This will be the last time you'll see me round here for a week or so. I will be spending a few days in sunny Southport with a pair of my oldest and dearest pals, and then after I get back to London I will be engaging with Uzbeks (I can say no more).
But before I go I have a couple of updates on the new series covering the music of the Americas, which will kick off shortly after I return. The first is that I have settled on a title - Ernie's El Dorado, named after the mythical city of gold supposedly located somewhere in South America not the short-lived 1990s soap opera. I can't promise that we will find musical gold at every stop on our journey, but that's the quest.
I am also able to report on developments since I petitioned the US and Canadian governments to rename Lake Erie 'Lake Ernie' for the duration of the tour. I have not heard back from the orange oligarch's acolytes yet but the Canadians have been in touch. They have politely declined for two reasons - the cost of changing all the signs and stationery, and because people might get confused if two lakes have the same name.
That's right, there is already a Lake Ernie in Canada, less well known than its near namesake but the pride of Clearwater County, Alberta. Two hours north of Calgary, or even less if you can afford to charter a flight into nearby Rocky Mountain House Airport, Lake Ernie offers plenty of opportunities for fishing. There are probably other things to do as well but the only activity anyone mentions is the fishing.
If you take a trip up there to bag some largemouth bass you will need somewhere to stay. The Voyageur Motel in the Otway district of Rocky Mountain House is a ten minutes drive from Lake Ernie and comes highly recommended.That address again:
"Halfway Hotel" - Voyager
"Middle Of Winter" - John Otway
"Rocky Mountain House" - Mouthfeel
"Someday Never Comes" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Distant Chores" - Alberta Beach
In the world of cheesy country music videos going fishing takes priority over anything else God, the devil or Mrs Brad Paisley might try to tempt you with.
You wrote "In the world of cheesy country music" and then omitted Hank Locklin from your video choices!
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXtzj4IAi9k
DeleteA classic country chorus.
DeleteTwo reasons: I couldn't find a video of Hank performing "We're Gonna Go Fishin'"; and he is not remotely cheesy. I am insulted by your insinuation that I am not familiar with his work.
DeleteWould you consider Boxcar WIllie to be cheesy?
DeleteMore mouldy than cheesy
DeleteWe should be afraid of Maddie & Tae; very afraid.
ReplyDeleteJM
I too have lake naming issues: Lake Mead is crying out for a rebrand, but will they listen? Will they f(ish).
ReplyDeleteJM
You have a whole sea named after you. Is that not enough?
DeleteAlthough admittedly the future Lake Medd is considerably more impressive than Lake Ernie and the unincorporated community of Goggins GA combined.
Looking forward to this new series, though I would equally look forward to a series on cheesy country music videos... especially if Brad appeared every week.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy your latest sojourn.
Have a nice time with your pals.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell that story about Lake Ernie to the Uzbeks!
If the intention was to confuse the Uzbeks in the interests of national security that would definitely do the trick.
Delete