(Written and produced by Lance Chalmers, subbing for Gogo)

What? We are not going to Ontario? Oh well, let’s go to Saskatchewan and Manitoba instead!

The powers that be led us to the western part of Canada. The land is flat and covered with something similar to my home province. A substance called frozen rain, SNOW!! Everyone came prepared, looking to scale the face of Everest with the coats and gloves and scarves and snowshoes and… and full length evening gowns!!

Our first gig was Hudson Bay. Nowhere near Hudson’s Bay, or any bay for that matter. It was a long travel day, and it was cold too!. Scott had pictures of Mexico to remind us there still are summers in this world and everyone had news.. a good day in the van to catch up. The gig was like playing a comedy club. The crowd was quiet but with Ra, even a quiet night turns into a comedy extravaganza for me anyway. If he doesn’t get the crowd going (man he had them laughin’) he gets me gigglin’ back there.

Our next gig was in Regina. For once, I will talk about food in my report. We have grown fond of the cook at the club (The Pump). He makes us huge helpings of the healthiest stir-frys ever. And the club is a great venue to play. I recently purchased a mini-disk player last tour and now I’m able to record with a small live mic every night if I wish. I recorded three shows this tour, most awesome, because the recordings are digital quality. Thanks for a great night Regina!

Saskatoon is always friendly to us. We played a different venue this time. We played a club called CWeed’s. The gig is owned by Errol Ranville. Errol has a band called CWeed. His band covered Janine in the early 90′s. Turns out it was a hit for him, and an opportunity came up to play his club and get him up to sing the song. It was a great night (I felt at home for obvious reasons). It was such a success that a tour might come out of this with CWeed playing some cool First Nations gigs in the near future. I’m looking forward to this in a big way. See you soon, Errol!

Brandon was a long drive. The snow was piled high along this stretch of Trooper road (drive baby drive). The gig was another quiet one. The crowd suddenly realized we were there when we left the stage! Huge roar for 2 encores at the end, strange night indeed. Who knows when we’ll be back, Little River maybe? Who knows…

It’s always cool stopping in Winnipeg. I have so many memories of this place. Childhood, grandparents, relatives, swimming up at Lake Winnipeg, horses, mosquitoes!.. lots of stuff. Scott was born here as well. God, it’s cold here. I’m from Ontario, but this place is colder. Ra went out to dinner with some good friends at the local classic radio station and met up with Gary McLean of McLean & McLean fame later at the gig. I must make mention of the opening gig, they were awesome, haven’t heard someone play guitar like that in almost seven years. Nobody plays like that anymore, it just isn’t “in” anymore, but he kicked my ass when I heard him wail. Scott and I were blown away. Really personable guy too, wish I had more time to yak with him.

Our show was weird, sounded terrible on stage. Smitty fell trying to get onstage to finish the song after my drum solo and I met a cousin I never thought I had who worked at the club! You learn something every day! It was nice to see my favorite auntie and my cousin Jamie. We stayed up way too late makin’ fun of both sides of our family,..HA HA! Someone has to!

Our last gig was in Yorkton. We just played there this summer, so no mosquitoes this time. Thank God. This was a new room for us. It was a fun one, and my last chance to record the show. Mike sure does a great job juggling those knobs and keeping a smile on his face after nearly breaking his toe. DOHHHHHH!!!! MY FRICKIN’ TOE!!!! What do you mean you’re not doin’ the Disney on ice show? Stupid toe.

Thanks to everyone for coming out to these freezing shows. We’ll see you in the spring when your Trooper tickets won’t freeze to your _ _ _!!!

Please come back to the Trooper site, and my site for updates on new songs coming from Ra! And other surprise projects coming up shortly during our time off,..( time off? What’s that?)

Later,..

Lancelot