First things first. I have received some enquiries about arugula and have delved deeper. This appears to be a fashionable leaf found in many dishes currently in the US either as part of a dressing or a main part of a salad (often drenched in dressing, unfortunately). When I asked about it, the salad leaf was described as spinach. References on the web call it this as well, but this would not be recognised in the UK as such. Rather, it is what we know as rocket, but the leaf is a little more furry. It tastes peppery. An image for our international viewers might help if arugula or rocket are not the names used elsewhere.
But what of our unexpected trip? One of the most noticeable aspects was the friendliness of the people. They seemed genuinely pleased to offer help even on occasions when we had not asked for it. They suggested routes to take and those to avoid, and additional ‘must see’ visits.
Driving through the US was a breeze, according to John, who when asked for his thoughts on the holiday considered he should be congratulated on the quality of his driving. So job done. We covered 1,700 miles by road. For me, the huge, lengthy lorries (some three trailers long) on the six lane freeways, and the sheer drops on the coastal roads I don’t think I will ever get used to.
What was noticeable as I attempted to take my mind off the freeways, were the interesting creek names, often named after a person of note and with a story to tell. Examples were Jump off Joe Creek, Rough and Ready Creek, and Lost Man Creek. Many bridges were named in tribute to a person. Mind you, I think I would prefer to be remembered in other ways than the naming of a bridge on a fast highway.
We were impressed by the good signage along the roads, not only directional but warnings such as ‘wrong way’, ‘all traffic in this lane must turn right’, ‘double fines in roadworks or school areas’. I was perplexed for many days, however, with regular sightings of ‘school xing’. Was this a sponsored school? It took me some days to realise xing meant ‘cross-ing’.
We were impressed how patriotic the country was, with hotels, stores and sites displaying the American Stars and Stripes flag. So many venues offered free entrance to serving military personnel, and signs saying ‘we honour (honor) our veterans’ were a regular feature.
Our scenery was so varied, from Mount Rainier with its timely show of wild flowers, to the whale watching of Depoe Bay, and the sunsets over the shores of Mendocino. All unforgettable.
Our initial experience of American food was lots of high fat – fish and chips, burgers, and cake. In time we found restaurants serving quality food, but at a price. Costs in the US are somewhat higher than ours owing to the $1.2 rate to the £. However, fuel was the only commodity we found to be lower varying greatly between $2.5-$4.5 per US gallon (3.7 litres), that’s up to half the price of UK fuel. We found the more remote the location, the cheaper the price.
Actually purchasing the ‘gas’ as we now call it, seemed to be different at every gas station. Registering credit cards, not registering credit cards, paying at the pump, paying only at the cash desk and knowing how much you need in advance, were all challenges, but we got through them with very helpful staff willing to lend a hand.
But we should thank Rob at Vacations to America who organised the route at such short notice when our Northwest Passage trip was curtailed. No we are not sponsored, but the advice made our holiday memorable for all the right reasons.
So, until the next trip, bye for now and thank you for joining us along our journey.
