Travelogue – Halifax, day two

I woke up about 45 minutes after I went to sleep. Nothing woke me up, in that there was no sudden noise, no dream I remember, no disturbance. I was awake again. Nick’s apartment is compact and close, the fans whirred, the air flowed in through the open windows, and I sat on the couch reading until the sun came up. When I couldn’t turn the pages of my book without a hassle anymore I folded the corner of the page, set it beside me and finally fell into a deep, restful sleep.

I awoke to Nick knocking on the door announcing it was 2pm and we should be thinking about leaving. I hopped up, had coffee and then sat back on the couch. People came and went. Decisions were made. Onionz popped into IM to give a shout out to the cats in Halifax, and we listened to his latest studio rough in the speakers and hung out. We listened to some of the music that Nick has been making and collaborating on. Fucking Nick is so damned talented, but he seems to be waiting for something. I pressed him a little, asked “What are you waiting for? Why aren’t these amazing improvisations out in the world for everyone to listen to?” Nick smiled and said “That’s exactly what we talked about eleven years ago.” Laughing and smiling. I recalled a recent conversation I had with a music lover in San Francisco. After the night I played 1 for 1 with Jenö at Back2Back everyone was buzzing and wanting me to play at home a lot more. Admittedly I really do too, but in my estimation it just doesn’t seem like it’s time yet. “What are you waiting for?” Asked my comrade. Well… for people to be truly able and ready to gather and get down to our sound… for people to truly want something more personal, slower, deeper, more emotional… for fun instead of pantomime and fancy-pants. “When’s that going to be?” Um… I guess I see your point. Maybe that’s going to be when we decide it’s time. “You’re not getting any younger buddy.” Ha. Nope. I’m not. That’s true. I regrouped my thoughts and sent an intro between Nick and Jon Lemmon at Oseao. Maybe Jon can help.

After we talked I took off on foot and got a double espresso at a cafe not far away. Backpacker’s Cafe. I nice place, very down to earth and amazing coffee. On the way back I mailed a post card, and met a curious man with very thick glasses and a cowboy hat on the street who wanted to know if I would buy him lunch. I smiled and asked what he wanted for lunch. “Oh something for me!” He said with a grin. “Something hungry!” Yaay. I gave him five dollars and waved at him as he walked over to the police car to ask the officers inside if they would please buy him lunch. When I got back to Nick’s place everything was right where I left it. We picked up and loaded the cars, went back to Backpacker’s for another coffee, and hit the road.

Then we were at Sarah’s house. Mark was showing me his screen printing and talking about how he was going to clean the basement, get his portfolio together, and ready the house for Sunday Soul in two days. I remember Mark from the Sona days in Montreal. Kinda. The house was alive, James’ shoes were in the hall, we talked about James and why he’s in Nova Scotia instead of the more glamourous Montreal. Wasps flew around, life was exploding in Sarah’s garden. At last we set out for the event space. The plan was to drive in tandem from Halifax up to the spot located about 2 and half hours north of the city. We stopped for a sandwich, and again for a visit to the Lower Minas Mall. I met the assistant manager at Tim Horton’s — even though she denied being the assistant manager. Finally we tucked into the truck for the long haul. We watched the Canadian countryside pass away, the sky opening and closing, until we arrived at Mountain Gap Inn just before sundown.

We checked in and figured out the cottages. We were met by Amanda (DJ Freedom)and her crew, as well as Mike and some other early arrivals. It felt good to be standing up straight after a dreamy blur of a drive. We got right to it thanks to Ryan’s motivation and moved tables, stacked chairs, and survived a tussle about what time the event was going until, and if we’d been entirely straight forward with the property owners. For a minute it looked like things were going to get tense, but Jay, Sarah, Amanda, Mike and I made a big plan to reassure ourselves, and at last we were able to relax. We built a bonfire. We talked until the sun came up.

After everyone went to bed I took a walk out to the beach and photographed the sun peeking through the clouds, the wet rocks, and some strange images of the sun rising behind the house. It’s odd to see the sun rise up out of the flat earth. I am accustomed to pacific sunrises and sunsets. The north atlantic coast smells different, feels unique, and the sound of the loons in the distance make me smile and want to dance with them. Cheering about the fish we see in the warming waters of late summer, diving into the waves and supping up feasts whole in one fluid, graceful motion.

The bed felt good. It was a bed the size of Calgary. Never seen a bed so big. The room was hot, but the fan on the knotty pine dresser whirred me off to sleep in an instant.

One Comment

  1. i love reading your travelogue.

    the descriptions put me in the situation, time and place.

    thank you,

    gino.

    p.s.

    have fun tonight !