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13 times 256 km from Waddinxveen-Groningen and 227 km back for Glazunov violinconcerto

November 22, 2006 at 12:07 PM

Someone I know from an international musiccourse of La Pellegrina in teh Czech Republic http://www.pellegrina.net told that he would play the Violinconcerto of Glazunov with his orchestra in Groningen (and 1th symfony of Borodin and a piece of Glinka)http://www.deharmoniesite.nl , but it was quite far from where I lived. But for a rare violinconcerto I join this orchestra (+ 4 others during the week in the neighboorhood). I discovered that it was better to take the longer route1 (256km)to avoid all busy slow riding traffic in the centre of our country. When I started at 16.00 I was on time at 19.30 the beginning of the rehearsal in the evening, which was mostly on friday, so I did not have to work the next day. I drove over a road which seperated 2 sea's called "the lockdike" which is 32 km long.

route1 256 km from Waddinxveen to Groningen, 3 1/2 hour driving time over the lockdike of 42 kmbetween 2 sea's

The rehearsal was from 19.30 till 22.30 and it was possible to drove back in 2 hours, because the roads were quite empty late in the night
on route 2 over some roads over created islands in a sea that was seperated from the north sea by a big dike , called "the lockdike", where I drove on during route 1

227 km over 3 artificial islands under sealevel from Groningen to Waddinxveen in 2 hours.

So at .30 hour the next day I was home. My car is a Ford Fiesta 1.3. I have done this about 14 times for all rehearsals and the 3 concerto's

Ford Fiesta 1.3

Our soloist Helbertine Hylkema played beautiful and she had to travel ever from a longer distance from The Hague to Groningen

soloist Helbertine Hylkema

The concertmaster drove a old Porsche 911 from 1986 and I asked whether I could drive in that car. Just like Birthe Blom (I could play on her STRADIVARIUS)she was easy and she drove me around the church where we had our concert in Groningen. AFter that short round of 1 km, She asked whether I would like to drive. After 1 starting mistake and searching for where to put the key (in the dashboard) I drove slowly in the 1th and 2th gear and felt the power of the car after pulling the right pedal.

PORSCHE 911 from 1986

AFter the concerts thay gave me this present for the hours of driving to play with them.

By accident the man in the wooden car had an orange hat, but I often drove in my car when it is cold with this cap:

Orange cap.

After the concerts I heard that an orchestra in the neighboorhood in The Hague will also play next half year the violinconcerto of GLAZUNOV, but Helbertine did not know anything about it, so I will have another soloist.

Fiesta. That is a little car. Except the smart car is smaller.

I just bought a Camry. Almost bought a Mazda, which is sold as a Ford Focus in Europe, but I took my sound pressure meter with me on testdrives and the Camry was 68 /71 dBA whereas the Mazda was 73/78 dBA lowest/highest readings at 70 MPH. But the Mazda is a great driving car. I had a 1978 mazda that was not much bigger than the Fiesta. It got 40 MPG back then, and could carry two racing bicycles in the hatchback area, along with 4 people. Seems like newer cars are not as roomy for their size. Too much space taken up by A/C, air bags, electric servo seat adjusters, DVD TV players, bluetooth, blackberry, etc etc etc.

My brother drives a 1990 Carrera 4. Fun car! He had two 911 cars before, both from the year "H" which is 75-76. You can get almost 30 MPG with them on the highway.

I raced his first 911 in Porche Club once. That was great fun! Both of us spun out on the same off-camber turn during our time trials. Big cloud of blue smoke. Very satisfying! The 914 cars were much faster on the tight course, except that the 1967 911 was faster than all the newer cars on that course too. Power is no substitute for finesse in turns.

You are really dedicated to drive that long distance for rehearsals and the concert. I'm glad you posted the maps. You certainly deserve that gift. It suits you well, too.