WEDNESDAY, JULY 8TH – THURSDAY, JULY 9TH – NASHVILLE TO SANDANE, NORWAY:
My first flight since the horrible accidents! I am very apprehensive about flying but really need to be at this festival. I have Frankie Ballard, Alana Springsteen, Joshua Ray Walker and Alex Miller performing at the Norsk Country Treff this weekend. Alex and his group have never traveled internationally so I want to be with them. They are all really nice guys.
Left for the airport at 7:30 am and met everyone outside at the Delta check-in counter at 8:00 am. My buddy Charles – the skycap – was working today. So great to see him. He took good care of us so no problem checking in. I opted not to have the wheelchair and walked to the gate. They started boarding about 15 minutes early and I was the first one on the plane. I texted the guys and told them to come to the gate and they all made it in plenty of time.
My foot was really hurting about 30 minutes into the flight. I took some Advil and took the brace off and rubbed it with Australian Dream. Also went into the toilet and did 3 sets of 10 squats. I am drinking 8 ounces of water at least once an hour, no caffeine, foot and leg exercises in my seat and wearing compression socks. Hoping to avoid a blood clot.
Flight was uneventful otherwise and we landed on time. Guys went to find something to eat and I went to the Lounge. Again, I opted not to use the wheelchair. Need the exercise before the long flight! Grabbed a salad in the Lounge and started working. We have a long layover here – 5 hours! About two hours before flight time, we got a notice that our flight from JFK to Amsterdam is delayed by 50 minutes. Means we will misconnect for the flight to Bergen. I tried to reach the travel agent but also called the Delta 360 line and they were trying to get us all moved to a later flight out of Amsterdam. It’s actually what I wanted anyway because we were landing Bergen at 11:15 am and the bus to take all the groups to Sandane wasn’t leaving to take us there until 5:00 pm because the last group doesn’t arrive until then! The travel agent was finally able to get my flight changed and I had it reissued and a boarding pass issued easily in the Lounge. The travel agent was able to change all the guys while I was taking care of that but we all had to meet at the gate to get Alex’s group reissued and secure new boarding passes. The gate agents kept trying to make us wait until we arrived Amsterdam and said it was impossible for them to help us. I showed them my new boarding pass and suddenly, they could help us. Still a two hour process though.
We actually departed an hour and 40 minutes late. The pilots finally admitted the delay was caused by a mechanical issue. The airlines never like to admit that because then they are responsible for providing lodge, transportation and meals to everyone who misses their connection. We finally took off and the 8 hour flight was easy except for my aching foot! No turbulence which was really surprising.
When we landed Amsterdam, we had to go through Passport Control but for the first time, they had the kiosks open for people from the USA. Made everything so much quicker. But I kept warning them to stay together until we were all on the other side and clear to walk to the gate. Everyone was in one line and I was waiting for them to all come through but one guy had disappeared. We knew he was behind us in line. Evidently, Security pulled him aside and questioned him. They wouldn’t let me go back inside to stay with him. Took about 10 minutes for them to release him and we still don’t know why it happened.
KLM flight from Amsterdam to Bergen was on time and only 1 hour and 50 minutes. Landed on time to the good news that the bus driver was already at the airport and waiting for us. We were able to load our luggage and go back inside for a “pizza lunch” provided by the festival. I didn’t realize it but Davy – the tour manager for Frankie – was on our flight! When we had to change our original flight, I never noticed that he was on that one. He didn’t realize it either.
Frankie’s group arrived right after ours. So great to see him and his and Alana’s agent Brian again. They really saved the day for the festival. We had 3 headliners cancel this year – two because they got offered to tour with another artist and one who had passport issues at the last minute as in a month prior to the festival. Frankie saved the day on that one. Then, when Norway won the soccer game and got into the Semi-finals, it caused yet another problem. The game is going to be telecast at 11 pm Norway time on Saturday night – just as Frankie was supposed to start performing. We would have lost half the audience ad all the volunteers working the event because of that conflict. Alex agreed to move his show to accommodate and Frankie agreed to so on stage at 1 am (or later) but best of all, the festival got permission to “live stream” the soccer match on the big screens so the thousands and thousands of people can watch from the festival site!
Alana was the last group to arrive and every group got all their checked items – which is always questionable. Another group from the U.S. was riding the bus with us which was fine but meant not everyone got two seats for themselves. I hated making some of the group sit shoulder to shoulder for 5 hours. About 1 ½ hours into the drive, we were at the ferry crossing. A lot of people walked off the bus and when the line started moving for the vehicles to drive on, they were a long way from the bus. We lost our spot in line waiting for them but fortunately they made it before the ferry filled up. Otherwise we would have had to wait another 30 minutes for the next ferry. Everyone went into the little cafeteria and got hot dogs, sandwiches, Lefsa, Waffles and snacks for “dinner”. We had another 3 ½ hours left to drive and we made one more stop as we got near the hotel so they could buy snacks for their rooms.
The hotel had all the keys ready for us and we put the pretty big amount of equipment in their storage room. The Bluegrass Band was outside “rehearing” when we arrived and Alex immediately joined them. He was still out there at midnight “pickin’” with them. And he only got about an hour sleep since his departure from Nashville.
Cor and his wife Joke had already arrived and it was great to see them for a few minutes. Will spend more time with them on Friday and Saturday. Joshua Ray Walker’s group is at another hotel and he and his manager arrived at around 5:30 pm and the hotel had their keys ready. He is using Norwegian musicians to back him and they are all staying at that hotel.
I worked for several hours, the showered and fell asleep the minute my head hit the pillow!
Jude
FRIDAY, JULY 10TH – ALANA AND JOSHUA RAY WALKER PERFORMANCE AT NORSK COUNTRY TREFF:
As usual, it was a short night as far as sleep was concerned. I stopped in the restaurant and had some eggs before meeting Alana’s group for the 9:30 am lobby call to go to the venue for sound check. We needed two passenger vans and a cargo van for transport and the Production company was set up and ready for the group when they arrived. I didn’t realize how “challenging” mobility was going to be backstage. But the nice thing is when they renovated the stage after last years festival, instead of stairs up to the stage, it is a wooded ramp. I thanked them for building a handicap ramp just for me. LOL
Sound check went quicker than expected and we were able to leave for the waterfall. It’s fairly steep incline to the path that leads to the waterfall, so I opted to stay in the parking area and take photos from there. We arrived back at the hotel in time to give our vans to Alex’s and Frankie’s groups so they could go see the waterfall. Their drivers also took them to a second waterfall that had an observation deck. I walked across the street to the two grocery stores to buy the usual “goodies” that I take home to friends and family – Lefsa, Marzipan Chocolate Bars, and the little miracle tablets – Curamed – that knock out a cold in one day. I didn’t realize how hard that walk was going to be especially carrying back my purchases. Fortunately I had enough time to put the Castor Oil patches on my foot before leaving for the festival site.
Joshua Ray Walker is performing on the side stage tonight. It is the first time I have met him and his wife – Sheridan –and they are so wonderful. He has been on tour in Europe for more than a week and will be over here for another month. He is just performing acoustically – him and his guitar. He hired a Norwegian band to back him at this event and they were all great musicians. He had a really great show and I got to talk to his wife quite a while before his set. They drive to Bergen tomorrow for a day off and then he performs at a club there on Sunday night. All 3 of my groups will go into Bergen on Sunday afternoon/evening so might stop in and see him…especially Alex!
Alana’s group arrived and she did a quick Meet and Greet with some contest winners. She is so nice to everyone and very accommodating when they ask for a photo with her or an autograph. She had an amazing high energy set and both she and Joshua Ray had huge crowds watching their performances. The festival added 3 more video screens this year and those are awesome.
The hardest part this year and not being able to walk back and forth between the two stages like I could last year. It’s just too risky to walk through the crowd and too treacherous to walk along the side path. But I got some good photos of the side stage from the main stage.
I got to talk to my friends Cor and Joke for a few minutes. Seems our schedules are such that I am leaving just as he is arriving a location. Hope to have some time tomorrow.
We all took the 11:30 pm shuttle bus from the venue back to the hotel. I was so tired I didn’t even attempt answering any emails or writing this Road Report. Just passed out for 4 hours of sleep.
Jude
SATURDAY, JULY 11TH – FINAL PERFORMANCES AT NORSK COUNTRY TREFF:
Another early morning sound check for Frankie Ballard. Lobby call was at 9:15 am. As usual, the Production Crew were set up and ready for him when they arrived. I got some things taken care of with the staff as far as logistics for the day while the group did their sound check. They actually finished early which was really great since Alana, Frankie and Alex have a performance at the church this afternoon. I had planned to NOT have to walk back to the grocery store for any reason but that didn’t work out. I found out that the “Curamed” miracle cold tablets had changed names and I could buy them. So I hiked back over again but this time I only went to one of the grocery stores. Wasn’t quite as bad on my foot that way.
We left for the church at 1:45 pm and Alex was the first U.S. Artist to perform his two acoustic songs. Alana and then Frankie were the last two U.S. artist to perform. Then everyone performed the finale “Will the Circle Be Unroken” together. This is always a very special part of the weekend and it’s hard to explain to everyone “why” until they experience it. They all loved it. It’s a tiny little church built in 1886 and located beside a graveyard with a beautiful lake in the front and huge mountains.
I had a couple of hours to get a little work done and then had to leave for Alex’s performance. We all rode the shuttle bus to the venue but had a new driver this time. He drove at top speed on the tiny one way roads designed for two lane traffic. They are very curvy and I was getting nauseous. I finally asked him if he would mind slowing down. He didn’t seem to like that request so I said, “I’m feeling nauseous and I’m sitting right behind you”. LOL
Alex had a one hour sound check and then an hour show. He performed all classic country songs to a really huge audience. He is having the time of his life. I am sure I have spoiled him since this is his first visit out of the USA!
Immediately after his set ended at 10:30 pm, the production crew had to get set up for the live stream of the Soccer World Cup Game. The crowd to watch was HUGE and super enthusiastic. If you get a chance, go to www.norskcountrytreff.com and check out some of the wild photos.
Frankie’s group took the midnight shuttle to the venue because that was half time for the soccer game. The score was tied up at 1 to 1 for most of the first half. Norway got another point and I was super excited. But the point was “recalled”. I think that is what started Norway’s downfall. The game went into overtime since the score was still 1 to 1 but England got another point about 5 minutes in and eventually won the game.
It has turned really “cold” so I was trying to layer enough to stay warm. Frankie took the stage at 2:00 am and the sun had already come back up. His show is amazing – including a “dance” contest by some of the attendees. I am so thankful he was available to participate at the last minute and so flexible in changing his show time to that late to accommodate the soccer game!
It was around 3:30 am before we were ready to load into the van and return to the hotel. Someone had put the tray of hamburgers for the band in my seat so I had to try to maneuver around it to sit down. I put my phone in my pocket so I could use both hands. Then as we were leaving the venue, I noticed my phone was not in my pocket. Frankie and I walked back to the place where the van was parked and it was lying on the ground. But, the van had run over it! Thankfully, it still worked but the screen was cracked in several places.
SUNDAY, JULY 12TH – 5 HOUR BUS RIDE FROM SANDANE TO BERGEN:
By the time I took a shower and got everything packed to check out in a few hours, I only got 1 ½ hours of sleep. I definitely did not eat breakfast and met everyone in the lobby at 9:45 am for a 10:00 am departure. It was a really quiet 5 hour bus ride but we had a lot more room to “sleep” because the extra group was not with us. I told the driver not to open the bus doors when we had to wait for the ferry so no one would get off the bus. The ferry was actually boarding when we arrived so it worked out perfectly. Almost everyone got off and grabbed some “lunch” while we were crossing.
Evidently no one told the bus driver to take us to the Clarion Hotel next to the airport and he tried to drop us off at the airport. I had called the hotel to tell them we would be there in about 20 minutes and they said our rooms were not ready – even though it was 3 pm! It took quite a while for them to pull our room keys. Alex and I dropped our bags and went to the airport to take the tram into town. The machines were different this year and it took forever to purchase the right ticket. Then we got on the tram and it ended after a couple of stops. Evidently, there was construction on the line but there were no signs indicating that at the station. We had to walk a long way to wait for a bus. I got frustrated and ordered an UBER. Of course as soon as the UBER arrived, so did the bus!
I showed Alex the “main points of interest” and left him to meet up with his other guys who were on their way into town. I only came into Bergen for two reasons – buy a gift for my next door neighbors new baby girl and some Cloudberry jelly for Zoe. Succeeded with the gift but no one had “pure” cloudberry jelly at the Fish market this time. It was all mixed with something else.
Took an Uber back to the hotel and ate dinner at the hotel restaurant. The food there is really good. By the time I got back to my room, showered, and repacked, I was only able to get 2 hours of sleep again because lobby call was 3:30 am!
MONDAY, JULY 13TH – TRAVELING HOME TO NASHVILLE!:
3:30 AM came much too soon. Alana’s group was leaving on the same flight as us to Amsterdam as well. We all walked over to the hotel and got in line to check in. The kiosks did not work so I knew we were going to be standing there for a while. The ticket counter opened at 4 am and Alana’s group started their check in. They had a lot of excess equipment to check. Fortunately, kiosks also started working at 4 am and we were able to check in there. The kiosk printed our baggage tags and we were able to “self-scan” everything and head to the gate.
Flight departed on time and when we landed in Amsterdam, I had asked for wheelchair assistance. They were waiting for me but wanted me to wait until everyone who needed a wheelchair got off the flight – and there were a LOT of people. I didn’t want to get separated from Alex and his group so I told them I would walk. That didn’t make them happy so someone said he would take me immediately with the group. Only when it was time to go through passport control, he left my group and said he knew a quicker way. Of course, when he arrived at his “quicker way” (which was a LONG walk to start with), the agents wouldn’t let him go in that way. So we had to backtrack. Fortunately, Alex and the guys were just going through. Everyone made it through without being pulled aside this time. I asked to go to the Lounge and wait until boarding time.
Flight departed on time and I began my routine of 8 ounces of water an hour, foot pumps in my seat, 3 sets of 15 squats in the toilet every hour, etc., to prevent a blook clot. Definitely not much sleep between doing all that! We landed on time at Detroit and I had wheelchair assist again. The guys were able to go through the Immigration line, customs, and security with me so everything moved quickly. I went to the Lounge for less than an hour and then we boarded the flight to Nashville. That flight was on time and we all said good-bye at Baggage Claim. Zac came inside to help me with my bags while Lindsey waited for us.
Happy to be home with no huge issues flying with the broken bones. I get to do it again next week because I have to go back to Norway for another festival. Hopefully that will be the last one in the “brace”. I go to my foot surgeon on July 31st and find out if I am released from wearing the foot brace and starting to resume “life as normal”….although I think my jogging days will be delayed a while longer!!!
