SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5TH, 2019 – PERFORMANCE IN LILLEHAMMER:
Ugh…4 hours of sleep on a night when I have a nice bed in a hotel! Grabbed a quick breakfast and my friends from The Faroe Islands did not join me. Evidently they stayed us with some of the musicians until 2:15 am. No excuse. I didn’t get in bed until 2:30 am. Lightweights!
Bus call was 9:30 am and one person fell back asleep and didn’t make it quite on time. I found out that the pills the bus driver got me for motion sickness were supposed to be swallowed, not chewed. No way I could do that given the size of the pills. Will try to find a patch when we get to Lillehammer. I have driven past Lillehammer many times and even stayed here a few times for a “Blues Festival” I booked the talent for. I remember flying from Country Gold in Japan to Lillehammer and when I landed, snow was up to my knees. The Olympics were held here decades ago and my host drove me up to see the ski jump. It was awesome!
It was about a 3 ½ hour drive and the roads were pretty straight so I was able to work. Arrived at 12:45 am and the hotel was able to find rooms for all of us immediately. By the time I got everyone checked in, it was 1:15 pm and we had to leave at 2:15 pm for sound check. Plus, when I checked in I asked if there was an elevator and was told yes, there was. Of course, they gave me a room where the elevator only went to certain rooms on the 4th floor and then you had to climb a set of stairs. So I had to hike back down and get a different room!
I didn’t have time to walk downtown and find a Pharmacy but figured I would when we got back. We drove to the venue and I had to stay because it’s too far to walk back and we only have taxis transporting us. When we got there, instead of unloading the trailer and setting up the stage, all the guys went into the Green Room to eat. I figured they were going to be able to sound check in a shorter period of time and didn’t ask. Then when they were still checking at 4:30 pm, our host said she was going to have to let the taxi go because he had been waiting since 4 pm! So the guys sped it up and we got back to the hotel at 4:45 pm. I immediately walked into town in search of a Pharmacy. I found two but both had closed at 4 pm. So no motion sickness patch for the ride tonight! And, tomorrow is Sunday and doubtful I’ll be able to find one. I will have to get the bus driver to let me get off the bus in Oslo and find one on Monday AM.
I quickly changed for the show and met everyone in the lobby to drive to the performance. Two of my dear friends – Maurits and Anita Oppsahl were at the Meet and Greet. I actually ran into them earlier today when I was frantically search for the Pharmacy!
This is the smallest hall they perform in – only 700 seats and sold out. It was another perfect show. We rushed out at 8:45 pm because the hotel was holding the buffet open for us. Made it back in time to eat and it was the first “real” meal I’ve had for days. I’ve just been eating cheese and fruit and whatever was backstage. Just too busy to focus on food!
We are departing at midnight for at least a 5 hour drive to Trondheim. Our bus driver said we are going “over the mountain” and it will be 11 degrees below zero! He is going to park at the venue and plug in so everyone can sleep until rooms are ready or until they are ready to eat breakfast.
Jude