3/19/11 Downtown Roanoke

Now settled in a sub shop about to get started on some work. I just walked out of downtown square with $30.00, a snickers bar (that melted), and a couple of smokes all for just having a good time playing the banjo! Ive played more banjo in the past 5 days than I think I ever have before.

After Boone, NC I took the Blue Ridge Parkway (best drive ever) and headed to Blacksburg, Va  for St. Patty's day. Blacksburg is as much of a college town as Boone was, maybe too much so. I got my ID turned down at the first bar I went to, (I still have the paper ID and haven't received my laminated copy yet.) which is good since it landed me downtown to the other bars. After a few drinks I walked around the street around 11 pm jamming on the banjo. Drunk college students kept slipping me money even though I had no bag out for tips and paid for all my drinks that night. That and the student that pulled water bottles filled with vodka or some dirty ass whiskey and offered a swig. They sure got a kick out of the fuzzy green jacket.. I stayed the night with some new friends Kate and her boyfriend.

Nothing was going on there for a Friday night though expect getting shitty at the bar which I couldn't afford, and I could handle only so much of the college life. I headed 81-N towards Roanoke and ended up in a town outside of the city called Salem. Stopped by the bar (Awful Arthurs) and there was a live band playing that was pretty good. They were so diverse, playing lil' jon and the eastside boys and rapping going into I Love Rock n roll and Queen's We Will Rock You. Then they started jamming to some Metal. I thought it would be a good opportunity to let them know I had a banjo in my truck. Next thing you know Im on stage with the band playing Wagon Wheel and Rocky Mountain Top. Tried my first local beer Big Daddy's Dark Side. (and when I say I tried it, I mean I had 3 or 4 : / )

Despite of the offers of letting me sleep at their place, I decided it would be best to only have to cross the street to the Walmart rather than even driving a few miles since I had been drinking and slept at the Walmart there.
It is hilarious the looks I get when someone walks into the bathroom and sees me washing my hair in a Walmart sink with  shampoo and a cup.