BACK IN THE US of A

ONE WEEK IN THE UNITED STATES:  Yes, I am back.  It has been quite a journey, perhaps equal to the circumference of the earth, or slightly more, by the time I am back in Corning, where my new roof will welcome me.  Meanwhile, I am in Basalt CO, visiting with my daughter and granddaughter.  It is snowing very nicely so some skiing will be in order.

When last I wrote, I was still in Adelaide and bushfires were raging in three states, mostly uncontrolled.  I had decided to drive back to Sydney and was wondering how conditions might be along the way, as the highway would take me between likely fire-prone regions.  I was in luck, managing to travel on two of the least hot days and not a fire in sight.  I drove a leisurely journey, taking some kip (time out for sleep) at Wagga Wagga just over two thirds of the way and arriving in Sydney around 11 AM on the second day.

Adelaide has very wide streets and the road across the 'sweeping plains' has little traffic.  Australia is largely uninhabited; imagine 21 million people living on a land mass about the size of the 48 States, mostly in the cities or close to the coast.  I saw maybe three or four cars per hour on the road between towns.  Coming into Sydney, things tightened up as the traffic became more dense and the roads narrower when off the freeway, so I was quickly hemmed about by the aggressive but courteous local drivers.  Had me on my toes, you can be sure!

After four days in Sydney, catching up with family and friends, my son (Andrew) took me out to the airport and it was 'goodbye'.  Once more, I was in luck!  The plane was very under-booked, with at least three seats each for we Economy passengers.  Stretched out, I made six hours of sleep and the cabin crew were very relaxed.  All this made the 13 hour flight much less arduous...Hooray, Hooray!!

Four days in San Francisco with good friends and very happy times and then it was onto the Amtrak 'California Zephyr' bound for Glenwood Springs CO, via Nevada and Utah.  Probably the most arduous section of my travels when considering it takes 26 hours.  But, well compensated by the scenery as one traverses the Sierras, the interesting folk one can meet, and the final section along the Colorado River.  From Glenwood Springs (a pretty 'spa-town') it was just 30 minutes by local bus to where I now am.

Finally, two days to myself as my granddaughter and her mother were off at a moguls competition.  My granddaughter returned with Second Place (the competition must have been really tough!).

Travelling not only broadens but also wearies the mind, not forgetting the body!  Maybe I am getting too old for all this travel in one great pile of miles.  If I am going to do all these miles again, I think it may be continally from East to West.  The Trans-Siberian Rail journey comes to mind!  An acquaintance of mine, a little older than I (I had best be careful, as she reads this blog), did this a year or so ago, so it has to be on the cards.  I have friends in Thailand, so another travel adventure can be stitched together.

In the interim, I am considering a longish cycle ride in the Rockies.  So...watch this space!