Here are some of the highlights:
Watching the cranes move across the roof of the Boeing Everett Factory north of Seattle, and seeing the next generation of flight being built in the largest building in the world by volume. American food! Cookie Butter and driving route 101 down the Oregon coast, winding through giant Redwoods and going from 30 degree heat to snow and ice at Crater Lake in a few hours.
Meeting friends old and new in San Francisco, cycling over the Golden Gate bridge and round the entire city and taking an audio tour around Alcatraz.
Arriving at Yosemite National Park for the first time, the most anticipated place of my trip took my breath away, reaching the top of Half Dome with a brilliant group of Californians and celebrating with a bottle of wine at the top from one of the groups family vineyard.
Watching some shows in Las Vegas and taking the Green Tortoise bus tour, wading up the narrows of Zion NP, feeling the heat in Arches and jumping about like kids in a downpour in Bryce. Taking a jeep ride around Monument Valley and walking into the Grand Canyon and watching thunder storms sweep past.
Staying in a lighthouse hostel in Montara, camping for a pittance at Half Moon Bay next to the beach, finding serenity in Santa Cruz and some nice Clam Chowders, and finally seeing the much talked about Big Sur coast line south of Monterrey.
Strengthening bonds with relatives in Chicago and having a Baileys in a Houlihan's bar with my cousin. Riding the subways in New York, eating some wonderful home cooked meals with family friends in Queens and a great brunch at the best spot in Brooklyn with a friend. Walking the length of central park and viewing Manhattan from the Top of the Rock, taking the Staten island ferry past the Statue of Liberty. Looking up at the neon's in Times Square and saying a prayer at Ground Zero.
Being back in the South Downs in Sussex, seeing some old friends in Inverness, having a walk in the Scottish hills and a traditional burger at the Ski'ing Doo resturant in Aviemore. Making the garden look nice again at my little house in Inverness, enjoying a trip to B&Q. Walking and cycling over the Downs, seeing the HMS Warrior and Victory with my Dad in Plymouth and enjoying a spa day at Center Parcs with my Mum. Having a swim in the sea with a good friend and eating as many cream teas as possible.
Taking Gringo Mike's bike tour in San Gil, Colombia and making a great new travel companion, Scuba Diving in Taganga with wonderful new friends. Wreck diving in Cartegena and horse riding next to Calima Lake.
Drinking Pisco Sours in Lima, seeing the mist disperse to reveal the splendor of Machu Picchu, exploring all around it and running back down the steps instead of taking the bus. Wandering through the cobbled streets in Cusco and enjoying some tasty dinners in San Blas. Cycling the World's Most Dangerous Road north of La Paz, Bolivia and crunching over the surreal salt flats thousands of meters up in the Salar De Uyuni. Cycling to Valley of the Moon in San Pedro de Atacama and discovering caves. Getting back to sea level in Chile. Eating lots of nice home cooked meals with new travel companions in La Serena and Valparasio, and enjoying being back in the world of good wine and chocolate.
Walking up San Cristobel hill in Santiago for a great view over the city and the Andes, enjoying the best coffee ever (it really is) with hostel friends at the Original Green Roasters cafe and eating some tasty local dishes at the market before heading home.
...And some low points:
Having a migraine on the first flight to Sydney, my Canadian phone SIM not working just when I really needed it, Calgary. Being scared of being eaten by bears in my tent in Whistler, trying to get out of Portland in my hire car for 5 hours and almost giving up, having a terrifying nightmare camping at Crater Lake about being attacked in my tent by cougars and bears the whole night, trying to find a place to stay in Mt Hood in the pouring rain at night and driving the same stretch of highway 5 times.
Leaving Yosemite. Having a migraine due to turbulence flying into Las Vagas, having heat rash in Arches NP. The first night trying to sleep on the Green Tortoise bus squashed like a sardine. Leaving the Green Tortoise group.
Missing the Sunday bus trying to get back to San Francisco because of out of date timetables, walking 3 miles with my backpack and eventually having to hitch hike.
Getting lost in Chicago trying to find an address after a metro, 2 delayed flights, another metro and a bus.
Discovering my Lufthansa flight had be cancelled upon trying to check in at Gatwick due to strike action, dashing up to Heathrow after being rerouted onto other carriers, Iberia, who were delayed and Avianca who were also delayed. Getting ripped of by a taxi driver in Bogota and almost not finding the hostel.
Being bored in Villa De Leyva, food poisoning on Cartegena, getting sunburnt in Calima.
Having my flight from Cali, Colombia to Lima, Peru cancelled.
Punta Hermosa. Being sick and having the mother of all migraines on The Nasca lines flight due to erratic and stupid flying (everyone in the plane used their sick bags). Disappointed by Puno, losing some things. The altitude of Bolivia. Being delayed again flying back from Santiago, arriving back to a cold and rainy day.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol0W1caSNU0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ol0W1caSNU0
