Maple Leaf Mailbag rock'N roadshow

Melville and Regina. Enjoyed last night. Less so the start today. I want to know about what the CN railway means to Melville. The lads are mocking me about wanting to take pictures of trains, but it's going to happen. We head to the rail-line to take some pictures. Unfortunately, the CN guys aren't interested. They ask us to leave the property, although we see no signs saying that we are on the property! We go to the office to ask permission to take some pictures but we are tossed out of the office. They threaten to call the police next time. Obviously we leave!! Guys at CN ... take a chill pill, we just want to showcase your beautiful town and people. Night Regina. I've been thinking about the movie Hard Core Logo a lot. in the movie, a fictitious punk band tours the Alta, Sask, Man, corridor, as do many Canadian musical groups looking to make it. I am interested in the impact these bands have on the people here. in fact, I'm interested to meet the people who go ... because everyone goes! The bands that tour this area are mainly small up and coming bands or bands that used to be semi-big in Canadian terms. They play at places like the Regina Casino. That's where we saw Honeymoon Suite and the Headpins. Bands like these helped define the western Canadian music scene in the early 80's. It was odd to see these aging rockers still at it. But they've still got it, a big thank you to all at the casino plus the Headpins and HS for letting us be part of their evening.

Day 15:
Regina Day 2. We head south of Regina to Wilcox for a day of snowmobiling. It is a beautiful day. Rural already. The sky is blue, the sunshine brilliant fighting its way through cold. Blake's cousin Ryan and his dad Larry are our guides and drivers at another Poppelwell family homestead. (Ryan is also a big fan of the MLMB!!!). Blake's grandmother's front yard is a thousand acres of flat crisp snow. If you've ever wondered what a mile looks like, you can see it here. Far in the distance is a telephone pole. It is exactly 1 mile away. I know that Tom is excited because we are finally back to "doing" and not "watching." Gooner puts on a display of snowmobiling, tubing and prairie surfing that leaves everyone amazed and laughing. Gooner will do anything. But he's best with snow underfoot. Nice job bra'. Blake? Well he's not too bad either. Ridiculous, fearless, and hilarious. You'll see what I mean. Much thanks to Larry and Ryan.

The King George hotel on Melville's main street is a strong salute to every rundown, flee bag, cut-rate establishment in the world. Complete with a dive bar attach, the KG boasts such comforts as -- the dysfunctional heat register in our room, the pejorative purple psychedelic carpeting in the inexplicably wide hallway. Unusual black lighting in the stair wells. The second floor is inhabited by a canine poltergeist. The weird thumps and erie screeching throughout the night was hard to ignore. On the other hand, the cafe on the ground floor serves the most delicious french toast breakfast in eastern Saskatchewan. That's if you have the forty-five minutes to wait for it. After checking out, we wheel down to the Canadian National railway yard on the south end of town. We take a moment to look over an old car grave site next to the condemned station house. Now for the trains. To say that Jones is obsessed with trains would be a gross understatement. Ian has been looking to film a train for the entire trip. He needs his train shots. It's his panesthesia. The images are captured but only after two separate confrontations with the irascible yard supervisor. It seems we've warn out our welcome. In the evening, at the Regina casino, we step into a time warp. It's 1984. The synth guitar lives !! The revived rockers rage as aging keisters dance to the musical memories of their youth.

Day 15:
AM, Regina. The anticipation is building. We meet with cousin Ryan, get food to go and drive out to the Pritchard farm. This is my grandparents farm on my mothers side. The yard holds a host of fond childhood memories. In the shop, we dress for battle as (uncle) Larry unloads the sled. The tubes are filled with air, there's a bit of a struggle to complete this task but, we have come to far to fail now. The knots are tied ... it's time to ride. We all pile on, we're in this together. The twin cylinder engine of the Bombardier machine screams; it's lift off. I'm back in the saddle, just like the old days. I still have a scar on the bottom of my chin from that face-plant when I was eight. It happened in this very field, riding a tractor tire tube over the snow. Larry was the executioner then, as well. When one is on the tube, the goal is to stay alive. The spray blowing up from the middle of the donut packs snow under your clothing. The skin around your belly becomes frozen and numb. Gloves are pulled off of hands. Faces burn. The white powder looks to be a soft landing until you slip off the tube at high speed. One is always cognizant that earth right beneath the snow is rock hard permafrost. Here come da pain! When all these elements of danger and speed are combined it makes for one wicked ride. Tommy gets out the board. He takes to it like it's second nature. After some big air by Gooner, I give the board a try. It's more pain then gain. I trade up and take the reigns of the snow-mobile. I feel transformed. I have no control. I'm Genghis Khan riding into battle. I can't let up on the throttle. I want to see body parts fly. I'm unable to stop laughing as I look back to see Jones, Ryan and Gooner crash out in a wreck of twisted flesh. After patiently filming all afternoon, Martin gets his ride too and this time he leaves the camera on the tripod. By the end of it, my body is broken. We limp back to the city to catch the end of the Super Bowl. Feel it, smell it, football.

Burn around Melville for a while trying to get the railway story. It ain't happening. The museum is closed, security tells us to get away from the tracks, and then when we go to the office to see if we can speak with them, they don't take kindly to Martin's camera. It's a non-starter. But we get some shots of the trains. Next stop Regina. Arrive in time to book a room and grab a bite at McDonald's. But we need to get to the casino in time for the big show: Headpins and Honeymoon Suite, Ian's favourite bands from his youth. He won't admit it, but he was a rock n' rolla once upon a time. The band's don't disappoint, and the fans are a lot of fun. Some of them hang around afterwards. Walk around with a cameraman and a microphone and you're bound to draw a crowd.

Day 15:
Up late. It seems we're up later every day of this trip. I want breakfast, so I head to the restaurant across the way, figure I'll get a table, read the paper, have a coffee. Forty five minutes later, I give up and order. Half an hour later, I'm finished eating and still no one has showed up. Incredible. Finally Blake's cousin Ryan shows up. Turns out they're going to eat somewhere else. Turns out, though, Ryan's eating habits ($20 buffets, etc.) are too pricey, and besides, we don't have any time for another sit down. We've got to get out to Blake's grandmother's farm for some snowmobile tubing action. The boys have to settle for Tim Horton's donuts. At the farm we meet Blake's uncle Larry. While we admire the antique Mercury truck he's restoring, Blake and Ryan are busy sorting out the giant inner tube we're going to ride behind the snowmobile. Too much fun. We even get Blake's snowboard out of the van and try that behind the snowmobile. Then I build a little jump. Glad I had that omelette! Suitably exhausted and frozen, we call it about five hours later. One of the best days of the trip yet, for sure. Doing stupid things like riding an inner tube behind a snowmobile at extremely high speeds makes you feel like a kid again. Thanks, Ryan and Larry.

(Melville and Regina): Getting kicked out twice of CN old train station...At night, we're in Regina and enjoying Honeymoon Suite, at the casino...Finish shooting just in time to see GSP defending his win UFC Championship. We play CRAPS, I love this game!

Day 15:
(Regina): It's ski-doo time! Perfect day, sunny, a bit cold, but we're up in the tubes getting pounded behind the ski-doo! So fun! Tommy is riping it in a tow-in session his snowboard. We have good footage, can't wait to see the result!At night, going to see Superbowl at Blake's friends. Steelers win!