HELEN'S JOURNAL

Now, I have a confession to make regarding the aforementioned breakfast. Although a long time vegetarian [which has made dining on this trip very difficult at times, as we scan the menu's hopefully, and between the chicken fried steak and the mounds of hamburger eventually find the cheering, though monotonous words, 'grilled cheese sandwich'] I made a small and one off detour today. I had the all American taste experience of' biscuits and gravy'. Ever since childhood perusals of the Little House on the Prairie books, I had wondered and salivated about this dish - now I know. It is a welcome break for both of us not to be driving today, but still experiencing the road, with a stop off at one of it's famous sights, the giant whale, which happens to be just round the corner from Jerry's house. I don't know why it's famous, probably because it is a giant blue whale on the side of the road. There were however some pretty perturbing signs on the trees near the whale, 'Keep out: shotgun security', followed by, 'you have been warned', that sort of thing. However there is something very affirming about standing in the belly of a whale- I always enjoyed that story about Jonah, and it was a great place to leave our raven finger puppet from the Tower of London.

The laundry has been done, the car is hoovered and washed, it's windows polished, and Leslie is packing the boot, ready for an early start tomorrow. This time next week I will be back in London. What, I wonder, do these last few days of our journey hold...?