America Synopsis


My Greyhound Bus journey around America began on the fourth of July - America's Independence Day, as I set off from Los Angeles in California, across the sizzling desert to Barstow, before heading into Las Vegas - the 'City of lights'. Of course, the air-conditioning system packed-in on the way, but thankfully all of the passengers, including yours truly managed to survive the one hundred degree heat and stifling humidity until we finally reached this magnificent oasis. Over the next few days I would not only see and visit some of the most exclusive hotels in the world, such as the MGM Grand, The Luxor and 'Bellagio', but I would also find myself standing on top of the 70-storey high Hoover Dam, dipping my feet in the cool waters of Lake Mead - and also flying over the centre of The Grand Canyon - probably the most amazing 'Natural Wonder of the World'. Also, just to keep the adrenaline rushing, I rounded-off my visit with a death-defying sky-dive from 260ft, a hair-raising roller-coaster ride and a vertical log flume plummet, which left me as 'drowned as a rat'!


After three days in Nevada and a brief visit into Arizona, my second route took me in a north-easterly direction, cutting straight through the centre of Utah and into the state of Colorado, finally coming to a halt in a quaint little town called Grand Junction. The following day I would enjoy the delights of bathing in the unbelievably 'hot' pools at Glenwood springs, before risking my neck once again as I tried my hand at white-water rafting on the mighty Colorado River! Having survived that little episode, I journeyed on southwards into New Mexico, firstly to the grave-site of Billy-the-Kid in Fort Sumner - where I nearly got eaten alive by the hounds of hell, before continuing my way on into Santa Rosa, where I enjoyed my first swim in the 'Blue Hole' - and then managed to get myself involved in a major confrontation with the local psychopath!



From here I headed due east, through Texas and into Oklahoma, where after one nights stay, I changed my trajectory, so now I was heading in a north-easterly direction though the state of Kansas and finally finishing-off in Missouri for yet another over-night stop. Now I was on my way to fulfil my pilgrimage as I headed down south through Arkansas and into Memphis, Tennessee - to the home of the King of Rock'n Roll, Mr Elvis Aaron Presley esquire. Spending a day at the Graceland mansion was a dream which had finally come true for me - and being able to step aboard the 'Lisa Marie', Elvis' own aeroplane was simply surreal. Also walking amongst the priceless collection of cars, motor-cycles, go-carts and the many other vehicles which Elvis had owned during his lifetime was fabulous, as indeed was the time I spent meandering through the trophy and record collection rooms. In the Meditation Garden I shed a few reminiscent tears as I stood quietly amongst a group of fellow disciples at the grave-site of my childhood hero, before poignantly signing my name in the guest-book and then leaving to continue on with my journey.


Heading directly south, through the state of Mississippi and into Louisiana, I finally came to a halt at the coastal city of New Orleans; the place which must surely be the 'party capital of America'. Fine wine, loose women and an abundance of music prevails until the early hours of each morning in this mind-boggling 'den of iniquity'. Apart from sailing on the Natchez steamboat, down the Mississippi river, I also managed to fall 'arse-over-head' in the gutter here, which left me with a severely bruised arm for several days. Moving on across the state of Alabama and into Florida, I headed south to Miami, where my three children flew in from the U.K. with their mother, to meet me the following day. Now it was time to have a holiday and so for the next few days we relaxed by the hotel pool, swam in the Atlantic Ocean and went shopping in one of the local malls. We also went on an air-bus ride across the Everglades, where we met up with some juicy crocodiles. Liam, my eldest son and I then went ship-wreck and coral-reef diving together in Key Largo, while Carl and Hayley joined their mother on a trip down to Key West and we rounded the first week off with a day cruise over to the Bahamas.



Now it was time for me to keep my promise, as we all travelled north to Orlando, to spend a week in Disneyworld, visiting all four major theme parks; MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, Magic Kingdom, Epcot Centre - and also two great water parks called 'Blizzard Beach' and 'Typhoon Lagoon'. After this two week break, the children's mother then returned to the UK, while the four of us made our way up the eastern shores of America, stopping first in Savannah, Georgia for one night, before moving on to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, (for two nights this time) where we visited our first "Ripley's Believe-it-or-not" museum - and got drowned-out in a torrential storm. Moving away from the tornado belt, we continued on upwards through North Carolina and into Virginia, where we came to rest once more - for yet another two night stop-over.


New York was our next destination and after going through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey and Pennsylvania to get there, we were all ready for a three-night stop-over this time! Like typical tourists we took the lifts and escalators to the top of the Empire State Building and to the observation platform of the World Trade Centre Twin Towers, and we also enjoyed a speedboat ride on 'The Beast' over to Ellis Island, to see the Statue of Liberty, while we were here. But the most memorable part was hiring a stretched limousine to take us to Spanish Harlem, where we swam in the pool at the northern end of Central Park. Moving on up, we rode the Greyhound Bus through Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire, before reaching Maine, our most northern state on the eastern coast - and the half-way mark of the journey. From here it was across to Vermont for a wonderful celebratory parade, then on to Buffalo, where we crossed the border into Canada for a memorable day at the Falls of Niagara. Moving swiftly west, we crossed into Ohio, before dropping down into West Virginia and across into Kentucky, where I came face to face with the world's biggest 'bat'! Upwards again to Gary in Indiana - apparently known as 'the murder capital of the world', where we had dodgy dealings with a drug dealer - and I nearly lost everything we owned! After a night in Chicago, we travelled backwards into Michigan for a night, then forwards again through Illinois, Wisconsin and finally coming to rest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From here it was due west to Fargo, North Dakota for a night then southwards through South Dakota, into Sioux City, Iowa for another well-earned rest.


A quick taxi-ride into Nebraska, then it was north-west all the way to Rapid City, where the children and I were enthralled by the phenomenal monuments at Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial in the Black Hills of Dakota. Wyoming was next on our list, followed by Montana, as we passed through the million-acre fires - and also met the most wonderful family, who kindly put us up for the night. With Idaho covered in no time, we rested in Seattle, Washington for two days, where we climbed to the top of the Space Needle - and also rode even more roller coasters and log flumes for pleasure. At Portland in Oregon, I celebrated touching-down in my 48th state, and then it was one last stop-over in Sacramento, followed by a five-hundred mile dash to Los Angeles, to catch our plane back to the U.K. My twelve-thousand mile journey was now at an end.