Tour: Day 22

[due to technical difficulties, this was not posted when it was written, which was roughly 9pm, October 20]

No photo of my car I'm afraid. It's too dark and rainy outside.

This is the last day of the Tour. I'll be home tomorrow! I fell behind with my blog, but I had a wonderful house concert in Peterborough on Day 9 and one in Toronto, on Day 17 (hosted by the marvelous Sarah Hopen of STARCompany).

Most of the rest of the trip was visiting people and doing miscellaneous work projects here and there.

Now I'm on my way home and after 1.5 hours of white-knuckle driving in pouring rain and near zero visibility, I am safely ensconced in a motel room. Not the motel I was planning to stay in - no, the road was closed on the path indicated to me by the Interwebs, so I turned around and came to this motel, which shall remain nameless.

I'm fascinated by this motel room. Maybe because it's my last day on the road and my first really no-name motel. And maybe because it just feels kind of miraculous that I made it here at all.

Things this motel room has:

• an abandoned cell phone charger
• a fan
• a train that passes nearby and blows its whistle
• a bottle of whiskey (I brought that)
• supper (improvised with the food I have left in my car at this point in the trip: a granola bar, an apple, almond butter (eaten off the blade of a butter knife) and a handful of walnuts
• wifi (sweet)
• windows that open
• a bathtub
• soap
• grey towels (I like a place that doesn't even pretend to be able-or perhaps willing-to keep white towels white)
• fridge and microwave (I think I am atypical of this motel's residents; I am not planning to stay for more than one night)
• a great pillow (I brought this, too)
• a TV (but at least it's closed up in one of those cabinets so I don't have to look at it).

Things this motel room does not have:

• any sign of bedbugs (yay!)
• a security lock on the door (I have propped the room's only chair under the door knob)
• shampoo or conditioner
• natural fibres in any of the linens, curtains, etc.
• good art

What can I say? I'm mostly glad not to be dead in a ditch this evening, but not so high on life that I'm willing to forego making snarky comments about this motel and pointing out what a glamourous life this sometimes ain't. Now, where's that butter knife?

Tour: Days 5-8

I'm falling a bit behind with the blog here.

The past few days have been a bit rough. I came down with a cold. This is the second time I've left the maritimes since I moved back home last December, and the second time I've gotten ill. It's starting to feel like it's not a coincidence.

So, anyway, I dosed myself up with Oil of Oregano, Cold F/X, Vitamin D and Advil Cold and Sinus and went and played at Grumpy's on Day 5. Despite my cold, it was a really fun show! With the delightful Brie Neilson hosting the evening, Gern F of United Steel Workers of Montreal behind the bar, and a full room of enthusiastic revellers, we made a great night of it.

On Day 6 I drove to Ottawa and I spent that evening and most of Day 7 recuperating at the home of some dear friends. The house concert on Day 7 went amazingly well, given my state of health. I was so full of Advil Cold and Sinus, I'm amazed my eyes didn't glow like yellow gel-caps. But, my voice held out for me to serenade a room full of lovely, attentive and generous-hearted folks. Also, generous-walleted - thanks, folks!

Now, it's Day 8, I've driven to Peterborough and am at a laundromat here. A solar-powered laundromat, in case you're interested.

Here's the mandatory picture of my car. Note the kleenex on the passenger seat. And my bathing suit still draped over the driver's seat from the pool in Edmundston. Classy.

Tour: Day 4

I almost forgot to take a picture of my car today. After a white-knuckle drive through pelting rain between Quebec City and Montreal, I was glad to hand it, and its keys, over to the guys in the parking lot across from my hotel. I remembered in the twilight to grab a quick shot of it (the parking lot guys think I'm nuts) et voilà.

I decided to splurge on a hotel for these two nights in Montreal. I am coming down with a sore throat - ack! - and hope that hot baths and lots of sleep will cure me - hence the hotel rather than begging for a spot on a friend or family member's sofa.

I love my hotel! It's seedy on the outside - the entrance is through an abandoned pizzeria while the lobby is under renovation - but my room is absolutely plush. And it's one block away from the venue I'm playing tomorrow night: Grumpy's, 1242 rue Bishop! 9:30 start. See you there.

Tour: Day 3

Today's photo was taken in an underground garage in Quebec City where I'm having a stopover to visit with my Dad.

You can see the apples I bought at the side of the road in Oxford, NS prominently displayed in this shot. They're gravensteins and they are delicious!!!

Tour Day 2

I love my new boots! They were great last night.

(If you look closely, you'll see that I'm already ignoring the garbage separation system I set up for myself :-)

Tour: day 1

My lover suggested I take a photo of the car each day of the tour - I guess to show off what an Incredible slob I am :-)

I think that's a great idea so here's the first shot. The dolphins are toys my nieces won when they were visiting this summer - too big to fly back on the plane, so I'll be chauffeuring them to Toronto. Nice to have the company.

Time to hit the road to Tatamagouche!

What? I'm going on tour tomorrow?

I'm not entirely sure how this happened, but apparently, I am leaving to go on tour up to Ontario tomorrow. This means that today is going to be completely crazy because I am not ready to leave to go anywhere - let alone 2000 km away for 3 weeks.

How could I be so unprepared? Well, it probably has something to do with the fact that I helped my neighbours host a folk festival this past weekend, but that's a blog post for another time.

Somehow, I'm sure I will manage to get everything I need into the car and launch myself tomorrow.

I will be absolutely delighted if you are able to catch one of my shows while I'm on the road. Here are the dates!

Thursday, September 29, 2011, 7:30 pm

Fables

Tatamagouche, NS

no cover

Come and join us for activist songs and songs of joy and heartbreak. I love Fables and the folks who hang out there. Looking forward to this show!

Monday, October 3, 9:30pm

Chick-Pickin' Mondays at Grumpy's in MONTREAL

1242 rue Bishop

I'm performing the opening spot at this infamous weekly gathering of women singer-songwriters. I can hardly wait!

Wednesday, October 5, 2011, 8pm

House Concert in OTTAWA

Please e-mail for more details: mail@alexsings.ca

Friday, October 7, 2011, 7:30 pm

House Concert in PETERBOROUGH

Please e-mail for more details: mail@alexsings.ca

Saturday, October 15, 2011, 8 pm

House Concert in TORONTO

52 Boustead (Roncesvalles + Dundas West)

Tickets: $12

Tickets available through Eventbrite. Seating is limited, so please buy your tickets early.