It really doesn’t seem like almost 3 years since Pat and I returned from our one year away “Great Adventure” but now we find ourselves just 5 weeks from our next trip.

We finished last time in Mexico, driving around Yucatan and Chiapas having dipped our toes into Central America by way of Panama and Costa Rica.

It was my fault that we didn’t spend time travelling through Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Belize. While some parts, notably Nicaragua, were ‘off limits’ back in 2017, particularly in terms of traveller safety, I had hit a bit of a brick wall and didn’t have the enthusiasm to traipse through the lakes and jungles and Mayan heritage for another 2 months. As luck would have it, I got a second wind and thoroughly enjoyed the traipsing through lakes and jungles and Mayan heritage in Mexico and left with a sense of unfulfillment (if that is even a word or a sense!).

Ever since, our return to Central America has been in the planning and now we look forward to our BA flight to San Jose on 24th March.

Apart from the first night in Costa Rica, staying close to the bus station in San Jose and 6 nights at the beach near Puerto Viejo on the Caribbean coast, we have not as yet booked anything further until we are set to arrive in USA on 8th June. So we will see where those 11 weeks take us.

It is the plan to visit all those countries that we skipped over last time.

We will return to UK from Vancouver on 15th September having spent the summer in the States and British Colombia, Canada.

Originally, we had California in mind or maybe it was just a state of mind. However, we were convinced to ditch that idea for something a little further inland while at the Sunday Times Destinations Show in January 2019. We may well end up travelling up through Northern California, Oregon and Washington after our encounter with the Parks and Cowboys.

We have had to pre book much of our stay in the USA as it is high season and there is great demand. If we don’t, given that accommodation is relatively expensive, we would most likely have ended up with a choice from the expensive rubbish that was left.

Below is our intended route through the “West” with the visit to Yellowstone the link between the two.

Accommodation will be a mix of hotel, motel, Airbnb and teepee!

I remember from our visit to New York that the names of places can evoke memories. They can bring to mind a song or a phrase or simply a feeling. Broadway, a sign for Carnegie Hall, 42nd Street, Ellis Island, the Staten Island ferry and the City skyline.

With this trip, looking at the map, I am transported in the same way with the anticipation of the likes of (The Man From) Laramie, (The) Deadwood (Stage), (Battle of The) Little Big Horn and of course, Jellystone!

I have not looked at an episode of any of those great “Western” series of 1960’s TV for many years but I guess that many are non PC. They will no doubt have depicted Native Americans as savages, but to me, as a child, these were the great programmes. Bonanza, The Man from Laramie, Bronco Layne, Cheyenne, The Virginian. I received the Annuals for Christmas.

I don’t imagine I will be able to resist falling into Yogi mood each time I see a Park Ranger.

So, we are looking forward to backpacking across Central America then driving through the American West. Both will be new to us, geographically and culturally.

Old Spanish cities, The Mayans and the volcanoes and coral islands of Central America

My great anticipations in the States are Monument Valley, Mount Rushmore, Old Faithful…

…but not in that order!

I can hear that tune in my head and yes its the theme from The Lone Ranger and not Rossini’s Overture. 

Hi Yo Silver! Away!