Prince George B.C.

So picture this. I'm in a field 4 hours drive north of Edmonton, Alberta. There are two friendly guys carting my heavy (2 months on the road) hockey bag, guitar, a tent and sleeping stuff for two, in a wheelbarrow through a mud-laden field. To get to this position I have flown from Heathrow to Newark, Newark to Denver, Denver to Calgary.Picked up by my Canadian buddy Greg Beattie. We then drove for a day - and here we are. I start laughing, I cant help it, the guys don't get it and I don't blame them. As we enter the field reserved for performers (presumably plenty of wild mushrooms in this one!) a rather scantily clad young lady walks towards us. One of my shearpers asks if I see anything I fancy, and for a moment I don't realise that he is referring to a place to set up the tent. I just start laughing again and I think they now believe I have found the mushrooms already. I guess you had to be there.Picked up by my Canadian buddy Greg Beattie. We then drove for a day - and here we are. I start laughing, I cant help it, the guys don't get it and I don't blame them. As we enter the field reserved for performers (presumably plenty of wild mushrooms in this one!) a rather scantily clad young lady walks towards us. One of my shearpers asks if I see anything I fancy, and for a moment I don't realise that he is referring to a place to set up the tent. I just start laughing again and I think they now believe I have found the mushrooms already. I guess you had to be there!I awoke very hot, due to the fact that I had all my clothes on, and staggered out to fulfil the rest of my duties. A couple of workshops and Greg and I are back to the comfort of a tour van and a two day drive to Prince George. Greg and his wife Jo live here and it is they I have to thank for my third visit to Canada in fourteen months. Jo offered me my first chance to come and tour here back in May 99 and I'm so glad she did. I will stay here for the next week or so and do a few small gigs before making my way south for festivals in the Vancouver area. After all those gigs, Sian and the children will join me for a holiday which will be very special. As I have said before, I love the place and want to share the experience with those closest to me. I'm staying here with my good friends Maureen and Dave Faulkner, and its good timing as Maureen has a special event happening this week about which I shall tell in the next pipelineOn the drive down to Prince George, in the Jasper national park, we encountered the usual amazing Canadian wild life including a Caribou which looked totally disinterested in my National Geographic pitch. We then walked to the foot of Mount Robson which is the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. There at Lake Kinney I sat and pondered at what I can only describe as the most beautiful place I have ever been, other than perhaps the edge of the Grand Canyon. Just inspiring beyond any words I can write here. I'm blessed to see these things and will bring my children here.The next week or so will give me the chance to slow down and recharge after what has been a very busy period. Leaving the Shirley Bassey tour early was a blessing in disguise as, without the time it freed up, I don't know how I would have got everything done in time to leave. Deciding to write and recording the 'Shirley Session's' didn't help the stress factor but I'm glad I did it. Time to chill a bit now.