Greg in USA

A sand dune along the coast of Manila? How about a snow pile in northern New Jersey?

A rickshaw ride through the markets of Hanoi? I'll take the F-train to Chinatown, thanks.

A night clubbing through the vast labyrinths of Hong Kong? This Four Loco in Toledo should do me fine.

A game of billiards with the locals in Tokyo? Dice-throwing and incoherent screaming in Dayton for me.

A riverboat ride through the Mekong River? Nothing compared to a drive on I-40 through Arkansas.

Haggling with the cunning entrepreneurs of Shanghai? I'd rather talk with this homeless man deodorizing his shoe in Austin.

A dingy hostel packed with well-traveled 20-somethings thirsting for social interaction with their kind in Phuket? I take mine in Mississippi with 50-something truckers whom thirst for something a bit...different.

A sunset over the palm trees of Florida? Check.

These were my options as contrasted with my realities. Please enjoy these photos from my trapezoidal trip around the United States.

Beginning point: New York City/Northern New Jersey.












Destination #1: Toledo, Ohio. Total distance driven - 561 miles.

I did not photograph Toledo, Ohio. Please click here for the most accurate representation I can find.

Destination #2: Dayton, Ohio. Total distance driven - 712 miles.

Equally as visually despairing as Toledo, I chose not to photograph this city. Please click here for a near identical look through the eyes of anyone currently in Dayton.

Destination #3: Austin, Texas. Total distance driven - 1,894 miles.

Three Lovely Tour Guides.

Destination #4: Ormond Beach, Florida. Total distance driven - 3,007 miles.





Destination #5, Final Destination: Allendale, New Jersey. Total distance driven - 4,046 miles.

See "Beginning Point" for similar photos. Add 12 inches of snow and 3 inches of solid ice over everything.

A wonderful trip around a wonderful country. A list of thanks to the people that went out of their way to see, accommodate, and entertain me. In order of appearance:

Mom, Dad, Taryn, Joey, Martini, Terry, Peter, Peter's young girlfriend, Nick, The entire Henny/Gaspard/Clark/Basso/Ranado clan, those who don't possess one of those last names but for all intents and purposes...do, Grace, Jeff, April, TCC Bear, April's husband, TCC Bear's wife, Steph, A-Sol, Bella, The wonderful workers of the TCC, The Liberty-Benton school community, Zoni, Zoni's nursing friends, Beth, Chris, Harmon, Willy P, Keel, Keel's brother, Keel's brother's girlfriend, Zoni's other nursing friends, Leyna, Amanda, Sarah, Lenny, J&J Towing (as requested from my car), Bouffy, and finally the rest of the Henny/Basso clan unable to participate in the aforementioned thanks.

How fitting to see this towards the end of my journey:


If I may? USA! USA! USA!