Nick Walks America

Before i could find a campsite last night, sirens starting whining and before you could say 'have you seen the price of cheese?' the biggest baddest thunderstorm struck. On went the flipflops and precip jacket and for the next couple of hours i just watched in awe. Think crazy winds, horizontal rain, lightning strikes through the sky like spiderwebs and you get the idea. Like a tramp i must have fallen asleep under a tree(obviously the safest place in a thunderstorm) and 3 hours later i was up and hey, already changed!

It was a wet 20 mile thrust to Gettysburg before 2pm to catch the final of Euro 2008. I made it, but was knackered, my feet killed and another blister had popped up to say hello because of my wet shoes. Satisfied with the Spanish win and 2 pints of lager, it was a short limp to the artillery campground for 2 nights stay and finally a rest day.

So I've made it to my first marker-Gettysburg, and i still haven't broken my leg, been run over, shot or mugged. Im almost emotional. Tomorrow i will sleep, eat, and do as little walking as possible. Next up-Pittsburgh.

It's hot, humid, and frankly rubbish walking weather, but then again when is good walking weather? i was struggling with the heat way before 7am and was seriously considering lightening the weight of my pack by throwing the whole thing off the next bridge i came to. Obviously i didn't, there were still some choc chip cookies left in the top pocket, and that would just be a waste.

The city of York cheered me up, a quick tour to learn it's history, a tasty mocha(still can't find a mochacino anywhere?) and general cooling down.

I've managed to sneakily upload a few photos which should be on the link at the top of the page.

Big thanks to the Hotel Brunswick for giving me a very nice charitable discount on the room last night, and a very chillaxing stay it was. Lancaster is an unusual place. Like many of the cities I've already gone through it felt pretty abandoned. In the UK city centres are the heart of the community but here, it seems those wealthy enough have left for their cozy rural communities and interstate shopping malls, leaving the centres for the blue collar workers and homeless, which i think is a bit sad.

To be fair to Lancaster, this morning was much better as it was friday market day, there was a good vibe and i had a yummy Italian sub from one of the stalls. It almost made up for the giant screen and speakers that were put up in the square outside my room at 10pm so people could watch Ghostbusters. I've been singing that song all day now, not good.

14 miles later and over the Susquehanna river in the rain i was yet again stuck for a place to camp. And it was raining. And my feet hurt. But wait....a light....yes there's a bar! It is a sad fact of life that i no longer go into bars to chat up the ladies(not that i was a gold medallist in that anyway) but to get chummy with the locals to find a place to stay. The local beer is very cheap and apparently there's a wet t-shirt competition about to start. Well i did say i wanted to taste the REAL America.

Its only 1pm but seen as I'm at a library i thought id just as well update the blog. I woke up this morning to find that my legs had decided to go on strike. I walked about 24 miles yesterday so i could get to Lancaster by midday today and find a motel to rest. It's pretty urban again so finding a campsite is getting difficult. My legs feel like i was dancing all night last night in heels, not that i wear heals, at least not in public.

According to the 'Assembly of God' their neon sign told me it was 23c at 5.30am. I know what you're thinking, what was he doing up at 5.30am? Rain and humidity basically. its been raining all morning and i have to say after the last few days it's absolutely fabuliscious.

I now realise that the weird brown stuff I've been walking in is actually Amish horse poo. I have to find a cheap room now, i hope you're all well.

Refreshed from my pint of Guinness last night i was up at the crack of dawn(5am in the middle of the night) and staggered through more places that reminded me of home; South Coventry, Northampton, Kenilworth and Warwick. The ticks are really starting to tick me off. The best way to describe them is like the Alien in, funnily enough the film Alien, where they jump at you trying to attach themselves to your face, except being smaller ticks go for the meatier leg area.

Once under the Interstate it was into Amish country for the first time. Route 23 followed a stupidly long crest of a hill with amazing views of the surrounding settlements and farms either side. The Mennonite couple i spoke to were very nice, although i think they were slightly confused and weary of my sweaty bright blue sportswear and Australian accent. I finally collapsed before Blue Ball where i found a small grassy area to camp under the stars. Tomorrow Lancaster is in my sights, and hopefully a real bed and a rest.

My relaxing night at the Hickory Park Campground ended up being a sleepless one, with thunderstorms lighting up the sky for most of the night. Lucky i left my clothes outside to dry then. So after a delayed start, it was an 8 mile stint to the run-down town of Pottsdown to post off my broken phone. Then it was off to Ye Olde Coventry Pub for my first pint. Other than the name and an old t-towel of from Coventry England the similarities stopped there. I should really start walking a bit further or I'll be here until Christmas, 2010.

Well my first week over. I've walked a half day today and camped at a proper campsite just outside Gilbertsville. I can finally, shower, shave and walk arouns without a pack, or should i say float around. So what have i learned so far?

-walking is not a hobby
-walking is easy. It's the flybites, ticks, lack of hygiene and heat that test you most.
-New Jersey is mainly houses with perfectly mawn lawns. The only people there that spoke to me expected a tip, everyone else tried to run me over or just stared at me as if i was foreign (okay that bits kind of right)-Pennyslvania, other than being really hard to spell, if so far full of lovely people. Just today 3 people stopped to talk to me and make sure i was okay without a car. They're also very keen to give guidance and local knowledge on my route which has so far been much appreciated.
-insects don't bite, they take chinks of you away with them.
-I'm starting to wonder whether i am actually Australian.

I have bad news. No your pet hasn't been run over, my phones died. So until i can get a replacement handset(which will take a month because it has to be shipped in from the UK) I'm afraid there won't be any mobile blog posts or photo's. I will keep updating every time i get to a library though.

Anyway about that walking thing I'm doing. Last night i stayed at Nockamixon state Park, and for the first time swam in warm lake which was absolute heaven. Today i sped through 10 miles before 11am and the burning heat to a nice town called Quakertown. No Quakers or porridge to be seen I'm afraid. I've just finished my seond giant soda without being sick. Oh and i have my first blister horray! It's not even a proper blister though, just some little piddly one. i've found a campsite in some woods which i am already starting to regret, ticks do nothing for your motivation.

Yesterday was a 22 mile marathon. It had it's ups and downs, mainly hills, and by the end of it i was ready to collapse, so much for taking it easy for the first week. I stopped the night in a nice quiet town called Milford, where i had probably the best panini I've ever had.

At the moment I'm having what can only be described as a tantrum. My UK phone has decided to be stubborn and has barred me from sending and recieving messages. No messages, no blog updates. So I'm writing this in the local library(the friendliest people i have met so far have been in libraries, although they're always so quiet?) before emailing my service provider to see what they're playing at.

After my killer day yesterday(remember I'm only a novice at this walking thing) I'm only walking half a day today. 50 metres away on the other side of the river is Pennsylvania, and lots of hills. I have sunburn only on my calves, and everyone in New Jersey thought i was from Australia.

Just time for a quick update. Not much happening on the photo front recently so i thought id show my recent dis-taste for balloons and cameras.

I have 2 very sore legs from training, 2 more days left at work, 2 exams to take this week, I've just eaten 2 packets of crisps, chased a big grumpy cow out of the garden twice last night and I've drunk 2 cups of tea in the last hour. Hmmm bit of a theme going down i feel. Hmmm bit of a theme going down i feel.

I've had a few people asking how I'm going to stay in contact once I'm in the States. Apart from my nickwalksamerica@googlemail.com address I will still have my British mobile number, but please don't call it as it will deplete my bank balance faster than you can say chipolata. Feel free to text though. I will also have a cellphone number for any of you US contacts which i will whip onto this site once i have it.

Back to revision now. Have a brilliant start to June.