The Many Travels of Mrs Pickles

Look here for tales from the many travels of my friend, Phyllis Bridget Gallagher as she globetrots. I met the dynamic Phyllis on a trip to Ireland in the spring of 2001 and she is still GOING! Bridget, you inspire me to travel more!

Friday, April 15, 2005

greetings from Alburquerque New Mexico

Hello everyone,

I haven't had the time since leaving Florida a week ago to get to an internet for a chat. left Ft. Lauderdale met up with a bunkmate while at the hostel in St. Augustine and left on a 20 hr ride to hell on what else but Greyhound for New Orleans. Stayed at a sterile hostile hostel for two nights had enough of that plus a big festival was going on as well in the French quarter for blues and Jazz. People everywhere. Caroline got sun stroke so the first night was not a night to carry on plus the bus ride was still a tremor. Got a great call from two other bunk mates also in the same dorm in St. Augustine met up with them in Texas. San Antino Texas. Another long long ride but the interesting thing is all along the way we kept meeting people on the bus while waiting for a clean at the different stops where prisoners just let out. Some for 7 years, 5 years one did not say. They were all talking like it was a normal thing. Seems these people have only the transportation the States give them and that is the greyhound busline.

Crossing over into Texas was an experience flat nonething interesting to look at dirty bus stations to awaite in and hardely English spoken. When we got to San Antion Tracey and Scott were waiting for Caroline and my self and let the part begin. Scott is from the Shetland Islands off Scotland and Tracy is from Northern England. This hostel was nice with a large pool and sun chairs to lie upon. it was hot in the 80's so we all got brushed up on our tans again. As usual you meet up with more travelers and our dorm was full up with them 14 in all. Food shared, cooked meals from some and a night out to the longest bar in Texas downtown next to the river walk.

This place is amazing the city is beautiful nonething like the rest of texas. After being searched and I mean searched like going to the airport we were ready to have our first pint of the evening. There were 11 of us all total. With everyone with their own accent we all made a hit with the rest of the patrons. Soon paper roses made by some the rest buying the lot a drink. Quite fun and the next night was spent at the local playing pool and listening to Queen. It was so hot we did not do much as to touring around just the river walk which I said before was incrediable. On the 1 PM bus out of town now arriving this am at 6:30 walked seemed forever to the Route 66 hostel. More prisoners on this bus ride just let loose and one on his way with his guard handcuffs and all the ride was another one not to be discussed. The place we are all staying gives us our free evening meal plus we had our free breakfast upon signing in. Looking forward to leaving here tomorrow as heading for Flagstaff Arizona for three nights with the plans to do the hiking with a backpack group from the hostel there to the grandcanyon as well as the next day to Sedona. Hopefully I will get a horse ride as I don't want to think of climbing down any trails except on four legs to carry me.

After that have booked in the hostel on the strip for 20.00 a night mind you in Las Vegas another 4 days there and for me a plane ride back to the cold again the rest are in the beginning for their around the world trip for the next year. They are heading for San Fran leaving in another week from Los Angles 2 for Figi and Caroline to Tahati. They will again hook up in New Zealand. I can't think of anything I'd like to do better is to experience again for the first time my 1st around the world trip.

I don't have the time right now to share alot of the stories as getting the look time to leave the library and do some looking. All take care and life begins when you start living itl.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

On the Trail Again

Hello fellow travelers and wish to be's

As you all know I had been in St. Augustine for a week staying at a hostel. One of my roomates from England e-mailed me a few days past wanting to know if we could hook up and do the lower part of the U.S. together. Why not I said. Also as roomies were a lady from New Castle England and her boyfriend from the Shetland Islands in Scoitland. Just got the word we are all hooking up and going right through the lower states all together. We start off in New Orleans than onto Texas whenever we get through that we end up in Flagstaff Arizonia for a backpack trip through the Grand Caynon for a week. We plan on going to Nevada than into New MexicoCalifornia being the last stop. Their is hostels all the way making our reservations along the way.

We never know what lays ahead of our lives and think this is something I would of never done on my own. Never traveling like this in the States I probably would never see what is ahead like this trip. At the moment in florida at my cousins home waiting to catch the bus for Ft. Lauderdale. Getting a bus pass tomorrow for all the traveling we shall do.

Still planning for Africa late next year. anyone wishing to join a simple but enriching lifestyle please join in. Joining up with the 77 day trip through 6 countries. Sound expansive. Not at all. Ground and tent sleeping plus riding on camels part way a bumpy old trucks the rest.

Will start the log up as soon as things begin. All have success at what ever you do and if by chance coming southwest please join us.

Still living life head on.

me