Almost been 6 months now, but I wanted to have a better idea of where I was/things were at before even attempting to share what on earth is going on.
I can now confirm that I am, although not down under yet, truly in a Pickle!
The last 6 months have been spent trying to plan the tour to Australia, book a festival season, save money and make enough money to immediately live off, all whilst living out of Pickle with no electrics and a laptop that only works when its plugged in.
It has felt and still does at times that I am desperately fighting a loosing battle.
How ever the cogs have definitely starting turning, its just a matter of keeping momentum and clearing the odd spanner or two that's the challenge now!
The good news is the festival season is pretty much as booked as I would like it to be, just waiting on one or two more to confirm, and has already begun.
Spring Dub was awesome! a very different show for me but equally cool as myself and Mr Luke Beirne (on guitar) played Friday eve's sesh to the campers under the sheds at The Great Yorkshire Show Ground, and on the Saturday set up in the exhibition hall with all the display stalls. I was exhibiting and to make a proper mess of your van when near a bollard...
With a bit of luck I'll have a few cool shots from Spring Dub to share soon enough and with a little more luck Pickle wont be looking like a dirty dirty tramp for too much longer.
The weekend just passed took me to Towcester Race Course for Dub Aid 4. I was stoked to come along and do a bit at Dub Aid given I was due to the year before last but ended up getting rained off.
Dub Aid is a charity funding event and held during a temperamental part of the year weather wise, the weather held out and it was a sell out show with some awesome bands playing, I think they won!
I took to the stage on the Friday night to get the ball rolling with the entertainment and got my friend Amelia to man the camera I've borrowed to attempt to document the season.
Something must have tickled me :)
Saturday I set up from the van, fashioning Pickles sexy new rack, and using the Roland Street Cube rather than the full PA. What a bang tidy performance, for a small piece of kit on 8 x AA's it really makes some din.
Sunday was a little tricky after Saturday nights little jaunt, but the sun was out and Michael Dawson came to join me for a jam on his drum (pleasure jamming Mike).
Thanks to Gemma and the Dub Aid team for having me, and to all you guys that came and got involved.
Hang with old friends
Flame grilled dinner
Hang with new friends
Oh and Pickle got a Tat!
Where's the tour at?
More good news is that I'm stoked to have Thump Clothing backing #apickledownunder, head to http://thumpclothing.com/
and check out their range of shirts, sweats, hats, and shades.
I have been in touch with Caffe Nero about tying in and becoming part of the adventure and we are currently looking at the prospect of doing some Nero touring on the way down to Poole harbour, then when in Turkey, Cyprus, and the UAE.
Proposed route
Yesterday I drove down to North Devon and spent the night on the moor ready to meet with Jon and the team at Coast VW http://www.coastvw.co.uk/
this morning about prepping Pickle for the journey.
An awesome dude that even after expressing his doubt in the possibility of readying a t25 in Pickles condition for an overland trip of this size before October 10th 2015, still heard me out and said we'll do the best we can.
I'm now sat in Barnstaple Nero trying to make sense of it all, plan my next steps and fill you guys in as best I can while I have power and internet.
I'll keep you posted on developments as they come, and I'll be playing at The Crown and Anchor in Chiswick on Friday night for #originalacoustics if you fancy a hang.
Peace x
