Friday September 13, 2024
My first trip anywhere for exactly a year. This is thanks to the miles I got back after last year’s flight when the entertainment system didn’t work and United refunded all the miles I had used to upgrade to Premium Economy. ‘You can use your iPad’, said one flight attendant helpfully. I didn’t pay extra to use my own iPad,’ I replied. Another told me they were going to refund 10,00 miles but told me to email, which I did and, voila, a full refund. (I must say that United also refunded my return fare without question in April when I had to cancel my JazzFest trip).
It is a strange feeling to be traveling again after a year out of action. I don’t need to go into the treatment I have had for two separate conditions but it has been a bit arduous, ameliorated by looking after wonderful grandchildren a few days a week, support from my amazing partner, and also my wonderful daughter, and long conversations with my son about technology and the arrival of his second child, Then there was doing a radio show and publishing a magazine. Plenty to keep me occupied.
I look back to early January when, having recovered from one illness after three months treatment, I was then in Cabrini for 9 nights while they worked out what was wrong with my left arm. There I was with my laptop, editing audio and writing away. It has been a very long year. I am feeling weak and I hope the body responds to the exercise. I still get bouts of fatigue so I am not going to be racing around as I once did.
The smoothest part of the trip was the drive to Tullamarine, though the walk to the gate lounge there is a little long. By the time I got through San Francisco, an even longer walk, and then then through the Nashville terminal I had done 12,000 steps! Then my watch went flat, probably from exhaustion as well.
At least I had an aisle seat to San Francisco, my preferred economy seat 34D. It wasn’t long before I was longing for the extra room of Premium Economy. Economy class is not great across the Pacific, especially when you have someone as large as me sitting right next to me! It was interesting though because he was a Muslim visiting relatives in Dallas and he had a Jewish man from New York sitting on his right who was helping him with advice about changing terminals in San Francisco.
Thankfully, it was only a 13 1/4 hour flight to San Francisco – maybe the fastest I have ever experienced. I watched several early episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and also the new Russell Crowe detective thriller Sleeping Dogs, which is quite good despite the fact that I picked the ending 15 minutes into the film. Rusty is easily the best thing about it. I even managed a few hours sleep.
Last week I was telling my haematologist that I ‘love flying’, not adding that this must have been partly inspired by my grandfather being in the early Australian Flying Corps. I think I used the expression ‘love flying’ a little too loosely. I think I like it a lot more in Premium Economy or Business. A few years back, after a hip op, my surgeon insisted I had to fly Business, a luxury that used most of my miles then but was worth it. Still, I have survived.
One interesting thing in the San Francisco terminal was the sight of at least 50 elderly people from India all in wheelchairs waiting in a group, being pushed a few at a time to immigration. Pretty considerate to everyone else I thought, as they could have jammed the gates. I was intrigued as to what they were doing coming to the USA but didn’t have the nerve to ask. Luckily, things went quite well despite the fact that I had to go back through security to get into domestic terminal after dropping off my check in bag at the transfer belt. At least, I think it is a bit easier and less crowded in SFO than Los Angeles.
It was a 3 hour 50 minutes packed flight to Nashville and I slept most of the way. I finally arrived in Nashville totally exhausted at 6.00pm last night after 22 hours from take off. A total of 27 hours door to door. I think it is much better to have a stopover if you can. Last year I had a night in San Francisco and went to the baseball on the invite of a friend who had a superbox and I met Elvin Bishop and other musicians.
I don’t have the same feeling arriving back in Nashville as I do in New Orleans, which is like a second home, or even Austin. A lot of old Nashville has been demolished and it is a really modern inner city with many pre-wedding parties seemingly afflicting downtown. Still, the music is the drawcard and there is plenty coming up in the next week.
The young male Uber driver, who actually lives 70 miles out of town, gave me an entertaining commentary about Nashville on the way to the hotel. Guess what? The traffic is really bad and the city is becoming too big, with 300 people a day moving into the area. I have heard that sort of thing before somewhere. Oh yes, Melbourne.
I am at the Extended Stay on West End Blvd for three nights before going to Anne McCue’s place. It’s the cheapest place I could find but not as cheap as the weekly rate which I usually get. Accommodation prices in Nashville have soared. I was almost tempted to stay out of town but glad I didn’t. I have stayed here many times before. It is basic but clean with good rooms and it is on a bus route that gets you downtown in 15 minutes. It is also close to a good cafe and stores such as Walgreens where I went and got some supplies (including an adaptor plug to replace the one I somehow forgot to bring and an umbrella which I also left behind). I then had a much needed shower and hit the sack by 10.00pm.
I slept until 4.00am and woke up to listen to the football. Disappointing result for Hawks but can’t complain after the start to the year. It was not a fairytale ending. That would have been too much to ask. Jack Ginnivan will no doubt learn about the meaning of the word hubris.
This morning the weather is theatening rain and thunderstorms for the next few days. I am catching up on emails, organising interviews and then later this afternoon I will catch up with Anne McCue over at Five Points in East Nashville.
I have been watching CNN and MSNBC this morning, three days after the Debate. Briefly crossed over to Fox News whose presenters are conducting a furious anti-Democrat/Harris campaign. Same old, same old. No further comment at this stage.
The Americana Festival & Conference starts officially on Tuesday. To start next week, I am seeing Emmylou Harris on Sunday and Monday at the City Winery.
I am not presenting Off The Record this Saturday. Geoff King is filling in and will do a brilliant job. This is one of the best decisions I have made this trip as I have reduced my stress level by about 100%.
I’ll report in tomorrow…….and each day when I can.