James Marshall (Jimi) Hendrix 27/11/42 - 18/09/70

Excuse me while I kiss the Sky

On the 18th September 1970 I walked into Edinburgh Waverley Railway Station, on my way home on leave, when I saw a bill-board announcing 'Jimi Hendrix Is Dead', what, I wonder, would he have been doing today had not tragedy struck?

At long last today I finally paid tribute to the Greatest Hero of my lifetime, Jimi Hendrix. Sunshine had been hoped for while visiting the tomb of not only a legendary guitarist but a philosopher, poet, innovator, inspiration and much more, but the overnight rain had persisted making for a very gloomy Downtown Renton.

Jimi's grave (his second as he was moved from his first resting place) lies in the tranquil Greenwood Memorial Park, in the small Seattle superb.

Number One Fan awaiting the 'Slight Return'!

Each of the 3 interior walls hold a depiction of the Man, which has below it on a table of marble a copy of the original written lyric of one of his compositions.

Angel - Angel came down from heaven yesterday, she stayed with me just long enough to rescue me. And she told me a story yesterday, about the sweet love between the moon and the deep blue sea.And then she spread her wings high over me, and said she's gonna come back tomorrow.

Little Wing - Well she's walking through the clouds, with a circus mind that's running round. Butterflies and zebras and moonbeams and fairy tales. That's all she ever thinks about 'riding with the wind'.

Voodoo Child (Slight Return) - Well, I stand up next to a mountain, and I chop it down with the edge of my hand. Well, I pick up all the pieces and make an island, might even raise a little sand. Yeah, 'cause I'm a voodoo child, Lord knows I'm a voodoo child!

PS - My house is named 'Slight Return'.

Detail of some of the stonework around the plinth.

The commemorative plaque from Jimi's original grave.

A number of Jimi's ancestors have also been move to the site including his father Al and step-mother Ayako.

The Sun Dial

Hendrix Trivia!

The Jimi Hendrix Experience

'Mitch' Mitchell, Jimi, Noel Redding

Chas Chandler of the Animals 'found' Jimi and brought him to England deciding a 3 piece unit would best suit the legend. Auditions were held and Irishman Noel Redding was the unanimous choice as bass player. In the drums department Ainsley Dunbar (ex John Mayall's Bluesbreakers and later to form The Retaliation) and John Ronald 'Mitch' Mitchell were considered equally suitable. The choice was decided by the 'toss of a coin

Hendrix played right-handed guitars upside down. While browsing through some instrument shops in the West End, Eric Clapton found a white, left-handed Stratocaster and bought it for Hendrix. Clapton took the guitar to a Sly and the Family Stone concert at the Lyceum that night, expecting to see Jimi and give him the guitar, but Hendrix never showed up.The next day, he heard that he had died.

'Super Groupie' Cynthia Albritton and Jessica Villines were collectively known in the 60's and 70's as 'The Plaster Casters' making plaster of Paris images of pop stars genitals. Most of the day succumbed to their persuasive powers but Hendrix was the only star to need 2 mixes of plaster!

The Plaster Casters

It was reported that after Clapton saw Hendrix for the first time, after the gig he was asked by Kieth Moon of The Who "where are you off to now Eric"? His reply, "home to practice"!

and when asked by the press what it feels like to be the World's Greatest Guitarist, Jimi replied " better go and ask Rory Gallagher" (he idolised the man).

Jimi served with distinction in the 101st Airborne Division before an accident on a parachute jump brought his career to an untimely end.

Also within the Greenwood Memorial Park is a most tasteful Japanese cemetery which I felt worth bringing to the readership.

and finally, there were a couple of birds.

When a male Dark-eyed Junco

meets a female Dark-eyed Junco

and have a little canoodle on a wall,

it's inevitable.

Today's White-crowned Sparrow was far more photogenic than yesterday's.

After all the Jack's are in their boxes, and the Clowns have all gone to bed. You can hear happiness staggering on down the street, Footprints dressed in red. and the
Wind Whispers Mary!

Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) 20/20/67 - 05/04/94 of Aberdeen, Washington

Oregon

also known as the Beaver State

This early part of the journey was always going to be very much confined to the 'concrete jungle' or on long transits via the Greyhound service, today was no exception. Having literally 'twitched' both Utah and Idaho spending naught but a couple of hours in their capitals Salt Lake City and Boise respectively, it was then a mammoth 15 hour haul firstly across the south western portion of the Rocky Mountains then across hilly grass lands and scrub to get back to the coast. At 03:00 we finally made it to Portland, Oregon where initially I had decided to continue on to the shores of the Pacific Ocean by way of 2 further, but much shorter, bus rides to Medford in the same State.

Just a few shots from the Greyhound.

The names the same, while in Portland I met up with a few very charming people (especially the gentleman in Starbucks who got me 'on line') who I promised to publish a few photos of the Isle of Portland in Dorset, my home. Here they are girls and boys.

The confluence of the Willamette and Columbia Rivers flow through the heart of Portland City.

Portland Bill, Dorset.

Some of the fishing docks Willamette River.

Portland Bird Observatory, once an active lighthouse.

The US Naval Base, today being guarded by no fewer than 5 boats from the Sheriffs Office and the US Coast Guard, all equipped with heavy machine guns (had to be a bit careful which way I pointed the camera!

Cheyne House near Sweethill Village, Portland, Dorset.

a few more window shots as we traversed what was the original 'Oregon Trail'.

A cargo vessel heads up the Kalama River,

as a few Hell's Angels overtake the coach.

I though they were taking me back to the Oil Rig when I saw this sign!

Eventually, mainly due to a far more convenient bus service, I headed north instead and by 14:30

I was in Seattle, Washington State.

Nicknamed the Evergreen State

Seattle Skyline

and extensive Docklands,

and 'space age' 2 section Sports Stadium that literally pulls apart.

That's when I met my 'Guardian Angels' Micheal and Cheryl trying to find my way to the suburb of

Not only did they show me down the Metro Light Railway and getting my ticket, but stayed with me all of the 30 minute journey then drove me to the center of town. Thank You both again so very much for your kindness, and I'll be thinking of you both tomorrow. Readers will learn what that means TOMORROW!

Now here's something you may not have known, I didn't, but you can get a hotel room at the princely sum of $133, at least you can in Renton. I asked several people about a Motel but couldn't believe it when they said no such thing exists. Asking a bus driver the same, he said he had never seen a Hotel in the town and he was near enough right. As far as I could establish this town has just a single hotel, and that's the price - 'Hobson's Choice'! Anyway, it's about time for a bit of luxury, and Micheal and Cheryl had also put me onto Lake Washington, just 3 mile out of town, where I might see some birds - yipeeeee!

Immediately, there were a few Gulls to be seen, but as has been my experience in the past this coast is a nightmare of identifying such things as so much 'hybridisation' occurs, but here goes.

With some traces of grey in the mantle / upper wings I would go for Glaucous-winged Gull second / third summer.

and a first calender year Glaucous-winged Gull.

American Herring Gull (adult)

American Herring Gull (third summer)

Anyway, think I'll seek the advice of Messrs Stanley, Harris. Chown et al to put me right, send me an E-mail with your opinions please.

White-crowned Sparrow

Canada Goose maybe about as 'wild' as those on Lodmoor, and I'm not even in Canada yet!

A bit better shot than the effort a few days ago of American Crow.

First there was one Osprey, then

there were 2 Ospreys.

A very distant Rufous-sided Towhee

A nice little Trio, maybe inspired by Elizabeth Frink?

Glaucous-winged Gull first summer?

Gadwall

Red-winged Blackbird adult male.

Red-winged Blackbird juvenile.

Belted Kingfisher

Song Sparrow (back)

(side) and

(front). In addition to these, there was also Pine Siskin, Black-capped Chickadee, Tree Swallow and a few short glimpses of a Wrentit none of which fell to the lens or were 'lifers'.

Trip List = 83 World Lifers = 10 this includes the overlooked Red-crowned Parrot in Mexico.