Final day in Cambridge

The morning started with the whole community out in the fields for an hour clearing weeds. After that we came back in for breakfast and I began to not feel so good with another headache starting. I took some paracetamol and had a lie down then went to see if I could help at the soap shop. We had to inspect a batch of product they'd made for bubbles which occured when it was setting. After that I moved onto packing some facial cleanser. It came off the production line pretty quickly but I soon found a good packing technique.

After lunch I took a lie down again to help me feel properly better. There were two big storms whilst I was in the soap shop in the afternoon so when I finished my working day the stream was quite swollen. I headed into Cambridge to get a coffee (Thursday being the only night the coffee shop opens late) and then went for supper at the community's other house. Afterwards I helped with their weekly chores before the short walk back to the farm. I've been chatting for a fair bit and more travelling lies ahead tomorrow so I'll be off to bed soon for a good rest.

Farming again and more soap

I woke with a headache during the night but managed to find my paracetamol in the dark and cut it off before it got any worse. Breakfast included some wonderful cookies with apple sauce to add which made them taste great. A young German couple who had been volunteering here for two weeks headed off but we did have another volunreer come yesterday so there's always plenty of help

I was down in the fields again today many working with Charaph, a community member and one of the other volunteers. We started by harvesting a few greens then about 50 lettuces all of which needed cleaning and boxing up. After that we moved onto weeding the beetroot patch with hoes. We got most of the way through by our lunch break by which time it had started to hot up after a very comfotable morning. 

Lunch was taken back up the farm house and was again fantastic. They really have some very talented cooks and it's all so healthy with lots of vegetables and salad with each meal. After lunch I headed back to the field and did some hand weeding through a particularly thick bit of the beetroot patch. I then moved onto picking green beans which took me through to the end of the working day by which time it had gotten really quite warm and my feet were starting to get a little sore.

After supper I went up to the soap shop to help finish packing the order. It's almost midnight and we just got finished. We had some snacks and it was good to see the order through to its completion, 50000 bottles. Very tired now so I should sleep very well.

Soap shop

The morning started with a half hour walk around the local area picking up litter, something everyone in the community takes part in. Today then was spent working in the soap shop (factory). I was mainly making up boxes for individual bottles of Argan oil, one of the many products which are outputs of the production line. It was repetitive work but at the same time very satisfying as you could see the output of your labour. 

This afternoon after making more boxes it came time to fill them and 

then pack them into larger boxes and label them for shipping. We got through a fair few in the last couple of hours of the working day but there are many more still to be done. I'm hoping I'll be working on the production line again tomorrow.

It was a lovely evening on what has been a sunny yet not overly hot day. After dinner I walked around Cambridge with some of the other volunteers. It really is a pretty small place. I plan to go again on Thursday, the only evening that one of the local cafes actually opens late (and then only until 6.30pm). I finalised plans for my next move and volunteering which was good to get sorted.

Cambridge

Cambridge

Common Sense Farm Shop

Farming

It's been an odd day. I woke up extremely early and couldn't get back to sleep. Just after I'd showered it started to rain which turned into a thunderstorm when I was up at the main house having breakfast. It stopped shortly after I got down to the fields thankfully. This morning was spent harvesting assorted greens and onions for the house and to be taken for various orders. These had to also be washed and packed. 

We stopped for lunch for an hour then went back to the fields. More harvesting to start with then I set about pruning some tomato plants. It certainly warmed up but as I was finishing at 4.30pm the rain came down again and another thunderstorm started. I was supposed to be going into Cambridge with some of the other volunteers but seem to have missed them so ate in the main house.

I don't think I'll be staying here more that a week. I want to break up the trip to Philadelphia so am trying to line up some volunteering back in New York or the surrounding area as I need to go there to change buses regardless as I make the trip south.

Boston to Albany and beyond

So today was all about travel. I made my way to the bus station and left Boston just as a thunderstorm started for the 4 hour bus ride north to Albany. I couldn't settle on the bus but did manage to get stuck into the first few chapters of Wuthering Heights.

I was picked up from the station after a short delay by Jonah, my host for my stay. He drove myself and one other volunteer the 45 minutes to Cambridge, a very small town. The area is so idyllic and very tranquil. The farm itself covers a large area, is self sustaining from organic produce and also makes natural soap to sell to both large and small organisations.

The community is quite interesting. They have about 70 members here, adults and children, are all very friendly and have other similar communities around the world. There are morning and evening prayer based meetings after which they eat as a group. The food was lovely and I also got a welcome basket on my bed. There are 7 or 8 volunteers here at the moment. I'm sleeping in a tent for now with 2 others until rooms become available. It has everything I need including electricity so as long as it's warm enough I'll be ok.

I'm pretty tired after the travelling so don't envisage staying up late plus I've no idea how hard I'll be working whilst I'm here or what I'll be doing over the forthcoming days.

My tent

Farmhouse

Common Sense soap shop

Relaxing

Today started back in Cambridge close to where I finished yesterday's day out.  I walked down through MIT and across the Charles River on Harvard Bridge. I made my way to Fenway Park, home of the Red Sox then back towards the city centre to follow the Black Heritage Trail. It took me through some lovely areas with big expensive houses.

I made my way from there into the Public Garden and relaxed in the shade for the next hour or two. It actually cooled to a very pleasant level as I sat. I headed past the original Cheers bar and to a pub, Lir to watch the Arsenal friendly game with New York. It was pretty quiet so I guess all the Boston Gooners headed south to watch the game in person. It ended in a 1-0 defeat but was a decent game and the youngsters did well. I ate at the pub which saved me having to buy then cook anything at the hostel.

Back at the hostel I've sorted some more bits for my trip including travel from Philadelphia to Baltimore and a hostel to stay in there. The hostel I wanted in Philadelphia is fully booked so I'm trying to find someone to stay with on Couchsurfing before I book into a less convenient hostel.

MIT

Robert Gould Shaw / 54th Massachusetts Regiment Memorial

Make Way For Ducklings, Public Garden

JFK and Harvard

Today I headed south on the subway and to the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum. For an American history buff like me it really was a great place to visit. I took the guided tour option although it was quite a loose arrangement and I was able to wander off and look at the different exhibits. They had so many original items and letters from both JFK and Jackie and also an extra exhibit on the Cuba Missile Crisis. This I particularly enjoyed as it featured lots of original documents and actually recordings from ExComm meetings at The White House.

Afterwards I wandered over to the Commonwealth Museum at the Massachusetts Archives just opposite. It was quite interesting to read more about the foundation of the US and to see original copies of The Declaration of Independence and Bill of Rights.

It was already mid afternoon by the time I was finished so I took the subway to the other side of town for a look around Harvard University and the Cambridge area. There were lots of summer school kids around and plenty of tourists so in many ways not very different from Oxford. I ended up walking north rather than south in error through some quite pleasant suburban areas but rather than turn around I walked to the next subway station where I caught the train back to my hostel.

Again it's been quite hot today although apparantly this is comfortable weather for Boston. Maybe I'm doing too much activity as I do seem to be quite hot and bothered by the end of the day. I'm tired so am not venturing back out. Instead I'll do some reading, listen to some music and recharge my batteries before my final full day here.

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum

Harvard Memorial Hall

Long day exploring

So as is normally the way in a new hostel I didn't sleep well and woke up early. It was overcast (no storms) and less humid but did clear up as the day went by although thankfully not as hot or sticky as yesterday. 

I got the 9am shuttle to the subway and headed to the Common in the centre of the city. I had a scout around, went to the visitors centre then went on two free hour long walking tours taken by the National Parks Service from Faneuil Hall. They were both filled with information but only covered small areas so not much walking.

After the second tour I headed up to the USS Constitution and USS Cassin Young taking a walk around the latter. Then I went to Bunker Hill and climbed the 294 steps to the top of the monument. Boston is a small city and easy to walk around. They have the Freedom Trail marked on the sidewalks so you just need to follow that to all the main historical sites.

I walked back towards the city centre and checked the market and street performers around Faneuil Hall. The area reminded me of Covent Garden and is likewise very busy.

There was a free outdoor performance of Twelfth Night by the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company on the Common at 8pm so I decided to stay out to check that. It was a very contemporary version but a most excellent watch. 

Having been out for more than 12 hours I'm very tired. I should sleep better tonight.

Bunker Hill Monument

View from Bunker Hill Monument

Twelfth Night, Boston Common

Arrival in Boston

So today I made the move from New York to Boston. It was a very hot and humid day so in one way being on an air conditioned bus for 4 hours wasn't too bad. Unfortuately the wifi didn't work but I did manage to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of the free books on my tablet. The hostel here is to the north of the city in Everett. After catching the subway I gave them a call and they came and picked me up from the station. It wouldn't have been too much of a walk but in these weather conditions it was most welcome. 

After settling in I took a long walk around Everett. It seems like a quiet suburb. There isn't much of anything to do in the local area but the hostel runs regular shuttle buses to the subway in the morning and will pick you up until late to save you walking back to the hostel. They also offer breakfast so that's one less thing to think about. 

I've got a few things I know I want to see and do here but tomorrow will probably just head to downtown and see what's where. There is a possibility of storms passing through which whilst cooling things may lead me to find more activities to do inside.

Backpackers Hostel, Everett

Coney Island

What a hot day. The sunscreen and shorts were out for a trip to the beach at Coney Island. It took an hour to reach by subway and when I got there around midday it wasn't very busy but certainly got a lot busier during the afternoon. I walked a fair bit of the boardwalk and along the pier (a lovely breeze to cool things a little). I eventually ventured onto the beach. The sand was so hot but I made it closer to the water and found part of a jetty to sit on for a good hour and a half topping up my sunscreen regularly. I already have an impressive tan. I had a good paddle along the water's edge before heading into the Brighton Beach area and finally sorting a SIM card thanks to a very helpful and patient assistant at AT&T.

I took the subway back to Manhattan, walked over the Williamsburg Bridge then spent some time walking around Williamsburg discovering the area better and looking at some neat urban art. I didn't get back to the hostel until after 8pm so feel I made the best of my final day here.

Coney Island

Williamsburg urban art

Williamsburg Bridge

Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park and Baseball

I had a leisurely start to the day after waking early. I headed out and walked towards downtown Brooklyn. It was further and took a lot longer than I thought to reach the Brooklyn Bridge and a fair amount of time to cross it to Manhattan. 

From there I caught the subway to Times Square to find a Yankees store where I could get a ticket for tonight's baseball game. I took a walk up to Central Park and spent a good couple of hours walking then relaxing in the shade. No matter how many times I visit New York I always find something different to see in the park.

The baseball was decent but the Yankees lost 4-2 to the Texas Rangers. I had a good seat and grabbed yet another souvenir cup for my collection.

I'm very tired now and hoping to take things at a slower pace tomorrow.

Brooklyn Bridge

Central Park

New York Yankees vs Texas Rangers

Walking Manhattan

I've walked and walked and walked some more today. The Brookes Admissions Global challenge team would be proud of me.

I slept ok until my body clock kicked in about 5am and I was wide awake. I managed to doze on and off until 8am. I went searching for a phone/SIM in the local area but didn't find what I had hoped for.

After a brief break back at the hostel I walked over the very long Williamsburg Bridge and into Manhattan. I got all the way to the west of the island and the World Trade Centre. The new building is quite a sight and the two reflecting pools provide a somber memorial to those who lost their lives on 9/11 and do bring home the scale of the events of that day. 

I walked down the west side of the island to Battery Park and spent the rest of the afternoon wandering aimlessly around half searching for phone options, half looking around me at the different areas in lower Manhattan. After crisscrossing streets and avenues I worked my way up to the East Village before my legs finally gave up and I boarded the subway back to my hostel.

Helen and Brian, my friends from New Jersey came over and took me out for some mighty fine hot dogs and pizza. It was so good to catch up with them and they're so lovely and accommodating especially to make the journey on a Sunday evening. I'm really looking forward to seeing other friends from this side of the pond on my trip.

Looks like I've got the room to myself tonight which means I can spread out a bit and plan for tomorrow at my leisure.

World Trade Center

Statue of Liberty

With Helen and Brian

Settling in

So I made it to New York. My flight was ok and at least arrived on time. I watched a couple of films, listened to some music and slept on and off. Pre-screening in Dublin meant there was no need to go through immigration once my flight landed in the US. I managed to figure out the Air Train and connect to the subway. I actually had someone ask me for directions at the subway station! The ride to Brooklyn was quite long but thankfully the hostel is right next to the station (although this does mean you can hear when each train goes past).

I settled in and then went out for a wander to get my bearings. Everywhere seemed quiet until I turned into the Williamsburg area. It is very hip with a shabby chic style and nearly every store being an independent retailer. There are loads of bars and restaurants too and the place was buzzing. I watched some guys playing softball in the park and walked through what seemed like a religious carnival.

It's pretty warm out so I worked up a good sweat and a healthy appetite. I need to choose what to eat and then spend some time surveying my maps and the Lonely Planet to best plan how to spend my time here.

The B Hotel and Hostel, Brooklyn

Dublin layover

I'm at Dublin airport and since there's over an hour until my next flight and free wifi a blog entry seems the logical conclusion.

I slept on and off on the flight over then had the delight of going through security not just once but twice with US Pre-clearance at the airport here. I'm not sure of the exact benefits of this process but I'm very much hoping it'll speed up my entry through immigration in New York which can be a lengthy process.

Enough time now to check the news online before boarding for the long flight across the Atlantic.

Time to fly

I'm sat at Heathrow airport in the early hours of the morning and there's not long until I fly. First I'm off to Dublin where I have a short wait before my onward flight to New York. I suspect I'll be sleeping (or at least trying to sleep) for a fair part of both flights. Although the hotel last night was pleasant enough I'm still pretty tired.

It still hasn't sunk in properly that I'm going to be away from the UK for three months. I'm a little excited, a little nervous but I can't wait to get going.

Not long

So the last couple of days have flown by as I've tried to pick up everything I need for my trip. It's hard to think if I really need any more stuff for three months away than I'd take for a three week trip. Afterall they do have shops and laundrettes in the US. I did pick up a very smart new camera which seems to do much more than I need yet at the same time is very simple to use.

I've packed my bag today. I'll no doubt have some minor panics about things I may have forgotten to put in or decide tomorrow that I've got too much and choose to take something out. I've also confirmed my first volunteering spot, arranged to meet up with my lovely friend Helen on Sunday, my first full day in New York, and acclimatised to the American accent via an online chat with the wonderful Season over in California. The time difference from here makes it so tricky to keep up with everyone so I'm definitely looking forward to conversing more with all my US and Canada based friends and family when I'm better geographically situated and to also catching up with a fair few of them in person on my travels.

As my flight is stupidly early on Saturday morning I'll be heading down to Heathrow tomorrow to stay in one of the airport hotels. It should make the early start a little easier to take.

Countdown

So it's less than a week until I head off for my adventure around the USA and Canada. I've got a list of things to do and to pick up over the next few days then I'll need to get packing.

Having ventured around the world wide web searching for travel blog sites/apps the simplest option seemed to be to use Google's Blogger app. Hopefully I can customise it over time just like all those grand docs and sites I created at work.