Japan Rally Championship Day 1

　　I joined the Japan Rally Championship as an official on Apr. 29th and 30th. It's like an annual occasion for me to be involved in the motor sports. This event has been staffed by mostly volunteers. I am usually asked to be ready for emergencies at the starting point of the special stages where the entrants drove their cars as fast as they could. So, I couldn't see the most exciting scene in the race up to now, but today, another surgeon attended and I was free from the surgeon's duty. I was put at a blockage point, where I had only to block other cars and people from entering the course. I'll show you some pictures with comments.

　　In the first picture, a few dozen officials are given instructions, radios, fire extinguishers, and so on. The blue cases are a folding table and chairs.

　　Can you see the two yellow tapes in the second picture? The entrants had to turn right here and I was put on the other side of the tapes to stop people from stepping into the course. The rally cars run into this curve at their possible maximum speed. The next picture shows the latter half of the curve. As you know, the road changes from blacktop to unpaved. Additionally, they must turn at the acuter angle than right-angle. This point is one of the most exciting ones.

　　The next picture shows our side of the yellow tapes. During the time which the rally cars weren't coming, it was really relaxing. I could read books in a comfortable breeze. The yellow small car was also the role of the barricade, because of the possibility that a car careened out of the course.

　　The last picture was shot at the outside of the forest. Lots of foreign people are apt to think of Japan as an industrial nation, but it's not true. Driving for a short time, you can see such idyllic landscape anywhere except a few big cities like Tokyo and Osaka.

(Vocabulary)
staff …に人員を配置する
staff sth with sb  ＜部署など＞に＜人＞を配置する
He staffed his entire department with women.  彼は自分の部署を女性だけで固めた．
be staffed by sb 〈組織・部署は〉＜人＞がスタッフである
The store is staffed by volunteers.  その店のスタッフはボランティアだ．
radio  [C,U] 無線（通信）, 無線機
a police radio  警察無線
blacktop  [U] アスファルト [同意] Tarmac(英)(商標); the blacktop アスファルト舗装
careen 〈車などが〉暴走する;〈人・国などが〉暴走する, 歯止めがきかない
idyllic  牧歌的な, のどかで幸福な

Comments

[Sarah]

Hello!
Corvallis is literally 20 minutes from where I live! I should show you beautiful pictures of Oregon one day. I enjoy reading all of your adventures in your blog writings. It sounds like you have wonderful experiences. I hope to travel more of the world with my family in the future :)

I look forward to reading more from you

Sincerely,
Sarah

[KUMO]

Hi, Sarah,

Your message reminded me of the happy days on the Rogue river in Oregon. Then, I asked "White Water Warehouse" in Corvallis to guide us. They offered really nice trip for us. I'm really sorry not to keep a trip memo. If I have something recorded, I could have written several entries in my blog now.

See you

[Sarah]

Sounds like you had an exciting time at the race! I remember seeing beautiful countryside in Japan. I loved going for drives or train rides that would lead to these beautiful scenic places. I also noticed your pictures from a trip to Oregon in 1993! That's where I was born and raised... Oregon. It is where I am now. I too have been rafting on the Rogue river, as well as the Deschutes, McKenzie, and rapids in Maupin Oregon. I love Oregon, it's so beautiful! I'm glad you were able to spend some time here too. When my husband and I got married last summer here in Oregon, 6 of my best friends from Japan, came here to share our special day, and they loved the scenery in Oregon! I wish I could show you a picture. I don't have a blog with those pictures. Maybe next time I read some of your writing, I'll figure it out and send you a link.

Have a great weekend, Kumo!