Have moonshine will travel... from PEI to BC

You may recall, just a couple of months ago, I visited Calgary for a book event. There I was greeted by James, originally from Prince Edward Island, who had read Adventures in Solitude and took note of the many pioneering stories within that involved guzzling illegal moonshine. Seems this is still a tried and true tradition on PEI, and so James brought me a sample, disguised in a plastic Smart Water bottle, some 4,000 kilometres from PEI to Alberta.

At the book reading, I promised him I’d smuggle the moonshine the rest of the way, over the Rockies and down to the Pacific, into Desolation Sound. This past weekend I was able to do just that, as I set foot in the Sound for the first time in 2011. I swung by Lund and had lunch at Nancy’s Bakery, then picked up a cold six pack at the Lund General Store, then hopped into Big Buck$ and motored to the cabin.

It was awesome to be back up in the Sound… the weather was a mix of gorgeous and treacherous… spectacular, warm and sunny on Saturday but so bad on Sunday that it was all I could do just to get out of there before the storm trapped me. I saw eagles and mergansers and ravens and a very curious river otter, who was swimming along the rocks and stuck its head out right in front of me, eyeball to eyeball, before diving under.

And yes, I sampled the moonshine… on the rocks, literally. After that things become a little foggy… but I filmed it, and I’ll post that soon. Thanks James and the moonshiners of Watervale, PEI! You can check out more photos here from the first weekend back.

Hope to see you in Winnipeg this weekend!

A log cabin museum. Another reason why I love the Yukon.

It’s a Stompin’ Tom Connors lyric and my reality for the past three bright, sunny, long days as I made my first trip back to one of my all-time favourite end-of-the-road destinations in Canada: the Yukon Territory. This time I got to hang out in the amazing little city of Whitehorse, where for 72 hours I worked my caboose off in seminars, meeting with the inspiring and amazing music community of the Yukon.

In preparation for the 2011 Western Canadian Music Awards, which will be in Whitehorse this October, I met with all types of Northern musicians at various stages of their career that all had one thing in common: pride in the place they come from and passion for their art. Can’t ask for anything more than that.

I also squeezed in a book event at thee perfect venue for me, a long cabin covered in antlers and furs, namely the MacBride Museum of Yukon History. It was great to reconnect to many friendly folks who I have met over the years in Whitehorse and Dawson City. Thanks very much to Dave White from CBC North for hosting the event, the Museum for holding it, Mac’s Fireweed Books for selling (incredible bookstore), and the lovely and talented Brigs for performing.

Oh yeah, and my favourite place to eat in Whitehorse was a great new place called Burnt Toast. I liked it so much I ate their twice… in one night!

Next up… the Winnipeg Comedy Festival for a special live DNTO taping!

Middle Beach, Tofino BC.

WHOA. WHOA. WHOA. I hadn’t been back to Tofino in over a decade (I used to surf there with members of The Smugglers and the Evaporators – we’d drive up in a convertible dune buggy, camp overnight, and sleep right on the beach), but was finally able to make the trip back this weekend. Spectacular.

My wife Jill and I steered our little VW westward over the craggy mountains of Vancouver Island to very end of the road on the very western edge of Canada this  to hook up with the very cool Mermaid Tales Bookshop for a book event at the Clayoquot Community Theatre on Saturday night.

We had an exceptional time the entire weekend, and we thank the theatre, the bookstore, Sobo Restaurant, the Middle Beach Lodge, my brand new beer sponsor Phillips Brewery (makers of my all-time fave beer Blue Buck Ale), Katrina from Tourism Tofino for spreading the word, and everyone who came out to fill up the little theatre. A special thanks to Eileen from the theatre for lending me her computer when mine decided to take a snooze break.

We make a quick stop into Curious Coho Books in rough ‘n’ tumble Port Alberni on Sunday afternoon and met some more friendly Vancouver Islanders, including Bodhi Jones‘ mom! Check out a few more photos from Tofino here.

Thanks to all who continue to support the book tour. Next up… Whitehorse this weekend!