Again, despite the title, this starts in North Bay - land of hospitality and free pull-out couches to crash on.

The next day Allison and Gail come to wake me up. I shower quickly (I've become a shower junkie - one wakes me up, one makes me feel like I haven't been in a car for 4 hours, and one washes the sweat from the gig away). I've got a bit of time in North Bay, have some errands to run and want to go exploring. First Auny Patty shows up though. She talks about her co-worker (another cousin - is EVERYONE in town related to Allison & Gail?!) who apparently keeps playing "Alanis Morisette, Janet Jackson, and Jann Arden." A bizarre combination, but I can see that being annoying after a while - Aunt Patty buys one of my CDs and I join her private war on Girl Rock. Gail offers me tapes of Chick Rock to play in the VW Bug's tape player.

Allison and I walk down to Main Street. It's nice to walk after having driven everywhere and it's a beautiful day, although the news predicts snow this weekend. First errand is depositing money in the bank - something I didn't expect as an indie musician - with so many CD sales the night before, I have much to much cash on me and it makes me nervous. Then I pick up guitar strings just in case. Then we stop at Discovery@NorthBay - the museum that Gail works at - which is stunning! Seriously, it's worth the drive to North Bay to see this shrine to trains, planes and... well, actually that's most of it, but still, you can drive a train, fly planes, find out how much it is to mail yourself, hear stories about North Bay AND see Allison's smurf collection! Any museum with a smurf collection is aces in my books.

Amy, one of Gail's co-workers who came to the barbecue and show the other night was working that day - and HAD JUST GOTTEN ENGAGED THE NIGHT BEFORE! Check out her rock! Congrats!

We then hit local celebrity hotspot OMER'S USED GUITARS & VACUUMS. Yes, that's what it's called. And apparently it's famous. The Barenaked Ladies have sung about it. The Rankins order violins from here and Randy Bachman is pictured with Omer, the owner. Inside it's a bizarre collection of musical and suctional, but actually is pretty impressive in it's collection. Equally impressive is Allison, the Book Man down the street which has millions of used books.

Finally, I take off - with Alanis & Jann Arden playing on Gail's tapes - following the same route before to Sudbury but turning off on Highway 17 to the Sault. Tamarack trees keep me happy and Nipissing Lake peaking out from behind them is stunning.

I find a giant teepee and a giant Loonie on the way.

I arrive in Sault Ste. Marie around 7 and can't find the club, so I check into my hotel and enjoy a bit of wireles sinternet access before heading back out. Much as I love North Bay's hospitality, I'm secretly looking forward to sleeping in a hotel bed, using their gym, continental breakfast and basically being a rockstar primadonna.

I find the club and talk to Steve, the owner of LopLops for awhile. Loplops is beatiful - handmade by Steve and it shows. It's a combination of art gallery, bar, performance space and is very cool. It's named after a European artist who used to put a little bird cartoon from his childhood in every painting - the bird was called a Loplop. The last time I played here, was for a gay & lesbian film festival wrap party (In Sault Ste. Marie - who knew?!), so I wasn't sure what I'd find here. I was opening for a band called Big Wheel & The Spokes - which according to Steve was one of the best local bands.

I was supposed to start at 9:30, but Steve held off until 9:50 or so. I played my first song to an empty back section, but people, hearing the music shuffled back to join me. It was a good crowd, mostly into hanging out and talking, but still friendly. I finished and met Carrie, newly married wife to Jay (Big Wheel of the band, I guess) - a sweetheart who was totally supportive - bought one of my CDs and then gave me one of Jay's for free. We hung out and talked all night while BW&TS played.

Here are some amazing things about BW&TS. Jay just got back from a 5 week honeymoon in Europe that day. Their drummer was in North Bay studying to be a teacher the night before. And without any rehearsal they sounded tighter than any band I've seen. Seriously - they were awesome. And Jay is an incredible guitarist - despite having the tips of his left hand fingers cut off in a work accident a year or two back. HOLY &#$%.

Anyway, since they were awesome and gave me a CD, I bought one of their shirts - and a lop lops shirt (Steve threw in another for free). I now have too many t-shirts and will have to start wearing 2 at once.

I also met George, who runs CRANK music services in town - an awesome guy who supplies every music event in the area with gear. Halfway through the set he went and got a bizarre pink daisy bass and forced Frank the bass player to play it.

Generally I don't drink when playing, but as the opener and with nothing to do and with free beer being offered, I partook of the beer of the month, which coincidenatally I forgotten the name of. George then took me over to the other live music bar in town and bought me a Rye and then while trying to pay the bill, accidentally ordered shots. Again, coincidentally I've forgotten the name of this bar or really much of the rest of the night. Eventually I headed back to the Travelodge and fell asleep.

Made some nice new friends, drank too much and bought too many t-shirts. A good night in my books. Next is Wawa, but first a trip to the gym and then another shower...