As I mentioned, even in the UK I loved to bum around. The best thing I ever did was learn to drive. Once I had my drivers license I was FREE and that for me is the most exhilarating feeling. I feel alive in a way I don't get from most other things.
I didn't have much money but always enough for gas and so if I heard of an interesting place, or someone mentioned a great desert they'd had on vacation, I'd make a note and when I was free I'd head off there.
I was based in London but would drive out to Devon, up to Scotland, over to the Isle-of-Wight. I just couldn't see enough of everything.
I then started back packing around Europe. I visited France, Spain, Germany, Greece (well the islands,) Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, Austria and Belgium. I didn't make it further east because the war broke out and we were strongly advised not to go. And when it became known of the atrocities done to women I was glad I took the warning.
Then I got the chance to visit New York and from the moment I landed in the snowy city of Manhatten I knew I would have to move countries.
And so I did.
