I write to you today from Austin, Manitoba. There isn’t much here, save for a post office;closed, a grocery store; closed, a garage; closed, a restaurant; closed and a gas station; open! There is of course no wireless either, so I guess it’s a good a time as any to add a blog entry. This marks my first entry on this grande journey across the “Great White North.” I left Winnipeg today, after singing last night in a cozzy coffee house/book store called “Sam’s Place.” I had the pleasure of spending the night on Walnut Street, a quaint little nook amongst the large trees in downtown Winnipeg, with a late night porch session alongside the talented and insightful Mitch Podolak (who by the way, filled me up with deliciousness in the form of “French Toast meets havarti cheese meets bacon meets maple syrup meets butter” all melted into one pile of Loveliness for breakfast.) “Nourishment” for the long haul to Saskatoon, food for the soul, I say!! I have stopped now, here in Austin, to meet with one of the most amazingly wonderful families of Wakefield Quebec, the Chicoines. They are also on a cross Canada (as well as The States) tour, but in the “running across” (as opposed to driving across) sort of way! They have embarked on an adventure with the title “Marathon of Health.” They are a family of eight, 6 children, Mama & Papa Chicoine, and who can forget their “7th” child, Bess, their doggie. I am excicted to see them, and am thrilled that we can meet up out here in the middle of North America with wind in our hair. Canada is a superbly wonderful country, I can’t believe I haven’t tried this drive yet (says the woman who hasn’t quite hit the prairies part!!) Driving around Lake Superior is something I never knew I would Love so much, view after view, stunning after stunning. I tweeted a few days ago something along the lines of “Even if you don’t have a brand new album to promote, go for the drive across Canada anyway!!” Ha! I am certainly happy to be here… my Dodge ’92 hasn’t failed me and I have strong feelings that she too will stay strong along the way. On another note, wildlife out here is exquisite, so far we have seen 2 deer, 1 fox, 2 moose, 4 bears, 1 groundhog and one of the biggest turtles I have ever seen! I can only imagine what’s ahead, getting closer to The Rockies…
Under the Big Sky of Canada
