The ice on the road, however, was something a little more daunting. It has to be said that for a huge country America does snap into action during the snow. Interstates were clear, junctions unblocked and away we went. Perhaps it was the total lack of anything looking menacing that lured us into a false sense of security, and so it was that as we crept toward 60mph (very slowly might I say in my defence) we hit a patch of ice. What followed was all a bit of a blur and like nothing I've experienced whilst driving before (well at least since I fell asleep at the wheel after Glastonbury, Jim still hasn't forgiven me). As the van skidded every instinct says break, but if you break hard then you flip, skid, and end up in a ditch. I can't say my reactions were premeditated, it was all far too quick, I just attempted to keep the wheel straight without over steering, pushed on the break gently, but in truth it was the traction control, the abs and a load of other whizzy stuff that meant we soon straightened and continued onward (at a much more cautious speed). Now before Anna calls and shouts at me, and Jim thinks "yup he's never changed" I would like to add that at no stage were we in danger of death, merely a bump or 2 on the van (this is due to the low speed I was already keeping). Secondly there was no preparing for what happened other than to not drive at all, we were under the limit, driving carefully and it was those things that meant we didn't crash and kept driving. Thanks in part to the helpful and soothing influence of slightly shaken passengers Alex and Karina.
As I said it would have been a tad annoying to have had a bump so late in the day. The rest of the journey didn't provide the most delightful of conditions as the continuing ice meant it was like driving on glass for the most part. But, I stress, we're here and we're well.
So we got to Minneapolis we dropped off set in what promises to be a lovely theatre to be resident at for 6 weeks in January, and then checked in to our airport hotel. By then it was time to say goodbye to a good friend as after a grand total (starting mileage to finish, including all theatre, restaurant and other journeys) of 13,105 miles, or if you like over 21 trips from John O Groats to Lands End, it was time to return the van. I am pleased to say (and I think my employers will be as well) that it was returned without a scratch, dent, or mark on it (apart from the ton of snow on the roof, I am using brackets a lot today). The distances we've covered in the last 2 months have been quite immense and only possible because Alex and Karina have kept me and Anna entertained with idle chatter, crappy radio stations, and all the sherbert lemons you can ever eat.
That's that then, we fly at 10 tomorrow, I go get drunk in about an hour, and soon this will all be a distant memory that I bore you all with in the pub.
I'll post a tour epilogue in the next day or so, but thanks for reading, if I have caused offence (primarily to anyone that may employ me) I apologise, all that has been written has been meant in jest and it goes without saying that I would not change a second of this trip (well apart from the madness that was Weley Chapel). If it was all plain sailing then there'd be nothing to write about
Alan
Final Mileage 13,105 Miles
State lines crossed 1 (67 Total)
Time Zones crossed 1 (4 Total)
Oil Changes 0 (3 Total)
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