Friday 3rd April

Started the trip with the longest day of my life and finished it with the shortest. Was a mixture of feelings this morning, sadness at the trip coming to an end and saying goodbye to the car that had taken us all of the way down the west coast of America, but happiness at thinking of going home and the good things waiting there. There was only one change in Philadelphia this time, so the flying was quicker and much more straightforward. Had a good chat with a guy on the first flight who was travelling to his grandmother’s memorial service in Philadelphia, a final exchange with the instantly familiar and easy-going American people, it was a nice way to ease out of the American way. Although there are certain things about it that have really stuck with me, things about the whole trip really, things which will hopefully subtly integrate themselves into my life in a positive way. The trip was quite overwhelming at times, just with the sheer quantity of spectacle and experience, and it has made me realise that I definitely want to go back and spend more time in some of these places, and in the country in general. The place can inspire quite a mix of opinions, but the range of places and people is so vast that it can inspire an unlimited amount of exploration, geographically, socially and personally.