Stuff Happens!

Someone gets sick.  A long awaited grandchild arrives early. Someone breaks a foot. Financial circumstances change.  Whatever the reason, people end up cancelling at the last minute. What’s worse, they then find out their trip insurance doesn’t cover their particular situation.  And that is why:

  1. We encourage everyone to purchase trip insurance and
  2. We have 3 spots available on our 2023 Cuban ‘Ukulele Rhythms Adventure.

So, if you are interested in joining us in Cuba, March 13 – 21, please contact me as soon as possible to make sure space is still available.

We will be going back to Cuba in 2024, but I think visiting sooner rather than later is the best as Cuba is becoming a more and more popular tourist destination. See it now, while it still hangs onto its charming authenticity.

Trip Insurance

If you are going to Cuba, Cuban medical insurance is required and is often included in your airline ticket. But it doesn’t cover other things that might happen to prevent you from enjoying the trip or participating at all. So, regardless of what adventure you are planning, you want to make sure you are covered for the full cost of all parts of any trip you have paid for and that you will get a full refund if something comes up. (And…if you are travelling to Cuba…make sure your insurance covers Cuba as well. Not all insurance companies do!) 

Currently I use TravelInsurance.com.  You enter your total trip cost, the country and dates of travel. It comes back with a list of several insurance companies and policies for you to choose from based on your needs.  And you can apply right there. It’s easy peasy and well worth the peace of mind.

Coming Up

Our 2023 Uke, Bike, & Barge Burgundy adventure is full. But, if you’d like to be put on the waitlist (remember: Stuff Happens!) please contact me. And please stay tuned because in the coming weeks I will be adding other Ukulele Adventures in France to coincide with this Burgundy trip. How does cycling from chateau to chateau in the beautiful Loire Valley sound? (This is one you can do on your own or as part of a small group of ukulele plyers.)

To the Future and Beyond!

We are always looking for ways to share the ‘ukulele joy and for new (and old) friends to share the adventure with.  The Uke, Bike, & Barge trips are now a mainstay and, ideally, in 2024 we’ll be able to get back to offering two of those a year.  (If there is a particular destination or trip you are interested in, please let me know.)

And we have some new adventures up our sleeve as well: an ukulele “cruise*” in Hawai’i,  an ‘Ukulele Adventure in Alaska, and an ‘Ukulele Safari in Kenya!  There will be more to come on all of those in the coming weeks.

And we’re still confirming dates and details for the next West Coast ‘Ukulele Retreat at Camp Ocean Pines. You’ll read about it here, first.

Life’s too short to sit and wait!

Now is the time to grab it by 4 strings and go!

The 2022 ‘Ukulele Reunion!

A Lost Week-end Found

The Ukulele Reunion at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria

By all counts the first (now annual) ‘Ukulele Reunion at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria was a huge success.

Just one of the very creative acts at our Ukulele Reunion Halloween Party/Open Mic. This is a keeper, for sure.

Workshops! Sing-alongs! Trivia Games! Open Mics! and More!

What did folks enjoy the most?

  • Incredible workshops with great instructors: 12th Street Rag with Gary, Ukulele Gospel Hour with Rick & Rhan, ‘ukulele ensembles with Nancy, and just about anything with Dave Egan.
  • Our new venue at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria: its proximity to the ocean; magical sunsets; the sea lions barking at night; the delicious, fresh, and healthy food; and the spacious, yet cozy, strawbale-constructed cabins.
  • The warm, friendly experience: making new friends; making music together; and having unrivalled fun.
  • Winning the trivia challenge!

And the whole thing ended with Rick & Rhan’s iconic Ukulele Gospel Hour and the gift of a classic choir robe to everyone who came.

Feeling the rapture

We hope you can join us next year! No excuses!

You’ve been warned…it not too soon to start planning your costume and rehearsing…

Here’s another fun video showcasing a couple of our instructors posing as the Ghoulspell Choirboys. So much talent and creativity wrapped up in these two. It just isn’t fair!

Hope to see you next year! And just because we call it a reunion, doesn’t mean newcomers aren’t welcome.

Learn “Mysterious Mose” on the ‘Ukulele

Just in Time for Halloween

Gary Peare, one of our key instructors for the upcoming ‘Ukulele Reunion at Camp Ocean Pines never disappoints. His ‘ukulele workshops cover the gambit from simple tunes we all know to a few more obscure tunes we should know. When asked for a little tune and some ‘ukulele tips to share with you before the big weekend, he right away came up with “Mysterious Mose.”

Unfamiliar with the tune? Check out this version by R. Crumb and his Cheap Suit Serenaders.

“If you look closely, you’ll that there are only two different fingering shapes needed to play it,” says Gary.

mysteriousmoseDownload

“Brilliant,” says me!

The best part is that there are lots of great tunes that can be approached this way…tunes that will help ratchet up your repertoire a notch or two.

If you’re coming to the ‘Ukulele Reunion at Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria, October 29 – 30, and this is for you, you’ll want to take Gary’s ‘ukulele workshop called “Meet the Family: an Easy Introduction to the World of Chords.” In it, you’ll learn this and a few more tunes that have simplified approaches to basic chord shapes.

But that’s not all we have in the way of ‘Ukulele Workshops. Please check out the full array.

Workshops

And if you haven’t registered for the ‘Ukulele Reunion just yet, don’t fret. We still have plenty of room, whether you’re staying off campus, or want to stay at camp in one of the spiffy cabins or in your own truck, trailer, or camper van.

Register Now!

And remember, you don’t have to be a returnee to join us! We love to meet and welcome beginners and first-timers.

2023 and Beyond

‘Ukulele Rhythms in Cuba & Uke, Bike, & Barge – Burgundy are currently sold-out. However, we do have a waitlist for both. Please let us know if you’d like to be added to it.

In the meantime, we are working on an ‘Ukulele Adventure in Alaska for next summer. Again, we expect this one might fill quickly, so please let us know if you’d like to be among the first to know!

That’s it for now. Stay tuned. We have more tips and trips to come.

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