I’m laying in my pants on my roll mat on a floor. It’s warm. Warm likes hot afternoon in USA, yet it’s 2am.
Last night alan returned, no problems bar road works, but he brought hiddeous alcahol, horrible so that I had to take an hours walk before considering sleep.
So we escaped the camp, no bill, and woke up to a swim, mmm.
Then a drive through te Everglades to avoid the toll road, narrowly avoiding lawful run in, go mercedes man driving a bit faster.
So now we’re in key west, the southern most point of the USA. Hence the temperature, I don’t feel so bad as some of the other surfers staying here.
Our couch host has 5, yes five, of us couchsurfers staying tonight!
We cooked a nice dinner, nice curry. Host, Penelope, turned from veggie this evening. Then all bar her we went out.
Well nicola, he’s still out, we left him in the strip bar.
So sleep tight, for the mossies are out tonight!
Tag: ‘hot’
Air lifted out
Monday, September 28th, 2009An early rise yesterday morning, breakfast and then onto a big yellow school bus. We had a very bumpy 45 minutes down a canyon, chatting with some 60+ year old thrill seekers.
We finished up donning lots of sun lotion, life jackets and climbing aboad a big blue motorised inflatable boat.
We came to ride the rapids on the Colorado river through the Grand Canyon. It’s pretty awesome having a water proof camera to catch the action. We all got soaked, and the water is bloody cold, under 10 degrees C, so petty chilly.
We stopped and climbed a rope ladder to see a water fall, cool. So the rapids on the Colorado river don’t go by the worldwide scale of 1 to 5, but by it’s own scale of 1 to 10 due to their severity. The highest we rode was six, extreme enough that there is a plaque commemoration a few people who didn’t make it in the past. The afternoon was a leisurly boat ride in the sun taking in the awesome scenery. How many people who have been to see the grand canyon have seen it from the bottom, and then how many have ridden the rapids down there, probably not too many.
And then as a bonus, to get back out of the canyon we had to be air lifted out, in a helicopter! I’d never been in one before, and it was great to do it there.
All of this is arranged by the haulapai Indians, the same guys who have built the sky walk out over the canyon, so they’re doing pretty well for themselves.
The day ended with a bone crushing 2 hours aboad a yellow school bus across the bumpy desert, not fun.!
We set off to drive onwards at half five and again the car battery is dead, so it could be down to a light being on. But it’s slightly worrying that we could get stuck out in the desert without anybody to give us a jump start, so we’ll check at a garage in a bit.
Last night we stayed in Seligman on the Route 66. This town is a serious tourist Route 66 place, big neon signs and stuff. The Roadkill cafe where we ate last night has things like pavement possum, curbside kitty and airbrake owl on the menu. Alan had 18″ ribs, and amazingly finished them all!
So onwards through the desert.
Beuna vista
Thursday, September 24th, 2009So it’s been ages and I’m laying by a pool in las Vegas.
Since last I posted we said our farewells to Connie and Gunnar and drove off into the desert. We made a stop by a beach near Santa cruz deep in the fog, where there was a semi sunken ship, home to thousands of birds. Then to San Francisco to meet mike. I met mike at the burning man festival two years back and stayed in contact over facebook.
Mike lives in a lovely place near height street,. So almost central, and has two spare beds, so ace! We had some drinks and went off to party, eventful it certainly was. We couldn’t have hoped to have met some many interesting people, or gone such places had we been tourists. Crazy colombians to ex google start outs and lots of partying fun.
We woke up late the next evening and did relatively little, took a bus tour on an old english bus, but the gear box died on a hill and we spent the evening walking around admiring the architecture of SF.
The next day, Monday I think, alan and I went to the apple store to hand over my MacBook for them to send off for repair, the second time in as many years, but all to apple’s cost.
So after we wandered the water front to pier 39, to catch our ferry. As per usual off into the pacific fog we drifted to the infamous island known as The Rock. It’s pretty cool, über touristy as to be expected and much of the island is inaccesable. The audio tour is cool, being guided by ex-inmates and prison guards. We finished off the day doing some shopping, and had some nice food before passing out.
In the end the San Francisco experience killed off the jet lag, and brought on something else.
Tuesday we set off again, east towards Yosemite. There’s been a huge fire recently which has levelled a large area, and it’s still smouldering, but it’s still breath-takinly beautiful. While driving I decided, ‘alan turn right!’ so we found this waterfall, maybe 250m tall. After a long clamber over the boulder stream we found the pool at the bottom of the rainbow, er waterfall. It was a cold swim and dive, but oh lots of fun. This is where a waterproof camera would come in handy, but the one I’m interested in is so popular that nobody has it.
So off we drove taking photos along the way and found some hitch-hikers from the east coast living in the Rockies. So a lots of chatting about snow and hiking and we had the tip off to a free night in a campsite.
We didn’t lack in alcahol, managed to play two person flip-cup and drink until we saw shooting stars. It was bloody cold and at 2am I woke and went and slept in the car.
Finally cold and tired I woke alan at 7am and we dove out to the park exit. Then we proceeded to climb mount Dana. As we walked the sun rose, and as we rose we ran out of air. It’s was beautiful, but I can’t remember ever climbing a mountain and seriously doubting the liklihood of reaching the summit. But we made it to almost 14000ft headachey, exhausted but to some stunning views. It’s took us 2.5 hours to get up and less than an hour down.
So yesterday we had a scorcher of a drive down through death valley, enjoyed the sunset from below sea level.
We arrived into Vegas last night so to the neon capital of madness, and rather than going crazy we collapsed into a cheap little hotel to sleep.
It’s getting hot, and time to check out. Time to check the town out.
Good luck.
Au revoir Suisse
Friday, September 4th, 2009So I’m on a bumpy easyjet flight to Manchester. It’s not bad, I’m sat by the wing exit so have plenty of leg room 
On the way through airport security I removed everything from my pockets, removed my belt, and still I beeped passing through the scanner. So while the security guard tried to pat me down, it got tricky as these shorts have no hope of staying up without my belt or hand to hold them, so all the security guards had a good joke on me.
On Wednesday, Nic and I headed down to Milan for the afternoon. The day started of with nic having a huge hangover and me a little worse for wear, but driving over the Saint Bernard pass was so stunning I felt great. So awesome that I had to keep stopping to take in the views. Driving across Italy was smooth and fast as usual. We chose to do the park and ride, thanks to wikitravel’s advice.
Milan is pretty cool, didn’t seem too touristy, but was pretty while modern also. I had liked to find some sunglasses, as I’d like some with prescription lenses. But like with current spec trends, I’m not a fan and never found anything, I’ll have a look in London, but may have to wait until LA.
Pizza and cocktails ended the day by the canal before heading back to Verbier.
Yesterday ian and I did some stuff, like cleaning the car, photographing it, then going for a joy ride up the mountain. It was super strange to be up there where I’ve spent so much time in the snow. It got a bit steep but nothing my car couldn’t handle, maybe a little something for the vertigo. We saw some marmots, odd creatures, take lots of photos, and made the car all dusty again.
The week I have been surrounded by Wii’s, but I prefer doing the real sports.
Oh and I’ve been having trouble with my ears, especially my right ear. They’ve been blocked, I’ve had trouble hearing, and it even got to the point where my ear was hurting. I’ve tried ear drop to see if I could clear them that way, but it on improved for a day. My toncils have been swollen and sore also, so I think I’ll have to try and see a GP when I find one. And my ears are having issues at altitude now.
So no more car now. It’s been great fun to have a comfortable, powerful, head turning car, but I’m not sad to lose it. I’ll certainly think twice before buying such a luxury toy in the future.
Maybe we can find something fun to drive in America.
So to the lake district with dad this evening, a nice walk tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll be nice and fit for it after exercising at altitude the past days.
Just what the doctor ordered
Thursday, August 20th, 2009I’m laying in a cottage in Cornwall with big green letters painted on my front saying ‘lucky dip’
I had a lovely morning chatting with trixie. A wonderful pretty fairy girl, and lots of sunshine. So I left Glastonbury feeling much better than when I arrived. All the people there helped me feel good, and some told me that I did a good deal to make them feel better, so all in I left there feeling good 
Well I got to cornwall and the gorgeous weather was grey and English. But I was instantly ordered to get naked, painted up, stuffed pants with lottery tickets and the family and I went off to stand in a field, laugh at others, but mainly get laughed at.
We did not win the dress up contest, by far. Deb scared away all of the photographers. And we had a long walk through town, scaring children who we only wanted to give sweets and make them smile. We were carnival 
Ali, deb and I had Chinese, mmm and met Izzi, mark and a rather hairless drink.
I really hope we get to go to the sea and swim tomorrow, even if it does rain.
whole again
Thursday, August 6th, 2009so back in the uk, missing budapest.
the night before, i met jackie, bobby and leslie, and we went with the aussies to deak ter for a couple of beers. it’s worrying how some many young giurls easily look mid twenties, best to nt talk to girls, nahhh.
all evening we were entertained with lightening all around us, with pre storm winds, but no rain, which was lovely. the best part of the storm, minus the wet stuff is great outside in the park. so the aussies and headed off to szimpla. we arrived just in time before the rain, and had a long pint.
it was interesting that we came upon long in depth spiritual conversations, when the previous night none of us probably thought the others were even of such thoughts.
so the thought not necessary now, doesn’t mean that the same will be in the future thought.
so to yesterday morning and tired again i went to the dentist. this timeall went well, lots of chatting, no pain, a bit of dental cement, and i have a new tooth, so all my pearlies look great! (must remember to floss, and not eat trees!!!)
having seen a biker being squished between 2 german cars kinda puts a damper on my ideas of learning to ride a motorbike.
i had a great time couch surfing this past weekend, all in all staying in four places over 5 days, tiring, but great to meet some great people, and just have fun with others, travlling is wonderful
so i flew back, read the newspaper, boring, a car magazine, expensive and unproductive, but had some good music to listen to. wizzair isn’t a bad airline, pretty basic, but not unpleasant like ryanair!
i had a few pints with alan in downtown cambridge, watching posh chavs abuse the punting kids, ate burritos, mmm, and loving the cider.
so today we visited the garage to see my car. it’s in bits, but the guy says wont cost too much to fix. however it wont be ready before monday. so time to chill here at dad’s and get things done.
off to gym with alan now.
i will miss budapest. it was great, beatiful girls, fun parties, cool bars and parks, so sunny. well the sun just makes life so nice, it’s a shame living in the uk people don’t get enough sun, as it makes such a great difference to the happiness you have in life. maybe some pictures later
Start Slide Show with PicLens Lite Can’t touch this – it’s too bloody hot!
Monday, August 3rd, 2009Kinda uneventful. I had a couple of cockails with agota n co. Then stayed up chatting with Aussies until too late.
I’ve been to the dentist today, the tooth fitted great but is a shade too light, so it’s off to be altered and fitted tomorrow.
I climbed up a dizzying height to view the city from st. Stephens basalica, and had a great veg lunch in buda at Eden.
Now I’m laying on the embankment o the island in te Danube. The ground is so hot I am literally cooking. I have to keep moving in order to stay comfortable.
On to the second bottle of water this hour.
Yours truely, sweating buckets.
Park life
Saturday, August 1st, 2009I’ve been trying to sleep in the shade in the park, but the shade is moving too fast and just as I pass out of consciousness the sun falls on my body, roasting me. I give up.
Yesterday I had a curry by oktogon after my walk around the big park. I had a lie on margit sziget island.
After I caught up with bobby, we saw an environmental, futuristic park. Then we had some beers and chats in a park, I can’t find the name on the map. It was fun, there was even a bum diving and swimming in the 30cm deep water.
Later, leslie, bobby and I went down to A38 the club boat. Quite an experience, many young people. And I woke up on the other side of time.
So today bobby admitted to me that I wad taken in for just two days in case I was too much of a wierdo. Pre judgements based upon my couchsurfing photo. I have to change my photo as this is obviously affecting peoples decision on whether to ahve me. Well he liked me and offered for me to stay longer, however he has two French girls, and I’d already booked to stay at the suite hostel, so I’m booked into the hostel. But I’ll stay with leslie, or maybe a Dutch girl after tonight.
So now I’m waiting to feel better free last night. Humous hasn’t helped. Two litres of pineapple juice hasn’t helped. Sleeping in the park hasn’t helped. Maybe some booze will, but I’ll wait til later for that.
And I lost a phone. The new phone I bought three days ago. At least it only cost me £25, but I’m now without my normal phone number. Oops!
Airborne
Thursday, July 30th, 2009I’m on a wizzair flight from Luton to Budapest. Super tired, I had to wake at half four to take a bus to the airport, which I almost missed. I find myself cutting things quite fine thes days.
Yesterday was pretty depressing.
To start off I saw the mess that was the front end of my car, after hitting the animal, destroyed bumper, broken windscreen/headlamp washer system. Great so that needs fixing as well as the exhaust and windscreen.
It was raining most of the day.
I went to the hair dresser to get a hair cut and was told by a hair dresser of thirty years to wait for somebody else to cut my hair. He couldn’t get his mind around cutting my hair in a non-classic, unconventional fashion. Well now I have shorter, more normal hair, than I can remember having. I like it.
So on the up dad alan and I went to the cinema to see Pelham 1-2-3. It was very Hollywood and predictable, and fairly entertaining, but not something that I’d usually pay to watch.
To heat up the damp day we went for an Indian, so the day was not the worst ever.
This seems to be the trend when I return to the uk, damp, dark, drab, dull. But that’s only because I just came from the beach. I still love the place, just probably couldn’t enjoy living there.
Off to the sun, dentist and fun I go.
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