You'll probably find that how much you like camping increases with the increase in the amount of "comfort" camping stuff you take.  A tent you can stand up in was a good start.  Next, you might want to think about a cot with a great pad or air mattress on it.  Oh--and pitch that tent near a great restaurant!

Thank you so much everyone, and especially to Jan.  I was very surprised to find out I had won - wasn't even expecting to place in the top 5!  It was a nice weekend - even trying out camping again for the first time since I was around 14 years old.

That's  great, Gail! Congratulations!

Steven

My congratulations to Gail too- what a huge honor to win that!  

Way to go Gail! Congrats 

Yes, congratulations Gail.  That's just wonderful.

Gail's rendition on dulcimer of "Wayfaring Stranger" at the Fiddlers' Convention in Mount Airy, NC, last weekend netted her First Place over a field of former winners (including National Dulcimer Champions!).  I wasn't able to attend, but she gave me a preview Thursday evening and it sounded like a winner to me!  Gail and I became friends after she joined FOTMD about 4 years ago and have been fortunate to meet up and share our love of dulcimers many times.  I just spent a week in NC near her home in Greensboro and was able to jam with her, Karen Smith-Gratto, and Callie Cashwell.  In a couple weeks Callie and Karen will be coming to Kentucky to share lodgings at a bed and breakfast with me at Kentucky Music Week!  I just love how FOTMD enlarges our world and helps us make new dulcimer friends from all over!  And it's even better when we get to meet up in real life!

Way to go, Gail!

Congratulations to Gail on her win in the mountain dulcimer contest at Mt. Airy NC!  (The following article just gives a bit of the flavor of the fest.) 

http://mtairynews.com/news/51563/fiddlers-convention-possibly-biggest-ever