Random Order Tour 09: Vanderhoof, Smithers and Haida Gwaii

July 30
Vanderhoof, BC

Damn but did we rock the small crowd at the Buffalo Bar and Grill tonight. It's such bliss when we all sync into one pure blast of positive intention. I rejoice in seeing this reflected in the smiles beaming from the audience.

August 3
Smithers, BC

Entering the quaint alpine town of Smithers always feels like coming home. Our dear friends Sharon and Betty make us feel like family returning after an absence that never feels very long. We played double bill with their band Damnsel at a small hall that echoed memories of high school prom night. I enjoyed lodging at the Sunshine Inn, Smithers' newest and largest hotel, and then the cozy snuggle of Sharon and Steve's motor home. We spent an afternoon escaping the blazing heat at a picturesque creek, chilling in the rapid-running mountain run-off, drinking cocktails and snacking on the cooler full of snack's Sharon had kindly prepared. One evening, after she was inspired by watching Lynn getting a shave to freshen up her mohawk, Sharon's 7-year-old daughter Melissa insisted that she get her own funky haircut. I was elected to do the honour and wound up giving her a haircut not unlike my own. Older sister Veronica was quite horrified, concerned about what her school friends will say. Hope she learns to appreciate that she has a unique, wonderful character for a sister.


Melissa, my l'il pardner in Smithers, gets a funky haircut.


August 7
Haida Gwaii

Coastal landscape in Queen Charlotte City.



Wednesday night's full moon brought a raucous group of women to Howler's Pub in Queen Charlotte City to celebrate the last night of single life for a certain bride to be. We were to follow the scintillating performance by a stripper called Diamond who was brought in from Vancouver to ignite the bawdy affair.

After piecing together a decrepit old sound system, I found great satisfaction in realizing a heavier groove, a greater accuracy and a more free and creative approach in my playing than I had enjoyed to date. If only our home audience could hear us this well-honed rather than to always get short shrift as our warm-up audience as we dust off the tunes for the summer tours.

On Tuesday, Manny, Miranda, Caleb and I embarked on a 9.5km hike deep into Old Growth Alley, a dense, mossy forest in Naikoon Park. I don't believe I have ever found myself so enveloped by such a wild place. An easy stray from the trail, only verifiable by the occasional and always welcome spotting of bits of blue tape affixed to the branches, could result in serious repercussions. There are bears and plenty of other wildlife in these ancient woods and one could easily become seriously lost. The enormity of the cedars, spruce and hemlock was humbling and awe-inspiring. There were places where I fancied myself lounging in a plush room carpeted on all surfaces by green shag. There were steep grades to climb and to scramble down. At the half-way point, we rested at a gentle stony river beach where Manny took a dip and Miranda and I soaked our weary feet. At this point, realizing we were only half-way after three hours, we grew more concerned with reaching the end of the grueling hike than with stopping to admire each grand tree or other breathtaking sight. We picked up the pace, beginning to stumble more often out of growing exhaustion. Once we made it back to the road, five hours later, our feet were aching, the cold beer was calling and we all had incredible new memories of such an arduous journey into deep, magnificent, untouched wilderness.

Tonight we dined seaside at our host Jason's home. He had caught Halibut and Spring Salmon the day before and it was all seasoned and grilled to perfection. I made a monstrous salad to which I added the delicious, salty crunch of sea asparagus that Jason had harvested and given to us. A while later I got my blood and lungs happily pumping with a few miles' run along the coastal road, followed by a game of fetch with Jason's lovely dog and a tour of his remarkable vegetable garden. And now, after a few hours' hanging with the gang into darkness, I'm cozied up in my tent while the Pacific beats the stony shore just a few hundred feet from this sandy ridge.




My belt: "CAUTION: WILD GIRLS". This tape was strung up around the Stagette venue.

Random Order Tour 09: First stop, Sasquatch Gathering, Drayton Valley, Alberta

The first Sasquatch sighting


Escape from the scorching sun


The refreshing respite of the fast-running river



July 24
Sasquatch Gathering, Drayton Valley, Alberta

Relieved to be sitting in one place after three days and nights driving from Toronto to the Sasquatch Gathering in Drayton Valley, Alberta. The blazing afternoon sun that sweat-soaked our tent pitching has given way to a chilly evening. After rinsing three days of traveling in the river, I've traded shorts and sandals for jeans and boots.

We're relaxing after dinner over booze purchased at Salty's Liquor Store in Vegreville, Alberta, where the cashier inquired enthusiastically about the scent she perceived me to be wearing. I found this quite puzzling considering I'd just rolled out of the RV I'd been living in for almost four days. I wondered if there could possibly be any remnant of the custom essential oil blend I may have put on days ago. I did list its ingredients to the keen woman, which she duly wrote down: Amber, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Patchouli. But when I reported the incident to the band, they all said it was my own special blend of pheromones and animal magnetism (a reference to the t-shirt I was wearing). Guess I have a way with the ladies in Vegreville!

July 25
Sasquatch Gathering

Sun singes through dry blue skies, licking up tiny wisps of white which are all that remain of last night's cloud cover that unrolled across the starry display. Music wafts across a faint breeze. Laughter sprinkles the air. Dogs convene and make new friends. Children romp, some naked and camouflaged by river mud.

My day's labour is to choose from moment to moment whether to read, swim, write, eat, drink, nap or wander toward the stage to soak in the energy at the vortex of this small but vibrant festival. The hot weather has made me lazy. I have thought of how good a run would make me feel, but there is a small window between relentless, unforgiving heat and the chilly dark of night. I'll wait until Prince George and the prospect of a shower to rinse the sweat. For now, I'll just give into the rare opportunity for utter slothfulness. I'll let all stress evaporate and relish having no need to live by the clock. My watch is stashed and I follow each impulse as it comes to me.

It was such a relief to unleash ourselves full-throttle on stage tonight after so much enforced stillness. We had the crowd dancing from the get-go. The highlight was the spectacle caused by a large blonde dog called Alastair (Ali) who came on stage in the midst of the shenanigans that always explode during Foxy Lady. Lynn was chasing Caleb across the stage with peeling blasts from the guitar. Ali faced Lynn's back, curious about the dramatic goings-on. I then straddled him and made like a bass-slinging cowgirl, riding hard and keeping the bottom end pumping. Later during the night, Ali found me walking and greeted me heartily as if to say, "Wasn't that cool, man? We really rocked, didn't we?".