The man from the Clapham Omnibus

Distance traveled 183 miles - mental journey much further ! Started the day with an unannounced visit to the Stanislaw Rod and Gun Club just up the road from the art deco Florence Bridge. Could not get in as it is a members only club but a call reached the recorded information line . Here I learned that a course was being run today at eight . Shortly two cars arrived independently of each other and the two groups and me chatted happily like old friends as is the way with Oregonians . When the course teachers arrived one of them happily took the time to enplane what the club did and how I would be very welcome if I decided to move to this area . Everyone was interested and all highly recommended Florence as a great place to live .They also recommended that as I had seen most of the coast I should keep traveling south all the way to Brookings as this part was even better ! This I had to see so south I went . First a Florence Realtor then a drive about including a walkabout in town and o

Today I travelled about one hundred beautiful miles south to the other side of the old bridge at Florence I then did a u turn and travelled one beautiful mile north back across as the prospect of sleeping in the vehicle to save $ 40 dwindled as I saw how nice the Old Town Inn looked. I had 50$ coupon for a room there .If it had been $ 60 , well maybe we will see ! Thought of the day - Digital cameras do not have nine lives ! My " Fascinating Character of the Day Award" goes to Dave Burke the one legged Oregonian park keeper , closely followed by the police patrolman who let me off as a bumbling English fool when I missed a stop sign on Bay Boulevard Newport . I must try harder ! Best town to live in today was bizarrely Newport ( Oregon ) where unlike Newport ( Isle of Wight ) there is still a Safeway ! Click for data . My weirdest natural experience of the trip so far was when the weather changed dramatically as I waited for the sun to set behind the Heceta Head Lighthous

Do click on the picture . Its My perfect large beach ! I won't boor you with a hour by hour list of another mind expanding day . I used the free "Oregon Coast" travel guide www.visittheoregoncoast.com check it out . Things I have learned today . or hak earlier knowledge reinforced . 1 Never say its perfect because there may be something better somewhere . Just enjoy everything ! 2 If you want anything just ask ! 3 If you need laundry done take it the night before and pay someone else to do it . 4 There is a lot of America . 5 Tillamook is a cheese town. 6 Cannon Beach is unmissable especially the view from Ecola State Park . 7 Pick up a few Travel coupon Guide - There are bargains to be had . ( Hotelcoupons.com ) Four Winds Motel for less than $ 40 8 A great place in the summer but far from big stores and has bad weather in winter . 9 The difference between a walk in and beach ac

Started the day with a walk around Shelton . A once grand logging town with some fine buildings but past its best . I loved its honesty . Now westward along Elma's main street to Aberdeen , an industrial looking place at the mouth of the river Chenalis . Then round the bay of Grays Harbor to Westport a seaside town that seemed to be an American sort of Camber Sands , not thriving but comfortable with itself . Due south I constantly found myself stopping and photographing the unspoilt and peaceful vistas along highway 105 . I stopped for links ( sausages ) , two fried eggs ( sunny side ) and pancakes in a railway themed Julies Krazy Kaboose thingamajig . Good wholesome honest food at a fair price . I followed the route of the old seafood and lumber ( what else ) railway up one side and down the other of the Longbeach and Seaview peninsular . I have never seen so much perfect silver sand . Here they charge 2.99 for a bucketful as play pit sand . At that price there is more than enoug

! 150 miles to go and I wasn't wearing sunglasses Left the Kumar's place early , crossed the wide Narrows and entered Gig Harbor by a back road . Found the Tourist Information office ( closed ) . From nowhere a helpful local stepped up and said - " we are closed on Tuesdays but what do you want - I'll open up especially for you " and she did . Supplied with fresh and free maps to scrawl on I headed to Windermere Realtors ( estate agents to you ).and got good advice on Gig Harbor walkable locations which I checked out . Then I went on to the sportsman's association which has a full events program and two English members .On to Keith's where he was working on a car but found the time to help with my route planning detail . Second stop Port Orchard for my first American haircut , first cutthroat razor experience and another Realtor .Those hot towels are really good by the way . I felt like I was in a roaring twenties gangster movie and at any moment a pair of

Woke at 3:00 local time at the spotlessly clean and recently upgraded Skyway Inn SeaTac , snoozed for a while then posted yesterdays entry . Had an appointment with Henry Lieberman from American life.He was early but I was earlier and had a " butchers " around the area first . Very generously ( as is the way with most Americans ) he had given up his memorial day morning , opened up his office and let me pick his brain for ideas of where to visit . Inspired by his candor and knowledge I sang as I drove to Gig Harbor to meet Keith Pringle with whom I had the tenuous link that my son Adam works with his mother on the Isle of Wight . After yet another burger with relish and fries at the heaving " Tides Tavern" I drove through the scenic town to his newly built " desperate housewives" community . He welcomed me like an old friend and I spent the best part of the afternoon chatting on a variety of subjects . As he had not heard my ranti ng before I did not bo

Flying within America was a much more pleasant experience than the U.K. Based flights I had previously taken . The check in was much the same but once within the security zone I only needed my boarding card once – to get through the boarding gate . None of the passport and papers at every checkpoint I am used to . The boarding was very relaxed though just as swift with zones as well as rows on the tickets .The flights were both full but there was no scrum of overeager travelers . People just got up leisurely and strolled to the gate only when their zones were boarding . The seats were wide with plenty of leg room . There were no back of seat TV.'s so the passengers talked to each other , read books and magazines .First flight (4 hours) Orlando to Phoenix I was seated between an Indian electrical engineer by the window and a pleasant retired American lady who read from an electronic book . Said she reads a book a day . Transfer onto the Seattle flight took 75 minutes . I got an ais

After a 4 am start in Orlando I am struggling to keep awake in Seattle21 hours later to adjust my body clock . Darn it I'm off to bed I'll probably wake at 5:37 anyway soI will publish my pics then

After a rain induced delay Jo. came up trumps and the contract was duly signed at close of business on 21 May. Early next morning I was at the U-Haul office when it opened and duly hired a " luton Van " or a 14 foot truck as they call it here . I went to 311 and dismantled the kitchen table ready for storage . I had just done this when Lloyd's man Richard turned up early and set to work . Shortly afterwards Jo. turned up and lent a very powerful hand . By 11 all the wooden wall debris was loaded together with 3 old tv's and some furniture for 628 . By 12 we were ready to go to the tip having unloaded the stuff at 628 . But where was the nearest . Veronica was on the phone - nearest was 40 miles away in Winter Haven - it was raining hard- they had urgent maintenance calls - Richard could not be spared . He went on his way without finishing the well deserved tea break I was introducing him to . You have got to give it to them . The work ethic is strong and well here in

As soon as the family got air bound the heavens opened and it rained . It poured ! It thundered ! It cascaded ! It was like a waterfall - everywhere ! Dry to soaked in 3.2 seconds ! Where else to go but off to the range where I exercised my second amendment rights as a resident alien in the state of Florida ! I'll do my moving and planning tomorrow ! Check out my webshots for a few pics - I am having trouble with hyperlinks

I've said my goodbyes shook hands hugged and kissed . Then – the hardest part I walked away . I went to the Disney store on a rat hunt ( I love Ratatouille ) I failed but decided to return to the security line ( queue ) to tell them and say goodbye again but they had gone . Like a plane on autopilot I went down to Alamo car rental . It had the longest line . I narrowly avoided a 650$ excess for dropping the car off in Seattle and resisted the spiel to upgrade . 2 doors and manual windows I was warned . I like to wind I said . Chose first car in the economy section . Its just fine ! Loaded up and headed to the villa – first drawback so far – no sun pass so I have to pay the tolls in person . Scattered a few dollars across the empty front passenger seat .Wish the wife was still on it ! Stopped at the clubhouse intending to get a drink and some company . It shut at 5 . A wave of sadness hit me – I decided to start a diary for my more personal ramblings to keep this blog light .

After about a week of very early starts ( for me only ) I am now back waking at 5:37 am . A stupid time to be awake but for some reason only known to my body clock the time I become fully conscious . In the time between then and about 11 am I have been doing shopping and business housekeeping whilst the others sleep . Have delayed flights up North till Sunday to sort out 311 Henley Circle for my new long term tenants Joseph Isserles and family and wish them every happiness in their new home . Now what am I going to do with the furniture ? Have been to Aquatica , Auburndale , Sea World , Bok Tower Gardens , Dundee , Millennium mall , Longhorn Steakhouse, Mini golf , Tgi friday , Hoolahans , The Cheesecake factory , Target , Wal -mart , Bestbuys , Wallgreens , Daytona beach , Daytona Speedway , Downtown Disney, Rainforest Cafe , Disneys Magic Kingdom , Cabaris Italian restaurant , Arabian Nights , AMF Bowl Kissimee , Played tennis , darts , pool , swam , shot , took ccw c

We have been at our Florida home for a few days now . Julie , Adam , Emma and our guest Marcia all enjoying the sunshine and all the great things that Florida and its people have to offer . I took ( another ) set of pictures of our villa - 628 Brunello drive Davenport Fl 33897 and uploaded them here . Visited the excellent Millennium mall in Orlando and a local business . Saw the Arabian Nights dinner show and did some business . Played tennis , darts and pool but just haven't fount the time to get in the pool . Visited Aquatica and kept cool whilst Julie chilled at home .

Waiting to travel the world , but life stops play ! I had to re rod the soil pipe from roof level - hope it stays unblocked this time ! Then I had to do THE GAAR DDNN - cut the lawn . Hope when I get back in 8 weeks Julie has managed to " keep" it under control

Just got home after finishing the soundproofing job when - Oh No ! The toilet is blocked ! Pumped it - no joy Roded it - no joy seems clear ? Oh No ! blockage is at bend near bottom of soil pipe . Get ladder rod from roof level . Has it worked ? use rod as dip stick - end now sh**ty but stem dry . Put it all back together and hope . Had to look out my bedroom window to help chill out . Thats better !