SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5TH – TRAVEL FROM SKIEN TO LILLEHAMMER:

Met in the lobby at 9 am and began the long drive to Lillehammer.  We only stopped once when we got stuck behind a snow plow.  But, the weather and roads were so bad, it took over an hour longer than we anticipated.  When we finally arrived at the hotel a little after 2 pm, the hotel didn’t have our rooms read.  I asked if they could just give us the ones that were cleaned and they refused.  The desk clerk said it was a “security” issue!!!  She did have David’s, the bus driver’s and my room ready.  I gave Howard my room and Stephanie the bus driver’s room.  We put all our bags in Stephanie’s room and headed for the venue.  We stayed at a Clarion Hotel downtown when we were here in 2019 and it was so much nicer!

We also played this theater when we were here in 2019.  Again – a really beautiful facility.  And SOLD OUT!

Backstage is upstairs and we have to take a huge, very slow freight elevator to the stage.  We always have really sweet personnel helping answer questions about the backstage area and things I need to know to get Howard and David to the stage.  But, they all seem to be “volunteers” and disappear after a few minutes.

Some of the guys brought their suitcases with them to the show and stayed there after sound check.  The rest of us rushed to the hotel for a very quick change.

We had a quick VIP M&G before the show and then the performance began at 7 pm.  Another great performance with a very enthusiastic audience.  We were back at the hotel at around 9:15 pm.  I had pre-ordered dinner for everyone since the hotel closed at 10:00 pm.  I only ordered soup because I really didn’t like anything else on the menu.

Once again, I stayed up until 3 am working but this time, I got to sleep in until 8:30 am.

 

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6TH – DAY OFF IN LILLEHAMMER:

Was up at 8:30 am and went down to have a quick breakfast since the hotel restaurant is not open for lunch.  Had to deal with about an hour’s worth of important emails and then went downstairs to their excellent gym.  Worked out with weights for 45 minutes then did sprints on the treadmill for 30 minutes.  Felt so much better after that great workout.

Their ”laundry” is actually only one washer and one dryer for the entire hotel!  Unbelievable but better than nothing.  I was able to wash the clothes I needed to after I worked out.  Of course all the instructions were in Norwegian and it took forever to figure out how to turn on the machines.  But I now have all clean clothes again.

Worked the rest of the afternoon and then arranged dinner reservations at a Pizzeria downtown.  We took taxis down and the food was really good.  Some of the guys decided not to go.  It’s way too cold and the road and sidewalks are much too slippery and covered with snow.  I don’t think anyone went downtown today and that’s a shame because Lillehammer is beautiful.

Have been working non-stop and still haven’t made a “dent” in everything I need to get accomplished.  At least I’ll have a 3 hour train ride tomorrow to work some more.  And, we don’t have another show until Wednesday night.

Jude