Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Back in the UK

I haven't blogged since we left America so this is just a get up to speed type of thing as I am so far behind. Some people asked me if I would still write a blog once we left. I wrote one before we went to America so I'm thinking I will continue now we have left, though the evidence at the moment isn't really in my favour.

It is strange how many people said to us when we left, “What are you going to do now you are leaving the circus?” We haven’t really left the circus we have just left 'that' circus. We were in circus before and we will be in circus after, its what we do. We may do other stuff here and there but we always seem to end up back among the sawdust, though there wasn't much of that during the last two years, it was more rubber mats.

There are so many people I will miss and already miss in America. I hope we manage to stay close. I am very bad at keeping in touch with friends and really should do better.

So we arrived safely back in the UK despite the UK weather. We arrived hours late due to fog in Southampton. It was as though the UK weather was welcoming us home. It was a very brief visit to my Mum and Dads to change bags over and collect the dog before we travelled on to Truro for the Panto season.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

RBBB 2010

So the Zing Zang Zoom tour continued on for the second year and once again we visited some amazing places. It is completely mad when you look at them in a list.

Orlando, Florida
Miami, Florida
Nashville, Tennessee
Charlotte, North Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina
Atlanta, Georgia
Raleigh, North Carolina
Youngstown, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Washington, District of Columbia
Fairfax, Virginia
Baltimore, Maryland
Charleston, West Virginia
Dayton, Ohio
Albany, New York
Columbus, Ohio
Newton, Kansas
Wichita, Kansas
Tulsa,OK
San Antonio, Texas
New Orleans, LA
Corpus Christi, Texas
Houston, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Fort Worth, Texas
Austin, Texas
Lexington, KY
Moline, Illinois
Kansas city, Missouri
Grand Rapids, Michigan
Toledo, Ohio
Manchester, New Hampshire
Worcester, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Rochester, New York
Niagara Falls, Ontario, Cananda
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Auburn Hills, Michigan

But now it is over and we are back in the UK for the next adventure to begin.

Auburn Hills, Michigan



Our last train run ever brought us to Auburn Hills Michigan, which is close to Detroit. I can't really say what it is like here as we didn't really get to see any of it. The time was spent packing, cleaning and saying goodbye to people.

Mid week they moved everyone who wasn't staying for the next tour into a hotel. It was very sad to leave the train, but the hotel had free wifi so lets look on the bright side. Shame they only had an out door pool which was shut. Actually it was good that it was shut as Willow would have been wanting to go in it even if it even though it was freezing.

The end of Zing Zang Zoom and saying goodbye to everyone was sad, especially seeing Willow getting upset and knowing there wasn't anything I could do about it.

And then it was over and we were on the plane from Detroit to Southampton via Amsterdam. The British weather welcomed us home by delaying our flight from Amsterdam for three hours due to fog.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

My Home for the last two years

I really don't think I have blogged enough about my home, which in case anyone isn't aware yet is a train. Not just any train but one of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus trains. They have two units that travel by train, a red one and a blue one, we are on the Red unit, 'Zing Zang Zoom'. Actually that sounds as though the train is red but it isn't it is a great big silver thing a bit like a airstream. It is 59 cars long and just over a mile in length making it the longest privately owned train in the world, well along with the other RBBB train from the blue unit. It is a pretty impressive sight as it travels, and travel it does, to about 42 cities and over 20 thousand miles a year (though I'm sure some one will correct me if these figures are wrong).

The Train carries 4,000 tons of equipment, 30+ animals, and nearly 100 performers. There are 'Coaches,' (residential cars, living quarters, for 250+ employees), 'Stocks' for elephants and horses, and 'Flats' which carry wagons, concessions, props, costumes, lighting and other equipment to the next arena. There are also a few cars and a bus that the circus uses to transport everyone around.

One of the circus cars is a workshop, one of them is a dinner called piecar senior (piecar junior gets parked at the arena for the week and travels on the flats) and another one of the cars house the generators that provide us with electricity. The circus doesn't own its own engines they are provided from the railroad along with the driver.

On train journeys (train runs) the stock cars are usually at the front right behind the locomotive as that is the smoothest part of the train. Sometimes we are a couple of cars behind them which is good and sometimes it is the other way round and we are at the back. It is amazing the difference it makes to the smoothness of the journey.

We are called 'a town built for the rails' or 'a town with no zip code' as aboard there are so many people and not just those involved with the show. There is a special train crew that, as the name implies take care of the train. There are train porters that make sure the train is nice and clean and tidy, they even empty the rubbish from bags on the side of the train in the skip. You don't even have to walk to the skip yourself, though I do feel kind of lazy when it is close so I have to do it myself. When it snows or gets icy they even grit our steps.

There are quite a few children that travel with the show so there is a teacher and a teaching assistant that also travels with us. There are office staff and drivers and sometimes we even have a priest who travels with the show.



The journey from one city to the next is called a train run and I love them. Train runs are without a doubt the best part of the week, which is usually how often we move, though sometimes it is every two weeks and very occasionally every 3 weeks and even 4 weeks which drives everyone a little stir crazy. It is very odd when you are in one place for under a week, sometimes you wish it were more and then when that wish comes true it drives you mad. Some times they are just a few hours long and sometimes they can be three days. The sights you see from your window or from your vestibule are pretty amazing. Travelling the west coast the views where just breathtaking, but some of the sights can also be a real eye opener.





When we are not moving the train generally parks in a train yards somewhere. Some times they are so close to the arena you can walk, which is great. Other times though it can be over 45 minutes away by bus which isn't so great. And just as the distance can vary immensely so can the quality of the train yard or the tracks that we park as it is not always in a yard. There are a few that are nice and a lot that aren't, but then they really aren't designed for luxury living. Some are busy, noisy and dirty and often in the middle of nowhere and sometimes not good nowhere’s at that. The best without a doubt though was Colorado Springs, which isn't technically a train yard but wonderful all the same.





We have just done our last train run and only have a couple of days left living on this train and I am going to miss it so much.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh seems really nice but we didn't seen very much of it at all. Mainly because the days Tweedy can do any exploring we were in Niagara so that isn't all bad, but a shame we didn't get to explore here.

I had a wander downtown though which was great as it was within walking distance of the arena and pretty compact so you could explore. The main reason for going to the shops though was to purchase another suitcase as it is that packing time of year again. I was also happy to find a Lush and get some bath bombs and bubble bars to make the most of the bath next week.

Besides the shops downtown there were some really nice buildings.






I would have liked to have seen more of Pittsburgh but I guess I can't really grumble.

Niagara Falls Canada



We didn't do the train run from Rochester to Pittsburgh this week. Instead we decided to go overland, which is the expression used when we don't travel by our train. We actually still travelled mainly by train but with Amtrak not the circus. This was the first train run I have missed and even though I love them it was totally worth it to arrive in Niagara Falls, Canada.

We caught the train to Niagara New York and caught a cab across to the Canadian side. When we first got of the train a cab driver said we had to get in his cab as he was first in line, even though his car wasn't actually big enough to take us all. When we pointed this out to him he said it was OK the little one (Willow) could sit in the middle of the front. When I said err sorry we all need a seat belt especially my child he replied no she doesn't I won't go fast. So we just went and got in the next cab which was bigger he got rude and sarcastic. I wish I had got his number and company so I could have complained about him. Though I think the driver we had probably wished we had gone with the other one as we had quite a wait at customs, though I'm guessing they are use to it a bit. At least it got sorted eventually as it seemed like it was touch and go at one point. Yah for nice helpful custom officers.

We were booked in to the The Sheraton Hotel, one of the three Sheraton's in Niagara, and of course we visited the other two before we got to ours. The best thing about our hotel was the view over the Horse Shoe Falls which was amazing, especially at night. Willow also liked the fact there was an Ihop down stairs.



The reason why everyone comes to Niagara is for the falls and they truly are breath taking and really stir the emotions. It is very hard to put them in to words or pictures





We also went 'below the falls' which was fun wandering around the damp gloomy caves. It was great to see the falls from another angle and see close up just how powerful they really are but I felt it was more 'one of those things you have to do while you are here' things and of course to get to wear one of the fetching yellow rain coats.



Just before we went below the falls we watched a 4D film on how the falls were made. The short cartoon before the 4D part started was good but I didn't like the main part of it. It was colder and wetter watching this than seeing the real thing, which may not be a problem in the warmer months but in November it wasn't that great.

We also watched an Imax movie called 'The Falls Movie – Legends and Daredevils. This was much better than the 4D one. This also included for a couple of dollars extra an exhibit of some of the actual barrels people have gone over the falls in.




Because Niagara is such a tourist area the main street is total designed that way with things like Ripley's Believe it or not, Sky Wheel, Skylon tower and lots of other tourist type attractions. We didn't really spend that much time in this area but it looked liked fun and I'm sure if we had been here longer we would have spent more time exploring this area. We only really wandered through it on the way to a Vegas style magic show staring Greg Frewin, which had some big illusions and a few big cats.




We had the same cab driver take us to Buffalo airport where we picked up a rental car to drive to Pittsburgh but once again we were stopped in customs but this time on the American side. I bet he loved us.

The trip to Niagara was pretty expensive all in all but it was worth it and we had an amazing time with some amazing friends

Monday, November 8, 2010

Rochester, New York



It was a pretty train run to Rochester full of Autumn colours. It is getting colder out but still warm enough to hang out on the vestibule and watch the world go by.

We didn't plan to do much while we were here as the tour is coming to an end and everything is getting a bit busy and hectic. The time to start the major clear out has also started big time. This time round it isn't as bad as last time but we don't have the luxury of a lock up to squeeze everything into or friends to lend stuff to for a couple of years. This time it either comes with us or it is gone. Once again I am impressed with the flexibility and ruthlessness of Willow when it comes to sorting her stuff out.

A Ringling tradition is the 'No Talent, Talent Show' which takes place towards the end of every year and this year it was held at Rochester. Lots of people practice for months to get an act together and you can really see all the work that is put in. I think there are usually quite a few children doing acts also but this year the only children that did anything was Willow and her friend Tababta. They did hula hoop together which was really good and fun to watch. It seemed to go down really well. Tabata also did really well in two solo acts and the final dance number which involved quite a few people.

Halloween fell on a Sunday this year which is a bit rubbish for parties and such like as Sundays are load outs but I think all the kids still had a good time. They had a party in the nursery and pumpkin carving at school and the usual trick and treating to all the concession stands and dressing rooms. We definitely wont manage to eat all the stash before we leave. One of my favourite parts of the trick and treating was the bubble wrap popping dance.

Quite a few people have gone on about the Dinosaur Barbecue near the building so of course it is one of those things that needs to be checked out. The first time I tried it I was pretty disappointed, but everyone was still saying they loved it so had to give it another try. The second time I had something different and it was better, but not something I think I would rave about.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Bridgeport Connecticut



This weeks train yard could have been really good and for some people I'm sure it was. It was right next to loads of shops but us having only a few weeks left and not really buying much at the moment it was really just a big tease. It was handy to get a new suitcase though. The down side to this train yard for everyone though, was it is another one that is over half an hour from the venue.

Around the arena wasn't too exciting either, it wasn't bad but there really wasn't much there apart from The Barnum Museum which we didn't go to as it is closed because of Hurricane damage. That was a real shame, it is a really beautiful building and I'm sure it would have been interesting to us, more so now than before.



The main thing that is exciting about Bridgeport is you can catch a train to New York. I was so happy to get to go again before we left even if only for a day. We didn't do all that much either, just had lunch and let Willow run around Central Park. She loves it there. We did go and see the dress rehearsal for Dance On the new Big Apple Circus, which was fun. To be fair though I don't think I would have really cared what we did,. I was just happy to be back in New York and it reminded me just how much I love that city.

Boston Massachusetts

Another short train run brought us to Boston Massachusetts. People seemed to be getting excited about Boston a long time ago.

The train wasn't actually parked in Boston but just over the river in the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) campus at Cambridge. It was really nice there and I'm sorry that I didn't get more time to explore it properly but the call of Boston was just too strong. Being a college campus it has a very young feel to it and it had some interesting shops. There was also a Trader Joe's within walking distance of the train which would be really nice every week.



Boston and Cambridge are divided by a river and on both sides there is a really nice river walk. On the Boston side there are a couple of nice play parks that Willow had fun at but she loved watching a dog dive in the water after a stick over and over again much more.

One of the great things about Boston is how accessible everything is, you can either walk or get the transit pretty much anywhere. Even though the arena was downtown and close to lots of things we still did some serious walking here.

Close to the arena was Faneuil Hall Marketplace which seemed to have a lot going on. We caught some street entertainment there and sampled food from all the food stalls in one of the buildings. Willow also quite liked it here as it had a Build a Bear shop and a Croc shop.




The arena is also close to the North End of the city and this is where Little Italy was. A lot of people say Boston has a European feel to it and it is even more noticeable in this part of the city. Not just because of the Italian influence all around but because the streets are smaller and it feels more like a community. There where some really nice buildings here and lots of history to see. In the heart of the North End is North Church.

Where ever you go in the city you see people with little (and big) boxes with the words 'Mikes Pastries' stamped on them and tied up with blue string. So many people had them that it had to be investigated. I'm so pleased I went on the last day though as it is quite close to the arena and I may have gone few times if I'd had time. The shop was packed, pouring out the door and they only take cash but the selection of cakes, pies and pasties was just amazing. Their speciality and what they are know for are their Cannoli. On my one trip there I spent way more than you should spend in a cake shop. My Mum would have been proud, and jealous all at the same time. I wish I could have sent her some.

The main park areas of Boston are Boston Common and The Public Garden, which are next door to each other. The Common isn't massive but is really nice and steeped in history. Willow liked it here a lot, especially rolling down the grass hills and spending ages playing in the Frog playground.



The Public Garden is very pretty with Swan Pond at the centre. It is named this because during the summer months you can take swan boat rides here, we just missed them.





Next to the Public Garden is the bar Cheers, from the programme of the same name. We met up with an old friend (and not so old) and had lunch here, it was packed inside even though they have five different bars. The inside doesn't really look like the TV programme as that would have been filmed in a studio, but this is where they did the outside shots.




We managed to get a free Duck Tour of Boston which even collected us from the train. I like the duck tours of cities, I know they are cheesy but I enjoy the actual tour and history stuff you learn and Willow also loves it and doesn't realise she is learning stuff. She just thinks she is having fun. As always with these things the tour guide either makes or breaks it and ours was great.




Also very close to the arena right on one of the bridges was the Science Museum. We managed to go twice and still I don't think we did everything, even though on the second day we were there for seven hours. They have a butterfly garden and and animal shows and the worlds largest air-insulated Van de Graaff generator which produces some amazing lightning. It is a very hands on museum with lots of extras going on. The second day we went they had an Archaeology Activity Fair which was very interesting and again very hands on. I really loved this museum and they had a great restaurant also.




I loved Boston, it totally lived up to and exceeded all expectations and I am so sad we didn't get to spend longer here.




Monday, October 25, 2010

Worcester, Massachusetts


The train run to Worcester was another nice one. Autumn is such a pretty time of year and it is great to watch and smell the countryside flash past from the train.

The train yard was a bit in the middle of nowhere, with not very much around. There was however a new Walmart within walking distance which is always handy. It looks like they are doing quite a bit of building work here so I have a feeling when the show returns in a couple of years there will be a lot more here.

We visited the Higgins Armory Museum with a friend we hadn't seen for ages and her daughter which was really nice. The Quest Gallery was a hands on area which went down well with Willow and her new found friend. They even got to do some Halloween craft activities. My favourite bit was also within this area The Department of Curiosities, a collection of creatures of Mythology.

Worcester had loads of interesting buildings downtown.





The train station was one of the first we saw as we passed it on the train.



Very close to the arena in downtown was Worcester Common which use to be an old graveyard. Apparently there are still quite a few bodies here.




It seemed a very industrial city but I quite liked it.