Today was a little more relaxed driving wise since we'd knocked off so many miles in the first 2 days. We started out around 7:00-ish again and as we were driving, decided to stop in Mitchell, SD to see the world famous Corn Palace!!...couldn't pass it up! We had breakfast there, then went to find the Corn Palace. They were in the process of changing the pictures and things already for 2009 (go figure!!) and we spent probably an hour there going through the gift shop and picking out a few souveniers. Anyway..we got back on the road and since it [View Full Entry]

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We left this morning promptly at 4:00 a.m...after a quick turn around at the end of my driveway as I remembered that I'd forgotten my phone!!!! We pretty much had a none eventful trip, though slightly behind what I wanted due to a 6:00 a.m. bathroom break for Stephen and to grab a cup of coffee for me! We got to Breezewood then about 9:15 and to the farm around 11:45. We spent about an hour there and then headed out. We hadn't eaten anything yet at all, so we went over to Mars (yes..that is a REAL place in PA..right [View Full Entry]

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Only one more day until liftoff!! My oldest sister Cathy has come onboard too, so I'll at least have another driver! I still hope to get Stephen behind the wheel once we get into the open plains.. The boys and I will leave early on Sunday morning (think 4:00 a.m.!!) and we will drive to Pittsburgh to pick up Dad & Cathy. Barring any problems, we should be there before noon, then take a break and head out again and hopefully make it as far as Toledo by evening. [View Full Entry]

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the good thing about low points is that it means there has to be a climb back out. The climb out came from all a long term Internet friend, chris and her partner roger. A last minute call saying ' hey man you wanna come up and stay with us in crozet?. She even drove down to Roanoke to get me. I have known these people for over 10 years on the net but never met them, but by the end of the drive up to their cottage it was like we had been friends for life. The cottage is set [View Full Entry]

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As I sit here attempting to think of everything I could need for the month I'll be away from home, the idea of keeping a log of my adventures crossed my mind. Unfortunately, it remains unknown if the apartment will have internet access. Most likely it will not and this log will progress no further than a few entries in London. Attempting to transfer my pictures and write an entry on a daily basis from a cybercafe does not appeal to me. Hopefully, I'll post another pre-travel entry in the next dew days after I complete packing. MPep [View Full Entry]

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So the plan was to get onto the Appalachian Trail... so i come to Roanoke, the closest town to the trails in these here parts. The reality is its a fair ways outa town and heads right into the middle of the range. On my own that all looks a little daunting, what with tales of homeless crazies living in the woods and lots of bears along that part of the trail. So i decide on walking the blue ridge parkway instead. So go into roanoke get some more food and cereal bars and then see a small container of mace.. [View Full Entry]

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We had a blast and now we're home buuuuuuuuutttttttttttt we'd like to go again! [View Full Entry]

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another day another greyhound. Richmond is just down the road. so what is Richmond like? Well the bus station is nice as is the industrial zone... And when I realised is was walking in the wrong direction the poor zone was just as nice. I really living in the classiest places.$50 gets you a cockroach infested room, cockroaches are extra tho. This one did have the stadium for the richmond braves next door. That's baseball. And wouldn't you know it they are playing later... So I get a ticket load up with beer nachos and corn dogs and find a seat. [View Full Entry]

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well we made it back to the US, safe and sound! it's been a few days, but we figured we'd update about the last leg of the trip before it all slips our mind.. so here goes: we got up for our last day in banos, and spent some time wandering the shops and markets, acquiring gifts for ourselves and for some people back home. we then headed over to the bus station and got ourselves on the next bus headed for quito. it amazes me how nice the busses in ecuador are. we weren't even on anything special, but it [View Full Entry]

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So i have been lazy filing in my blog again. Since the last time i wrote i have stayed a couple of more days in boston and gone to NY now im in richmond again. Im here to spend 4th of july with the guys from richmond and go to the beach to hang out for 4 days from saturday. So I only have 8 more days in the USA then its back to normality in Manchester. Im looking forward to seeing everyone back in England I've been gone a while now. So stuff I have done over the past few [View Full Entry]

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