I have to leave pretty early in the morning to get to Victoria for noon (for those of you out East who might naively assume that there ought to be a BRIDGE of some sort... you will be wrong). It takes about an hour to get to the ferries from Vancouver, and you should get there an hour early to make sure you've got a spot (there are stressfull signs saying "65% full" as you approach. Then the ferry takes an hour and a half, and THEN you need to drive about half an hour to get to Victoria.

Also, the ferry costs about $50. This is important, because I've rearranged things so that I can be on TV in Victoria today, but have to be back in Vancouver tomorrow for an Aviva meeting... which I suddenly realize is going to run me $100 and a LOT of time... sigh...


The ferry is beautiful though. I'm on the "Spirt of Vancouver Island." They pack the cars in, 2 feet apart - and then you have the run of several floors of cafeteria, gift shop, arcade, viewing decks, etc. A friend suggested I don't be a wimp and stand in the cold on the deck and enjoy the view - and it is totally awesome. Hundreds of little islands, swooping seagulls, and driftwood that looks like seals or the tops of whales.

Surprisingly, I get into town early and hit the bank and the post office. Then I drop by the Ocean Island Lounge - part of the Ocean Island hostel - a very cool community of people from around the world. I meet David and John from Shaw TV. They shoot me playing two songs (Caroline (which everyone liked from Vancouver) and My Eyes Wide) and then we do a short interview covering my music, working with the muppets, my tour, my hallmark card, and a couple more things - all in about a minute. John's going to send me the file, so I'll try to get it uploaded here soon.

I then head over to Liz's place. Liz was one of the bridesmaids and a good friend of my friend Heidi, who's originally from out here. She's a cool, Sarah-Harmer loving mom, whose kids are totally friendly and fearless. We talk for a bit, we trade CDs (hers is some covers she recorded - many Sarah Harmers - what's impressive though is how close they sound to the real thing!)... finally I totally pass out.

Later I head out to a local open mic to promote the show tomorrow. I meet James, a local promoter in town, who runs the open mic and is promoting Blue Rodeo's Bob Eegon's show the night of mine (curses!). I play a couple songs - Caroline, Subway Sparrow and My Eyes Wide (needed to do a song in the key of A, so that Jeremiah, a local harmonica player, could jam with me) - and then hang out. I meet a nice woman who isn't sure whether she'll go up to play. We share stories - she studied out in Montreal, but was in a car accident and had to return, losing her partner, her dog, and her house and is now needs to take constant pain meds. Finally she gets up and plays AMAZING violin! Wow! [the next night, I dedicate Running the Red Lights to her - for not letting life dictate what you do...].

The next day I head back to Vancouver, sleeping most of the ferry ride. I buy a copy of "A brief history of nearly everything" - a great book on, well, nearly everything, but centering on the history of science and our universe. I originally suspect it to be good nap material, but is surprisingly engaging. I also run into James from the night before - he's off to a radio station job interview - cross your fingers for him, folks.

Back in Vancouver, I find Aviva's office (much easier when you have the right address - see Edmonton's blog), have the meeting (a great one! sometimes it's nice to get excited about your day job), and then head back to the ferry. I'm too late for the first ferry (5pm 100% full! Reads the sign) so I have to wait about 3 hours for the 6pm, which will get me into town for 8 for a 9pm show. Cutting it close.

I get back, dash to Liz's, dash to the bar and am, as usual, really early. I set up, meet some folks and then play for 2-3 hours - exhausting every cover I know to play for, although there are many people in the next rooms, basically 4 people. 4 really nice people, but still; Tom from Australia is another guitar player and a great audience member. Brittany from Prince George just pierced her cheeks (I didn't know you could do this, but it looks really cool) although it keeps her from smiling too much. I also meet the Lounge's best customer, a man who wants to take everyone's picture and wants me to play Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah (a beautiful song that I wish I knew). Finally, exhausted, I pack up.

This is one of the show's that I promoted the most and there aren't that many people who came, although more showed up later. Makes you wonder how worth it all the running back and forth was. Definitely time for bed. Tomorrow I hit my halfway point and cross the border into the States!