Magnificent Mount Robson
June 19
Yellowhead Trail, BC
It's so nourishing to travel through such a vast and dense manifestation of life. I look out on these mountains and ooze love and wonder as I imagine the infinitesimal stories of the lives that are lived there by bears, wolves, eagles and all the other creatures great and small. There is also the thrill of knowing that this land is too rugged for human dominion. Here there is only humbling and awe and feeding the wild in me in a most delicious way.
On the way up to Smithers we dropped in on our friends who live in Dunster and run the Robson Valley Festival, one of last summers's highlights. That's our luxurious 1976 Dodge TEC Lark in the background.
Manny and Miranda relaxing in the bus.
Practicing with a view!
June 23
Smithers, BC
Midsummer Festival
Random Order's day set at the Midsummer Festival
We were treated like royalty the entire weekend at this wonderful festival in the middle of the mountains. Our night show saw us looking out on a crowd of dancing revelers that injected such an energy in us that we gave 150% of ourselves after the long drive straight from Toronto. The Sunday afternoon performance was equally fun for the gang of kids hulahooping on the grass as we played. Lots of great food and people, late-night jams around firepits, and such a relief just to be in one place to relax after driving from Sunday afternoon till the wee hours of Thursday. Enjoyed some great performances by others, too. Particularly Hungry Hill, a bluegrass group with members from both Smithers and Whitehorse. Also loved an act that played a sort of Persion fusion. Took part in a workshop they gave and got to play along on my cello. This was after giving a workshop in cello chopping for which I had a surprising 3 other cellists and a few fiddlers. Before this I took part in giving a bass workshop with two other women bass players (upright players) -- Dina D from The Kerplunks and Nadine from Hungry Hill.
Soundchecking on the Midsummer mainstage
Rocking out!
Singin'
Just a few of the wonderful group called Crazy Strings, inspired and taught by Oliver Shroer
John learns some breakdance moves at a Midsummer Festival workshop
I met a gal who took me to her friend's ranch for some riding. We wound up spending two hours hunting down and then rounding up her runaway lamas. That's me: Lamagirl! What a hoot!
June 29 3:00am
Houston, BC
Tonight I experienced from the stage such an onslaught of drunken party energy from a bar full of Nova Scotian treeplanters. What began as festive verged on oppressive. We were on a tiny stage only inches from the floor and the revelers were crashing into mic stands (I got a mic in the teeth) and yelling (all with positive exuberance) right into our faces. They threw their hands at us for high fives between every song and drank straight out of personal pitchers. It did feel good to provide them with the entertainment they needed after weeks of hard work in the bush. I can claim familiarity with that! But it was all a little overwhelming. Such a contrast to the focussed, meditative audiences I experience in some of my other musical pursuits.
Dude beer in Vanderhoof
June 29
Nandina Lodge, outside of Houston
Today I lay on the sun-warmed surface of a lake, slowly spinning and relishing being in the place and the perfect moment that was presented to me. As I turned, the view made a gradual shift from Nadina Mountain iced with snow to pastoral grassy hills with clumps of forest and low-growing shrubs, reminiscent of sights I've seen in the British Isles. My body moved as it need to and the chilly water sent my whole vital system thrumming. John and I celebrated this exhilaration with some enthusiastic howling as we dried off at shore.
June 30
Nandina Lodge
We've got a couple days off and have been given this gorgeous wilderness lodge to unwind at by the owner of Happy Jack's, the venue we played at in Houston. Half an hour from town, nestled in the hills, it's a beautiful, rambling log structure with a dining table that could double as a surface for a game of shuffle board. Lit at night by large candelabras (there is no power or plumbing), the large main room is warmed by fire in a hearth facing a crescent of couches. I slept deeply for a good 10 hours and now, after a nice breakfast and some yoga, write this half naked on a blanket in a field of daisies in the midst of a symphony of birdsong. Better take cover soon, though, as this city gal's skin has been quite a stranger to the sun thus far this summer. But damn if feels great!
This afternoon's plan is to hunker down to some cello practice and to going over Evalyn's material for the Atilin Festival. I've got such the perfect little studio space for this (see photo). The cello will sing conspicuously in this remote environment. I hope our Grizzly neighbours will enjoy it! Apparently there are many in the area. We've not seen Grizzlies but passed by three black bears on the way out hear and have seen a plethora of moose and bald eagles.
Hanging with Naomi at her family's incredible Nadina Moutain Lodge
Practice studio of my dreams!
Swimming at Nadina Lodge
Breakfast table at the Lodge
Nadina Lake
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