Back to the UK - Tues 27th Aug

Its time to return to real life unfortunately!!

Michelle and I were up at a reasonable hour and had breakfast with Andrew for the last time on this trip.

We had been up quite late trying to get everything in our cases and under weight!  The tent, which served me well, I have given to Steven and threw out the punctured inflatable mattress and the red cool bag which leaked water all over everything at the beginning of my journey!!

Took some pix of Andrew in front of his castle and of my faithful Almera rental and headed back to Newark at around 10am. Plenty of time to catch plane.








"Posing" outside the Coupe residence, Silver Spring MD




























The Almera, my reliable companion across the USA, outside Andrew's place

So after some final farewells, we were off the 200 odd miles to Newark!!

Michelle took some pix on the way....

 Delaware Memorial Bridge

 Hmm!! Lots of concentration, note cool hair

Near the airport

Finally had to drop off the Almera at National Car Rental, was quite emotional.  She completed 6,640 miles without a hiccup. Its the lower odometer reading.  The car only had 32 miles when I picked it up.

No problems with damage or any additional charges.  I had made every effort to avoid scratches etc!!

We checked in and were told that Michelle's case was 3lbs too heavy!! After all our effort of checking and weighing too!!  So I took some of my books out, otherwise it would have cost $200!!!  We were pretty weighted down with hand luggage now, partly because we had bought clothes with us to change into for the plane.  I planned on wearing one of my new pairs of cowboy boots and jeans, so we went and changed in the restrooms.   There I had to throw away my faithful and smelly sandals, as they were well worn out and probably 10 years old!!  They had travelled all the way with me across the USA too. I kept the straps from them though! What a sentimental idiot I am!! So they are in a bin in Newark. Maybe some homeless person is recycling them!!

Michelle took some final pix while we were on the train heading for the boarding gate in Terminal C..

We had a meal at the Diner where I ate when I arrived 42 days previously on 16th July, before we boarded the plane.

Michelle & I reflecting in the window on the airport train before Terminal C

Plane was about half an hour taking off due to runway congestion, but made no difference, we still arrived in Birmingham over an hour early to be greeted with cooler weather and mist!!  

Final reflective blog, with a map of my route to follow.....

Mt Vernon - Mon 26th Aug

Our last full day in the USA.  Andrew suggested a visit to George Washington's house at Mount Vernon.

So off we went in the rental Almera down George Washington Memorial Parkway, which is similar to the Blue Ridge Parkway/Skyline Drive, but with less bends!!!

Mount Vernon at the end of the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Similar to Monticello, worked by slaves, only smaller.  Washington was quite a farmer and was more interested in the latest farming techniques and planting wheat instead of tobacco.

A wonderful site on the banks of the Potomac, downstream from DC.

 View from the back garden by the banks of the Potomac

Butterfly on the lawn

 Washington's tomb

Jetty on the Potomac

 Nick & Michelle at Mt Vernon

Michelle with Andrew

After visiting Mt Vernon we headed to Alexandria for some lunch by the river.

At Alexandria

Continued back up George Washington Memorial Parkway and stopped at one of the overlooks.

 Saw a pair of boots just sitting there!!  No owner anywhere!

 Further upstream the Potomac gets narrower

Back at Silver Spring we relaxed with Andrew, Carla and Steven on our last night.

Andrew & Carla's place from the back garden

Michelle & I in the back garden

Back to Silver Spring - Sun 25th Aug

Tried to take some pix crossing the various bridges across Delaware. There a bit bumpy.

 Princess on the beach

Returned from Rohoboth Beach so Andrew could host his music jam party back at Silver Spring.  I got to play too!  Was lots of fun.

Andrew, Jack Caulfield on Tele, Dean Evanlista on bass, Chuck Becker and Bruce Salam on guitar

Great idea a music jam party as long as you have the space and can make a lot of noise!!

Journeys end, Rohoboth, Delaware - Fri 23rd Aug

Andrew and Carla invited us to their wonderful beach house in Rohoboth Beach in Delaware on the Atlantic coast.  Rohoboth Beach is a lovely seaside town and I was surprised how crowded it was after the deserted beaches in Oregon that I am familiar with.

Andrew & Carla,  "I think I've found your wallet"

Two lost limeys!! Exactly the same except for five years

This marks the end of my coast to coast journey as I stood in the Atlantic Ocean and got my feet wet exactly five weeks ago on Friday 19th July at Pacific City, Oregon.

 The Atlantic Ocean, proof  I did it!!

 England is that a way!!

Michelle stopping me drifting further eastwards!!

Technically me and my Almera reached the east coast at Newark when I picked up Michelle on the 18th Aug, but I needed to touch the ocean even though I do not like sand!!

Reflecting on my journey, its been quite an achievement and an adventure.  I have seen some amazing sights, avoided some dangerous weather and camped in the wilderness.  

I never planned it to be a reverse following of Lewis and Clark, but that has been a constant theme throughout my journey as well as paying homage to the origins of the music I love the most (jazz, blues and country).

My time in Oregon made me realise that my divorce has not ended a connection with an area of America which is a second home to me and I am grateful that bridges have been mended and I can move on and place that part of my life in context.

Now I can just enjoy my time with Michelle and finally have a rest!!!