Random Order's drummer Manny on the one-lane Dunster Flower Bridge
Early Friday afternoon at the Robson Valley Festival
August 28
On the road again
Leaving Dunster, BC. Reeling from such beauty, such wonderful people, the witnessing of a large extended family who have gone back to the land to live a life of near self-sufficiency, love and creativity. They have their own band called called Mamaguroove which was a highlight of the festival for us to enjoy. The Robson Valley Music Festival is their labour of love in its 3rd year and our Saturday night set was one of the most satisfying performance experiences I've had. We were tight, we put on a great show as a power trio rocking the big stage, the sound was top-notch and the audience ate it up. It was sweet to see the laughing face of a toddler repeatedly flying up above the crowd as he was tossed by his dancing father. After our set, I took my pumped up body into the crowd and danced to Mr Something Something. Went backstage and got down ridiculously with Celina, a very cool woman from Haida Guaii who I met through Lynn. Felt SO good to let loose with such a dose of dancing. The next day we closed out the festival after our afternoon set, joining Mr Something Something and a few others for a massive jam. Manny played cowbell, I played shekere and we sang back-up together. There must have been 12 people on stage and the dancing was ablaze.
That delicious performance-audience spiraling energy in action!
This festival was set in the most idyllic grounds one could imagine. It's right next to the Fraser River and almost surrounded by mountains. The main house, inhabited by the matriarch -- Grandma Aileen, is a rustic but grand log home with splendid gardens of flowers and vegetables. It was heartwarming witnessing this big family function. What a life -- they grow much of their own food, make and record music in their homey studio, organize an annual festival, build their own beautiful homes and seem to work hard at seeing to the needs of their many children, some of whom performed in a band of their own.
The Mother Inn
Danielle, our indispensable road manager, left us to our devices when she flew home from Edmonton.
August 30
Northwest Territories
Been driving north from Edmonton since yesterday morning. Spent last night camped just inside the border of the Northwest Territories. The public campgrounds here all offer these lovely screened octagonal log shelters which have firepits in the centre of the gravel floor. These serve both for protection from the elements and from grizzly bears.
The anti-Grizzly hut
The vastness of this land is astounding. We've been on the same highway for two days and, besides the road, signs of human presence are few and far between. It's such a relief to be in a wilderness strong and massive -- to feel so small and at its mercy as we drive long hours, slicing through it on a thin line of pavement between gas fill-up opportunities. Today we are driving through Wood Buffalo National Park and have so far encountered mountain goats and five small herds of these magnificent animals. I'm so glad they have this chance to renew themselves here after such near genocide in recent centuries from the times they thundered all over the continent.
It's hard to believe that out of this wilderness an urban centre will appear where we will, by all accounts of the band's previous visits, have a very lively time.
August 31
Yellowknife
Well here I am in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The folks here are very welcoming and we're being treated like royalty. But the town is really rather dreary and everything is insanely expensive. I ordered two Guinesses to celebrate the end of the two-day journey and my bill was $20! But aparently these prices reflect the high wages that obviously must be paid to entice people to stay here through the long, dark, cold winter. Just as well -- I've been feeling like a flabby sloth lately as a result of the combination of significantly less exercise than usual, too much junky food and, even as the serious lightweight in the band, more alcohol than I ever normally drink at home. I'm happy to save the cash and skip out on the beer and heavy food for a few days! But in any case, it seems we'll be fed well with a few culinary invites. Looking forward to a whitefish dinner at a chef's home on Sunday! While I have had some wonderful runs in spectacular places and have been doing a bit of yoga when I can, it sure will be good to get back to eating well and shaping up again. And Bibi, I miss my beloved yoga class!
I've been given instructions by Renée (Pilgrim) to look up her cousin Molly and "rock her up". I've done my duty and look forward to meeting her tonight. Renée -- she sounds a lot like you on the phone. But could she possibly be as cute and cool?
One thing that I do appreciate about the layout of the town is that there is a lot of art all around to perk up the otherwise dreary urban environment ...
... and an example of the otherwise dreary urban environment
September 1st
Yellowknife
Jack Layton gets a bass lesson!
Hoping to enjoy the Aurora Borealis tonight since it's a clear sky. The preshow has been the beautiful sunset and big yellow moon. This has to be my favourite thing about this tour -- having spent so much time in such diverse natural beauty. It really is a salve for the city-hardened soul. Add that to the time on Denman Island and it has been a wonderful dose of nature. I have felt such a joy in her embrace. There have been moments of awe-inspiring beauty. I was stopped in my tracks a few times the night of the full moon while in Dunster. I'd come down the dirt road from my tent to the festival grounds and be stunned deliciously by the moon shining through a gap in the trees, casting rippled silver on the mighty Fraser River and silhouetting the mountains. I fear it will be a challenging transition getting back to life amidst concrete, traffic and smoggy skies.
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