Visiting Cousins I need to put this section in context before you read it One half of the purpose of the trip to North America is to visit relatives - now mostly cousins as my one uncle died long ago and three out of four aunts have died in recent years. I was born in Montréal but left at the age of 6, I think. Much of my memories are of the streets in Montreal where we lived, and the Mountain nearby. But there are also quite vivid memories of the region around St Donat - north of Montreal, where I spent several summers as a child. Since leaving I have been back three times only. It’s about 30 years since I was last here with my wife Lynne, so the visit is full of anticipation, ... read more

Through the Endless Mountains to New Milford PA and on through NY State to the St Lawrence This whole entry is dedicated to our stay at New Milford PA, a charming 'village' in the Endless Mountains - another area we must try and return to in the near future. It's worth just coming here and investigating the area - loads to do and look at. Ski, walk, cycle, boating, history, industrial archaeology. This was our overnight stay after visiting the Harley factory in York PA and the Amish country nearby. It was at the end of a long day (too much to go into here - but see previous entry covering the Harley visit). So after a long day of visits and travel, on a hunch starting with my Garmin Satnav B&B listing we came off ... read more

Along the Blue Ridge to the D Day Memorial at Bedford VA On our return journey to the Blue Ridge Mountains we were advised by our host at Orchard gap to visit the D Day Memorial at Bedford VA. It is or was a work in progress. At the time of our visit (mid August 2009) it's 9/10ths complete. It's run as a private foundation not by the state - which is surprising. What makes it a worth while diversion from the Appalachians is that this Memorial site is laid out as a walk through three dimensional experience, symbolic of the battle itself. The landscape and architectural features of the site variously representing Allied command in England, the Normandy beaches and dedications to the various military leaders, and armed divisions that took part in the planning ... read more

12th and 13th August. At last we reach civilisation again. Savannah, Georgia I had read somewhere was supposedly saved or rather not destroyed by Union General Sherman during the Civil War partly because of its architectural beauty and uniformity. Although, it may be more likely the case that as the Confederate army had withdrawn and the mayor had surrendered the city, it was spared. As the city had surrendered General Geary of Sherman's army undertook to protect Savannah's citizens and property. Apparently it was Sherman's scorched earth policy that gave him military success in the South - not least because of the fear that was created by it*. *Attached to that policy was the instruction to treat all citizens fairly (even as they had their crops and assets stripped!) - unless they gave the Union Army ... read more

Today we rode the Dragon - as decribed on our previous blog entry. See which is mostly on a small section of route 129, which we then followed more or less dues south and linked into route 143 and 165 - the Cherohala (Cher-o-haay-la) Skyway. The scenery was probably spectacular as usual - I didn't notice it though as you have to keep your focus totally on the road. It's very dangerous as bends come in close groups with little time to read what's coming up. What's coming up is anything from adverse camber to sudden dips and gravel strewn over the curve as some pr*t in a 4X4 has ridden over the soft verge. Although our speed got up about 50 plus a bit the legal limit is set at 30/35 mph, and believe me ... read more