At the Burgess's

So we've just arrived and we've been made welcome with some beer, pizzas and a viewing of Top Gun (Miramar is a couple of miles up the road).

Here's the view from their back garden. (There is probably a specific American expression for this which could be "yard").

So long San Francisco. Hello Yosemite.

Just spent the day driving through Yosemite. The views were as I remember apart from a few details. The bear we encountered last time has been replaced by a family of deer who seemed a lot braver than the bear. At least they didn't run away from me. At first...

Alcatraz.

A visit to Alcatraz today. the weather was splendid and we saw our first cloud for three days. I now know why Britain is so dull and grey. America stole all the bright colours, especially the blue end of the palette. Tch. Here are a few pics to be getting on with including some more black and white poncyness.

Some Monterey scenes.

The Navy?

Ste looking suspiciously like he wants to join the navy.

Monterey

Monterey last night and this morning. We finally managed to get ourselves and drink and something to eat and promptly had several of each.

The bay looks great and as you can see, I've found the black and white mode on the camera.

Some interesting wildlife sightings so far including (in order), ostriches in the Solvang ostrich farm, a zebra in amongst a field of cattle, elephant and harbour seals and a sea otter. Nice.

Just arrived in San Francisco and about to get a bite to eat.

So. We've picked up the car. ;-)

We've arrived.

Flights successfully landed, luggage collected, muscle car selected (red, natch), hours drive down the interstate and we've arrived. A nice sleep (it was 6:00 AM UK time when we arrived) and we're ready to go. Just following the rugby on the internet before we pop off for our first breakfast. Let's hope it's not that american staple "Biscuits and Gravy".

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biscuits_and_gravy

Rhod.

First Post.

Well, it's nearly time. I'm sat at home for what should be the last time in three months contemplating which of my compilation of fine spirits I'm going to select as the slumber inducer of choice. (The cognac Alun gave for my birthday I think), Bags are packed, bike is dismantled and cosseted in bubblewrap. Passport, ESTA and boarding pass are in the rucksack and I'm ready to go.

Ahead of me are three months of adventure and opportunity. Hopefully I'll achieve my goal of cycling every mile of the 3000 plus, but I'm concious that investing too much emotional collateral into that specific goal could be an awful downer waiting to happen.

Before I even start the ride I have two weeks of "acclimatisation" that will involve San Francisco, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley, a flight to Las Vegas in our own private air-plane, San Diego, a night in Long Beach on the Queen Mary and a couple of days in L.A. Oh, and did I mention we've hired a drop-top muscle car for the two weeks to waft us between each destination in a rumble of clichéd Americana.

Well, that's the plan any way (I suppose I should say "anyways" now?).

With luck I'll have the means to blog, tweet and e-mail while I'm about it all so please keep in touch with comments, encouragement and pithy ripostes.

America, here I come!

Rhod.