The 4 missing days and some other missing days

New York, 22-26 April

Highlights included: walking the High Line (which we found out about by chance from a lady in the taxi queue); Brooklyn Promenade and walking back over Brooklyn Bridge, with those great views of the Manhattan skyline; lunch in Battery Park; the 9/11 Memorial and Hope Garden; the Guggenheim Museum (where Alan added to his collection of Guggenheim ties – which now number two), and a (rather damp) walk through Central Park, with a lovely soprano singing opera arias under the arches; a great musical on Broadway, called Come from Away; and some lovely meals.

Lowlights included: at Alan’s insistence, walking across the seemingly endless Manhattan Bridge to Brooklyn (do NOT put it on your New York to-do list)); traipsing around just about every AT&T store in New York and a Verizon one for good measure, and still not ending up with 5G – whatever that is; walking miles looking for the place where you dip your back wheel in the water before setting off on the Coast to Coast – and discovering there wasn’t one (but it was almost worth it for the look on this bloke’s face when I asked him if he knew where it was); walking more miles to check out the location of the ferry for Alan to take on his first day, with Alan insisting that the place with the huge sign over it saying “Ferry Terminal” was not the right place (it was).

There was much packing and unpacking of bags and panniers, and much fiddling about with and testing out of Blossom the Bike, until Alan was satisfied that all was as good as it could be. I had decided (correctly) that my best strategy while all this was going on was to stay well out of the way and not say very much. But just to be ready to go and find the latest thing which had mysteriously gone “missing”.

And then came the moment of truth at 8 o’clock on the Thursday morning when I waved Alan off on his momentous journey, looking good in his specially designed top – and not too burdened just yet, as I’d offered (foolishly as it turned out), to take all the things he wouldn’t need for the first 3 days - tent and camping stuff, various locks, cables and techy stuff, and his non-cycling clothes etc. And a mudguard. Naturally. All of which resulted in my having a serious amount of baggage, to lug across New York, though even more challengingly, to get down the 4 flights of rather narrow stairs from the apartment. But as Alan has already mentioned in one of his early blogs, I “didn’t mind at all”. Right.

Philadelphia and Aberdeen: 27-28 April

I had enjoyable and very comfortable train journeys, aided considerably at the stations by the Red Caps q.v., managed to locate the places we were staying, and got things sorted for Alan’s later arrival. In Philly I had a lovely walk along the river in beautiful sunshine, and arrived back at the apartment in time to receive a series of phone calls from Alan as he rode round the town in ever-decreasing circles trying to find the place. Or rectangles, as Philly like most American towns it seems is on a grid system. And you’ve heard about our meal experience that evening, which really was something different and a real treat.

Aberdeen, a rather small and insignificant place, but convenient for us, provided a most memorable and unexpected experience for me. After waiting 20 minutes or so for the taxi Alan had ordered for me, I sort of realised it wasn’t coming, and approached the driver of the only other cab still waiting at the station to ask if she was available to take me. I had hesitated for some time as, although it was a licensed taxi, suffice to say I would not have chosen it or the driver if I’d had other options. But I didn’t. Kathy turned out to be a real character, well acquainted with and full of stories about the local police and lowlife; she picked me up again the following morning, and at her invitation – because some of said local lowlife were lurking at the bus stop and the station was otherwise deserted - I waited in her cab till my train arrived, met her boss, learned a good deal more about her and her family and the local community. All very eye-opening.

Washington, 28 April-3 May

I had fancied going to Washington for some time, and this was the ideal opportunity for a visit. It did not disappoint. We had a great few days visiting many of the sights and sites, the weather was fantastic, and we even had cocktails one evening with Donald Trump. No, you’re right, we didn’t. We just gawped from a distance at the White House, as he is no longer welcoming visitors. We’d expected everything to be on a large scale, but it was all even bigger than we’d expected – the Capitol, the National Mall, the Lincoln Memorial (spectacular at night), the Washington Monument, and all the war memorials, all beautifully presented, and very tasteful and thought-provoking; as was the Arlington Cemetery, which is vast and peaceful, and looked stunning with all the flowers and blossom everywhere.

On a less sombre note, we had great fun exploring the old quarter near our apartment, sampling various cafes, bars and restaurants, and fixing the bike. Again. I’m joking about the last bit being fun. The latest items to get “lost” were Alan’s credit card (later found – where he’d left it, funnily enough) and the bolts for the front panniers, somewhat crucial in a being-able-to-get-started sort of way. Amazingly, they turned up when I went to look for them. Alan had a nice chat with one of the many Coastguards who were in DC for a conference; and a visit to the Air and Space Museum was well worth it (well, it was free).

And then came the moment for the parting of the ways. I left first, leaving Alan in charge of making sure he had everything he needed, and of leaving the apartment in a fit state. This was a BIG RISK; but all seemed to work out OK. It felt strange saying goodbye this time, knowing a) we wouldn’t see each other again till July, and b) only having a reasonable amount of luggage to cope with (still with a mudguard though). I didn’t envy Alan his day ahead; at 10am it was 34 degrees and rising, and he had about 100 miles to cover on a fully-laden bike. I mean, why would you??

I hope that his adventure lives up to his expectations, that he meets lots of nice and interesting people, and that he raises loads of money for Starlight; and above all, that he arrives safe and well in San Francisco on or around 10^th July.

[EDITOR NOTE: I asked Ruth to add a little bit of tone, readable content and proper humour, which I think she has done. Alan has added some photos which is possibly his only real talent, other than being annoying that is. So here are some highlights of R&A in USA Part Deux]. PS There was no murder although at times Ruth did give me a look I had no seen before, well not very often that is.