The CRV, running good, the first extra day off, overdue for the "Tour". Wake, coffee, then set off for the Hospital Auxiliary in Rossland. Stop at the "Alpine Grind", cafe that does the theme well, notes on artist (to follow), then off at 9:45 to the thrift shop. It opens at 10:00.
There's a line, more a throng, really of people socializing outside, perhaps 10 but it swells to about 20 before the doors open, they all know one another, talking, catching up on the news....
Once in I prowl about, it's been a while, I find 2 good shirts, a half dozen vintage (1950's super-thin poly) neckties, a couple of CD's (Sarah McLaughlin, Miles Davis, the CRV came with a Fleetwood Mac CD, usually, if I'm in range of Kootenay Coop I'd prefer to leave the DJing to someone else, their music takes you all over the star map, I cannot speak highly enough of them, find a gym bag ("fitness" a necessary prerequisite to using the shower at the gym.). A stapler for work, and then I'm done. There's abundant mixed-media inspiration, and clothes out of season, toques, mittens, jackets, but now is not the time...
...from here to the Salvation Army in Trail, where I find a good sweater to replace the one I'm wearing (merely dirty is all), to the Charity Shops in Castlegar where I get Robert Johnson's greatest hits CD (this CD Player, it's great, I mean, CD's are 10 Cents and top out at 50 Cents...), another shop where I find a pair of fine leather loafers to replace my badly weathered and smelly mountain shoes....old shoes, back seat, new shoes, very comfy.
And this is the tour...It's been too long, and freedom feels good.
(a matryoshka doll collection, silent auction, thrift shop Castlegar)