The countries that I have visited so far ...

Ruhpolding, Bavaria

I spent a week in Ruhpolding, in the Bavarian Alps. We did some walking and some beer drinking. Lots of good walks and good beer. Food was good too. And did I tell you about the walking and beer?

Here is a photo of me with some beer and a large pancake, at the top of the Rauschenberg, having survived a cable car ride.

Northallerton to Ruhpolding, via Manchester and Salzburg, and the return trip = 1800 miles

Salzburg

Today I went to Salzburg to see where Mozart was born. The city was crowded and I had to wait a few minutes to get my photo taken at the Mozart museum. We also ate lots of pretzels!

Go (home) Sox!

I had a great time in Boston – I’d heard that they throw great tea parties, but some of locals said I’d just missed it :o( Here I am at Faneuil Hall – one of the oldest buildings in the city. The Red Sox were playing that night and the fans were so confident of the result, they all left half way through the game....

Amhurst to Boston = 96 miles
Boston to Newark = 226 miles
Newark to Garforth (via London and Manchester) = 3709 miles

A bridge too far

Here I am on the French King bridge in Massachusettes :o)

Stratton, VT to Amhurst, MA = 74 miles

Vermont

Vermont is the Green Mountain State and there is lots of hiking in summer and skiing in winter. I’ve been whooshing down the slopes before with my friends, but this is the first time I’ve been in summer.

Thousand Islands to Burlington to Stratton = 323 Miles

Nothing says Canada like a Tim Hortens coffee

We went to Canada to visit another friend – Ryan. He’s been to visit us in the UK too and we were very pleased to see him on home territory in Kingston, Canada. Apparently, Canadians blood is 10% Tim Hortens coffee, so I thought I’d better give it a try (the other 90% is maple syrup).

Thousand Islands to Kingston, Canada and back = 76 miles

St Lawrence seaway

The St Lawrence river forms part of the border between the USA and Canada and is the way all ships taking goods in and out of the Great Lakes system get to the sea. The family I was staying with were very keen to plot the course of the ships and spent many hours out on the deck keeping track of them. It was hot work and we needed regular refreshments. This is a beer from one of America’s oldest breweries – a Yuengling.

Baltimore to Thousand Islands = 431 miles

Good morning Baltimore part 2

What a wonderful time to come to the USA again – for their Independence Day. It was nothing like the film, although there were some pretty amazing fireworks. We were able to watch them overlooking the Boston Harbour at Fell’s Point – the oldest port in the city. There was also a pirate ship which went out throughout the day with new recruits. It provided Kay with a great opportunity to tell her favourite pirate jokes – although people seemed to have heard it once or twice before...

Garforth to Baltimore (via Manchester, London and Washington) = 4019.5 miles

Dreaming Spires of Cambridge

Saturday 22nd May 2010

I flexed my muscles punting down the river Cam (okay, holding a drink - someone else did the punting) with Diane and her good friends Christina and Debbie. It was a real scorcher of a weekend. I also found my vocation at Cambridge station - eat my baboon shorts, Keely Pagdin!

366 miles travelled.

Ich bin ein Berliner (yum!)

What a fantastic city Berlin is! It was so nice to meet Sven and Sandra there and to see all the sights. I’m lucky to have such good friends. It’s even better now Sven is a professional massage therapist!

Leeds to Berlin return = 1780 miles

Tulips from Amsterdam!

I really enjoyed my trip to see the canals and to ride on the bikes. There were some very friendly ladies in the shop windows – I wish more places were like this. Very few baboons though....

Leeds to Amsterdam return = 706 miles

Lagos, Portugal

I spent a week with Diane and Mike in the lovely Algarve resort of Lagos. We had lots of great meals, did some walking, visited new places and went on a boat trip to some grotto caves. I also got to visit the zoo and see some of my friends, including the white-handed gibbon - funky, but not as funky as me. Here I am sat enjoying a snack above the beach and also with Diane at the marina.

Travelled about 3,500 miles in all.

Crewe

Went to the fancy dress party in deepest Cheshire. It snowed. Again. Isn't it about time they took me abroad again?

The photo shows me with Deb in her outfit. She thinks she looks like Jackie Kennedy but she just looks like her Gran.

270 miles

Another trip to London

Went to a conference at Church House, near Westminster Abbey. During the lunch time I sneaked out and had my photo taken near the Houses of Parliament. Travelled 465 miles.

Romsey

Had a bit of a trip down south this weekend with Deb. She used to live in Romsey and we went to see one of her friends, Louisa. I went to Winchester and Southampton too and Deb bought an outfit for the fancy dress party she is going to next weekend. You have to dress as someone from the 60s. I notice I didn't get a costume. Baboons were subtly different in the 60s you know!

690 miles

Birthday treat at Crathorne Hall

It was Deb's birthday today and her husband generously took me and her to stay at Crathorne Country House hotel. It was very nice and we were almost the only people (and monkey) there. Our room had a balcony but for some reason Deb and Ed didn't really seem to want to sit out there for any length of time, so it was left to me to admire the snowy Leven valley.

I learnt this interesting fact about Crathorne Hall when it was a private house - apparently after the war 'Mister Jeff' the butler no longer had the time to iron guests' shoe laces. And they wonder why they no longer have an Empire....

Mileage - 30 miles

Good morning Baltimore and other USA-inspired hits

Well, I wasn't born in the USA, but I had a great time on my visit. I got to see the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, Baltimore Harbour ("Good Morning Baltimore!") New Jersey, NYC and Vermont! What a lot of travelling. I always like visiting my friends in America - they are so friendly.

Manchester to Phildelphia via Heathrow and Newark = 191, 3459.8, 75.2, 92 miles (3818 miles)
Philadelphia to Baltimore = 97.6 miles
Baltimore to Wayne, NJ = 197 miles
Wayne to NYC (return) = 50 miles
Wayne to Stratton, Vermont = 201 miles
Vermont to Newark = 220 miles
Newark to Manchester = 3818
Trip total = 8401.6 miles