Today we did a lot of driving from Lake Placid all over to Niagara Falls … about 560km.

Being aware I would get tired I went for something keeping me happy while driving and ended up with that swet little ready to eat baby carrots. Boy I tell you that can keep you happy and you can eat them without feeling guilty like you would do with chips or chocolate.

And the best … following my grandma they are good for the eyes … :-/ 

She always told me: Boy eat carrots they are good for your eyes! Or have you ever seen a rabbit wearing glasses?!

Now not really sure about that, they are also a great balance for standing your wife feeling bored and just for her own fun starting to argue with Susi (thats the name she gave the female voice of my GPS) about what might be the best direction to take …. :-/

Indian Summer is what I was always keep to see and at the end the reason why I’m over here at New England actually. So it’s sad that I missed it for about 4 to 5 weeks as I guess. But being part and included into some work schedules there was no other possibility to leave for it later on this year.

Now I’m not really sad about missing it. Actually I’m having a gorgeous time cruising a breath taking scenery even without that famous Indian Summer arrived already and I’m happy about enjoying the perhaps most stable summer conditions this year while being here.

At home summer was all about a constant up and down and a big mix of changing conditions so far. Two days sun followed by three or so days rain and ugly conditions. So there is really nothing I could complain about …

And last … since a while I have made it to my personal behavior to always spare something interesting out, as a reason to come back again doing it then.

So yeah "Indian Summer" with a bit of luck I will see you next then. And now I’m going on enjoying the gorgeous landscape here for a few days more.

Must be now nearly 9 years since I was in the USA for longer. And now being over again I recognize that there is some mentality border for sure. People are different here for sure.

Sure they are friendly and exceptional helpful in any situation. Bit never the less I can feel it … they are different.

The last few years I’ve traveled Canada, New Zealand and Australia and wherever it was, I have felt closer to the people there.

I really can’t specify it better than, the people there are more European alike. Strange but true … perhaps the reason why I archive to make really close friends in those countries I mentioned last, but never archived to come closer with some US folks so far.

It was somewhat early that year when my brother came up with the news that he had bought some reasonable priced GPS by following some info he had found on the net about this device could easily loaded with a bigger variety of all the famous navigation software packages like TomTom, Navigon or iGo.

Great I said, but didn’t really go into it as for since my time at the German Air Force (no, I wasn’t a pilot) I’m trained in finding my directions by using some good old maps.

So all the years, on all my journeys and trips I’ve never needed more than some more or less recent map about the area I was going to cruise and I never got lost. But it wouldn’t have been my brother coming back to it again and again … at that point we both a very much alike!

Hey have a look an what I have done with it again and again …. until the day he called me with the news: "I’ve ordered one for YOU!!"

Great :-/   That is my brother!  A 100 Euro for nothing I thought!

For what would I ever need a GPS for?! It came like it had to came. I did put it aside all the time, until shortly before this vacation now when my brother told me about he would have some North America Map for me.

Ok, why not I thought and did take it with me finally.

Now believe it or not. This little device does a great job … All the time I keep it navigating me so far. And besides one single issue when the info where to go wasn’t really clear - the good old map did help - I have nothing to complain about it’s route suggestions.

Guess there is a "sorry and thanks" necessary when I will be home again and being able to tell my brother about.

Years ago when i headed out into this world first, even phoning home was some adventure.

What will this call going to cost you? Does is need 2 or 3 leading "0" and the country code to dial home?
But today with everyone is carrying a cell phone this is no longer an issue anymore. We are used to pick our phone and dial whoever and whenever we want right away.

Now travelling some less occupied areas of the world it can happens that you reach the end of mobil phone coverage even these days.

Last this happened to me while traveling the outback of Australia. No one living out there …. no need (at least no commercial) to make effort covering this area for mobil phone usage.

But curious this time being over in the USA I’m running into similar situations. No cell phone network access since days … at least not with my european mobil phone. But knowing about there is no phoning anymore, it is impressive to see that nearly each Hotel/Motel does offer Wireless Internet connection for free …as a reason to exactly choose them and no other business instead.

Yes, world seems to be far more connected than once at the time when I headed out into it first.

But … tell me … how can they know, that today I far way more often communicate and write emails with international friends around the world … than calling folks at home and telling good old mum for example that I’m fine?

Yeah, things have changed dramatically …. but I couldn’t say I don’t like it.