Happy Thanksgiving (Canadian Style)

And where do you want to spend your Thanksgiving this year, my good man? Why Canada, of course. They have turkey here, right?

Well, actually I'm back on tour with those lovable Canadians, Bedouin Soundclash. We just finished up our headlining tour of the UK, it was smashing, I might even post a story or two, and now we are doing 3 weeks headlining in their homeland. They even have their own currency, it's off the hook.

I'm starting to think the FAA has me in their system as "one to harass". Yes, I have had the most hellacious travel week. Step in to my world.....

So I left London on Saturday and my flight was delayed about 2.5 hours. I had a connecting flight at JFK in NY (thanks travel agent, why on earth would I want to fly direct to Dulles which is only 15 miles away from my home instead of making an unnecessary connection in NY?) so the delay was going to make me miss my connection in NY and that was the only flight to NY that night. Now, being that I work with bands, I travel with gear (mics, outboard gear, etc.) this stuff has a little weight it. Now flying from the States overseas, you can check two bags and have 2 carry on items, no problem, just one charge for the overweight gear. Now, flying out of London, you can check 2 items but only carry on 1 item. What the hell? This is extortion. I originated in DC with 4 bags total, what am I supposed to do with my 4th bag? Sell off the contents? NO, they are going to charge you for checking a 3rd bag, PLUS charge you for that overweight item you know is overweight because it's electronic and for your work.
Unreal.

So I get into NY, have to go through immigration, customs, etc. Find the American Airlines counter to pick up my hotel voucher and plane ticket for the morning. So luckily, I get all my bags, throw them on a cart (btw, these carts are FREE in Europe, but $3 in the U.S., again, unreal) and head to the train to take me to the hotel shuttles. That alone was an ugly experience carrying all of this gear, but I finally made it to the hotel, grabbed a few beers, overpriced chicken Caesar salad and then to bed, just to get up at 7am and do the whole thing in reverse.

I make it back to DC Sunday morning, with all but one of my bags. Just grand. I go back and forth with the airlines to find my bag. In the interim, I find out my flight to Canada the next day is at 6:30am. WHAT IS THE DEAL???? My bag finally gets delivered by 5pm and I even get some laundry done. Bonus.

OK, so it's the next morning (Tuesday), I drag my ass out of bed and make it on time back to National airport. So everything is fine, I make my flight to Montreal, bags and all make it through security, I'm on my way.

NOW, I get to Montreal and have about 30 minutes to make my connecting flight to Moncton, NB. I have to go through customs and immigration again, and I find out I have to pay for my $150 work permit downstairs. The clock is ticking. I get it all done, and have about 15 minutes to get on the flight. I recheck my bags and head through security. They screen my work case, which I am used to, and the agent says "we have a problem", oh my. I had a couple of screwdrivers in my bag and he says, go back to the counter to have the agent check the bag for me. I barge up to the desk, tell her "I have 10 minutes to get on this flight, can you please check this for me? (this will be my 3rd bag to check, which I'm sure she's going to charge me a bundle for). I don't even get that far, she says, "It's too late, I can't check the bag, the flight is leaving." Super.

So now I have a dilemma, leave my work case at the airport and make a mad dash for the gate, or get on the next plane to Moncton, NB which is in 4 hours. This is a no brainer. It REALLY sucks, but I have no choice. I ain't leaving hundreds of dollars in gear randomly at the airport in Montreal. And of course I could have slept an extra 2 or 3 hours, but what's sleep anyways?

OK, I made it. Woohoo. Hooray for Mike. and here I am in Canada. Bags and all.
Happy Thanksgiving. I can't wait to fly again. What's that? Great, I get to fly to Montreal on Sunday. I'm so excited.......