Tuesday 26 February 2013

Travel Series: U.S.A. part 4


Last month I wrote about the portion of our U.S.A. trek that took us from New York City to Washington D.C., via Philadelphia. From D.C. we started back across the United States, heading north-west towards Oregon where we would be dropping our (third and last) Driveaway car off.

Snowy, misty goodness.
It was March and snowy, my favourite kind of weather (we never get snow where I live). We passed through some of the most beautiful landscape I've ever had the privilege of seeing. However, at one point during this trek, we enjoyed the following comedy of errors:

  • Dad lost his wallet;
  • my keycard expired;
  • Mum's emergency Visa stopped working.

We tried lots of things to access the money in our accounts, and at one point even got sent to a child abuse centre where they let us make international calls, but nothing worked. I finally managed to get $100 out of Mum's Visa, but we were still on the tightest budget ever.
Long road.

In Dubois, WY, we went to a pub and met some fun locals. The bar owner offered us free beds out the back of the pub for the night! (see what I mean about the kindness of strangers?) Here is an excerpt from my travel journal:
9.28 pm Exxon Dubois, WY (after deer incident) go to pub with barman & Trina & Keith & Courtney & Bill. Talk about pool tournaments, ew wallet troubles. Keith offers us beds. My keycard expired.

I love this stuff!
I'm drawing a blank on the mysterious deer incident, but Dad might have more info in his travel journal (which I really need to read sometime). In the pub there was a big bear head on the wall, and I said something like, "Aw, it's so cute!" The locals responded with something like, "Ain't so cute when it's comin' atcha!". This was also where the locals thought Dad was my boyfriend. Ew! Naturally this inspired me to make him get a haircut later on so he looked less youthful.

We made it to Oregon and dropped the car off, then headed to my Dad's Aunt Roma's place, where we fell gratefully into the welcoming arms of family.

I'll continue this story later, when you'll hear about some hitch-hiking adventures as well as a stint in a San Fran homeless shelter!

16 comments:

  1. Sounds like you had quite the adventure. Regardless of what some may say, America does have kind, selfless, people willing to lend a hand.

    Looking forward to the next installment.

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    1. I have seen proof of this many, many times :) It makes me sad that I have to quite frequently defend Americans from generalisations by people who don't know any better, but I do. Sure, sometimes the bad things are true, but that's the case with all countries everywhere!

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  2. If you love snowy weather, we should trade places! I keep wanting to move somewhere that it doesn't snow. It's my least favorite kind of weather, although I do love a white Christmas :)

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    1. What, as opposed to a sweltering Christmas where you get heat stroke? Yeah, I love a white Christmas too. haha. I am a weirdo in that I love grey skies, stormy weather and definitely snow. I'd even take grey ugly sludge anyday!

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  3. Love the pics! It sounds like you had quite an adventure! But trips with no adventures are not fun memories.

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  4. It all sounds interesting and adventuresome. I don't get snow either and I travel too late in the fall or early in winter to see any.

    Yikes about the money problem.

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  5. That was a comedy of errors. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers.

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  6. What a great adventure. Can't wait to hear about the San Fran homeless shelter, my dad lives in the city (well, in Berkeley) and on visits I've noticed the large homeless population.

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  7. I'm from Idaho Falls, Idaho. Not much different from Dubois, WY I imagine. It's interesting to hear city folk talk about small town people when small town people is all I've really known all my life.

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  8. I'm always so envious of traveling adventures. Sounds fun!

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  9. Ooh, the mysterious deer incident...there's a story idea in there somewhere. :)

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  10. haha! Oh my gosh! They thought your dad was your boyfriend? Wow. Sounds like you could write a good piece in a book about this place!

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  11. How awful that her Visa stopped working. My husband (he's a little OCD) always insists we take two credit cards and an emergency stash of cash. I guess he's not so crazy. But then your way was much more adventurous!

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  12. oh my goodness! Sounds like you guys had a crazy adventure!
    Nutschell
    www.thewritingnut.com

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  13. It must have been a panicky situation to lose access to cash on your trip!

    Sounds like it was a memorable experience, though.

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  14. What an adventure! Gorgeous pictures.

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Thanks for your words, me hearties! and don't forget to leave a link to your blog somewhere I can find it!