“No Courts Out Here!”

Written by: Tennischiro on 17th June 2012

"No Courts Out Here!" |

Sunday morning, Olgalalla, NE. Well, you may have noticed, I have been a little quiet lately. I’ve been busy getting ready for my trip to NY to teach at the Buckskill Tennis Club in Easthampton, NY. Well, I finally got it all together (2 days after my scheduled departure) on Friday and I left my driveway at 1:30 (3 hours late). The only significant trip I’d had in the last 8 years was this spring to Indian Wells for BNP Paribas for a week. Otherwise, I haven’t slept out of my own bed more than 6 nights since my last Huggy Bears in 2004. When I have a little more time, I’ll give you some deeper thoughts on that whole story and this new adventure. In the meantime, 10sBalls.com has asked me to give you some postcards on my trip across the country. You see, I don’t just get on a plane and fly; I pack up my van and drive all my equipment cross country myself. You can see by the pics that the van is really full.

I’ve made this trip something like 15 to 20 times in the past, but it seems like the roads are different. I usually have gone the southwest route through Tulsa (halfway; made it once in 24 hours), but Mapquest told me the most direct route was 44 hours driving time through Denver. I have to tell you, for the quickest, most direct route, the scenery is a lot better than the moonscape of west Texas. I made it to Cedar City, UT the first night; I got stuck just a little bit in the traffic getting past San Bernadino so late on a Friday, but since then it’s been great. That first day was about 450 miles and I drove until almost 2AM this morning to make another 800 miles. I originally planned to take at least a full week, but I lost 2 days getting everything packed up and cleaning up my place before I left. So I need to average about 600 miles a day to get me to Easthampton comfortably on Wednesday. Then I have 2 days to find and arrange a place for me to stay for the next 3 months; I have to go up to CT for a one week clinic with 5 teenagers beginning Sunday, 6/24.

So far my body is holding up pretty well. I was concerned how well my back would last with all the time in the driver’s seat, but my new (to me) 2010 Grand Caravan is just eating up the road averaging over 20 mpg at 70 to 75 mph (I think I saw 80 mph speed limit in Utah! 75 all through Colorado and Nebraska). I had to do a lot of training to get ready for a full teaching schedule and it’s paying off.

If you haven’t ever made a trip like this cross country, you owe it to yourself. Going through the Rockies is a wonderful reminder of what a monumental accomplishment it was for the settlers of the 19th century to take off in their covered wagons. Interstate 70 into Denver seems to follow the headwaters of the Colorado river and it is amazing. You go right through ski resorts like Vail. And this is the quickest way to go! Just time your trip so you don’t get caught by snow or traffic.

I hope you enjoy the pics. Not seeing any tennis courts out here!

10sChiro

PS If you are worried about Rog losing in Halle to a player barely ranked in the top 90, don’t be. He got in 4 good matches and Tommy Haas, even at 34, is still one of the best serve-and-volleyers in the world and he probably has more experience doing just that at a high level than anyone in the top 10 with the possible exception of Federer, whom he had played 12 times before. And Tommy had an extra week of practice on the grass. Look for him to do some damage at Wimbledon. This result could move him up enough to get a seeding.

to see other articles by 10sChiro, go to
https://archive.10sballs.com/category/columnists/dr-chiro/
or
https://archive.10sballs.com/author/don/

If you want more information about lessons with TennisChiro or his videotaping and analysis service, contact him at donbrosseau@earthlink.net. This summer he will be the Head Pro at the Buckskill Tennis Club in Easthampton, NY. (buckskilltennis.com)

Topics: 10sballs.com, Bnp Paribas, Buckskill Tennis Club, Halle tennis news, On The Road To The US Open, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News