#WOMBATSDOAMERICA 2015 Day 10

Blogging our recent US trip day by day, a month after the event.

19th November – from Michigan to California

Our last Michigan morning. We introduced our hosts to the revolutionary concept of beans on toast, accompanied by some of friend Karen’s excellent bacon. Amazing that America doesn’t ‘do’ beans on toast, but then their baked beans are not as ours, featuring as they do the aforementioned bonus lump of pork fat. Not this morning though, for we had bought “Vegetarian Baked Beans”, with the fat loeft out.

To Traverse City we drove, there to browse shops and escape from the BITTER cold to eat gorgeous chicken chilli in the warm, cheery Mackinaw Brewing Company bar. Outside the clouds shivered, and occasional snow flakes drifted lazily in the chill air.

Airport security had a little trouble with my backpack. I was puzzled, until the smiley, rather sexy, security woman rootled inside (the backpack, not me) and pulled out… MY GRITS. The huge sack of grits that Karen had sent us, along with that incredible bacon. After a merry chit-chat about the best way to eat grits (she mixed an egg in eww) I was allowed to board the plane to the West Coast, which lacked entertainment which, pardon me, was a bit thick considering the five hour flight. Hark at me, seasoned traveller* now.

It began to snow properly as we peered out at the tarmac, and take-off was delayed by twenty minutes or so while the plane was de-iced by a chap with a spurty-gun in a crane-lorry thing that I’d love to have a go in. This left connection times in Detroit a little tight, but we know that airport well now and we walked briskly through the psychedelic tunnel to make our flight across America. We chased sunset, which therefore lasted hours, but due to sitting above a wing could not take full photographic advantage. We landed after dark, with San Diego beautiful below us. I saw a gorgeous arcing bridge, which would later cross to Coronado.

Rob met us at baggage claim in San Diego, and the drive through the San Diego night was very pretty. Lights everywhere, interesting buildings, and – bloody hell – palm trees! And then there was single malt to welcome us to Rob and Valerie’s home. I went to sleep looking forward to seeing California in daylight.

*wanker

THERE ARE MORE PHOTOGRAPHS OF DAY 10 HERE