Michigan, Detroit Etc.

After staying in The Soo for several days (and swimming at Harmony Beach - sweet), I drove The Green Grand AM down through the Michigan Peninsula early last week, it was a really nice drive, stopped at several of the official rest areas to pee and, uhm, rest. Stopped into visit Audra Kubat for a couple of days and we had a nice visit, she gave me a copy of her most recent CD release - you can check out a couple of full length songs in MP3 file format at the Times Beach Records website. I have been listening to the CD and I really like it tons, very different from Million Year Old Sand (which was recorded on miles of analog tape) - the song Garden (check the MP3 at the link above) has this sweet thick harmony chorus, yum - but I haven't figured out all of the lyrics and they aren't printed on the CD insert - anyhow, I really like the way Eric H. plays the drums, he has a pop leaning light rock touch with a cute swing feel and the production allows the drums to come into and out of the songs in a real musical way. So, while I was up there, we went out to see an MC5 retrospective documentary film at the Magic Stick in downtown-ish Detroit, that was fun (and there were many keen hipsters in attendance) and we also went swimming at one of the little spring-fed lakes at a neat and tidy family oriented park area. Then we went into Ann Arbor MI and hit a couple of Open Mic events - Audra plays a bending bluesing lead acoustic guitar that I like allot. All in all a very nice visit with my friend, and it was cool to meet her parents, they were friendly and relaxed folks.

More later..

Swimming in Lake Superior

Yesterday I went swimming in the big lake Superior, my cuz had his boat out anchored within easy reach of the smooth sandy beach and all the babes were out in the teeny weeny bikin's with the sun was just rippin' into the day.

It was perfect for swimming, I would like to do that every day.

Sault Ste. Marie Bars and Musicians

Hi you reader(s) - I went out to an Open Mic night here in Soo a few days ago so I thought I would add these links here for ya'all planning on making the trek up here, yeah, why don't set you selfs up with some gigs on the North Coast?

Here is a link to two of Queen Streets sweetest bars:

LopLops (on the lake side of Queen) for Art, Music, Babes, Booze, and Stella on TAP!! (and in the Stella glass as well)

Downbeat Lounge (on the other side of Queen) for Art, Live Music, Martinis and Martinis

And here is a link to Startlefish Craig West is a member of this band (well I think it's 'his' band) and he is also the host of the very happening Open Mic Night Tuesdays from 10 to close.

C'mon up, drink a Martini, play some songs, we can hang out.

MOre latEr.

Speckled Trout

I have been visiting Soo now for several days and it is really a very nice city, however, with the weather as good as it has been, it seems like most of the cities population has headed north for 'cottaging' and camping boating fishing so the city is a little bit quiet.

Last night my uncles grilled up a couple of Speckled Trout that they had caught very recently - was it ever good! Words just cannot completely describe the delicious sweet fish that is a freshly caught Speckled Trout. Yum!

More later..

Boating Beer and Babes

Went boating again today with my cousin Warren Wilson, at Harmony Bay on the North Shore of Lake Superior - REAL nice! We went fishin' and I caught a friggin CLAM, geeez. Anyhow, the water is warm, the air is fresh, and there are many MOOSE crossing signs! I've been playing my little Stela Guitar, it sounds great. Went to an open mic at a nice bar here in Soo - LopLops. Sweet artsy bar joint. Nice people.

Anyhow my uncle Bill is still here, he is talking about going out West again this weekend - he has a huge comfy camper truck vehicle.

I might see my friend Audra on the way back stateside, I am not in a real big hurry to get back to the states side of the lakes, its just soo nice up here (wink).

MOre later - sorry no pictures. Just cmon' up here when you get the chance.

Manitoulin Island and the Wilson 100 Acre Woods

Camping with 40 youths, although fun and challenging, wasn't my cup of tea (was a complicated journey) and I split camp about 4 days ago after a bit of unresolvable tension with one of the junior staff members.

I travelled to my families original homestead site on the Manitoulin Island (my great grandfather Charlie Wilson's 100 Acre Farm traipsing up there in my flip flops) and I took what turned out to be 25 really excellent pictures of the farm on a 12 dollar disposable camera, heh. The place is rather remote and in-accesible and has no water view - and there are several deer blinds. There are three or four big stone piles and two dilapidated farm buildings. There were two great big Blue Herons flying around. It was nice to see the place first hand, I have carried an old picture of it in my wallet for years.

Anyhow, I know this little briefing leaves out a ton of details, nonetheless I have since travelled to The Sault Saint Marie and I have been visiting with some of my Canadian relatives.

More later ...