www.petelashley.com
Round The World Ticket!
POSTED: 6 October 2006
Hello everyone,
Just thought i'd let you know i will be travelling extensively from Jan to June 2007. Because of the nature of my job, being a full-time self employed musician, i am lucky enough to combine work with travel. Over the last few years it has dawned on me more and more that i really should take full advantage of this wonderful perk (especially while i've got still got the time and energy). I think also having travelled around before you never quite get it out of your system. Thus, I bought myself a round the world ticket last week! One of the reasons for this little adventure is that i was asked to play at a friend's wedding in Nelson, on the South island of New Zealand on Jan 6th 2007. This was the incentive i needed to get my arse in gear and to bite the bullet regarding my fear of flying. You do, afterall, only live once.
I'll be setting off from the UK on Jan 2nd. Going via Tokyo, i land in Auckland on the 5th and will then spend a couple of months in New Zealand cycling/busking/gigging. Having just bought a 'Baby Taylor' travel guitar i hope to sling the miniature guitar behind my back for when i'm cycling. It would be nice to busk and cycle at the same time with a hat or cap extending from the bike. Having said that it might be better just to stick to doing one thing at a time...eh?.
The guitar i bought from the legendary 'Sound Control' in Manchester. Ady the guitar technician has fitted a little pick up for amplification at gigs. It's surpisingly loud for such a wee little thing. I'd say it's only slightly bigger than a Baritone Ukulele. It should give me enough volume unplugged when playing outdoors as long as i'm not playing somewhere like the main street running through central Tokyo.
After New Zealand I then move onto Oz for roughly 6 weeks before flying to San Francisco and staying in the U.S. for 2 months. I hope to see alot of Oz, NZ, California, Oregon, and Washington State. I also hope to get up into Canada. Busking and gigs will be my sole form of income so i'm looking forward to meeting many characters on my travels.
I shall let you know at regular intervals how i'm getting on.
Fasten your seatbelts!
All the best
Pete
