What & Why

National Monument from WWII Memorial, Washington DC

I am cycling around the USA, attempting to reach as many State capitals as possible. I've started in Washington DC and I intend to make my way around New England (mainly because there's a higher density of states). There is no set route and no set plan. The only things defined are the expiry of my visa and my credit limit.

Every now and then I get the itch for a change of scenery. To do something different. I hadn't travelled before, mainly due to lack of funds, but after 4 years of working I realised that I had the funds to do anything I wanted and that I didn't have anything specific keeping me in the UK. The only thing that required more effort than cancelling or quitting was my beloved Renault Clio. If an adventure was ever going to happen, it had to be now.

One of the main reasons for choosing America is the language. I was also considering cycling into Africa, but I don't think I'd have made it very far with my inabilities to speak any language other than Northern, and my directness and bluntness were more likely to start an international situation. I feel that travelling has become very commercial and so by cycling round there's a much greater exposure to the things that are happening rather than seeing the sights. If I can stay on someone's sofa, there is the benefit that it's free, but you also get to experience life, if only for a short while, in a way that you may not otherwise.