13300 in Atikokan

We left Winnipeg nice abd early to make it to Atikokan, Ontario with time to spare. Well we would have had time to spare if our gps hadn't tricked us into going through the good ole USA. On paper, it is much quicker actually, but when you have a van full of gear combined with a 'random' search at the border, it's not so quick. 2 hours later, we entered the US, then crossed back to Canadia and made it to the arts center 30 min before show time.
Now that that's over with, and we're all rested up, we're off on our trek across Ontario to Quebec City one more time.
Mmmmm, creton. Fancy.

Happy Anniversary to us!

12700km driven, and as of today we have been on the road for one month. Special.
To recap the last couple days, Early Stage Saloon in Stony Plain was enjoyable until we were packing up and some guy turned on the jukebox that must have been built by Boeing judging by the volume. Of course it was right next to and pointing at the stage. Wonderful. I didn't need those eardrums anyway.
Next, we had thr drive to Calgary, where we started seeing the first 6 or 7 (more to come) cars off the road from wind and snowy patches of an an otherwise clear highway. The crowd at Mikey's was fired up, and after some extreme 'death lazer' fiddle ('less fiddle!', she hollers...) courtesy of the soundman, we settled in and had a good show with lots of familiar faces who threatened to 'mooooo' us off stage if we didn't bring it. We brought it. Calgary hospitality at its best.
Next, we followed the cold weather east, and saw another 10 or so cars off the road on the way to Regina, (continued below)

part 2

but slow and steady wins the race. More -20 weather in Regina, where apparently all the trees were planted at some point, and not native to the area. (Factual tidbit) It was Ryan Cook and friends, and friend at The Goat as my old cruise ship cabin mate Sam sat in for our second set, and hosted us at his house for the night.
Winnipeg was only 6 hours away, and Finns pub was a good old time. A mixed crowd, but all nice folks.
Goodbye western Canada. See you when its warmer!

Edmonton at 10300km

We left Ontario at 7am and drove for 14 hours until we got to Saskatoon. Then Edmonton was an easy 5 hour trip yesterday. That was a nice drive actually, complimented by ketchup chips for lunch on the road.
Apparently yesterday was the coldest day of the season (-21 C) so those who made it out to our show were definitely 'the coolest'. One more Brad at the show too, bringing the tally of Brads on the tour to 4. Not too Brad!
On the agenda for today: brunch, CKUA radio, West Ed Mall, Early Stage Saloon.

Blame Canada, blame Canada... With their hockey hullabaloo, and that b!+€# Anne Murray too.

Last night the prestigious Pirate Noir concert auditorium in Thunder Bay, with its popcorn and pool tables was possibly the prettiest performance place the province of Pontario could provide. We met the guys from the Warped 45s and heard Sweet Thing rock out too.
Lucky for us, it started snowing last night and forgot to stop. So we drove as far as we could today towards Winnipeg, but pulled off in Dryden at a motel for the night. Holy Cow Ontario is big! Looking forward to -20 C in Edmonton in couple days. That's always nice...

8100km in Thunder Bay

The Pine Valley restaurant and service station in Griffith was standing room only, and the menu was Jigs dinner. Can't go wrong. Great folks in there, that's for sure. They even brought out the air compressor to top up our tires.
Yesterday morning we hit the road for a night off in Sault St Marie, only a mere 9 hours away. Found ourselves a hotel room and a pub. Opened a bottle of new brunswick homebrew wine, played some 9 ball, and made it up this morning for the continental breakfast. Today is a 2 banana day. Today is also an 8 hour drive day to Thunder Bay. Just stopped into a brand new Tim's and we're now an hour away. Today's drive included: 524km on one road, some flurries, a family of lakes (dad, mom, and baby lake), a lot of rock, a lot of trees.

The Stogies!

The Horseshoe gig was definitely one of the most memorable on the tour so far. We got to hear a smokin new rock band from Halifax called The Stogies.
After a day off, we're now in Picton in good old Prince Edward County Ontario and had a great little show at the Acoustic Grill last night, where the music is acoustic and burgers rock. Currently, I'm sampling the Nabab summit blend at the Picton Harbour Inn after doing some military presses with the seagull guitar case, overlooking a little marina outside our room. Breakfast till 2pm here! Gotta go. See you in Griffith.
6300km.

6000km in Toronta

2 shows down in Oakville - met a host of Canada AM, Amy and Scotty (a great musical duo who opened for us), filled a mandolin case with more than just a mandolin, then played at the Moonshine cafe on their honkytonk upright (but not uptight) piano. Nice place, and a great crowd! No cover charge either - we are no JP Cormier!
Tonight we're downtown at the Horseshoe (where close does count?).
Until tomorrow, I just keep movin on.

Back in Waterloo at 5800km

We drove from Nashville to Waterloo yesterday, after a last minute visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame.
We saw a good show Wed night at the Loveless cafe, with John Oates, and Sam Bush and his band.
Yeah it was a lot of driving yesterday, about 13 hours, but a smooth border crossing again, and we're ready to hang out in Toronto a few days. Things to remember about Nashville: tons of music on Broadway, first time having White Castle burgers, ping pong with Jose, from Brazil, and that low-cut blouses on woman are looked down upon. A sign said so.
Oakville later, at about 6000km.

1300km from last post

We made it to Nashville. Waterloo was fun, and then we made it to a hotel in Windsor for the night before heading across the border monday morning. The border crossing was ridiculously painless, considering we were expecting a big ordeal. They did not even look in our van, so they didn't find the little chinese guy in the bass case, which is nice. The after a 10 hour drve including a 2 hour traffic stand still in Ohio where we watched an entire epispde of the Cleveland show while parked on the I-65, we made it to Nashville at 11pm, and crashed with friends.
We played at the Cadillac Ranch tonight, and now we're playin ping pong with some guy named Hose in the last smoking bar on Broadway. The night is young!
Oh Nashville... Snicker, please!!! (to quote the Cleveland show....)

Going to Amerrrica

Waterloo was fun. We played after a couple of loud country bands, so people appreciated our 'refined' sound. That's right, I said we are refined. We did dine on Egyptian fare for dinner before the show, so we must be refined.
Today was a day off, sleeping in a bit, hanging out downtown Waterloo and the watching the Butterfly Effect on tv. Exciting, I know.
We did a bit more driving and made it to Windsor to stay in a hotel for the night and tomorrow we get up early to cross the border to Amerrrica.
3200km in Windsor.

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3 brads are better than one

I neglected to mention that I met a guy named Brad in Wakefield, but I did. Then last night we played at The Branch in Kemptville, which has awesome local food, and then met Brad and Ben from Brad Sucks and hung out for while afterwards. Hey, that's not too Brad!
Today is day 10 on the road and we're heding to Waterloo, with first day off tomorrow.
2800km in Waterloo.

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Leaving Wakefield

We're at about 2200km. Montreal was fun. Great little crowd at L'Esco, and we met some nice folks with the honkytonk heartbreakers who put us up for the night, where we actually fit their gear and both of them in our already packed 3 seater van and drove them back to the apartment. Parallel parking using only side view mirrors and no view through the windows is a bit of work, but we managed.
Next, we made it to Wakefield, and the Blacksheep was an intimate crowd, but so much fun! We stayed at the nearby Moulin Wakefield Mill, a beautiful place next to some waterfalls in the woods, and now we're back on the road to Kemptville. Plenty of peaks, no valleys yet.
2250km in Kemptville.

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Quebec City

We played Cafe Babylone last night, including a free 3 course meal and case of beer courtesy of the Parti Quebecois (I assume...). Merci boucoups! We played their upright piano in the show and ended the night packing up gear while jamming on jazz standards with one eager patron who loved the tunes, but wanted to hear honkytonk woman, which we don't do. Afterwards, at our friends apartment, we opened a bottle of falcon drive chardonnay from 'The Jim' and had some pasta with black olives and alfredo. In the morning I hooked up to Gabrielle's monster orange guitar amp for a patriotic moment a la jimi hendrix/john hartford, then we got back on the road. A cafe au lait in hand and we are now on the way to Montreal for tonight's show.
1900km in Montreal.

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800km and 5 shows down

Uhh.. Our bellies are so full after being fed at Chez Jim and Yvettes before and after the sackville, nb show. Today is the longest drive so far. We left at 830 this morning from sackville, currently en route to quebec city. We have ipods, gps, electrical convertors, and miscellaneous food items in the van for the trip. First leg of the trip with the whole band and gear in the van, since Joanne the booker and merch expert had to stay behind in Fredericton. :( GPS says we are an hour and a half from destination. Yee haw! (en francais... 'y en!??) when we arrive we'll be at about 1600kms.
Oh Canada, we sit in vans for thee.