5080 miles, 4 time zones, 7 cities and 14 states ...phew

Wow - I can't believe I actually managed to do it. The most fun I have ever had! So pleased I'm finishing with Frisco as well - this is such a unique place. I love the green tortoise hostel - very funky and very cheap. They even throw in free dinner three nights a week, free breakfasts, free saunas and live music. The atmos is great too - laid back and partyish - if that makes sense. I think the lack of sleep and nomadic lifestyle is starting to adle my brain a little.

Sadly due to a mix up with my flights I'm having to come home a day early, so I've found myself rushing around to fit in the traditional tourist stuff in Frisco. Alcatraz was a really interesting part of my visit - quite chilling. But I also loved my cable car ride, scary though it was, and the seal colony was weird - dozens of lumps of blubber just laid out on rafts. The Golden Gate Bridge is stunning of course and the architecture here is very pretty. But man those inclines - my ankles are killing me!!!

I'm hoping to fit in a few more things before I leave this incredible country - some of the beat haunts would be cool, and maybe amoeba records. But I have made some interesting contacts and great friends. Am looking into doing some teaching over here. I will be back!!!

la la land

LA doesn't really count as part of my trip - but as it was the classiest train station I've ever been stranded in I thought I'd mention it. This leg of my trip holds the record for being the loooooooooongest. Flagstaff to san Fran is 26 hours...ish. But I did have the adorable James to keep me company for the first few hours - have fun in Vegas James - see you in London for a rematch ;) (so good to finally find someone I can beat at pool)

The trouble with travelling like this is it is heartbreaking everytime you move on - three days in a city gives you just enough time to let you know you wanna stay for longer. Flagstaff was a real surprise as I thought it was gonna be just about experiencing the great outdoors - but it ended up being the most sociable hostel I've stayed in. Twas fun!

The LA to San Fran train was a little more luxurious. It actually had a games room with huge arcade video games, a very witty host (announcing that we were about to experience an unprecedented eclipse of the sun at 5.57 - just as we entered a tunnel - ha ha) and detailed information on places of interest as we travelled through. But still we were treated to freezing air con throughout aagghh!!!!

Feeling Grand!

I'm using a very slow unreliable computer in a Flagstaff internet cafe - so this may be successful - but I'll have a go at uploading a couple of pics. The Grand Canyon proved to be everything everyone said it would be. Every corner turned and every new viewpoint caused my jaw to hit the floor. It is partly the size - huge huge landscapes - too much for the eye to take in. Our tour guide was excellent - he had a laid back, throw it together attitude towards guiding us - and really seemed to enjoy the experience. Walking down into the chasmic canyon was a breeze - although I did nearly lose my footing several times. Walking back up out of the canyon was NOT fun!!! Every part of me aches today - two miles uphill hiking is hard work!
We also had the coldest windiest picnic ever - but my canyon buddies were good fun and we all ended up in the bars at the end of the day - and I also met up with Manchester Dan again - its cool when fellow travellers paths cross with your own over several states.
Well I've managed to catch up with my laundry, washed the canyon dust out of my hair and recover from a mild hangover - so I'm set for my 26 hour journey to San Fran :)

I'm just adding as a postscript that I later discovered that the guy who sweetly walked me home last night never made it back to rejoin the others in the bar, but ended up spending the night in jail for walking past the barrier on the level crossing - harsh!!!

Getting my kicks!

Austin was a blissful retreat for twenty four hours to allow my body and head to recover. Its a lively city - but because the hostel is right on the riverbank it feels like the middle of nowhere. I didnt see any live music in austin, despite the huge choice. I just chilled. Waking up and then sitting on the jetty, watching the turtles heads pop up out of the water as the sun rose - perfect. Then did the ultimate self indulgent stuff later in the day - a girlie shopping trip in urban outfitters and lunch at the wholefood store - including a wine tasting session ;)

The trip from Austin to El Paso was long...but fun. Met up with a traveller from manchester who's also heading to the grand canyon - but he's going via tucson. The train staff laid on a trivia game - and I came third and won a bottle of wine - hurrah! Also met a freight train hopper - what a cool way to travel.

I had my first taste of greyhound travelling last night - as there are no connections by train to Albuquerque - I'd advise people to use Amtrak whenever possible in preference :S

I have arrived in Albuquerque just in time for the local pow wow festivities - should be fun!

Sleep deprivation!

Well it seems that the further west I go, the tougher it is to organise my schedule. Travelling from New Orleans to San Antonio was fine, and the twelve hours went by very quickly thanks to a bottle of wine and the shared interest in photography me and Ben had - cheers Ben! But then then waiting from 1am til my train to austin at 7am wasnt as much fun - thank the lord for all night diners and good company.

It was heartbreaking leaving New Orleans as well - that place really gets under your skin, as do the mozzis unfortunately. But it is a very cool place and i envy the friends I left behind - who all still have a few weeks left to enjoy the jazz city.

Austin is a very pretty city though - and my hostel sits right by the riverside on lakeshore - next to america's largest bat colony, apparently. Something to look forward to tonight. Ive also just discovered that My Bloody Valentine are playing in town this evening - excellent. Think I may quite like austin too!!! I guess I will obey the sign that the man standing in the middle of the freeway was holding up - and smile :)

From Chicago to New Orleans...

...is a very long way. The train journey was not uneventful either - we had problems with the remote "bridge holding down" system not working - so had to wait about two hours for a guy to come and do it manually - technology is hindering me on all levels right now! There appears to be only one internet cafe in NO as well - and the connection is slow and the software doesnt like dealing with my camera - hence the sudden lack of uploads - but im gonna give it a go today. Having said that - they are very very helpful.
I was really sad to leave chicago - especially as I left the best til last. Being the naive, trusting person i am - i let my taxi driver take me on a midnight tour of chicago - for free - on my last night. It was stunning - and he really was a sweet guy, and doing it because he wanted to.
As famous as chicago is for its architecture - i prefer the New Orleans one and two storey buildings - they are so pretty. As i dont have much time here - I treated myself to a swamp tour yesterday. It was cool. We saw snakes and gators and and racoons and heron. Today I'm doing the french quarter - ive hit town just as a free festival started - but I get the feeling festivals happen most weekends here.
The highlights of my visit here so far - riding the bus with a woman in her eighties wearing purple fairies in her her - on her way to charm the crowds outside the gumbo house with her music. Oh and also the cool people I've met of course - I should update this to say that includes a very talented danish trumpet player :)

So much for getting thin and fit...

...unfortunately I've discovered cinnamon swirl and coffee cake. I am being very restrained only eating it once a day. I've also become a big bagel eater - big being the operative word ;) thank the lord for urban outfitters and their current trend for making shirts that flare from the chest down. They are now my favourite clothes store!

Well after spending two days at death's door I finally managed to explore the city a little yesterday. I overcame my crippling fear of heights and went to the top of Sears Tower - breathtaking views. Then I ventured north to catch Angus and Julia Stone performing at Martyrs - great venue and really fun performance. It was very very very cold waiting for the late night train back to the loop. I'm really looking forward to the warmer climes of New Orleans now :)

hi chicago

Well the 17 hour train journey from NYC to Chicago actually took about 22 hours in the end - and somehow I managed to be in the only carriage with no heating - but as an alternative we had freezing air blowing on us all night - perfect ;) but the journey was improved due to matt sharing not only his granola bars and pretzels with me - but also his iphone - man I've gotta get me one of those!!! I'm becoming a gadget freak :S 

      But I am now safely planted in Chicago for three or four days - and managed to get about ten hours sleep last night in my thankfully warm dorm. Chicago has a totally different vibe to new york - as the new yorkers warned me it would have. New York felt cosy - Chicago feels BIG! The architecture is stunning - quite breathtaking. Off to investigate the loop today :)

I'm so sad to be leaving New York. It is possibly the coolest city I've ever been. I've also met some great people!!! I went a bit touristy yesterday and spent two hours on brooklyn bridge watching the sun set over manhattan - an awe inspiring experience - worth the whole trip just for that alone. I've had so many memorable experiences here though - in just half a week, as toby pointed out to me. It was great to meet up with New York John and share a few drinks - I did end up having to rush to make it to see The Guggenhiem Grotto - and the canal rooms are a bitch to find. Totally worth it though - they have a really nice sound (thanks so much for the recommendation karen). Had a chat with Mick from the band after the show, he thought he knew me from somewhere. I love all the connections in this tiny world though - we did seem to have a few acquaintances in common :) He said he'd enjoyed being "petra"fied - ha ha! 

        I've got a few hours left before I begin my 17 hour train journey to chicago - perhaps a foolish undertaking as I'm running a slight temperature and every muscle is aching - but I'm already two days behind on my schedule. Off to find a certain irish pub I promised I'd visit ;)

New York at night

The guys at immigration were right - I was crazy arriving in new york without a jacket - after glorious hot sunshine on sunday - it was cold and wet on monday - and it really knows how to rain here!!! So I had three missions yesterday - buy a jacket, shoot the empire state building at night and find my ipod. Soho is fun to shop in - but veeeeery pricey. But I did get me a bargain after mooching for a few hours in the freezing rain. It did take me a while to get use to the enthusiastic greeting on entering every shop :) Emmanuel in mango helped me find a very nice leather jacket at a very nice price ;) 

     The photographing the Empire State Building was tricky - as it was raining and it had turned green - but it was a good way to explore another part of new york - and I found a great deli that served yummy beef bean soup. 

     My ipod turned up this morning - don't think I could've survived all the long train journeys ahead without my adam and joe podcasts!

New York

Only just managed to make it in through the door though. Having arrived at the JFK airport with only a day bag and small back pack, immigration were quite concerned about my lack of luggage. They took me aside to have a little chat. But I managed to convince them that I would be fine and could manage to get to the shops if I needed anymore clothes etc.

       So having found my hostel, after deciding to get off at the wrong subway stop and take the scenic route, I was greeted by a "lets keep the cockroaches out" sign on my dorm door ;) but actually the place is growing on me - it has a basic charm.

       I have fallen instantly in love with New York. This town has a vibe like no other. I went off exploring lower eastside last night - wanting to catch some live music at The Living Room. Popped into a pizza/pasta place first for a bite. There were two guys there eating pizza with a few friends. They started playing guitar and singing - wowsers - they had such a good sound. So I ended up staying there for a while and joining in with their selection of Stevie Wonder, Bob Marley and George Michael covers. Careless Whisper never sounded so good ;)

Oh yes - and that is Elvis pulling his luggage along Bowery!