(Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
(Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Drive Around US (April to June, 2000) |
| Home |
|
(Adobe Acrobat PDF file) (Adobe Acrobat PDF file) |
|
When I was a visiting scholar in Stanford University, I happened to buy a cool laminated US highway map, on which you can see all over the US at a glance. This was the beginning of this journey. After that, I was haunted by the temptation of driving around the US. This ghost had been always in my mind, urging me to do so, as strong as the time when I decided to take a flight lesson. One night, I made a rough 1 month-plan. When I saw the plan which was reasonable enough to carry out, my desire of drifting around the US got stronger and stronger.
The first chance came in November 1999, when I decided to leave my company. But, just on the day of start, I got two E-mails which deterred my journey, one was very positive to me, no way not to welcome, but the other was unhappy happening. These two things blocked my way and I had to give up that time. After taking care of the positive event, and clearing the negative one, I got the second chance. It was on April 10th, 2000. The original plan was in the beginning of winter, so I decided to drive north to the Seattle, turn east to Boston, drive down to Key West, and traveling around middle, back to San Francisco. This time, however, is spring. So I changed my plan - driving south first and taking a counter clockwise round of the US. It seemed to me that the FLOW of my fortune had suggested me not to make a journey in winter but to put it off to the best season. At last, I got a chance to try my spirit. Everything is guided by the FLOW of my fortune.
I would like to thank to all my supporters, my wife Kumi, my daughter Maya, my mother and father, for letting me do this journey. Also special thanks to Sophia, who had kept my Jeep for about three months during my preparation period, Thorsten and Tonia, who provided many stays at his house and many stuffs for this web page, So Miyake and Masumi Miyake for cheering me up, Hitoshi Morioka for useful information about air tickets, and all other friends for visible or invisible supports.
Many things happened during this journey. Some were good and some were bad. But I believe that all happenings were great experiences. One of the most impressive things was the breakdown of my Jeep. Without this trouble, I couldn't have met kind people in Flagler, CO and Colby, KS. I had experienced many many things including calling AAA for towing, calling a stranger on a phone, hitchhiking, asking for a special arrangement at the National Rental Car desk and struggling with Citibank. I believe that this kind of precious experience can't be bought for any amount of money.
I guess many people want to ask me where was the best place. It's rather hard to say one place like "Rome" as I didn't have any love affair on the way. But as you can guess, I love large and dry country like Arizona, South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, etc. Of course I enjoyed skiing in Colorado. On the other hand, I was so much tired of big, dirty cities except for Chicago. You can easily guess where I don't like, if you read the report. As for the artificial stuff, I was so much moved to see Kennedy Space Center, Ford Museum, Museum of Flight, and Boeing factory. These are also very good experiences as an engineer.
When I say, "I am driving all around US alone" on the way, I was sometimes asked why I was doing such a thing. I tired to explain it, like "It's a great experience to drive around US by myself," or "it's my way of life," or "It's a kind of training (Syugyo in Japanese) in my life." But I always tried to make them understood in vain. Now I know that those who ask this kind of silly question can never ever understand the joy of adventure, importance of experience, and ephemerality of life. And I think I am a kind of happiest guy in the world because my wife, parents and friends never asked this question.
|
|
tadao(a)azurescript.com |
Last modified December 19, 2003
Copyright (C) Tadao Hashimoto
