Give me a home...

...where the buffalo roam.

One of the folk connected to my visit to US was in turn connected to a buffalo ranch somewhere across the French Broad River and beyond by some way. One afternoon we took a drive out to the ranch to see the buffalo. It was first drive in the USA and I was following the motorbikes. Good fun and broke me into driving on the wrong side of the road very nicely. I adored this weather vane. It can't be too often you get a buffalo weather vane and of all the places to get one I guess a buffalo ranch is the right place.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Misty Mountains

Wow. That's what I said repeatedly as the mist cleared at Chimney Rock. Perceptions of the landscape changed fluidically as the visibility varied. I remember seeing this view like an enormous nose and facial profile. Stunning views, vibes, place. A must visit.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

The Mountains in the Mist

Ever seen Gorillas in the Mist? Me neither. Ever seen Mountains in the Mist? Beautiful. Well that's what I got when I had my first visit to Chimney Rock. This is a walkway having just come up in a long elevator trip. Skeletal tree limbs was about all I could see for the first twenty minutes. Thankfully the conditions did improve for us to see a lot more.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

South Carolina in the Spring

I'm not entirely sure exactly where we went after leaving Charlotte airport, but we ended up at this rest area on the Blue Star Memorial Highway. The evening light was amazing. Maybe the beginnings of jetlag and my body telling me that 6pm should be 11pm added to the experience and vivid perceptions. This photo shows the intensity of light and just a token of how beautiful South Carolina is in the spring.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Welcome to Charlotte, North Carolina

This statue of Queen Charlotte is outside Charlotte airport. Not sure who she was, but was very impressed with the dynamic pose, and well, statue-esque nature of it. Also, my first taste of Carolina sunshine!

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.

Welcome to the USA

Many hours later, and my first view of the USA at a rainy Philadelphia airport. Cue Bruce Springsteen "Streets of Philadephia" in my mind. I remember being impressed by the posters of the movies filmed in the city, through one of the connecting areas in the huge airport. I think it could be the biggest airport I've ever been to.

Photos, Words and Memories from 2 trips and 3 months in the USA. Based mainly near Asheville in North Carolina.