Alan and I have just been to the mall in Winnipeg, narrowly escaping the busyness. I bought a cover for my iPhone because I have seen so many iPhones with smashed screens. I went for the recycled plastic option. We also got some thermals, it’s going to be a cold winter.
So winnipeg was interesting. Out couchhost was a fun girl, plenty of time having recently been made redundant, along with most of her crazy friends but we spent most of the time partying, there isn’t much else to do in that town. It is the grain trading capital of north America.
And the people there are crazy, many of whom walk around making wierd sounds, screaming or talking to themselves. There’s too much winter, no excitement or hope, not even any population growth, the gun crime capital of Canada so we are told.
So we are now in the real prairies, you can see for miles and miles, forward the road dissappears on straight to the horizon and to the sides are endless yellow field where crops grew in the summer.
It’s so straight and boring that they have giant signs to keep you mind active like odometer checks. But no worries if you fall off the road asleep, there’s nothing to hit.
It’s barely above zero degrees and they’re still harvesting.
So wawa was no too interesting, lots of goose statues.
Thunder bay, out host wasn’t too talkative until we got him a bit drunk, and he hit on us.
So the most important thing we did was go to an employment centre to canadianise our resumes. We’ve applied for several jobs now. Not much response yet.
The car is super dirty because I decided to do some off roading just to wake me up from the boring drive.
Oh and I got myself a lovely yellow hat, mmm warm

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I hear sirens, so off goes the music. Maybe it’s the firemen can’t be arses to talk room to room so use loud speakers.
We’re 100m from fort myers beach playing a cardgame: shithead and we’re almost out of wine, all of the cider having been drunk down on the beach.
Fill in; today was a boring 400mile drive down Florida.
We arrived here in time to have a swim in the sea while the sun was setting.
Alan is afraid of the sea, even if it is 2ft deep! Creepy crawlies nibble away your extremities?
It is wonderfully warm here, in the sea and out.
We tried having a pic nic dinner on the beach, but due to the serious amount of mosquitos attacking us, we retreated from the water to drink and play cards.
Alan picked the game, won initially, but that didn’t last long.
So i’m sat here with wine, cards, bread and humous while he’s off buying liquor.
I could cheat and change his cards, but is it worth it?
We’re going to sleep in the tent tonight. There are no camp sites, we’re not allowed to sleep on the beach, so upon the recommendation of a local, we will stay in an RV park, and see what happens in the morning, maybe the owner will wake us us and give us trouble, if not, then Bingo! Free night
Oh and it’s beautiful here by the sea, damn these demon insects.

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it’s pretty humid, got the fan on my legs, and alan’s laptop roasting my legs.

we’re couchsurfing again in texas, and it’s warm. we’re staying with a group of students, of all different ages, but young, and it’s been pretty cool, melissa is the girl that is the organiser, but we’ve been having fun with all.

we came to austin to party, and party we have. we’re even staying a day extra for some reasons. reasons to stay, cheap drinks tonight, and pretty girls asking us to stay, good enough? yes!

so what’s happened, we arrived into austin, and arrived at the house, and i kind of though that melissa’s brother knew we would be coming, but he didn’t so it felt kinda awkward until we explained our invasion. it’s their first time hosting, so their couchsurf virgins, not the first time for us, but i quite like being with people who’ve never hosted for them. that way, not only are we new to a place, but it’s a new situation for them.

so after that, alan and i went for a nice midday run by the river in the afternoon sun, super humidity, almost 40 degrees, owch and swaety that was, fun, but tiring, the first time i have gone for a run since cross country when i was 12. then we headed down to barton spring for a dip in the cool cool creek, and chilled in the sun.

come evening melissa, sharleen, emily alan and i met a couple other guys, had dinner and then almost went to a heavy metal gig. we were aiming for a rock gig, but got lost walking round the block. i think the metal was lively like we would hacve liked, rock being too mellow, no dancing or anything, but it was cool, and we even got some 3d specs! trippy, well the guys beard was when we were wearing them.

afterwards, a little tipsy, some more than other we all went and climbed some old thing and watch the night city with wine.

then for more stupidity and grazes we came back and with beers climbed up a tree house in a field out back. melissa had lotsa trouble and i hacve embaressing photos to prove, but i kind of fell/slid half down the tree, so my arm is looking pretty bad ass.

then most of the guys found some sort of a bed, emily and i lay in the field, no stars, a field in a city, but no cows, was wicked though. i’m finding fields can be one of the funnest places!

so yesterda, i called fed ex to ask where my macbook is, and they were useless, had no record of it, let alone trying to deliver it 7 times and leaving notes at my mate’s office in san francisco, bloody idiots. so i got on to apple customer care, and after several periods on hold, and thirth minutes of a call, she even complained that the line way crap, so i informed her that i was on a iPhone of course, and she found me a lady who know where my computer was being held. it had been returned to apple in Tenessee, great! so now it’s being delivered to ian’s mom in new jersey, so i hope this works better for me and my laptop.

we finally got to town in the end at almost 5pm, and time for cupcakes.

then end.

not.

alan just pointed out to me that my 3000 photos that i’ve taken matches how many miles we’ve done, a picture per mile! but i have no macbook to view them with!

oh yeh i was doing some couchscouting for new orleans and came across this profile, check it now!
There are two requirements if you stay with me:
2) EVERYONE (collaborative efforts are OK) who stays has to draw me a picture in my picture guest book at some point before departure.
I can bake like a motherfucker; it’s science.
I’m still alive. Stand in awe; bask in my glory.

to say the least.

back to yesterday and we saw some crazy shops, but best off found our halloween costumes, but u can find out at halloween!

we had a little bar crawl down to the colorado to see the millions of bats fly out from roost, to go eat the pesky bugs.

out again we went last night, and sonow we’re kinda shattered, thus chilling before we go out again tonight.

i am covered in mosquito bites, it’s a little annoying, but i hope not a sign that it’s going to get bad.

that’s it for real.

Super tired, jet lagged still I suppose.
Breakfast included orange juice made from oranges picked from the tree in the garden no longer than twenty minutes earlier, couldn’t be much fresher or yummier!
Today alan, gunnar and I have been driving around from city to city in Los Angeles. We were on the road nine hours, and have had some experiences. The car sales men, and even nice ladies seem to have no clu about cars, being incapable or unwilling to explain issues like such as why the 4 wheel drive or air conditioning doesn’t work, or even being unable to speak English. So there has been one promising Chevrolet Yukon. We’ll have to see what options there are tomorrow.
The flight was long, yum food, plenty o’ booze and films; Star trek, Fast and furious, Fifty dead men walking and Terminator salvation. I’d say watch star trek, but the best was the indi Irish film, fifty dead men walking, so find it and watch it.
It’s cool to be back in the sun, and it still hasn’t hit in that we’re on holiday, let alone left Europe for who knows long. I guess this is just life.
And Connie and Gunnar are lovely.
Who wants to walk the great wall of china with me?
Time for a barbie.

After the sleep lacked night, I woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the channel. Then off to the boat and I decided not to use the gps. I lost confidence in her, and prefer to find a more interesting route. Not to mention the fun of getting lost.
It was a beautiful drive to Belgium, Luxembourg, across to Germany, back to France along the Rhone, into Germany with some flower picking. There I got some speed up, but got a spot of trouble when I filled up the tank and my cards wouldn’t work, but thanks to martin I got away. I came into Switzerland just before sunset, which made for a stunning drive from Basel to Bern and Lausanne, a wonderful fun drive down, akin to watching Top Gear.
Sunday morning nic and I went for a dizzying walk, and even saw some marmots!
Monday I went to the gym, didn’t notice the time and left two and a half hours later aching and tired.
I went to see harriet and cedric, then back to nic and toto’s for a dinner party, yum yum, but couldn’t wait for sleep.
Now nic and I are doing errands, working on getting the car ready to sell.

It’s two days since I was at the gym, I’m still achey, so I definately wish to go some more. Alan is huge, it’s almost wierd.
I saw the hangover, it’s funny, good enough to save to my computer.
I just changed trains, rushed, bought water and got funny tasting water, damn!!! Kinda refreshing.
Ely looks nice, misty, where is the beautiful weather?
Yesterday I was super productive, I filled in forms, wrote a résumé, sent off my broken hard disk and feel great for actually getting stuff done.
Dad and I went to see moon, a good film. I don’t think I’ve ever been to the cinema with dad to see a film that you have to concentrate, so new things. Very psychological, dark, great sound track, worth seeing. I’ve never been to a cinema that you can soy and drink alchohol in, so I had me a nice glass of red wine
Afterwards I met olivia, maybe for the first time in 4 or 5 years. It’s strange how meeting some friends and it’s like it’s been no time at all. We went to the cheeseyest club I think I’ve ever been to. After in a bar a guy tried picking me up, I didn’t realise and said something a bit rude, but still got a drink out of it!
Stayed at olivia’s with her freaky little dog. And now I’m en route to Peterborough to get a new passport, I think I’ll get there way too early, so will get me some lush breakfast somewhere. I need it after drinking last night.

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It’s been a nice chilled day today with ian, courtney and no kids. We dropped them off at the activity centre, went to the Market, and had some breakfast. Chinese before midday is bizarre!
We read our books, I bought two today, and now I’m Reading the snow leapard.
We went for a bike ride, I love, though after swapping with ian near the end I all but fell off, damn riding an eight year old’s bike.
So some sunbathing an a glass of red, and we cruise to Bergerac to take louise and cousin to go clubbing, well not us. We had pizza and watched ball room style dancing.
Home now, finished some red wine over discussions of English cinema et al.
It’s amazing how tiring doing nothing is.
Bon nuit.

It’s Been a long time since I’ve writen anything.
Basically I saw a car crash(never drive a small car!), drove fifteen hours to verbier. Saw the tour de France, met cool people, had many hangovers, hot very drunk, met lots of rich people, had nice food and cider, spent time with nic n toto, was kept Awake by their kittens, and met an awersome girl.
So now I’m drunk in Aquitaine, at alex’s dads with ian an courtney and family, having just watched a French/Spanish film.
Life is still good.
I’m avoiding going back to England because it is raining over there.!

Today I’m couch surfing in Kerry.
Last night, agota, sebastien and I went out. Being that we started after midnight, we weren’t so drunk to dance to the cheese in the club until it was time to leave, so we had our own wake the house mates party, until seven am.
So today has been a little rough.
I said my goodbyes and drove off. It’s slow going on Irish roads, but I got to the gap of dunloe. It’s beauterific! I worry that I got a bit excited and damaged the underside of the car when we flew through the mountains, however much fun was had.
So now it’s rainy, foggy but not too cold, in cahersiveen. I’m staying with ciaran, a couch surfer, not like other couch surfers that I’ve met. He’s mid life, his wife and kids have just left him, he’s Irish, well travelled and has a huge beautiful house by the sea, and grows his own veg. We had great home made dinner, red wine, cool chats, then went to his sister’s pub. Even better, the next pub had an impromptu gathering of music, guitars, harmonica, fiddle…singing. Awesome.
Finally we did the responsible thing and cycled home in the rain, gees, I don’t know whether it was the booze but the km uphill almost killed me.
Well off to sleep to await the next adventures.

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So after my stupidity of missing my train, i awoke at 5am, the first time of being awake that early since i would go to bed at that time ib winter. I caught a train to Barcelona airport, and caught my pla e on time. I had 45minutes in Paris, before catching a quick train down to Bordeaux(a convoluted route, but rapid and efficient), to enjoy the sun while I waited for alex after he knocked a guy into the ditch, then got lost. A tirin day, ended by hanging with his mates and siblings, but me too tired to speak French.
Said my good-Bye to alex over juice and off again.
Yesterday I drove up, pretty uneventful until I hit paris, which usually I avoid, but without map, driving alone, I let the gps do her job. It took me two hours to get around Paris, it Gould have been less than one. Je deteste la peripherique!
So to Amiens. I got here eventually. I tried contacting catherine earlier in the day, but got the number wrong. I met catherine in lacauno, in the campsite. But I got the number off my laptop, and she came to meet me. We walked through the pretty town, drank wine, when in France, then went to her friends party.
I’d met most of these guys already, and they were super drunk, entertaining, maybe embarressing for catherine.
I’m sleepy, in bed, chilled, happy.