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