I imagine you're all wondering if I was ever going to finish this thing off!
Well here is the final submission.. (as well as I can remember it all)
The Trip
This was the single most amazing trip I have ever taken. Quite literally I saw hundreds of new things, met an incredible group of people (largely german, 1kiwi and 2 american bus drivers, oh and a few brits, including a particularly entertaining scottish trio). In short, I think I should have stayed a traveller for ever!
I travelled from New York to San Francisco, saw hot springs with baths,canyons with navajo tribes, deserts (plus an evil horse), forests with bears and taranchalas, mountains I climbed using only a chain not to mention vegas baby!Rollercoasters, neon-lights and all.
I biked the golden gate bridge, swam in rivers with turtles and saw a skunk chase an old lady up a hill.
There was a roadrunner a-top a surfboard and I camped in the open air on the edge of a cliff. Camp fires, circus shows and New Orleans jazz filled my days and I slept top-to-toe with an array travellers on a giant bus-bed.
I had a robot-dance-off with a bus driver in a San Francisco club, and discovered a secret room on the roof of a hostel filled with tequila.
I did shots with a kiwi and 3 germans in the back of a camper-van outside a chinese restaurant and learnt german rap songs whilst hiking a navajo trail. I was thrown from a horse in the arizona desert, and discovered oyster shots, 'hurricanes' and the horrors of mexican service.
There were bats, caves, underground rocks formations and hodoos resembling indiana jones movies. I jumped from sand dunes the size of mountains and competed in a 3-day connect4 championship.
There was shopping, hiking, swimming,sight-seeing,cycling,(in some cases running), jumping, bum-boarding, diving,falling and singing. There was a church with gospel singers, jazz bands, pink chevys and a wailing preist, there was much Corona and thus merriment. I travelled the smokey mountains by foot and found houses worthy of horror films. There was Kareoke in New Orleans, and culture in Texas, bruised noses in Vegas and a 70's hair-do nobody could explain. There were feather masks, inexplicable aprons and barbie t-shirts, outdoor cooking and 'have you ever...'
I saw the liberal side of america, showered in the open-air, took a boat across the mississippi and met a guy with a really big fish.
There was 'nearly naked monday,'push-ups for Obama,' and the joys of 'buddy check.' Phrases like 'the miracle,' 'where's brian????' and 'we win again' will always be a reminder.
In short it was awesome!
Back home, well New York first (it seems like home) - I met up with old housemates and had one last look around. I took 5 planes, 2 taxi's and a train back to ol'blighty where everything looks lovely. Everything is green and peaceful, central londonis like a quiet summers day (if it wasnt for the rain!) Red phone boxes, black cabs, british accents, queues!!!! Regular food once more, familiar faces and the weather - ok so i didnt miss everything.
I have friends in germany, new zealand, all across america, canada and almost every town in england! (sofa surfing opportunities galore!) Now all I have to do is stay in touch!
I leave you with some pictures to help you imagine the craziness....
