Week 9

Without the laptop, a notepad and paper will be required there with plenty of updating needed when we return from the U.S.A in seven weeks.  Or maybe an Internet Café perhpaps, it isn’t exactly a Third World country I go into just yet. The packing is going excruciatingly slowly and doing the packing early has left some clothes being re-used.  I am a bit late with this one, but with only two days to go until we depart, I guess the update is required.

 

There was plenty of cycling around Canterbury and to Whitstable, a great route along the Crab and Winkle Way, the latter battering my wheels somewhat. The top tip would be to not have a road race bike, but a mountain bike with slightly thicker wheel on this sort of bumpy route. Gallons of water in this heat, the first cycle back I took a large bottle of Ice Tea. Stifling, muggy heat even when it is not sunny is brutal to cycle in on occasion, but the several rainstorms with an excess of thunder and lightning have eased the cycling conditions. Had a race two day ago with some kid who demanded a race along a narrow path in which I could not overtake, no excuses nonetheless I lost.

When the final week approaches before your gap year starts it is a bit mind boggling, each day has gone by at an exceptionally low speed, with several late nights peering at roadmaps, transport difficulties in the U.S and the excess amount of money that it likely to go down the drain. The top tip the doctor said though, the number one priority was to enjoy it and I’ll keep that in mind. Saying goodbye to a few friends for a while; Geoff, Lucy, Tom, Clare, James, Nick (etc.) It will be a while, particularly getting back I only have three weeks before Uganda. Opportunity to meeting new people will arise, something I haven’t done for at least a year by enlarge at University. One more family meal to go.

Catching up with Shakey after nearly a year was pretty epic, plenty of COD of with James and two nights out, one of which after the Cuban we got caught in a pretty epic thunderstorm, fearful for our lives as forked lightening lit up the skies around us in the middle of Fordwich and a countryside field, James desperate as per usual for some more blasted cigarettes.

Back in seven weeks. Perhaps I’ll update along the way if I get the chance.

Top tips for planning for U.S.A (6-8 weeks)

-          Book flights in serious advance. (6-7 months) Saves plenty of hassle and money.

-          Come up with a plan early and be prepared to edit the destination, particularly the ambitious ones.

-          Decide if you want to drive, coach or fly across the United States.

-          It is easy to underestimate the vast expanses of land you have to cross.

-          Be prepared to do months of work or saving to make it worthwhile.

-          Prepare transport a bit earlier on. (1 month)

-          For 6-8 weeks you can plan half the trip in the States so not everything has to be precisely formulated I have found as planning has gone on.

-          Get ESTA forms done within a decent amount of time.

-          What our group didn’t do enough of was meeting up every so often to make sure we are all in the same mind on transport, accommodation and destinations. We will be in the dark sometimes when we are there. When did spontaneity ever hurt?

-          Lonely Planet Books have everything you need.

-          Book places such as Yosemite Park and the Grand Canyon in advance.

 

Matthew Williams