Cat Jahnke Mews

Wow. What can I say? This one day at Komasket was unlike anything I had imagined. Looking back, it seems like it lasted for much longer than 24 hours. I woke up, I warmed up, I played, I tossed the disc, I sweated, I shared several unforgettable meals with several unforgettable people, I waded in the water, I ogled all the cherubic children toddling around, I ogled all the gorgeous women in their gorgeous handmade clothing, I got a back massage in the performer’s tent and had a wonderful discussion with my skilled masseuse, and I did so much more! That’s twice as much as I’d do in a month back at home.

How can you have a bad day when you wake up to this?

What happens at a music festival to charge the air with good will and familiarity? I was cautious with my expensive musical gear, but I left it relatively unguarded. I spoke with strangers, even accepted food from them, and felt more safe than holed up in my basement at home. I hugged impetuously. I walked in my bare-feet unflinchingly. I slept soundly among thousands.

I remember my first visit to the Winnipeg Folk Fest many years ago. For the first few days I experienced a pocket of humanity unlike anything I’d encountered before. Accidentally stepping on someone’s toe would more likely bring about a new friendship than a new animosity. Children roamed free, food exchanged generously and there was a blanket of camaraderie over the entire festival.

By Sunday night, however, I was starting to sense the return of a more restrained joviality. Folks were still friendly, but a readjustment was necessarily taking place to protect from the inevitable shock upon re-entering the real world. Why must we go back?

I left Komasket before the sparkles had time to fizzle. I can’t wait to go back!

Spent the afternoon at a café very similar in feel to the bakery in the film Stranger Than Fiction. It is helmed by a young woman who seemed intent on catering to everyone with the same respect and love, focusing on quality, nourishing, REAL food. The thrift store in the back implied a simple ambiance, but the wireless internet signal was strong and free. If you are in Kamloops, visit Ruth’s Café.

After purchasing a lovely tablecloth to add to my merch display and some persuasively cheap books, we left the coffee shop and headed over to Vernon. We stopped in at the Komasket music festival, checked out the tipis which were to shelter us that evening and met some really really fantastic people (Hello Ryan, Rennae, Sam, Katie, Rio, Laurie, Jason, Ashley, J, Saul, Devaki, + + +). Then we drove into town to play.

Our evening at the Talkin’ Donkey in Vernon began quietly. I was concerned because the show was to start in less than half an hour and the place was empty. Thank goodness I had made the mistake of entering the wrong showtime in my tour binder. In this instance I fought the sand in the hourglass and won! An hour and a half later I began my first set and sang to another fine bunch of folks.

The Extreme Toffee Coffee Donkaccino!

I’m always a little jealous of, and intimidated by, big groups of friends. I’m amazed that a true intimacy can be shared by such a large number of people. Nathan, Tyler and their entire crew made it look so easy, made me think it might be time to leave the hermitage once I return to Winnipeg. Imagine going out every single night of the week! Unfathomable…

Back at Komasket, we finally found the tipi that was set up just for us. The handpainted sign designating our residence was invisible by the light of the moon and I had forgotten the LED light on the keychain in my bag. Luckily Saul came to our rescue and showed us the way.

My tipi had special powers: it was only visible during daylight!
(Check out the ‘C’ in Cat. It comes complete with ears and tail!)

I tried my hardest to appreciate the experience of sleeping under the stars. I had the luxuries of a mattress beneath me and real sheets and blankets on top, but the chill crept in nonetheless and a fear for my vocal chords contaminated what could have otherwise been a really special night. Oddly, despite my numb toes and clenched voice box, I think I had the best sleep I’d yet had on tour.

Breakfast in Golden was quite a contrast from the eggs and toast we savored at the Hillcrest Hotel in Revelstoke. Somehow the view from the back of the gas station couldn’t quite compare with the panorama we took in the other day. Plus, we had to PAY dearly for this one:

And you thought gas was expensive…

As I mentioned in previous tour blogs, I’m always struck by the juxtaposition of virgin landscapes and human progress throughout BC. 3 Valley Gap is a good example of what I mean. It’s one of the most beautiful and LOUDEST places on earth. Surrounded by the Monashee Mountains, it’s a unique vista, but the well-traveled #1 highway hugging the coast of the Lake of the Three Valleys contributes a soundtrack that is harsh and distracting.

Gorgeous view at 3 Valley Gap

Boisterous highway at 3 Valley Gap

At first I thought, YAY, they built their building AROUND this treasure of a tree. Then Darren reminded me that there was most likely more just like this, and only one was spared as a gimmick…

1126 A.D. – Western Red Cedar trees are the oldest living things in 3-Valley-Gap. Borings by a Forestry Technician indicate that this tree sprouted in 1126 A.D., sixty years after the Normans invaded England, and ninety years before King John was forced to sign the Magna Carta.

Players Lounge in Kamloops is an immense and classy venue. In only one way it reminds me of Oscar’s garbage can, and that is that it is deceptively large inside. Check out my trek from the summit to the foundation.

The Players Lounge Labyrinth
(click picture to watch the video)

I had a great time playing on the rooftop while the sun set and the wind threatened to blow me over the side. At one point some pens flew off my piano stand, nearly impaling me in the middle of a somber song. How fitting: a true testament to a dedication to my art!

Today I got to converse with the crowd in my native tongue and, for the most part, I think I was understod. Lori and Karen bolstered my confidence by clapping for my soundcheck. Tanya and Steve shared many useful travel tips collected over years of living in various parts of BC. I found a real kindred spirit in Tanya who validated my fear of getting people’s names wrong and my hotel heeby-jeebies…

We arrived in Kamloops without accommodations. Unfortuately for us, this city is BUSTLING! The participants of soccer tournaments, pow wows, and an assortment of other local events claimed the majority of hotel/motel/inn rooms. I should have been suspicious when one of the places I called declared their vacancy. It’s hard to appreciate a comfy mattress when you’re contemplating who, or what, was between the sheets before you. (Thank you Tanya for lending substantiation to my paranoia!)

We ate breakfast on the Hillcrest Hotel patio today. It was unbelievable. As a prairie girl, I am continuously amazed by local folk who go about their business with backs turned to the mountains. Honestly, I’m a little leery of the peaks and their daunting presence.

The Hillcrest Hotel Breakfast Special

It was hot in Revelstoke today; the beach beckoned. While I was only brave enough to wade in to my knees, I watched more hearty children dive right in. One exceptionally devil-may-care boy paddle by with a straw in his mouth, slurping up the sparkling lake water as he went along.

Pure Revelstoke Sparkling Water

After spending a leisurely afternoon, we made our way to Golden only to realize minutes after our arrival that we were an hour late. Those damn time changes!! While Golden is in BC, it’s in the same zone as Alberta. This is something I know, but had forgotten… Luckily LouAnn and Les and Karen at the Mad Trapper were very understanding and the evening was a success.

My favorite part of the evening was going over to a table of folks to say hello, launching into a spiel about how happy I was to be able to play in such a gorgeous location (on a patio beside a river) only to be met by blank stares. They were tourists from Germany and didn’t speak a word of English. I said the only thing I knew how to say in their language, “My brother has no head”, and made a less-than-graceful adieu.

I decided to try my hand at the next group over. I sat down, said hello, thanks for coming, and was once again met by a row of confused faces. “Mein Bruder hat keinen Kopf. Auf Wiedersehen.”

Turns out 75% of the audience couldn’t understand 75% of what I was saying. But music can be enjoyed despite a language barrier and I felt very supported by them. And of course, being in Golden, the show was a great reunion with the regular crew that makes their way out to the shows to hoot and holler and stand on their chairs.

Thanks to Trevor and LouAnn for their hospitality and thanks again to Will for the gift of the mix tape – my favorite kind of gift to receive!

Someone slipped me some “laundered” money…

Along the way I’m encountering numerous new flavors of water, from clorine to mold to egg. Why hasn’t anyone thought of bottling a series of Canadian city tap waters! It would be the equivalent of Bertie Bot Jelly Bellies… Yuck.

I was curious recently about the “flavor” of Winnipeg’s water. How had it become so strong? I’m not a fan of buying water; it seems to be a resource that shouldn’t have to be purchased. Like air! I came across the Water & Waste section of winnipeg.ca and was quite shocked:

“Do we meet the Canadian drinking water quality guidelines?
Yes, most of them. There are more than 80 guidelines for drinking water quality. Winnipeg supplies good quality drinking water, and usually meets these guidelines. However, we are not always able to meet the guidelines for turbidity, odour and trihalomethanes (TRY-hal-oh-meth-aynes).”

Read more about trihalomethanes and it’s “possible link” to cancer HERE.

Then last week in Winnipeg, several homes were flooded with wastewater. Click HERE to read an article describing the situation:

Now tell me I’m going crazy, PLEASE, but does this mean what I think it means?!

“…a city crew that had been working on a nearby pumping station apparently failed to reopen a gate that would have allowed wastewater to flow into the Assiniboine River.”

No wonder our water tastes like sh*t.

In other news, I must reiterate that I absolutely adore my job. There are bad days, and there are good days, and it was a good day here in Revelstoke at the Hillcrest Hotel. Beautiful view, beautiful room, beautiful food. I’m so grateful to Chantal for hosting me tonight; I can’t wait to come back!

We specifically asked for a room WITHOUT a jacuzzi…
The things we have to put up with on the road!