TOUR update written June 8, २००८

Friday at 19:00, the new CD arrived at my doorstep. By 4:00(am) I was in the car heading for the Munich airport ready for my tour to begin.

It's been a whirlwind and I'm not sure where to start. I haven't had a minute to sit down and catch up with myself yet, let alone write any blogs.

So although today isn't a day off either, I do have some time before I head to the BBC for my next radio interview.

The first flight in to Heathrow Terminal 5 was interesting to say the least. Nowhere near the level of frustration of March 27 but wait until I tell you this....

As we sat in the runway (not pulled up to any station) the pilot announced he was sorry for the delay we'd be experiencing. He informed us the tower did not have us on the schedule. A morning flight MUC via LHR everyday of the year, at the same time and they didn't know we were coming??
After waiting nearly 45 minutes on board, it did throw me into a tail spin running for my puddle jumper to Newcastle.

I made it only to land on the other end and wait no less than 3 hours to get my rental car. Not only did their printer break which is necessary or renting but they ran out cars even though everyone in line had reserved one.

So that's how my tour started and getting in the car exhausted from no sleep the night before and getting lost wasn't exactly my idea of fun. My phone hadn't been topped off so I couldn't call my agent.
Fortunately I found a nice couple when I pulled over that let me call Helen and figure out where the heck I was. And it's pathetic to be honest... South Shields is not huge and I should know better. I was just so tired already.

Saturday was chaotic in my head. I couldn't make sense of anything and the shock of the world I used to live in right there in front of me, kind of freaked me out.

Living on the road is something I used to do. It started as a real honest pull to it and somewhere along the way turned into of course not only a job but a sort of duty to my fans as well as proof to my family.

It all sounds complicated and it is really so I can tell you after 1.5 years off the road and the cold, hard business of music, I was nowhere near prepared for the harsh reality of it.
People think what I do is glamorous and see it through romance red glasses. Sorry to shatter the illusion but if it's your job and you are a folk singer, the roses are in short supply and the money, that's another story.

I had a well expected mini breakdown and was on my way. Back to the business I mean.

My first show in Newcastle was a success and I even surprised myself by having a really, really good time.
My agent and publicist were both there (which admittedly I'd love to have on the road with me always...*sigh) and my friend Dave videotaped it. So hopefully along with some other video footage and photo's, I can get that posted here.

I headed down South a bit after and had another great show that topped Newcastle. The folks in Beverly were adorable and attentive and the show was my favorite of the tour so far. I really could have gone on for hours.
Although getting to radio beforehand in the pouring rain then straight to the promoters house was somewhat challenging, I made it and went close to straight on the stage in good spirits.

The downside is we discovered I had a flat as well as slow leaks in both tires as someone had smashed in the back rims from the inside. I guess that meant I was close to having 2 blow outs had it not been noticed and just changed.
There were no extra cars for hire nearby so the good guys at the Fix it tyre shop banged out my rims intent on getting me to Edinburgh, Scotland for my next show.

Edinburgh although a let down in attendance was also a good show and out the blue a girl I met at a show in Modesto, California in 2003 (my first CD Little Lighthouse CD release) was there! Small, small world I tell you.

Oh I failed to mention that after being lost most of the first few days I decided to invest in Sat. Nav... To those of you in the US, GPS. Oh yeeeah.
I could go on and on and on about how much easier this had made my life but instead I will just say I call her Daisy, I love her and never want to lose her.

The following show in Kircaldy, Scotland was made even better by my fantastic hosts Davey and Mary. Their spirits soared and the love they share for each other very contagious. I hope Helli and I are like them when we grow up.
We formed a very nice friendship and it was the first time on the tour I really felt comfortable and could relax a little. After the show, Davey talked me into a gorgeous smokey flavored single malt whiskey as a night cap. I don't drink on the road anymore but I could hear my husband voice in my head telling me to turn down a whiskey offered by a Scottsman would be mad...
I had my first ly in nestled in their gorgeous cozy house, indulged in some caffeinated with cream coffee the next morning and was on my way to where I am now, Sheffield.

Pete asked me last minute Friday if I wanted to play the Village Hall outside of town with Jez Lowe and the bad pennies. And since Kate Bramley (his violinist) will be joining me on some dates this summer, it couldn't have worked out any better.
What a lovely hall and the other Pete running it, was absolutely the sweetest man.
Jez and the band were much better this time around then when I saw them come through Innsbruck. Could have something to do with not even 10 people in attendance the first time I saw them compared to last nights packed hall.

So there is a lot of in between stuff but nothing is jumping out at me at the moment. Just a lot of driving from one place to the next, arriving just in time for sound checks the almost straight to the stage. It's been pretty hectic so far. I'm losing too much weight which coming from me sounds absurd I know. Living off the raw food I bought at the start of the tour but hardly having a stomach or time to eat it properly. Not good.

I definitely feel jolted and loopy being back out here but I have to say, knowing I have a home and a wonderful husband and good friends to go back home to, is keeping me centered.

It feels more like work than ever and I surely haven't hit my hobo stride the way I used to. I'm not sure or will but if I do, I am guessing it'll be a whole nother shebang since I get to fly in and out of Austria for rests in between. No more of this 6 months straight touring... just me and guitar and 100lb bag. I don't miss those days not for a second and if offered all sorts of money to get them back, I wouldn't even think about it. I don't envy a musician that loves it. Hats off to doing anything in life you love if you do but I can honestly say I have no desire to live on the road the way I used to. And having experienced it hard for far too long, I have had enough of my share and am content to pass the baton to whomever wants it.

Having a life other than music is something I never even wanted but now that I have it, I'm sorry to confess I prefer it over the life of a folk musician.

There's room for both in my life but at the moment, I am still thinking about the next hike, the next picnic, my husbands cooking and friends waiting in the alps.
Maybe I will catch up with myself out here and land. I'm not sure. Maybe not.
Either way, I'm enjoying the roundabouts, the lovely people, the little backroads, the satisfied feeling after a show well done. I expect I won't hit a stride so much as anticipate times passing.

Now that I've figured out how to be happy it's hard to drive in circles and know it's in another country altogether.

1000 copies of the new CD at my doorstep...barely!

The first 1000 of, "Dust & branches...songs from a wanderer"

The delivery man literally was home and going to come the next day (when I'd be in the UK already!) & only came because my duplicator called him at home! Then he left them outside the building and was only caught by my husband coming home. Barely got him to help us get them inside the building. Getting them up to the top floor, that's another story. :)