'2,200 kilometres of craziness': B.C.'s Aaron Pritchett road trips to CCMAs in 1970 VW bus

Many of thenominees who headed to Saskatoon thisweekend for Canadian Country Music Awards did so by plane.

But notcountry singer Aaron Pritchett who, along with his long-time girlfriend, Jessie, road tripped fromGabriola Island, B.C., to the city in a 1970 Volkswagen microbus named Gertie.

"It's been 2,200 kilometres of craziness," said Pritchett.

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Purchasing Gertiehad long been a dream of his girlfriend's, he said, and after he decidedto record a song titled VWBusfor his latest album, The Score, she finally decided to buy a bus she found for sale in Comox, B.C.

They then decided to drive Gertie from the west coast to Saskatoona journey that Pritchetthas shared with fans on social media.

"I'm glad I didn't miss a moment of it I should say because it's been incredible. I love it," he said of the trip.

Now safely in Saskatoon, Pritchett recalled how Gertie broke down countless times, including in Abbotsford, Richmond, Merritt and Kelowna.

"It was endless. We push-started her after awhile, too, so we did it like 12 or 13," he said.

Gertieeven stopped running on the last leg of their journey from Regina to Saskatoon.

"Jessie and I looked at each other and we thought the middle of the bus had fallen out or something," Pritchettsaid of the noise.

"Luckily, it was only a tire."

Pritchett said the decision to sharehis journey through videos on social media was a way to entertain fans, but also a way he could have something to look back on in 10 or 20 years and relive theadventure.

The CCMAsare taking place Sunday at the SaskTel Centre.

Pritchettis nominated for male artist of the year and video of the year.