Brandon, Manitoba
We decided to get a motel last night and get some decent sleep before the festival this weekend. We are still about 160 miles from the festivals and have seen nothing but prairie for the last several hundred miles. Wednesday night we stayed in Medicine Hat, Alberta at a city owned campground. The hostess did us a favor by only charging us for one campsite so we gathered up the instruments and went to the office and played her a song. She stopped by on her way home and told us that it had made her night. That’s what it’s all about.
We will head out as soon as the laundry is finished drying and do what we came to do, which is put on a show.
Here we come Prairie’s Edge!!

I am sitting in a parking lot in Nelson, BC. The sun is up, Blanchard is probably still snoring but will be awake soon and we will be on the road again toward our destination. Had a good time last night playing for the folks up here. Vancouver was good too although the big city is no place for country folks like us. Put a scratch in my truck in the parking garage from hell at the motel. We were heckled for the first time by a drunk who kept saying “do it again” but the rest of the crowd was great. The scenery is spectacular for those of you who have never been up to these parts. I’d better go wake Blanchard up.

So, I know everyone is waiting out there with bated breath to know who is filling in for Dave on our Canada trip. Drum roll-it will be Bonnie Bliss, who we’ve known over here in Eastern WA for quite awhile and is a fine bass player. Plus she sings, too. I’m not quite sure if we will have her sing on this trip but who knows?
As for another change, Joyce Fikkan has stepped down from being our booking agent/manager/band Mom. Too many other things going on in her life without being tethered to Prairie Flyer. She has done a wonderful job and we thank her so much for her hard work and dedication. She still remains a fan and we will see her from time to time.
Stand by for an announcement as to who will take her place.
Happy Trails,
Jim

Am I the one who said I would try to post more? OK, so it’s been awhile and I feel guilty.
Alright, I’m over that and on to the next deal. We haven’t been playing too much and I’m getting pretty itchy to get back in the saddle. And in the saddle is where we will be starting next Friday, June 15. I won’t give you the whole schedule because that’s what the front page is for but we are going to start in Cashmere and finish the following week near Winnipeg. Quite a trip and I’m looking forward to it. The open road, the endless miles of Canadian prairie and Blanchard tied to the bumper. No, I will let him ride up front. On the grille or somewhere he won’t be a nuisance.
Here’s the bad news/good news. First of all, Dave will not be playing bass for us on this trip because of a visit to the emergency room last week and surgery. The doctor said “You’re not going to Canada” which put me into semi-panic mode because bass players of Dave’s caliber are not easy to come by. And then there was all the travel arrangements that had to be changed. I had an interesting experience speaking with “Joshua” in New Dehli to try to get the names changed on the reservation but the best “Joshua” could do was tell me that Dave could take a flight from Winnipeg to Spokane anytime in the next year. So I told Dave I would drive him 1400 miles to Winnipeg next year so he could take his airplane ride. Eventually “Joshua” hooked me up with Delta Airlines and we’re going to get a refund. Of course, I had to book another flight for someone else and I got that done and everything is more or less all right with the world, except that Dave is still in the hospital, where is expected to make a full recovery.
So, precious reader, you’re asking who is going to be playing bass for PF while we make this trip across Canada? Tune in tomorrow or the next day and I will announce that.
In the mean time, sit back, have a cold one of your choice and listen to some David Bowie or something.

Jim