Victoria And The Elusive Moose

From Seattle we took the “high-speed katamaran service”, the Clipper, into Canada to stay with friends in Victoria, British Colombia. Actually, they’re closer to being family than friends, and we had the chance to take a break from the constant whirl of hotels-driving-traveling-flying and to enjoy some relax time. It was perfect.
This was my second [...]

Strange But Cool

If you think of Washington, typically your mind may flip to DC and its shining white monuments, but you should also remember the state of Washington and its biggest city, Seattle.
It occupies quite a strange place in my view of the States. It’s west coast, but you don’t really visit for the beaches; it’s a [...]

The Bronx Bombers Say Goodbye

Our Night At The Ballpark
Either it’s our own good fortune to be around at epoch-marking moments or else history is happening everywhere and at all times. Either way, we were in New York not only for the seventh anniversary of 9/11, but also for the final games at the Yankees’ old stadium.
Ever since I saw Field [...]

A New England

North And South
We came a long way these last days. No more for us the swamps of Georgia and the country guitars of Nashville; we have come to the historic foundations of this country: New England.
It’s known as the cradle of the nation, and it is true that the first clamorings of revolution were heard here, [...]

Real Cowboy Style

This post belongs further back in the scheme of things, somewhere in between Nashville and Chattanooga actually, but I’ve only just got the photos developed, so it’s going here.
A phone conversation.
Woman: Hello, Juro Stables…
Me: Hi, I was wondering whether my brother and I could come on out and go riding?
Woman: Well, sure, are you country boys?
Me: Yes [...]

It’s Fun To Stay At The…

Every so often I’ll “do a Steinbeck” and report back on things we have seen over the course of our journey which, while maybe not meriting an entry of their own, build up after repeated occurence to a story worth telling.
And so it is with hotels. (Well, when I say “hotel” you must read “hotel/motel/B&B”.)
Right [...]

A Time To Remember

The Journey Is Part Of The Destination
It didn’t take long to drive up from Asbury Park to Jersey City — one of New Jersey’s biggest towns, and just across the water from Manhattan. We were on our way to New York City. I’d only ever been to the airport before, so my imagination was wild [...]

Greetings From Asbury Park, New Jersey

If I had to choose one place which I absolutely could not miss on this trip, it would be Asbury Park, NJ. This will surprise many people; New Jersey is nationally derided as “the Toilet State” — a very unfair epithet, though “the Garden State” — its real nickname — is hardly much more inspiring.
No, [...]

Heading Due North

After Washington DC we got back on the road and made our way upwards, en-route for New York City. Before we got there however there were a couple of important things to do. One of these was a historical curiosity to be found in Philadelphia. I had intended to get into the city and get [...]

A History Of DC For The Unenlightened

I thought Washington DC was going to be a few ugly statues stuck around in Liberty/Neoclassical style, surrounded by a bunch of corporate-political types with big and expensive cars. I was so wrong it’s unbelievable. You cannot turn round in this city without landing upon something hugely important from the history of the country, and [...]