as it’s a smaller scene, less than 5,000 people at this venue when the previous shows were north of 18,000 and 20,000 in LA and San Diego, respectively. (FTR, been at Phish shows with 75,000+)

Went to pick up Sir James at LAX and then drive the 2 hour stretch up the sun filled coast to SB. I never generally liked LA but this trip was changing that for me. October in sunny southern California might my favorite setting next to Packer Game at Lambeau in December.

This wasn’t the most favorable setlist, they were using their alternate light rig and the overall vibe was more pretentious than party, but overall, what an amazing SB experience. Just a phantasmagoria of rich beauty, the Santa Barbara Bowl has the feel of the Greek in Berkeley but the view of a distant utopia off to the Pacific.

“Several times unconsciously, I’ve stumbled on the path and seen a mountain in the mist.
Rain falls on my shoulders, sun rises in the east I’m worn and bruised but I am here at least.”

— Mountains in the Mist

Day 7 – Sea and Sand day of recovery We got Sir James back to LAX after a few pints in El Segundo. After that, I’m pretty sure I fell asleep on the sands of Hermosa Beach for a good hour, hour and a half.

Day 8 – Hermosa Beach > Las Vegas Another sun filled day, woke up ecstatic that I was a) going to get this drive in through the desert, b) I would make it to LV to see the Packers @ Cardinals game, and c) I was getting one more night of Phish! I walked down to the Beach and took in what Southern Californians do on a Thursday morning at 8am: Beach Volleyball, Boxing Lessons, Surfing, Fishing, Yoga… all of this witnessed in a 15-minute span as I worked my way to the ocean pier. What a life.

I got some phone calls and emails out of the way and then it was time to hit the road through the desert. I could very well have made it back to Phoenix and caught the Packers game live but I knew that if I did I right, I knew exactly where I would watch the game at the MGM Sports Bar (Packers won without their top 3 receivers!) and time it right to see another killer Phish show down the hall in the MGM Grand Garden Arena (my 80th phish show).

Wishing I had better photos in Vegas for the Pack’s huge win…or partying with the Flamengo Girls… but somethings are to be left undone.

Day 9 - Leaving Las Vegas > Henderson/Hoover Dam > Phoenix
I’ve done Vegas several times. With friends, by myself, music, sports/coaching, gambling/mischief. You know when its time to go and YOU GO. This was a one-nighter for me and man was it good.

If I think back to the 1,500+ miles I drove throughout SWSWSWSW(SW) ’21, the drive from Vegas back to Phoenix was probably the best. Most clarity. Best variety in terrain, especially in northwest/north central AZ. The trip was winding down so the positive vibes and reflection were strong.

Infinite Awareness #3 – Set your Soul (and work) Free
To set your mind on a goal, a trip, a foreseen accomplishment and then doing it is what I live for. Running marathons, running AKA, taking a 10-day sabbatical coming out of a pandemic… its powerful in so many freaking ways.

When you put your mind to something, instill the quiet mind/strong body mentality.
When you’re honest with yourself and with your Staff, family and friends that this is all a good thing for me to do. Leave your work and your troubles behind and just do. Trusting your gut, TRUSTING YOUR STAFF TO KEEP IT GOING WHILE YOU’RE AWAY, trust your spirit and let the energy guide you. Powerful stuff I wish upon each and every one of you.

Day 10 – Phoenix Till I’m released, awaken beast, I’m on the road again
I woke up early that Saturday morning. Knew I wanted to beat the traffic to a more popular hike in Phoenix proper. I bet Grandma Mary Ann hiked this one. Couldn’t have finished the trip any better. Time to head home.

Musically, I logged in over 14 ½ hours of live phish. And to give you a better idea, 17 of the 92 songs I saw clocked over 15 minutes each (the greatest Jam Band of all time*, bar none!). *The Phish Rules Blog saved for another day in a later chapter.

Spiritually, this was one of the most amazing events of my life. I went for it. Connected with amazing people in spectacular places. I lived my life, thanks to Music and Sports/Hiking and to a fuel-efficient automobile. I got away and trusted the good people back home to take care of things and each other. Life is good when you trust it and grow.

Oakie, Angela, Kyle, JJ, Eddie, Thurmes, Sarah, Dan, Santa Cruz, Sir James, the Steelers fans at the MGM… PHISH… love you all and thanks for the Connection!

SWSWSWSW(SW) 2021 was a long time coming. As I say to all of you, every time, you truly can all do this and should, for yourself! Build your vision, work really hard. See it all through, with the trust and good graces of your loved ones and staff back home, and it always works out in the end. I wish you all the best in your journey. Lotta love.

Some Will, Some Won’t, So What, Someone’s always Waiting…

Thank you SouthWest USA, CS

SWSWSWSW Tour 2021 ... Keep on Risin!

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