North America Guitar Tour
To California
June 15, 2014
When I lived in Seattle, my activities were mostly north of downtown, and I only went south to the airport is a softball game versus Kyoto restaurant at a field. In Seattle at that time, Japanese magazines and manga were sold for more than double the regular price even if they were several weeks out of date. It was not the era of the Internet like today, so I was hungry for information about Japan. I often went to the airport to look for Japanese magazines brought in by passengers on direct flights from Japan. As for softball, it was not just for fun, but a serious game. In particular, the game against Kyoto restaurant was tough. They were eternal rival. The frustration of losing was comparable to the loss in the high-school's last summer tournament.
I also participated in an open mic held at a wine bar a little further south from the airport several times, but I have forgotten where it was. The Manhattan Transfer acoustic cover group of regulars at this bar was fantastic. The only instruments used were an acoustic guitar and a double bass, but the harmonies were just like the Manhattan Transfer, and I was reminded of the strength of local American bands. By the way, I remember that one of the girl singer in the original Manhattan Transfer was from Washington state.
The roads were not as crowded as I expected, so I arrived in Portland, Oregon almost as planned, and told Mr. D, who was supposed to have lunch with me, that I had arrived. I went to the designated location and waited, and when he showed up, he was younger than my daughter. I never expected to be treated to a meal by a young person, but I decided to take advantage of this. He showed me some plans to do something when he returned to Seattle in September, but in the end these did not come to fruition.
The final destination of the day was a city called Redding, located at the northern tip of California. Mr. N, who lives in this city, agreed to take care of the food and lodging if he played the guitar. After enjoying an hour's lunch with Mr. D, I continued south on I-5, but the burger gradually filled my stomach, and within an hour of leaving Portland, I felt sleepy. Since an accident would be a waste of time and effort, I decided to go to a rest area (similar to a service area in Japan, but usually unmanned, with just a toilet and vending machine) and rest.
I had planned to take a 30-minute nap before leaving, but on my way back from the toilet, a guy asked me "Where are you from?" and we ended up talking for about an hour. After that, I continued south, fighting the sleepiness that repeatedly hit me, but in the end, it was already just before midnight when we entered California, and Mr. N had work the next day, so we were unable to meet that day, and the food and lodging I had been counting on were for naught. As a punishment, I slept in my car in a rest area that day.
*The people mentioned in the text are written using their initials until their identities can be confirmed.
Contents
Introduction
Until Departure
Seattle
To California
Day Off
Sunnyvale
To La
LA 2 Days
To Tucson
Albuquerque
To Colorado (beginning of Miracle)
Berthoud
Denver
to Oklahoma City
Oklahoma City 2 days
To Texas
San Antonio
Georgetown
Dallas
Houston 2 Days
Benton
Nashville (CAAS)
Roswell
Tampa 2 Days
Miami
Orland 2 Days
Myrtle Beach
Chapel Hill 3 Days
Kingsport
To Indiana
Indiana State Fingerstyle Guitar Festival
To Staten Island
Manhattan
Phillipsburg
Nazareth (Martin Guitar Factory)
To Massachusetts (end of Miracle)
Methuen
To Montreal
To Buffalo
Meadvill A Day Before
Meadvill Ghost Hotel
Detroit
Chicago
Minneapolice
Spin Off #1
Spin Off #2 "EU Tour IN 2008 / Until Departure
Czech 1
Czech 2
London
Liverpool
Chesham
To Germany
Lemgo
Ingolstadt
Bregenz
To Italy
Florence
The Last Gig
Going Home