We are heading for Newport, Oregon for a concert tomorrow so the only logical place to stop is Portland and a session in the Moon and Sixpence with Accordion maestro Johnny Conelly. Also at the tune was Casey Neill whom we know from the 11th street tavern in New York City so once again the diddly mafia tightens its grip. Meanwhile, Alan, Rob, Robert and the rest are upholding the rights of a local underdog against some evil landlord, corporation, or other malevolent force which, as we all know, lurks in the undergrowth of even the most seemingly innocuous places.

This Thursday is the U.S. thanksgiving holiday and as such, the roads are starting to fill up with travellers, making their way to see their families. This makes the drive to Newport lengthy: This is unfortunate as it is a great town and our hotel is right on the breathtaking beach here. The concert is also great but we have to wade through the worst driving day in the American calendar tomorrow so as they say in Holland, “aint no après ski, fool!”

Wednesday 23rd November

Eight and a half hours of hard driving to Everett, north of Seattle where we are poised to hit the border and play tomorrow night in Vancouver, British Columbia. The pubs in Everett this night are fairly bamtastic; Full of man-eating sharks and Liberace impersonators. But the pool tables are cheap: “Every clown lays a silver lino” goes the old adage.

Having negotiated the Canadian border, we stop just before Vancouver at a visitors centre to procure directions to St. James Hall. As it happens, there are two women working there, one from Edinburgh and an English woman who is coming to the concert tonight. Needless to say we arrive at the hall with oodles of time while, Alan and B.A. appear much later having rescued a Mrs. Crawford’s cat from the neighbour’s tree with the help of a device made of bicarbonate of soda, diesel, a packet of beef jerkey (extra-spicy) and the frozen balls off a brass monkey – you can take the man out of the navy….

Vancouver is a fantastic city and we are in the heart of the souvlaki and pool district so it is with great regret that we have to return to the United States tonight as to get a flight from Seattle tomorrow morning.