So when I return to the UK I'm planning to walk the coast to coast route (inspired by the appalachian trail).
First up though my good friend Tim invited me to cycle the approximate route on the weekend after I get home. He would like to raise a little money for a cause close to his heart, the British heart foundation, so if you feel charitable have a
look
I called on the ever dependable Jack in DC (from summer camp 8 years ago) and enjoyed a great evening of home bbq'd steak, beer and video games, a lifestyle i vaguely remember calling my own.... (sheds a tear)
His local shop is possibly the greatest shop i've ever been in. It's a small supermarket, only half of it is beer. Probably the largest selection of microbrews, craft ales, and imports from around the world you could imagine.
A further quarter of the shop is devoted to the butcher, who regularly stocks the likes of wild boar and kangaroo, and claims to be able to source any meat... including penguin!?!
Stupidly i'd already booked a flight to Florida the next day, so sadly had to leave the dream behind.
Doubly stupidly because i hadn't bothered to check the weather forecast before booking the flight. Or the news.
Apparently there was a tropical storm / hurricane heading for Florida named Isaac. Oh well, would be another new experience.
Sadly? it didn't hit south Florida too hard, limiting itself to a few days of frutstrating downpours and wind strong enough only to blow off a few loose palm branches.
So after a day stuck in the hostel i met up with Chris, a Ft Lauderdale native who i'd previously met in Fiji back in May - when we were also stuck in a tropical storm as it happened.
Chris is a democrat, one of many educated americans who can't believe they live in a country where half the population is dumb enough to be republican.
I sum it up by comparing political alliegence to supporting a sports team - people (especially republicans) will follow a party blindly and vehemently regardless of if their leaders stand up there and say the loch ness monster is real (which is taught in southern schools to disprove blasphemous evolution)
American tv. I must have ranted about this before?
so flick through the channels (its thunderstorming all day, edge of Isaac)
at least five channels covering the storm non stop. its going to.ruin your life, people evacuating and buying all the water and batteries
like its about to be a nuclear winter
but look outside - the rain has stopped.
gas stations have to reluctantly reverse their "emergency shortage" price hikes
meanwhile, five other channels praise the republicans conference speeches
(note- the entire speeches contain misleading "facts" misapportioned blame and vague promises)
five other channels tear it to bits
the first five channels complain about the sniping, destructive, bully boy tactics of the second five
the second five, whilst portraying a more sane standpoint, unfortunately still stand in front of an ineffective machine in terms of representing its voters
other channels glorify reality shows about killing wildlife and defeating the environment. or rich people arguing
the news anchors all look plastic surgeried to the extent that they almost look like cgi animation
