Final American Blog

Our last day in America image by KenWagner photographer

I decided to write this final American blog after some reflection of the trip, rather than write screeds of my ramblings I have decided to be brief and use headings again, Highlights and Lowlights as my previous blogs but also add another reflective heading Lessons Learnt.

Highlights

The people, the people the people, did I mention the people?

Diversity of people, landscapes, cultures and food all in one country

Photographic opportunities

New Orleans

The Redwoods

The Elephant seals and Elks, the Goffer, the Chipmunks and Grisly Bears that we knew were there but never saw them!

Hurst Castle

Great shopping in the outlet malls.

Coastal drive from LA TO Seattle on Highway One.

Too many more to mention without repeating previous blogs

Lowlights

The condition and initial problems with the RV  ie air conditioning and bald tyres, luckily the company rectified within the first week.

Crossing the Arizona desert and the RV was literally blown from one lane into the next one, thank goodness no traffic was coming up behind us.

Two particular RV sites, one in Texas and one in Arizona, yuk, say no more.

Lessons learnt

That Americans love the Australian/English accent

We become minor celebrities as many people had not spend time with Australians before

Although, a great many of ex servicemen had been to Australia and loved it.

All Americans want to go to Australia.

Most of the men from Texas are packed ie carrying a gun ....scary.

Americans are quite forward we was quite often asked how much it cost to rent the RV and I was stopped at least two or three times a day to ask where I bought a particular pair of shoes I was wearing. Their curiosity about many things was very refreshing.

Great public transport and the bus drivers were really helpful

The food was so cheap and fresh, in Seattle we went to a farmers market where you could buy whole salmon caught that morning for less than $15.

I have learnt that I don't need to visit a war, car, boat or cowboy museum for a long time, I have done my wifely duty. Won't mention the art and glass museums that someone got dragged round. Ha ha.

Final lesson, don't overpack for an RV trip, in fact if we go back we won't take hardly any clothes just buy along the way! (Terry, are you reading this?)

Got to go back.........

If anyone is needing some inspiration to just "get up and do it" you may get it from a couple that we met on the Ferry from UK to France.

The husband and wife were in their mid 70s wearing cycling Lycra with New Zealand emblazoned across their tops.  They had landed in Gatwick from New Zealand with their bikes and had spent a night near the airport then cycled to Newhaven caught the ferry as they were cycling down to Portugal!!#%. Last year they cycled London to Rome, the year before London to Amsterdam and because I had passed out with shock I didn't catch their first trip!  Then the dear lady winked and said she didn't feel very fit at the moment but by half way she should feel fitter, and one of the benefits is the weight she looses.  She also said she's not too proud to get off her bike and walk up the mountains.     Anyone up for challenge?  Suggestions?  I thought Paris to our house in SW France for starters.

The lady gave me her blog details if you to take a peak: www.crazyguyonabike.com/.doc/pilgrims

Thank you for taking interest in our trip and keeping me on track to blog this trip and if you haven't fallen off your chairs with boredom or drifted off to sleep and up for some more exciting (!) blogs I will recommencing blogging our French adventures at :    www.cattrim.blogspot.com