Before unleashing weeks worth of photos from the Yukon I thought I might butter you all up with some photos of puppies that were found abandoned in a backyard shed a couple weeks ago. Having been posting pictures on the ol’ interweb for a couple years now I’ve learned that the two things no one can resist looking at are photos with hints of nudity or baby animals in them.
This is Brinjamin. He likes puppies and they like to eat his dreads.
Yes, it’s true. I spent the weekend at my favorite festival in the galaxy surrounded by some of my favorite musicians in the galaxy and took a grand total of 1 photograph. Maybe it was Mother Nature’s rainy tantrums that encouraged the lack of camera activity. Or maybe my camera was end-of-tour tired and wanted to spend the weekend like a fancy free festival-goer.
In any case, here is the official last photo of this year’s Summer Tourcation – Miss Quincy, Hannah Layhe, and Shari Rae rehearsing in Camp Vacant Lot before their set at ArtsWells.
As this year’s Summer Tourcation comes to a close, I’m left with a stockpile of photos that will forever be lost in the bowels of my hard-drive if I don’t do something with them now. So without further ado, here are a few tales from the Vangina.
The Vangina
The Vangina came into our lives early in the tour after the tragic demise of the trusty ol’ Mama Dragon and our home sweet trailer Ruby. This is what she looks like when she’s packed to the roof with 5 stringed instruments (including an upright bass), a drum kit, 2 amps, a full PA, a merch set-up worthy of a farmers’ market, luggage and sleeping implements for 6 weeks, 10 hats, and 4 ladies:
Once in awhile we do have guests in the Vangina. Meet Hairold.
A pictorial representation of Breathy Betty (the GPS, that is).
The Cream of Happiness
Nothing makes a morning happier than Carolans in your coffee. We consume so much of this creamy delight it’s a wonder they don’t sponsor us.
The Health Test
It’s important to keep active on the road. With that in mind we have developed a daily health test that would make Hal Johnson and Joanne McLeod proud.
Paul Lake is Our Bathroom
Using Paul Lake as our own personal bathroom to get ready for a gig.
The Shit Sprawl
After living out of a suitcase for awhile, home becomes wherever you happen to sprawl your shit.
Home-ifying some motel room with a classic shit sprawl. JP washes her filthy clothes in the sink while I take mine off and get to work in my bed turned office.
Sleepovers
As I’ve touched on before, to survive on the road you have to become one hell of an adaptable sleeper. You must develop the ability to sleep when you can and where you can, or you will die a haggard sleep deprived death. As per usual, over the past 6 weeks I’ve gotten my dream on in more places than you can possibly imagine. These are perhaps my favorite:
Tarynn & Merlin’s Magic Tree Castle in Ucluelet. Visit them at the Ukee Treehouse B&B next time you’re on the Island. And yes, that is a king sized bed.
The barn loft in Twin Butte, AB.
The Drummer Who Wasn’t Allowed To Drive
The one and only time our colonial cousin and English drummer Nurse Layhe was allowed to drive.
The Rogue Smell
One of the major enemies you have to battle when living out of a minivan with numerous people for long periods of time is The Rogue Smell. Sometimes the smell is so assaulting and elusive that you are forced to call in a rogue smell expert (yes, I’m talking about you, Nathan Rogers). In this case, a simple tear apart and sniff down of the minivan yielded the nasal assailant – a bag of vegetables that had managed to slip away under the seat and turn itself into sludge.
Workplace Injuries
Bass Fingers.
Guitar Fingers.
The Jam Factory
Edmonton.
Victoria.
Vancouver.
Duncan.
Nurse Layhe says with the companionship of a rat, or other animal of choice, life could possibly be less lonely and more fulfilling.
Nurse Layhe says a glass of wine a day could possibly help reduce bad cholesterol in arteries, lower blood pressure, reduce chance of heart attack, and increase general merriment.
Sleep ins, beach burritos, quadruple margaritas, sunset walks, movie nights … I had forgotten real live days off even existed.
You're perusing the phlog of Canadian soul-stealer & light-painter Jodie Ponto. Her website lives here: www.jodieponto.com.
