Saturday Night and Sunday

We headed to Marty's Sister-in-laws place last night. Met the new addition to the family, the two cats and a big feckin dog. Discussed (in length) the pool project that Justin is undertaking (which will be great when finished and I'll definitely be back to try out.

We watched typical US TV. ie FECKIN HUGE!!! with surround sound and nothing worth watching on it.

Today I hung out with Justin in the house while others headed to church and I found out Justin was a big Roller Hockey fan, we spent ages looking for boots around his house (couldn't find any) because we wanted to have a shot at it that afternoon.

We get a call that there's breakfast at Jennine's folks place and we headed there with sticksgloves and a few other hockey bits and pieces, Jennine's brother had more boots. We had a great breakfast then headed out to the rink.

The rink is smooth concrete, painted like a ice hockey rink, it was about 86F and I was fecking wrecked in no time flat.

No pics sorry.

Bob

Philly

I made good time to Philadelphia and had some interesting adventures on the NJ Turnpike.

A truck's wheel was disintegrating in front of me and as the bits bounced towards me I decided it would be good to overtake that truck.

It may have caused an accident but it was well behind me if it did. Another truck, some sort of dump truck, was merrily travelling along and it's load was on fire.

In Philly, Marty and Jennine where still at work, so I amused myself by going for a walk. It's "moving week" in the university here so lots of nubile shit kicking hicks would looking flustered and needing a good strong man to help them move their stuff in to the apartment. So I stood and watched them flounder since I neither good nor strong.

Marty then took me on a pub crawl around loads of different bars. I was VERY drunk and then passed out on their sofa. We woke up this morning very, very poorly. :P

Not dead yet

I made it out of Portland alive even though Ed and Jaimie tried to kill me with a lobster. I have pics of that but haven't uploaded them yet.

I did my biggest stint in the car yet. Five and a bit hours from Portland to New York. Pati says Hi, it's looks like she not used to the late night drinking and has went back to bed after driving her sister to work.

I'm getting geared up to head to Philly now. It's a much shorter trip but there is the deadly hazards of the Jersey Turnpike to be negotiated.

I'll update with more pics when I land in on Marty and Jennine. I'll also need some food in my gut because what ever Vero made for dinner last night came out in a burny rush this morning.

Later

B

Tourist Day

Weird Feeling

So far it doesn't feel like I'm in America.

It's the first time I've hired a car and driven a major distance but still doesn't feel like the USA.

It's like I've popped up the road to visit Ed.


Ed and Jaimie's House

Ed's Macho Dog, Jack.

The lady of the House playing the fiddle.

Sampling the brew


Ed and Me

Later, B

Arrived

I got in at around 8.40pm local time and I have to say the yanks needs some sort of logic to their roads signs.

I would've been here sooner if it hadn't been for dodgy road signs and construction.

I'm bushed. I'll update again tomorrow with a few pics and stuff. The rental car is nice (but still a american piece of crap).

Bob

The Start

Hi Folks,

I'll be using this site to keep you updated and in a small way document the 3 week trip that I'm going on.

So far I have about half of the journey planned and the other half is a sort of... see-what-happens deal.

There are definite destinations:-

Boston, MA
Portland, ME
New York, NY
Philadelphia, PA
Washington, DC
Chicago, IL
and somewhere in Oklahoma

I fly out on Saturday from Dublin. Keep checking back for updates and observations.

Bob