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Nick Hughes
Trailblazer Tour - USA
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Attempting to experience the whole of the United States in 9 weeks is near impossible. The Trailblazer is about as close as you can get. Covering 29 states in 64 days requires a lot of driving, an amiable crew, plenty of enthusiasm and, most importantly, a great guide. Fortunately for us, we had all four.
We meet at a Holiday Inn in New Jersey, an eclectic bunch consisting of 6 Brits, 3 Australians, a German, an Israeli and a Japanese girl; united by a common desire to discover the true United States and, as it will soon transpire, a love of reckless boozing and Lionel Ritchie.
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It's 7.30am on Day 1 but already J, our guide, is displaying the kind of infectious good humour that would become a staple of our trip. Decked out in baggy shorts, bandana and flip flops, he quickly deals with our administrative duties over a traditional breakfast of donuts and coffee, before we load up the soon-to-be christened Silent Bob and hit the road bound for Washington DC.
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Part of my reason for travelling the US was to see for myself whether the common British stereotype of the overweight, brash, insular American holds true. Granted, there's work to be done on the first point but as a rule, I was blown away by the friendliness and generosity of spirit of the US people; from the student who shouted us a cab in San Francisco, to Bill, the Wyoming cowboy, who introduced me to the dubious delights of Natural Ice beer (the US answer to Special Brew). One particular exchange will stick in my mind for the foreseeable future: |
Bill's 12-year old daughter: “Daddy, can I have a cigarette?”
Bill: “No sweetie…….you've just brushed your teeth.”
| It's estimated that 90% of Americans don't own a passport. Having visited a fair cross-section of the country, I can start to understand why. From the vibrant, party atmosphere of New Orleans to the glitz of Vegas and the laid back vibe of San Francisco, the trip takes in some of the greatest cities in the world. But more than this, if there is a country with more diverse landscapes than the US I've yet to see it; the eerie splendour of Yellowstone, the mind blowing magnitude of the Grand Canyon, the untainted beauty of Glacier National Park; these are sights that photos alone can never do justice too. |
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It would take a novel to go through every detail of the Trailblazer so I will merely touch on a few of the highlights: Over the course of 9 weeks I watched the changing of the guard in Washington, took a sunset cruise in Florida Keys, survived a monsoon in Monument Valley, drank tequila with Mexicans across the border, got naked in the Hot Springs of Colorado (optional).
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I hiked mountains, canyons, glaciers and rock faces, won money in Vegas, lost money in Vegas, watched baseball in San Diego, drank champagne in an LA hot tub, got busted drinking champagne illegally in an LA hot tub, left my heart in San Francisco, wrestled a bear in Yosemite National Park (exaggeration), rode the Kicking Horse river in Alberta, dressed as a cowboy for the rodeo in Wyoming, stood in the company of ex-presidents at Mount Rushmore, visited a Blues club in Chicago, played cricket on the shores of Lake Michigan, met many characters, made many friends and erected too many tents. |
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