Tour recap - by Bill Hughes

10.30pm July 1^st - The smell of fireworks still suspended in the air as the Band prepared to load buses at the Music Centre ready to depart to Tennessee. Did we remember everything? Sleeping bag on the truck and a carry-on bag and pillow for the bus. Last minute checks by Chaperones that all have their passports  (still not sure who checks Rob) and then, after Rob’s final talk it is “Load the buses”!

As midnight strikes and Canada Day is over we leave Burlington and head for the border. Things all going smoothly until the American side where we sit waiting on the buses for 1 ½ hours while a Greyhound bus with all it’s passengers and their luggage clear the U.S. Customs. Once we pull up it is fairly easy as with all three buses together (and because we were a Charter) we only have to come off the bus with our passport and walk through.  Once back on the buses it is quiet time until driver change-over in Washington PA. We arrive in Washington PA with two buses intact and Bus three without air conditioning. So off we go to a Coach USA yard where we spend some time while a mechanic fixes the problem. With fresh drivers we continue the journey to Gatlinburg and our home for the next few days.

As we are getting nearer to Gatlinburg we get a call from the truck (whom we had sent ahead while bus three got the AC repaired) to tell us that they too had suffered some mechanical problems and had broken down just a few miles from our destination. The Cab was towed to a garage for repairs and the trailer towed to the Community Centre we were staying at. The evening of July 2^nd, after approx 16 hours we settled into the gym (and yes – without AC) where one could stretch out and not try to sleep in the fetal position.

July 3^rd came bright, early, and warm. It was a relaxed day for the members and in the afternoon we did an instrument and uniform inspection where we could make any needed repairs and get ready for the midnight parade. The truck had a new fuel pump and it was now back with us and ready to accompany us to the parade. We assembled for the parade and once the parade started it really moved. We stepped off and the band both looked and sounded amazing for the entire parade route. Once again the crowds were very appreciative and it was a new experience for us all as we paraded at 12 midnight and completed the first  July 4^th parade in the country.

After the parade it was back to the Gym and some sleep before getting up and make ready to move venue. Our new sleeping location was  a school right in the middle of downtown Gatlinburg. So off we went and settled in once more (this time in an air conditioned Gym). After a couple of hours free time (during which the band members practiced – sorry – gained local knowledge of their location) it was concert time. We did a one hour concert performance 7pm – 8pm and the band just could not stop getting better and better on every performance. After an outstanding show we packed up and had a little free time before the fireworks display. Hard to believe it was still July 4^th… it seemed to have been two days since we did the parade but it was only 22 hours ago!

July 5^th – A leisurely morning and then off to Townsend and the Heritage Centre in the Great Smoky Mountains. They had an amphi-theatre and what a setting. We set-up and did a rehearsal – WOW!! Amazing sounds coming from the band and everyone just giving their all. The rehearsal was warm and humid but that soon changed as a severe thunderstorm appeared from nowhere and with the intense rain and wind it seemed more like a monsoon than a storm. The stage was cleared (and power washed) and chairs that had been left for the evenings concert were soaked and scattered. In spite of the severe weather people still arrived ready to see the World renowned Burlington Teen Tour Band. Although the concert we had rehearsed could not happen we could still perform and the audience who had braved the elements were treated to a stand-still performance. Once again the band just rose to the occasion and showed just why they are the best!

One more night in the gym and then July 6^th it was pack, clean, load and depart for home. I have to say that a Gym Tour is when everyone bonds together and no matter what happens (AC breaks, Severe Thunderstorm etc…) we all get to know and respect everyone else. A band is not a group of individuals but a TEAM!

Thanks TEAM – You ARE The GREATEST! 

July 6th - By Katelyn Leece

It was another early wake up on our last day of tour so we could complete our unfinished shopping!  Some of us woke up even earlier to go on a hike around the beautiful landscape of Gatlinburg, but that was just a little too early for me.  So instead, my quad and I got up and went to eat breakfast at the Pancake Pantry where they had "the best pancakes in America" .  They weren't lying when they said that.  Those pancakes were truly the best I have ever had (sorry mom!) and I ate them so fast that my friends called me a Hoover vacuum! As much as I could've sat there all day eating pancakes, we left to go shopping down the main strip of downtown to spend the rest of our money.

When we went to the gym for the first check-in, we were welcomed back by all our teddy bears from jake peppers sitting on the bleachers in band formation... I wonder how they got there *cough* Chris and Steve *cough*. After the first check-in, I met up with some other friends and we made our way to a local crafts store where there were many different handmade crafts that were made all across the states.  Wood carvings, blown glass, knotted bracelets and woven blankets were just some of the many crafts.  Some of the artists were there and shared some of their trade with us and told us how they make their items! It was really cool! For my dad, I ended up buying a little wooden carved feather for my dad.

When dinner time rolled around, a bunch of us got dressed up in our best dresses and went to a sit down restaurant to make the last night of tour special. The restaurant was the opposite of nice though, we're they treat you like dirt, throw your straws at you and give you cheap paper hats with insults written of them, no wonder they call it Dick's Last Resort! A few of us that went to Myrtle Beach had been to one before, so we knew what to expect.

The cleanup of the pi beta phi elementary school went by smoothly and quickly without a hitch. As I went along with a garbage bag asking others they had anything to throw away, some newer members helped me out too which made me very impressed!! I finished up by sweeping the gym and took a seat on the bleachers beside Robbie Birse for our end of the tour meeting. The end of the meeting was topped off with our band cheer and when that finished, I looked over at Robbie and told him that that would be the last time he'd ever yell that cheer. I could swear I saw a bit of a tear in his eye but he would never admit it.

It was finally time to get on the buses and head for home. Most fell asleep instantly, but I stayed awake and talked with a few others. Slowly the air vents by the window started heating up and all I could say was "oh no". It was happening again... The air conditioning was breaking down again! What a time for it to breakdown because we were still more than five hours away from our first stop. We sat in the heat for a few hours until we made a stop at a gas station where rob bought all of bus three cold drinks. THANKS ROB!! We hopped back on the bus, slept on the hot bus for a little while until we reached the bus driver switching spot to get a new bus and eat a bit of breakfast. We hadn't even gotten out of the parking lot when another bus accident happened. We were pulling out and BANG, bus two had backed up into bus three and we had to stop again! There truly is nothing duct tape can't fix... That's what they used to keep it together for the last leg of the drive home. There were no complaints the rest of the way! At least from me and Heather Reynolds when they turned on Never Say Never the Justin Bieber movie.

"Who are we? BUS 3! What do we want

Blog posted

Band tour blogs have been loaded onto the site with a few more still to come!  Unfortunately we could not get a consistent connection at our accommodation and our apologies for that, however, they are now posted. 

To view the many wonderful pictures click the link below:

https://profiles.google.com/teentourphotos/photos

Don’t forget a couple more blogs to come so check back over the next couple days and more pictures of the tour will be posted soon!

July 5th - By Brenda Kerr and Vaessa Green

BTTB Blog

                Good morning! Breakfast on our own, whoop. 110+ people all cravin’ pancakes from Pancake Cabin. Before the check in an opportunity arouse. One like none other, swimming. Chris and Chris were guarding lives; life guarding at the pool. The pool was located at the motel which we were  allowed to swim at due to the wonderful kindness of the owner. Whom was obviously appreciatin’ the bands awesomeness. After the check in, Teen Tour be loadin’ on those busses like nobodys business. We then arrived at Smoky Mountain Heritage Centre. Upon arrival a quick unload for the loading crew one which was yes….extremely hot/sweaty.  WalMart provided the lunch which was happily consumed by all the band kids, chaps, and staff. It was delicious. After lunch, at the Heritage Centre the BTTB had a great concert practice.  The Great Jake Peppers was in attendance and for those who don’t know he is the reason the band went to Hawaii last year! We all appreciate Jake Peppers, and he enjoyed the band. The wind, rain, clouds, and tornado like weather promptly picked up. Concert folders flying, band kids squealing, and wind howling the situation was quickly brought to order. Civilians and band kids were rescued and brought inside to dry off… not even. As weather passed… kinda. The concert changed to an impromptu stand-up performance. The band said goodbye to dear friends; Kyle (Karl) Reynolds, Brett Dickenson, Robby Birse, Sebastian Johnston- Lindsay. We proceeded to play music ( which changed order) and do our best ( which we were told we succeeded at) and had some fun! The loading crew had to load up in the rain, colour guard rolled flags, and instruments were put away. The three BTTB busses and singular truck rolled out. Arriving on location the band members were given permission to stay up a little later and chill out with our homies. Bus cheers were had and late snacks were enjoyed.

Night all!!
 Brendan J&Vanessa J

July 4th - Part 2 - by Brenna McKim

Wednesday July 4^th 2012 (Brenna M^cKim)

            What a tremendous day this has been! This is my very first tour and I have to say that this is a great start. I marched in my very first midnight parade with the band. It was a very fast parade, but at least 100,000 people watched! Then a fantastic 6 hour sleep from 3am-9am! The odd thing about sleeping at 3AM is that when you wake up, you forget that it’s the same day. Well, at least that’s what I thought. After breakfast we had to pack up and move to a school called “Pi Beta Phi” at noon. It was funny to see everybody struggle with deflating their air mattresses. All I had to do was take out the plug and fold it up. when we got to the new location we had 3 and a half hours to get lunch and explore downtown. My group and I found a place that served fried Oreos…..Now that isn’t something you see or hear of everyday. At 3:30 the whole band had a concert practice and the colour guard came up with a new routine for the song “Rocky Top” it was so good! We had free time again after practice but I decided to stay back and read. When everyone came back we all got dressed and walked to “Ripley’s Aquarium” for the concert. It was a great show and the crowd enjoyed the colour guard and drum feature. We all enjoyed Bill’s dancing with a crowd member too!!! When we came back we could go out and enjoy the festivities and fireworks. I decided to stay back to read (again) and take a shower (the first person, but had a unexpected visitor in the shower. A big, fat cricket that scared the daylights out of me! But Mrs. Delahunt took care of it!). But everybody said that it was really nice and the fireworks were really big and bright, it sounded like a humongous thunderstorm inside the gym. Today was such a great and memorable day. I can’t wait for tomorrow and what it will bring to my first tour experience. But one thing for sure is that this is a great way to start becoming a family member with this great band!

July 4th - by Sebatian Lindsay-Johnson

It’s been less than 24 hours since my last parade with the Burlington Teen Tour Band.  The feeling is, shall we say, interesting, confusing and all around strange.  It’s the Salvador Dali of feelings with Pollock-esqe splinters of random shifts in energy.

It was a steamy day in the rolling green hills of Gatlinburg, Tennessee.  The city emerges from the great hills so suddenly its very essence seems  foreign,  it’s a tourist’s buffet filled with every conceivable form of dependable entertainment known to our kind.  It’s a great deal like our own Niagara Falls; only here the mountains rule over all.

When night fell, the infinite beaming lights shone like a great fluorescent scare through the mountains. As we loaded the busses to head down the short road to the Downtown, the fact soon began to emerge that this was the last time I would be preparing for a parade, no more of the hurry up and wait mentality, well that is not until I arrived home. Perhaps this is the reason why there are these strange feelings in my head; nothing as of yet has been final.

The sun, as it set that night, set not only upon the city.  It set, quite literally upon my time marching parades with this band, this organization that has been the single most long lasting and impressionable institution upon my admittedly young existence.  ‘How could this not be strange’ I find myself asking myself now, often out loud, startling those around me. 

We began and ended the smooth midnight parade with Strike up the Band, a good omen I should think, setting in motion the beginning of a whole new parade order of my life, I have to believe in this metaphor, weak as it may be.  It’s become a thought process, ‘memorize the order or die by the hands of Bennett!’ the section leaders would yell. Migod!

 Well there is no order to memorize now, now it’s all on me, a crazy and scary thought.  I am however, comforted by the notion that: You can quit the band any time you want my friends, but you can never really leave. Quite literally the Hotel California of Canadian marching bands, and I don’t find anything strange in that.                   

July 3 - By Rachel Logan

July 3^rd

By Rachel Logan (Saxophones)

Today was an amazing day, we woke up at 8 am and had breakfast provided by the Boosters. We took the Trolley into Downtown Gatlinburg and visited and explored the shops and restaurants. We went in our quads to have lunch and enjoy some more free time.  It was a great start to the day!  At two we met back at the community centre for a quick inspection of our gloves, shoes, socks and instruments. Following that some of us went swimming while others relaxed and had some more free time.  Later we had dinner and started getting ready for the midnight parade. The parade wasn’t nearly as hot as we expected and flew by.  It was great to see all the fans cheering us on and getting so excited for the 4^th of July! We got back to the community centre around 3am and had a slice of pizza and went to sleep.