So when i stopped working last year, i decided to have a bit of a US roadtrip. I have been to the states quite a bit over the years, including annually to a US bridge national for the last 17 years, however outside the main cities i had not seen much of traditional USA.
With plans already in place to be in Las Vegas for the national towards end of July. i worked backwards, calculated where my Virgin airmiles would allow me to go (so easy to earn, so difficult to spend!) and ended up with a trip which started in boston, on 25th June, arrived in vegas 18th July for 11 days and ended with a couple of days in San Diego. Back in UK for the start of August and the start of the Ashes.
The journey is fairly well planned, hotels (mainly motels) booked but cancellable if i change my mind, and attractions noted. But with enough flexibility to go where i wanted - although today i managed to stop myself from turning off from my route to see a heavily billboard advertised Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Empororium.
Trip started with a couple of night in Boston - primarily to get over the worst of the jetlag before picking up the car. I had one full day to do some sightseeing which primarily consisted of a trip to JFK memorial library and then a guided tour of the freedom trail. Both were really interesting and put my knowledge of US history to shame (which will be repeated again during the trip).
In the evening a random google search found tickets available for a new play "Tea at Five" a one woman play about the later years of Katharine Hepburn. Faye Dunnaway playing KH. It is playing in Boston ahead of a move to Broadway later in the year. I eventually found out the reason the tickets were relatively easy to get was the official opening was not until later in the week - however it was very enjoyable despite FD struggling a few times with her lines.
Following day i picked up car for my first driving day to Wilkes Barre - which was really a stopping point rather than anything of itself. I decided to take a detour to break for lunch and see Mark Twain's House and Museum in Hartford. A guided tour of the house provided a good insite into the man and his family.
Following morning i made an early start - my body clock is not yet on US time - for the shorter drive to Gettysburg - I am staying about 30 mins away for 2 nights. Got there early so managed to see the introductory film and cyclorama (you look it up, I had to) before taking a guided bus tour for a couple of hours around the battlefield. Really interesting and humbling to appreciate the scale of the loss of life that took place. Whilst you never really see everything there is , I have seen most of the key sites so will look for other things to do tomorrow (must check Mister Ed'sopening hours)
i am a very occasional driver in US, so its taking me a while to remind myslef of the various querks. Speed limits appear quite random, that turning right on red might be sensible but just feels strange and there is an abundance of road signs. Some make real sense - double fines for speeding where there are roadworks for example, but with bright blue skys why do i have to turn my lights on whilst going through roadworks?
So far i have traveled through:
Massachusetts.......Connecticut.....New York.......Pennsylvania
The first day was mainly interstate but with some really good views of rolling forests and quite a bit of water - lakes/rivers. Today has been a bit more rural and your typical view of mid america single storey housing. Music has so far been provided by Bruce Springstein and 10,000 maniacs, with the US theme to continue tomorrow with Suzanne Vega.
Will post again after the weekend.
With plans already in place to be in Las Vegas for the national towards end of July. i worked backwards, calculated where my Virgin airmiles would allow me to go (so easy to earn, so difficult to spend!) and ended up with a trip which started in boston, on 25th June, arrived in vegas 18th July for 11 days and ended with a couple of days in San Diego. Back in UK for the start of August and the start of the Ashes.
The journey is fairly well planned, hotels (mainly motels) booked but cancellable if i change my mind, and attractions noted. But with enough flexibility to go where i wanted - although today i managed to stop myself from turning off from my route to see a heavily billboard advertised Mister Ed's Elephant Museum & Candy Empororium.
Trip started with a couple of night in Boston - primarily to get over the worst of the jetlag before picking up the car. I had one full day to do some sightseeing which primarily consisted of a trip to JFK memorial library and then a guided tour of the freedom trail. Both were really interesting and put my knowledge of US history to shame (which will be repeated again during the trip).
In the evening a random google search found tickets available for a new play "Tea at Five" a one woman play about the later years of Katharine Hepburn. Faye Dunnaway playing KH. It is playing in Boston ahead of a move to Broadway later in the year. I eventually found out the reason the tickets were relatively easy to get was the official opening was not until later in the week - however it was very enjoyable despite FD struggling a few times with her lines.
Following day i picked up car for my first driving day to Wilkes Barre - which was really a stopping point rather than anything of itself. I decided to take a detour to break for lunch and see Mark Twain's House and Museum in Hartford. A guided tour of the house provided a good insite into the man and his family.
Following morning i made an early start - my body clock is not yet on US time - for the shorter drive to Gettysburg - I am staying about 30 mins away for 2 nights. Got there early so managed to see the introductory film and cyclorama (you look it up, I had to) before taking a guided bus tour for a couple of hours around the battlefield. Really interesting and humbling to appreciate the scale of the loss of life that took place. Whilst you never really see everything there is , I have seen most of the key sites so will look for other things to do tomorrow (must check Mister Ed'sopening hours)
i am a very occasional driver in US, so its taking me a while to remind myslef of the various querks. Speed limits appear quite random, that turning right on red might be sensible but just feels strange and there is an abundance of road signs. Some make real sense - double fines for speeding where there are roadworks for example, but with bright blue skys why do i have to turn my lights on whilst going through roadworks?
So far i have traveled through:
Massachusetts.......Connecticut.....New York.......Pennsylvania
The first day was mainly interstate but with some really good views of rolling forests and quite a bit of water - lakes/rivers. Today has been a bit more rural and your typical view of mid america single storey housing. Music has so far been provided by Bruce Springstein and 10,000 maniacs, with the US theme to continue tomorrow with Suzanne Vega.
Will post again after the weekend.
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