So far South Orange reminds me of one of those dandy English Commuter towns where people ride the train for a half hour or so to and from the big city each day. Had breakfast right around the corner form the gig, which actually sits right under the Train Station, just like I remember in many towns just outside the city, limits of Greater London. Perpendicular to the Railway Line, a Main Street (High Street in Britain) runs up a gentle slope and is bordered by small shops like Deli’s, Shoe Repair, Jewelers, and the like. From first glance, it seems South Orange has bucked the normal North American trends and kept its little downtown intact and I actually see evidence that folks here use the train. Very positive first impressions.
Today is Thursday, I believe, which means four more shows till we go home. This leg has been quite successful and all hands are in good spirits, but the cumulative effect of the road two thirds of the time since August are starting to show on the faces around me in the front lounge this morning. Part of the problem is we’ve come North over night and all hands would rather veg in the front of the bus than put on an extra layer and face the fact that the Fall is all but over up here and Winter is all but upon us.
Not so for McCann, he’s brought running gear for all weather, and he knows that I’ve got some all weather stuff too. Shite, should not have had such a big breakfast. Any moment now he’ll say something like, “C’mon Doyle, I saw a dandy park on the way in.”, or something like that and I’ll have to chase him through the woods and folks backyards for the next forty-five minutes. I would not worry so much except for the alarming fact that dogs often chase us and McCann is much faster than me. I fear I’ll be the one getting a tetanus shot and stitches later today.
Reminds me of when Sean, my Tri-Athlete buddy Pete, and me went hiking on a day off in Banff. Pete, the local warned us of the bears and how they could be quite quick on their feet. I asked if Pete was worried about outrunning a bear, he answered,
“I don’t need to outrun the bear Al, I just need to out run you.”
Cheers,
Alan