Half Around The World In 80 Days

The first leg of the journey take me to Boston where I stay with old friend Emmet Clifford, Diane and young Bret who educates me in a new phenomenon called Pokèmon; little do I realise that Pokèmon will have taken over the world by the time I reach Australia.

Boston is a lovely city with the Harvard area being very picturesque and buzzing with life. There is an endless display of busking talent, including a juggler who keeps six skittles aloft while balancing a shopping trolley on his chin. He also cycles a unicycle with a somewhat portly kid from the audience on his shoulders. When he realises the weight of his passenger he comments loudly 'Hey kid, haven't you ever heard of salad' which is greeted rapturously by his audience.

Emmet, Diane, Jim and Erin in Harvard

The other highlight of my stay in New England was a trip to Mount Washington. This is the highest peak in New Hampshire, has a famous Auto Road built right to the top, and is the windiest place on earth with a peak speed on 232mph measured in 1932. The trip to the top is spectacular and I was happy to leave this arduous driving to my American hosts.

In Boston I also had the pleasure of spending Labour Day with Kerryman extraordinaire Johnny Clifford who managed to show me almost every Irish pub in the city. He had cause for pride though as he had built the interiors of many of them with his own hands; good on you Johnny.

Pat, Diane and Emmet at the top of mount Washington with clouds arrayed below us

One downside of a road to the top of a mountain; it is not exactly solitude up here.

You can get the train to the top also. This particular model meets all emission regulations from the 1930s