After eating a strawberry pancake (I had actually ordered a banana pancake, but I didn’t have time to return it before we were due to leave) and OJ in the already scorching heat (it wasn’t even 9am, yet it felt like it was midday!) and then lugging all our gear back down the stairs, we leave Miami and head for the Keys. On the road out, we tell each other basically what we got up to this morning. Turns out we were only one block away from Miami Beach! As we head out of Miami, this is where I learn about the very dangerous game of ‘Punch Buggy/Pinch Mini’ that Kylie and Zoe have been playing over the past few days. The rules of the game are simple – if you see a Volkswagen Beetle or ... read more

On the road again for another long day of driving, but an hour longer. The drives are becoming a regular long stint in the van with several breaks for sugar load ups and lunch, but this one was around 4 and a half hours to the oldest city in the USA! When we finally hit St Augustine, we were let loose, and Kylie, Zoe, Scott and I went on a walk along the river front, but after only a few buildings round the block, we found a martini bar, and decided to try it out. Setting up on a table outside, Scott and I soon went in to order. Scott stuck with a good cold beer, whilst the rest of us ordered 3 different martinis to try. Having started watching M*A*S*H from a young age, I've ... read more

Another early start saw us load up and leave DC behind and head to Fayetteville, North Carolina. This was where we first experienced the 'wonder' that is WalMart, as we began stocking up the food. Group A, which consisted of me, Graham, Sarah and Sumi, were the first to cook for the group, so we headed to get our ingrediants, whilst everyone else helped with the stocking up for breakfast and dinner and then stocking up on supplies of their own. The stop off took longer than it should, but I did make sure I got me a pair of flip flops, and some cold sore cream for one thats appeared this morning. Back on the road, we eeventually stopped off for lunch in a town called Stoney Creek. It had one of those huge sky ... read more

After having breakfast with the others, we checked out and headed to the lobby to meet the rest of the Group. For the first time, all 14 of us were together. Todd introduced himself as the Tour Leader and quickly took us through the last minute waiver forms for us to sign - which we all did, with no hesitation! We then mingle amongst the others before being led out to the front of the hotel to our vehicle for the next 9 weeks - a Ford F300 Series 14 seater van and a HaulMark trailer in tow. Todd loaded our stuff up in the trailer, and after managing to do so, we all posed for a group photo before loading ourselves into the van. Todd introduced us to our travel salvation, a draw under the ... read more