Doing the Nomad: September 2013

Chicago to San Francisco

Sitting in a café trying to write this blog and I'm just about ripping my hair out. Slow Wi-Fi and a derelict tablet makes for a 5 hour session of loading photos and updating maps. Whining aside, this blog is coming to you from the wild west, the land of cowboys, Indians, gold, and things that are really big. This section of the trip started in Chicago where I got to watch the Phillies just knock off the home favourites the Chicago Cubs. The apartment buildings next door have actually built their own grandstands on the roof as you should be able to see in the 4th picture.

Chicago skyline

Chicagos Jazz festival was on the evening we were there

Phillies v Cubs

Seating on the buildings outside

From Chicago we headed west, stopping at 1880s town. Many of the props here were used in the film Dances with Wolves which all the locals seemed very proud of.

Old saloon in 1880s town

Prairie chapel

Caitlin, Matt & Lexa dressed up

Badlands National Park was one of the first of many National Parks we visited on this section of the trip and it did not disappoint. The landscape here was stunning and it was impossible to take a bad picture, especially at sunset.

Badlands NP

Prairie Dog

2 nights staying in Custer NP was much better than I could have imagined. I spent about an hour listening to my iPod as this little squirrel below ran up and down trees biting off acorns that were landing all around the camp. Once he decended he would run around on the forest floor gathering his bounty, posing for pictures as he went.

Jerry the squirrel

Mt Rushmore

After visiting Mount Rushmore we went for dinner at Crazy Horse. I had no idea what it was, assuming it was just a weirdly named restaurant but I was just a little bit off. I was so caught off guard I didn't even take my camera so no photos but you can quite easily Google "Crazy Horse Memorial" and you'll be able to check it out.

A picture from the web I've pulled of the Crazy Horse Monument

The short version is that some Indian elders wanted a memorial built for all indians so they contacted a sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski who had just helped build Mt Rushmore. He agreed and dedicated his life to building it. He is now dead but his wife and their children continue his legacy. Construction began in 1948 and is not expected to be finished for another 25-50 years depending on funding. They are literally carving it out of a mountain and it will dwarf any other sculpture in the world. Needless to say it was simply mind boggling and I felt quite lucky being able to see it being built. If it is finished in my lifetime I will definitely be making a trip back one day.

At the worlds largest biker bar

Devils Tower

2 bears that made the mistake of trying to take one of my Oreos

Small selection of 1500 guns in the Buffalo Bill museum.

Further west and our National Park pilgrimage continued. Yellowstone was not quite what I was expecting but was still very impressive. The landscape was not as picturesque as other parks, its drawcard was more its geological features along with the wildlife. Geysers and hot springs and geysers and hot springs and mud pools and more hot springs. The entire landscape seemed to be bubbling away, a volcanic eruption just seemed to be when, not if.

Yellowstone - Artists Point

Wild Bison

Looking for roadrunner

Picnic spot on Jenny Lake

View from Inspiration Point

Jerry's cousin, Hank

Our roomy transport for the trip

Bonneville Salt Flats

Mono Lake

Yosemite was our last park before hitting the west coast. This is what I was expecting when I imagine a National Park. Rugged mountains made of granite carved away by ancient glaciers, trees bigger than the MCG light towers and breathtaking views from long demanding hikes. After 10 days in a row camping from Chicago we were eventually heading towards a hotel room with fresh towels and sheets on a soft comfy bed.

Grizzly Giant, 27 metres in circumfrance

Overlooking Yosemite

Firewood for the evening gathered by yours truly

San Francisco marked the halfway point of my trip across the US but also the end for half the group. Farewell to Greg, Matt, Werm, Caitlin, Tommy & Nick, you guys were great, best of luck back at home or on your continuing travels.

Alcatraz

Inside Alcatraz

Golden Gate Bridge

more...

End

Washington

Washington was a real eye opener for me. A vibrant, professional and powerful city. Our day here involved walking from the hotel to the White House - Einstein monument - Lincoln monument - along the reflecting pool - Korean War memorial - WW1 memorial - WW2 memorial - Martin Luther King Jr. monument - Roosevelt monument - Jefferson monument - Holocaust museum - Washington monument - Smithsonian - Air & Space museum. Haven't walked that much in a city since I was in Paris 6 years ago. The day did not finish there however as we then had the privilege of visiting the Washington Emergency 911 centre in Arlington. For anyone that isn't aware Roger and myself both work at 000 Police Dispatch in Melbourne so this was of particular interest to us. It was quite interesting speaking to the staff there, including many who were working when the plane hit the Pentagon on Sept 11. This tour made the visit to the Pentagon memorial site straight after all the better.

Korean war memorial

WWII memorial

Jefferson monument

Pentagon memorial

New York, New York

After Washington we travelled by bus to Philadelphia for 2 nights but its not exactly the most exciting city. In fact it was quite the polar opposite to Washington which came as a bit of a shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM. Roger actually ended up in the ER at the nearby hospital as his hands bloated up (too much beer). 2 days later we found ourselves in New York and boy did this city live up to its expectations. Almost did as much walking here as we did in Washington. Words can't really describe New York and I'm sure you don't want to hear my day by day itinerary so I'll let the photos do the talking.

Twin Towers memorial

The departure of Rog

Whilst in New York we were lucky enough to be able to drop into the HQ for the FDNY and the NYPD including their communications centre. Their operation was absolutely huge with 100 call takers and 75 dispatchers working on average at any one time just for Police. I can't begin to thank the people there that showed us around and gave up their time enough, especially Gerry Neville. New York was also where Roger and I parted ways, Rog to stay a couple more days in New York before flying home and me to travel throughout the US a bit longer.

Toms restaurant from Seinfeld

Times Square

Said my farewell to Rog and met up with my G-Adventures group with whom I shall be travelling with for the next 45 days. We have travelled west through Niagara Falls, visited Cedar Point Amusement Park and made our way to Chicago amongst many other things. This trip is predominantly camping and for the 1st week of the journey the weather has been pretty lousy. Moderate to heavy rain when in a tent makes everything a lot more difficult but I love the feeling of being outdoors 24/7. Setting up and packing up camp each morning and evening has become 2nd nature and cooking is shared throughout the whole group. Great preparation for my time in Africa.