I'm a little late posting our updates from the road. I'll try and be a bit more prompt for the rest of the tour.

*****

So we're maybe 45 minutes from the Windy City after 6 hours on the Rainy Highway and a couple of days in the snowy, desolate states.

Motel 6 should make us shareholders by now, while The Dots have largely avoided all the trans-fat aimed at us every time we stop (except for one uncharacteristic aberration from Marty).

We've seen trucks with "Jesus is Lord" emblazoned on them, a huge placard proclaiming "Outlaw Sodomy" in Nebraska (was it a service being advertized or was it just someone being uptight?), truckers and cowboys and cows and tumbleweeds tumbling and yes, we love it all.

America is beautiful, absurd and absorbing and, best of all,we love seeing our friends, old and new, as we travel from state to state.

My favourite show? I think last night in Minneapolis... A beautiful theatre with red carpets and the kindest people you could ever wish for. Still, so far I enjoyed just about everywhere, even Grand Island NE where I felt like a Martian.

Edward

*****

Hey there, want to say sorry to the guy from Trade Up Music for forgetting to put him on the guest list. He found me a rare power supply which i had left at home. Without it i would have had a major problem. So musicians, get your gear at Trade Up Music in Portland, OK?

And about the corn dog, i know i have sinned but i promised it won't get worse than that.

Martijn

*****

We're eight days in,yet it feels like we've been on the road a month.....such is time distortion on the road.They say space is curved - not in Nebraska it ain't.

I've so many impressions with but a moment to savour them all,as we trundle through this land,and so many warm greetings from you all and to you all for supporting our endeavours.

Thanks: Bill for your raw revolution and tasty home grown apples; Chris and Heather for putting us up and putting up with us during those first jet-lag days.

Thanks also to the Sage Cafe in Salt Lake City whose dinners were pure soul-food for a band of veggie-vagabonds struggling to stabalise their tour rhythms.

It's the end of the year and it could well be the end of an era too. Lisette has mailed her ballot..... trees lose their leaves and a bush is laid bare. Today is a sunshine day, as we arrive in Chicago.

Greetings,