Finally, update!!!

B:C:Clettes Velo:City Tour! Days 1-3

Hello, friends! We’re writing our first update from the road on Day Three, having recently left Eugene, Oregon. The past few days have involved a lot of traveling punctuated by frantic activity and awesome dancing. So, a brief(ish) play-by-play:


Friday, August 17th: The B:C:Clettes left Vancouver, BC in a few waves, with Red Sara, Melissa and Erin biking from Vancouver to Bellingham with a whole posse of friends and lovers (like a dozen). Thanks everyone for the lovely send off! Jen and her partner drove on their own, and finally Cara, Keltie, Leanne (reporting), Nix and Lori (being the ones who had to work on Friday) followed in the Official Velo:City Tour Van. We charmed our way through the American border and made it to the Worms’ HQ (Bellingham’s raddest baddest bike gang…. and amazing hosts!). After a little rest and refreshment – we walked into the backyard and were handed beers and figs fresh from the Worms’ own fig tree – we bombed over to the Hub, Bellingham’s totally stunning community bike kitchen. Seriously, check them out if you’re ever in town! The Hub graciously hosted the B:C:Clettes launch performance, and a few of the Brakes (a boylesque bicicyle performance troupe from Vancouver, as well) showed us their tall bike and minibike stunts, a few amazing bands played, and we Clettes danced a pretty fun show. It was dark and we were lit by car headlights, dancing in the street. Very DIY. BIG THANKS to Kyle of the Hub. Shawn and Stephanie (Worms) and friends enthusiastically invited us on a post-show bike-ride, but sadly we had a very, very early departure time and went to sleep instead. We were pretty sad not to be able to spend more time with our friends, especially as they have been so overwhelmingly supportive of us (the Bellingham crew came up to Vancouver for the Cabaret!) Thanks again to the Worms and the Hub, and everyone who came and supported us! We love you very much – we can’t say enough about how nicely you treated us.

Saturday, August 18th: After a 5 am (yes, yes, 5 am) wake-up call, the Clettes packed our stuff into the trailer and van and drove off into the sunrise, on our way to Eugene. We drove for a long, long time. We’re all very excited for the part of the tour when we do more biking than driving (and that starts Tuesday!!). We rolled past Seattle and Portland and couldn’t stop (tragic), and made it to Eugene just after 2 pm. We were scheduled to perform at the Eugene Farmer’s Market at 3 pm. Needless to say, we brought the house down at the farmer’s market, and people gave us lots of donations and positive feedback. It was such a nice treat to dance on a sunny afternoon for a new different audience. Our friend Rabbit from Portland was waiting for us at the farmer’s market, and has joined us on tour for a day or three. Also, our contact and lovely dear friend in Eugene, Josh, welcomed us with open arms, fantastic hugs and thirty-two icy cans of Tilt. Thanks, Josh for being so welcoming in everything! We grabbed fresh veggies and fruit (the peaches! Amazing!) from the farmer’s market and spent a leisurely afternoon cooking good food and resting before our evening performance at the Campbell Club, a student housing cooperative. Our friend Bini appeared on Josh’s doorstep (Bini was our talented Cabaret stage manager) to our immense delight and has joined us until Los Angeles. The evening performance at the Campbell Club was really, really lovely. People cheered and yelled and we were in fine form. There were even kittens! The residents of the house invited us back to perform again someday… Finally it was time to sleep, then time to get up and pack to head to Ashland, OR. Josh’s marvelous roommate, Quinn, even fixed Keltie’s bike when her rear brake broke. As a final touch, we were offered true rockstar treatment in the form of a hot tub and free massages from a professional massage therapist (!), but, alas, didn’t have time to enjoy such delights. Next time, Eugene. Next time.

Xoxo Leanne