Home From America.

[ericbyrne]

Hi Everyone,

At the risk of boring you to death,I thought I would recount here a wee bit about a great adventure I had,travelling on my own around the USA.I have recently retired from teaching after 39 years and now had the time (and the money) to travel around America.My journey would last 7 weeks,I got a Amtrak Rail pass which allowed me to travel 18 journies over a period of 45 days.Rather than being just a holiday,I thought I might include a bit of Lung Cancer raising awareness.I approached a large Lung Cancer Charity in the USA to offer myself as a sandwich boardman travelling around wearing my kilt and their offical T-shirt.They were delighted to help me,and set up a website that everyone could follow on facebook and perhaps donate money to the organisation.My Journey began in Philadelphia on the second of July,I* then travelled to Richmond,Colonial Williamsburg,Washington DC,Boston,Niagara Falls,Toronto,Cleveland,Chicago,St Paul/Minneapolis,Grand Forks,National Glacier Park then finally Seattle.

Highlights? there were many, not least the friendliness of the Americans I met en route,in New York, I was invited to attend a recording of the David Letterman Show,also got to get on his set and sit at his desk,visit the green room,where past visitors included,Diana Ross,Ray Charles,Beatles,Tina Turner and many others,all of their photos hung on the green room walls (wonder if they will put mine up now?).I also visited a Pow Wow in Montana,700 Native Americans in full costume dancing around the arena,it was just spectacular,I also visited a rodeo,where one rider was thrown from a bucking broco,the horse leapt over the fence and into the spectators area,everyone scattering,I got photos of the entire scene.Finally on Saturday 13th August I completed a charity walk for Lung Cancer,and was invited as a guest speaker sharing with Senator Andy Hill and Dr Jack West of cancergrace,(my speech was put into You Tube under the title Eric Byrne - Lung Cancer Survivor.If you have a few days spare time you can review my entire journey told in a daily diary supplimented with my photographs by going to facebook.com/LUNGevityEric I do hope you enjoy it.

[JoannaHoyle Roy Castle]

Hi Eric

Welcome to our commumity of friends; it is lovely to hear from you.

I am sure your blog will be read with great interest and I think it will be seen as an inspiration to us all.

I am pleased to hear about your trip to the US and hope you enjoyed every minute. We will speak soon I'm sure but in the meantime take care and enjoy getting back on UK time. Have a great weekend and thank you for joining us and sharing your story with everyone. Best wishes, Joanna

[AlanB]

Eric, thank you for letting us into your American adventure and i am sure the good people of America will have taken a lot of encouragment from meeting Lung cancer survivors like you. it would be nice if you could share some of you photos on the site? take care

[Billculbard]

Hi Eric. Well done on your working holiday! I've read a wee bit of your blog, but started to get envious when you mentioned Glacier National Park, which we visited in 2006, and Montana in general, where we've visited twice, the week after 9/11 being the first. Hope getting back to our weather doesn't get you down too much!! Bill

[loopyloo]

Hi eric, Well done, sounds like it was a fantastic holiday.

[Robertlowe]

Hi Eric

Warm welcome home from all the gang at the Roy Castle’s Lung Cancer Support Group at Stobhill Hospital. You’ve been missed. Great experience, and a great job, spreading and promoting the word. Very well done we are all looking forward to seeing and hearing more about your adventures at our meeting.

Regards

stobhilllungcancersupportgr...