July 11, 2026 – Duarte, California
My California DCI tour is going well. For a break from the road, I found my way to the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area owned by the City of Los Angeles. It is about halfway between last night’s DCI venue in Walnut and the Rose Bowl, the site of tonight’s show. I am at a picnic table, and as you can guess, in the shade. I worship the sun, but this is perfect climate for human existence. Still conjuring my lodging options, I’m just heading out for a hike along the trails and this large dam structure.
The mammoth dam was built in the 1930’s to prevent flooding from the surrounding mountains. The actual body of water is much smaller, dwarfed by the structure’s size. The cool breeze and abundant trees in the public park provided a pleasant setting for a brisk walk. I’m glad I got my steps in.
Having worked up an appetite by walking around the recreation area, I am now at Jersey Mike’s on Route 66 somewhere just east of Pasadena. My Courtyard awaits for checking in at 3:00 just up the road.
I might even get a nap in before the show at the Rose Bowl just 15 minutes away. This evening, I will focus on the show and put this computer away until I return to San Diego.
July 13, 2026 – Tocolote Recreation Area, San Diego, California
I’m at a comfortable picnic table in the Tocolote Canyon. It’s time to catch up with you on the DCI California tour and the Rose Bowl show on Saturday. Today is Monday.
Yesterday was a travel day, returning here from Monrovia, where I stayed at the hotel just east of Pasadena Saturday night. The drive back home was much smoother in the moderate mid-Sunday morning traffic. I had two hours to kill before returning the rental, so I decided to grab a breakfast burrito at Mission Beach. This was very nostalgic for the beach-bum days in the early 70s, when I lived here. Surfers were milking the most out of the not-so-hollow waves. The slightly overcast sky and the steady breeze made for a comfortable breakfast, sitting cross-legged in the sand, the Merrill Mocs and Darn Tough Socks beside me.
To get my steps in, I decided to walk from the Rental Car Center to the hacienda, about 4 miles. Siri provided the route, which was not ideal but was the only one through a certain part of the city’s industrial area. This is where the people without homes reside. I began to recall how my walks around Indianapolis during finals week affected me, seeing so many without housing and meals, given how much over-consumption there is in general.
While at finals last year, I had leftover fried fish in the hotel refrigerator but knew I was not going to finish it, so I went to throw it out. As I was descending the stairs, it dawned on me like a lightning flash that perhaps someone I met on my walk might want it. I walked out the stairway door, and there was the person before me. Later in the walk, I had to use the washcloth I had brought to wipe my brow and cheeks. The emotion from the 2025 tour and the experience of talking to the vagabond, and how he is getting used to sleeping without a blanket outside near a church. His social and emotional status disables him from reaching the bar, and he falls through the cracks of society. I digress.
After the 4+ mile walk, I visited the Coronado Brewery for a delicious Orange Avenue wheat beer to slake my enormous thirst.
The Show: DCI at the Rose Bowl
DCI at the Rose Bowl was a huge success. Once again, the California drum corps converged with the visiting Bluecoats for another great show on a Mid-Cal summer evening. I parked the car in a convenient spot about a half-mile away and walked to the stadium grounds to avoid the long line of vehicles entering the parking lot. Hanging out with the early corps warming up, I found a cool spot to listen to the Seattle Cascades pit warm up. As they droned on in harmony together with single beats transitioning every 8 counts, I closed my eyes and drifted off for a 30-second power nap on the comfortable bench. The violin, in cadence, added a really nice blend of sound accompaniment with the keys. I loved the McLeod tartan part of the uniforms in the color-mixed plaids. It is the tartan of the Highlanders from Harwood Union High School, where I teach.
I decided to wait until 6:30 to enter the stadium so I could be in my seat at intermission. This was a tactical mistake, as I missed the Academy after stopping to use the restroom and had to listen while waiting in the tunnel. It took almost an hour to get to my seat, starting with a line that extended around the parking lot. Finally ensconced in my seat, I managed to focus on the live entertainment below, the grand reward for the miles consumed and the time spent waiting in lines.
This show did not disappoint. Seattle Cascades performed a very entertaining program called “Against the Grain.” These kids were into the rock music repertoire. You could tell they had been working just as hard as the other World Class Corps to follow. This is the best Seattle Cascades show that I have experienced.
Following them, Pacific Crest stepped up and performed their hearts out in front of the hometown crowd. The show’s music is a rich collection of popular composers, including Radiohead, Beethoven, Jacob Collier, and Eric Whitacre. It’s amazing how much better they performed from the first show two days earlier. I’m happy to know that I will see this show again five more times this season.
Next came the Bluecoats, who took us into another realm of consciousness. This imaginative program continues to evolve and be embellished as these kids clearly enjoy performing it. The California drum corps fans gave the Ohio corps lots of BLOOOs and cheers. Not to be outdone, the top California corps stepped into the breach. First, the Santa Clara Vanguard brought their reckless gang to the field with power, precision, and panache. The drum battery showed its prowess once again, crisp and clean, commanding the field. The horns filled our ears with that unmistakable Vanguard clarity and tone. In my humble opinion, this was the best performance of the night. However, the final act did not disappoint. As the drum corps world is used to, the Blue Devils came on last. A California favorite, BD captivated us with their drill style and recognizable musical arrangements. Their zest for pushing the limits was evident in the execution of this fun program. I was completely satisfied by the end of these three days of outdoor drum corps, culminating in a great BD performance. Watch these corps improve as the season goes on. There will be plenty of new features and refinements that will amaze us all. We drum corps fanatics are just taking hold of the season.
I’m at the San Diego International Airport waiting to board my flight home. Thanks to a little help from my friends at Southwest Airlines, I am cleared through Chicago to Albany on the 10:40 red-eye. All in all, the California tour was a success. I also want to give a shout-out to BJ’s Restaurants, three of which I visited each night after the shows quite by coincidence. Great beer, food, and service. Beats, burgers, and beers, and fun times with my friends. They are coming to visit me this fall and then this winter to learn to ski. They were very helpful in supporting my summertime avocation following DCI. My checked bag has some nice goodies, including four bottles of Pliny the Elder. Wish me luck on my flight and connection. See you back along the Mill Brook.
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