Great day driving from Middlebury to Schumburg (just the other side of Chicago). We went via the Indiana dunes (one of the smaller national parks) for a swim in Lake Michigan. The great lakes are truely amazing, you sit on the side and wonder where it ends as it stretches to the horizon. I am so used to seeing Wales, France or Lundy, from the sea it seems bizare to have waves on a lake. Tomorrow we pick up Tufty and Clive, we have a day for them to recover from the flight then we hit the town, before route 66 beckons.

Spent a great three days in Amish, Hutterite and Mennonite area. Lots of buggys and visiting small towns and garage sales as an excuse to speak to the locals. Wonderful time at the B and B. This morning was panckae and sausage casserole for breakfast and homemade wonderful cinnamon roles. Going past Kalamazoo (I jest not) we Went to the county fair which was supposed to be the third largest in the country but was about a 1/8 of the devon county, although you dnt get elephant ears to eat in devon. Tomorrow we head for Chicago via the Indiana dunes. Highlight of the trip in this area was to the Menno Hof an info centre, It was really informative without being touristy. Also picked up about £150 worth of Wade Wimsies at a garage sale for $10.

We arrived in Indiana today after a reasonable time crossing the border. Because I am naturally chatty I got in conversation with the customs guys but Lori suggested that it made me look guilty. We are at a great B and B near Middlebury and in an Amish area. Tomorrow we are visiting locally and then Sunday is the county fare. We seem to keep landing in places on the right day, Toronto for the free musem on Wednesdays, and Yesterday we found a great fish fryer on the lakeside that is only open two days a week. We had perch and pikerel, but weren’t sure which is which, but only liked one. Today was a longer drive and through some heavy rain. The B and B is great and were served pies at 8pm made by the in house local amish chef. We had peanut butter pie, caramel fudge and Indi had blueberry. Up till now it has been too hot to eat much but I think looking at the breakfast menu that is about to change.

The local quilts are amazing but at around $800 for a double a touch on the pricey side for us.

The first driving leg of the road trip started today. We picked up The Barge – a white lincon Town car (it is massive and easier to do a three point turn in a boat) Sat Nav was worth it weight in gold as it took us out of NY, through the Holland tunnel and I now know what the Jeresy Turnpike is – I think?. Got stung but the first toll as missed the sign to collect a card so ended up paying $8 for about a mile. We did a few hundred miles and stopped at what we thought was a roadside cafe that turned out to be a roller skaing dinner just like on the TV! Brilliant drive through a bit of Penslyannia but mostly NY state we arrived late and struggled to find a room – but thats all in the adventure. Loved the drive, the views and Indi was thankful for a day off from pounding the streets so was very well behaved in the back. She had chicken dippers at the drive in and Pringles for tea – well we are on a road trip.

Got lost in Little Italy, China Town and Central Park. In theory it should be easy to navigate the city, Avenues run one way streets the other, but just kept getting lost. The plan was coffee in Little italy lunch in china town and CP followed by Guggenhiem. We had coffee in a french place, lunch at an italian, and never made the big G. Still good day. I love the area we are staying in just outside Greenwich village, near Irving place and Union Square. Would love to do detached work in union square find out as Michelle Shocked asks Whats it like to be a New York Skate board punk rocker?

Got lost in Little Italy, China Town and Central Park. In theory it should be easy to navigate the city, Avenues run one way streets the other, but just kept getting lost. The plan was coffee in Little italy lunch in china town and CP followed by Guggenhiem. We had coffee in a french place, lunch at an italian, and never made the big G. Still good day. I love the area we are staying in just outside Greenwich village, near Irving place and Union Square. Would love to do detached work in union square find out as Michelle Shocked asks Whats it like to be a New York Skate board punk rocker?

We thought a boat trip around the island to see the sites would be great, but a three hours later tower blocks started to look the same, but very much liked the Crysler building and twisty building (we didnt get a guide book). Although long, That is not to say it wasnt a good trip, chilling on the river was a good way to spend the morning. Today was also NY food day, a cream cheese bagle for breakfast, A pizza slice for lunch and a burger for dinner. I  recommend Mikeys just round the corner from East 19th and 2nd Ave. Plenty of walking again today but an afternoon in the cinema watching cars 2 (indis treat) was a welcome break. Into the sabbatical mode and just finished my fourth book and the first theology book. A bonus of staying with the Mennonites I found Yoder (the theologian not the Star Wars Jedi) and whizzed through What would you do? which included the great story of the Peace Cheif Lawerence Hart. but I have only collected 3 interviews.

Amazing day in New York, celebrated our arrival with a nice Breakfast just round the corner near Gremacy Park then hit the sights – view from Top of the Rock was great, everything you expect NY to look like, although wasn’t sure if the hum you could hear was the citys airconditioning or traffic. Times square was something to behold and unsure if I was amazed or shocked. Was told by a local on the subway that it was a walking town so went into Toyrus for buggy for Indi which also had a full sized Barbie house which she had to check out and ferris wheel. She is having a ball.

I cannot fathom the Subway system but Lori has got it sussed, so long as we dont get separated I guess everthing will be fine. After walking down most of Avenue of the Americas (which top gear drove) we arrived at a what appeared to be a bit of a run down Macys. I know everyone says it but it is the scale of stuff I just can’t get my head around, whether the advertising, the block sized department store, or size of a sandwich. The locals seem to love kids, and Indi was constantly being said Hi to, asked questions or played with, number one so far was the security guard in Bank of America (which also has a Starbucks and Garden on the ground floor) who was saluting her on one side of the glass, people seem to have general postive disposition and we have never had trouble asking for directions or help. So far so good, hope this continues once we hit the road.

We had a great flight. Saw Kings Speech and the Fighter and half of The Eagle.Indi did brilliantly on the flight and enjoyed the ride through JFK on her Trunkie. Several people suggested that the Dragons from the den must be kicking themselves when they rejected that.

The welcome to New York was cool and once through immigration going through the customs the security police simply said “Welcome friend, and Go straight through man and stay safe” it was warm welcome rather than a warning. Whilst in the Big Apple we are staying with the Mennonite community in a volunteer house. We heard a lot of police sirens last night but generally the area seems fine with a park and basketball court opposite which Indi thought was cool.