Monday, February 16, 2009

Greensboro, North Carolina

The train ride this week was a fairly short one and if there were any sites to behold I missed them as I slept pretty much all the way here on and off. I have found my train legs in the sense that I no longer feel sick on the jumps, but I have yet to experience this thing people speak of, feeling like a baby being rocked to sleep. Maybe I’m just too much of a light a sleeper, as every turn and bump and clank seems to wake me. Willow hasn’t really found her train legs either, though seabands seem to have worked a treat with her. Which is great because I actually bought them 8 years ago for morning sickness, they never worked for me then.

I expected the weather to get a lot chillier as we are heading north but the start of the week was quite mild, though the wind has picked up a bit now and in the words of a local weather reporter, “it’s worse in the hills because they are tall and pointy”. I have just watched Idiocracy and think it is a real threat for the future.

One thing I really hate about being on the road (rails) is finding a hairdresser. Now finding one is never a problem but you just don’t know what you’re going to get. In the past when we have been touring there have been times when I have come out thinking “Oh no it’s going to take years to grow back”. There have been some real bad ones and I really like going to the same place and knowing I’m going to get what I want. So this week both Willow and myself need cuts, and however much Tweed says he can do it as hairdressers run in the family we venture out to find one. For once we strike it lucky and pick a good one, Ja Dorable and a really nice stylist Nancee. Willow was really pleased as well as she got to have her hair dyed pink.

The most exciting thing this week though is we are really close to the building, (yes it’s the small things) so close we can walk and for a change we are parked in quite a ‘nice’ area.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Greenville, SC

The train run to Greenville was a pretty smooth one this week, well mostly. There were the usual backyards to peek into, a strange snippet of life flashing past. Various Towns and Cities too, I liked the look of Atlanta. I wanted to get off for a while. First Ikea flashed past followed by Target (of the super variety) and then to top it all off cirque du soleil’s Tent against the background of the City. The train stopped for various things along the way but to catch a show was not one of them. I had taken some nice photos but a pixie seems to have deleted them from the camera.

The train yard was, well a train yard with the usual bits and bobs nearby but not much. So we caught the circus bus to Downtown Greenville were the building was and went to explore as we usually do on the first day to get a feel for the place. It is usually Tweed’s only full day off and one of the days off from school for Willow so we try to make the most of it.

I liked the place instantly. We just wandered down Main Street looking for teeny tiny brass mice. ** We went to The Falls Park on the Reedy Gardens which we were told had only been there a few years and you can cross the river on a curved suspension Liberty bridge to get a great view of the waterfall. It was a pretty cold day to be running around mouse hunting so mid hunt we took a break for hot chocolate in a neat little cellar bar cafe.





We visited the zoo also which was quite small but also quite cheap but was great. Bob the baby orangutan alone was worth the ticket price. He was hilarious, a natural clown. Willow loved his ghost impressions.

**Mice on Main.
Inspired by the book ‘Goodnight Moon’ a local schoolboy Jimmy Ryan proposed the idea of placing mice downtown for children to find. He raised the money and a local sculptor, Zan Wells made the nine mice, though there are some rough mice as we found the nine official mice and another one playing a drum.

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Birmingham and Jacksonville

Birmingham, Alabama

Birmingham started off cold and 10 hours ahead of schedule, but warmed up just in time for us to leave. I quite liked Birmingham; I got out a lot and briefly felt like I had a life.

Willow and I went to the science museum which was great. Apparently she didn’t learn anything though, it was just fun so I guess they do their job well. We liked it so much we were going to go back for a second visit but stumbled upon a Chinese festival so decided to go there instead.

We found some great shops here, with old stuff in, including an amazing bookshop.






Jacksonville, Florida

Anyone would think we had left Florida, it is freezing here.

For the first time the train is parked in one line but luckily the bus can also drive the full length so we don’t have to walk for miles to get on. We are also parked right next to another track but I’m not sure many trains run on it, either that or I’m getting immune to the sound now.

Jacksonville has also been one of the first places I have managed to get out and about on my own. So while Willow has been at school at the building I have been out exploring. The Jackson Landing was quite nice and had live music at the weekend. I didn’t see any porpoise, even though there where warning signs about.

At Jacksonville Landing

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Orlando

Orlando was fun I liked it, which is handy as we will be there for a few weeks next winter. I can think of worst place to be.

Of course we went to Disney and chose ‘Magic Kingdom’ as we thought that would be a good choice for a first visit for Willow. We had complimentary tickets courtesy of the management so we couldn’t park hop but had a brilliant time all the same. We met up with Larry and his friend Tiny who has been to the parks one or two (thousand) times before. He knew which rides to go on when and which ones to avoid all together. Wish we had met before we wasted our time on Stitches great escape. We also managed to avoid ‘all’ the waiting and even went on Thunder Mountain twice without getting off. Not sure my stomach appreciated that but Willow loved it. Seems she quite likes roller coasters, even squealing in delight on Space Mountain. I skipped that one. So a big thank you to Tiny for making our Disney experience truly one of a life time.



It wasn’t just Disney that made me like Orlando. The train was parked near civilisation this week which made a big difference. A quick stroll down the tracks and you were at a Super Target and a TJ Maxx (for UK readers, yes that is the same a TK Maxx). Also over the road were a few more stores including a Publix which sold a small selection of British food in its International section. I felt very sad getting excited about Branston pickle and Bisto. Willow was very pleased to find Jammy Dodgers (no we didn’t make them last) and Tweed was happy to find some British chocolate and Robinsons squash. They even had Iron Bru. So a very happy week all round.

There were all the usual fast food places, they are everywhere, but I can honestly say I have never seen a gourmet MacDonald’s before, so it had to be experienced. They had a wide range of food including the usual ‘stuff’ but all served in a restaurant style setting. Big comfy leather seats, a fireplace and a fish tank just for starters but Willows favourite was the bin said “Thank you” when she put her rubbish in it.