USA DIARY
DAY THIRTEEN - posted 28 April 2011
GOODBYE AMERICA
Weve spent the day walking round Washington DC and visited all the usual places, the Whitehouse, Capitol Hill and the Washington Monument covering quite few miles on foot. All the museums in Washington are free to enter but we didnt have time to visit more than one, so we went for the Air and Space museum and spent an hour or so there.
We handed back the hire car with 1501 miles added to it. The Ford Taurus has been good to us, large and comfortable and despite its 3.5 litre engine we averaged 24.1 mpg throughout the whole trip.
This time at the British Airways check in desk weve both had to pay the overweight baggage charge of $60 but weve been upgraded from World Traveller to World Traveller Plus, Im not sure what this means but I guess well find out when we board which should be in two hours from now and all being well we land back in London Heathrow in ten hours.
Editor's Note - Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with us Steve. It has given us all a real insight into what it's like being a racing tourist. We know from the emails and telephone calls we have received, that USA Diary has proved very popular with readers.
DAY TWELVE - posted 27 April 2011
RAINING CHAMPIONS
We woke up this morning to a huge thunderstorm. All in all I think we were very lucky with the weather during the tournament. The rest day it rained and the day after the final it rained. However on all the racing days we had sunshine and hot weather.
Weve now arrived in Washington DC. Lees internet search has given us a great deal on the Sheraton Hotel, in the Arlington area of town. I think were paying less than half the normal price for the room. The hotels very plush.
This evening well be heading out to check out the local nightlife and tomorrow well spend the day sightseeing around the capital before heading to the airport for our flight which is 10pm local time.
DAY ELEVEN - posted 26 April 2011
DISAPPOINTING END TO WORLD DREAM
Again we thought we would take the same recipe that worked so well 24 hours before, easy morning on the veranda, watching the wildlife go about their day. Again we went to Wendys for their air-con and wifi.
Unfortunately the track displays was not quite the same with Lee spinning off in his last two races when leading and Steve starting off well and fading at the end.
We are currently at the Hampton Inn, home of the England squad, joined by the high spirits of Poland squad, (Well done to Lukasz and Rafal on their triumphs). We are sad to report Poland also took the World Cup drinking team victory with a courageous 7-3 heat win in the last heat to win by a vital one point.
As always it feels like an anti-climax when saying our goodbyes to our overseas visitors, and I guess peoples' appetites are whetted for 2013, and maybe, just maybe, the Aussies may have a drinking team
..
DAY TEN - posted 25 April 2011
ONE OF BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES
Today started with us spending a couple of restful hours both reading our books on the veranda to keep out of the 91 degrees Fahrenheit whatever that is in English? Then we went to the local Wendys to take advantage of their air-con and Wi-Fi. We booked ourselves a cracking deal with a good hotel in Washington for the Tuesday night.
Then we headed down the track and the evening finished with ENGLAND WINNING THE WORLD CUP. YES! YES! YES! COME ON ENGLAND. One of the best days of our lives!!! Text book performance from a top England team.
A shout out must go out to travelled England fans who were superb. Its not easy to win the contest over the Aussie fans, continually shouting and cheering.
The one that sticks in our mind is Barneys Barmy Army was sung loud and clear after the last heat.
DAY NINE - posted 24 April 2011
EPIC BATTLE IN PROSPECT
Were really into the tournament proper now. On the track weve both made it through to World individual final, and as they say youve gotta be in it to win it Steve retained his World Veterans crown, but by his own admission, its great to win it again, but the World Team Cup and the World Individual are more important events.
Steve needed to use a cash point today so we set out to find one and we came across a drive through ATM as the Americans call them. You dont even have to get out of the car to use it!
Tomorrow its the World Team Cup final and the title is really wide open. Its going to be an epic battle between England, Poland and Australia. From the way everyone been riding there really is nothing to choose between these three teams.
Whichever team rides best on the day and makes the fewest mistakes will take home the title. Lets hope it England its days like this we both race for. Let the battle commence!
ENGLAND DETERMINED TO WIN WORLD CUP
Today the tournament resumed but from a senior point the real competition starts tomorrow, with the individual semi-finals. Were both drawn in the slightly harder second semi-final. Lee and I are both disappointed about another narrow test match defeat for England today, but very determined to put this right on Saturday and win the big one (the World Team cup final).
This evening we all went up to Dixieland Speedway (thats Stock Car Speedway) but when we got there we found out it had been cancelled so returned home for a quiet evening.
Today we clocked up the 1000 miles in the hire care, we landed in the USA 7 days ago and the times just flown by.
DAY SEVEN - posted 22 April 2011
HEARD AHEAD IN USA
Last night we travelled to Elisabeth City, about 27 miles from Edenton, we decided as today was a rest day wed go and check out the night life, there are no bars in Edenton so Elizabeth City is where the nearest bars are!
We parked in a street in the city centre, right next to a wig shop, in the window was the Paul Heard wig. Hes been riding great over here so you never know there might soon be a massive demand for these!
Today the weather has taken a turn for the worse, weve had 30 degrees plus for the last 3 days, but today its about 15 degrees and raining. We decided to keep with our original plan of visiting Nags Head on North Carolinas Outer Banks. It seems that every time were near a beach it cold and raining and when were at a cycle speedway track its hot and sunny! This weather theme is due to continue over the next few days, with the forecast set fair for the rest of the tournament.
Due to weather we spent about 2 minutes on Nags Head beach, however we did spend a very interesting hour in the Wright Brothers museum at Kill Devil Hills (right adjacent to Nags Head) this was the site of the first powered aircraft flight in 1903.
DAY SIX - posted 21 April 2011
LEE AND STEVE COMFORTABLY THROUGH TO LAST 32
'Cowboy' Steve Harris, looking relaxed on the swing seat in his veranda.
Last night we went to a local hall for a banquet. There was also a local band playing called Dyversity. They were pretty good, and certainly did play a diverse selection of music, from country music to Metalica to Michael Jackson.
The England manager Pete Barnes was so happy that they played a couple of Rolling Stones tracks. Pete was telling anyone who would listen that he saw the Rolling Stones before they were famous.. What year was that Pete?? 1880??
But the star of the night was the Australian team manager Rob Fleming who joined the band on stage for a version of the Guns n Roses song - Paradise City.
On the track, the second qualifying rounds we completed today, with 11 spots in the semi finals up for grabs. Lee qualified as top points scorer with 38 points and Steve was comfortably in the top 11 with 31 points.
Tomorrow we have a rest day from racing and while most of the British party are visiting Virginia Beach. Weve already been there, so were going to visit Nags Head on North Carolinas Outer Banks. Its bike week there so the place should be pretty lively there.
DAY FIVE - posted 20 April 2011
ARIS AND HARRIS CONFIDENT OF MAKING FINAL
Today we had the first real race at Edenton Cycle Speedway in the open individual qualifying rounds A and B. Steve scored 14 points in round A and Lee scored 20 points in round B. In Lees admission, round B was by far the easier but both of us feel confident that after the two rounds well have enough points to avoid the final qualifying round.
In an interesting post match feature, the winners of each round or competition get invited to come to victory lane for in interview with Brian White. Brians race commentary is excellent also.
Later in the day we had an England v Australia test match, which we lost by two points. This was the lowest key match weve ever ridden against the Aussies but it always hurts to lose to them. Mistakes cost the England team dear but the positive note was that England battled back from a 13 point deficit after heat eight to force a last heat decider.
DAY FOUR - posted 19 April 2011
AUSSIES BOND WITH HERTFORD LOCALS
Last night we went to visit the Australian team in their house at Hertford (about 12 miles from Edenton) and half their street was there. The people of Hertford have really taken to their Aussie visitors and all the people walking around town in Green and Gold T shirts.
Lee and I also moved into our small shack. We are close to a very small village called Bethal (half way between Edenton and Hertford). Our little house, 111 Cherry Street, backs onto a river. Incidentally dont be confused by the fact that our address is number 111. There is actually only three houses in our street which is about 80m long.
Today we had our first taste of the Edenton track, during the free practice session. This was followed by an individual for intermediate riders. Incidentally the weather today was 29 degrees and theres a few of the Brits walking round this evening with red faces and arms.
Tomorrow the tournament starts properly with the first round of the individual qualifying and an additional match has been added, an England v Australia test match. Lee and I both cant wait to get racing.
Home from home.
111 Cherry Street where Lee and Steve are staying and preparing for the 2011 World championship
View from the back door - and time for relaxatioon and some fishing perhaps
DAY THREE - posted 18 April 2011
GLORIOUS DAY IN VIRGINIA BEACH
We woke up today in Virginia Beach to glorious sunshine, but we had to leave to head down to Edenton for the serious stuff which starts in the next couple of days. We called in at Gates County and caught up with the rest of the British party, watched a few heats of racing and put our bikes together, just to check them over. Im glad to report that both mine and Lees bikes have made the journey unscathed.
Were shortly heading over to the Aussies house in Hertford for a BBQ and a catch up. It will be good to see Brad Hoppo, Daniel Pudney and the boys, including my old team mate and ex Brit Paul White.
We have free practice at the Edenton track tomorrow morning, so well get our first chance to try out the track where everything will be decided over the next eight days.
DAY TWO - posted 17 April 2011
SURPRISE FOR STEVE AND LEE
20.30 Local time.
Weve walked a few miles up and down the main strip at Virginia Beach today. We had a nice surprise this morning. At about 11.00 when we had a visit from the Polish boys from Torun. Binkowski, Dulinski, Ciegelski, Paradzinski and a couple of others arrived at our hotel. I told them where we were would be staying but didnt really expect them to be here.
They decided to hire a car for the weekend and do a bit of travelling, so popped up here for the day. Lees very happy about his new Torun shirt with his name on the back. Hes signed for Torun but hasnt actually raced a match for them yet!
Those Polish boys love the tourist souvenir shops. We must have been in everyone along the two mile strip today. Believe me theres quite a few of them and they all sell exactly the same things!
The weathers not been great today, about 16 degrees quite windy and grey most of the day, but it is expected to pick up here and also in North Carolina next week. Right now theres quite a good thunder storm going on. It started about an hour ago. Hopefully it will finish in the next hour before we head out to sample a couple of the local bars, orange juice only for us athletes.
Weve just about got a sea view from our balcony! The beach here is very good, mile after mile of nice white sand, I expect its great here in summer. Tomorrow were heading for Edenton. We might call in a Gates County where the first event of the tour takes place. Looking at the map Gates County is not far out of the way when you drive from here to Edenton.
DAY ONE - posted 16 April 2011
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEE
17.30 Local time
Weve made it to Washington. Thats the good news, but we landed four hours ago and right now were only 30 miles from the airport. It took about an hour and half to clear immigration, no problems just the queue. Picked up the hire car and travelled 30 miles in nearly two hours. It seems everyone in Washington is trying to take the I-95 south. So my earlier statement of hoping to be in Virginia Beach at 18.00 is now way off the mark. Were about 180 miles away and doing about 5mph.
Lee did a good job of selecting the best available hire car. We were about to be given a Chevy, not sure what it was called but a Chevy horrible beige box would be a good description. Lee said cant we have anything sexier, so he went to the car rental parking lot, had the choice of any car in the full size row and came back with the keys to a black Ford Taurus. It cruises nicely at 5 mph. It has got a huge boot, both bike bags straight in there no problems.
23.50 Local time
We arrived in our hotel at Virginia Beach at 22.20 after a three hour drive (if there is no traffic) that took us over si xhours with the traffic. We had time for a quick reconnoitre, and now its time for sleep. Ive been awake for 24 hours. However we did have one drink for Lees birthday which incidentally must be one of the longest ever, as Lee woke up in England and went to sleep in Virginia USA which is five hours behind, so technically he had a 29 hour birthday.
Tour Part One - posted 15 April 2011
HARRIS PAYS FOR BEING OVER-WEIGHT!
Were at Heathrow, bags checked in. Steve paid the £40 overweight baggage charge as no amount of smiling at the check-in girl would swing the 27kg for free (23kg was the allowance). Lee managed to get away with his 24.5kg. Perhaps hes got a nicer smile, or a friendlier check in girl!! A special thanks to Lees wife Beth, who woke up in her words, at stupid oclock to get us to the airport.
Its actually Lees birthday today! How old is it today then Lee?
Its going to be a long day. All being well we should arrive in Virginia Beach about 6pm local time, thats 11pm UK time.
Were sure to spend the evening checking out the local entertainment. Next instalment will be from the USofA.
Editor's Note - Bon voyage Steve and Lee. Hear from you again from the other side of the Pond
USA DIARY LAUNCHED - posted 13 April 2011
An exciting new page has been launched today - thanks to an initiative by two of the World's greatest riders.
On the eve of the World championships in America, two of our greatest hopes for gold, Steve Harris and Lee Aris, have offered to write a daily diary or blog coverning their exploits and experiences Stateside.
"We are aiming to write a few paragraphs each day and post it daily, depending on internet connections of course" explained Steve. "We plan to cover off track events more, with a few bits and pieces about the racing and a photograph or two with each piece. Hopefully it will be reasonably light hearted, show a few bit and pieces from our travels and around the track. There will be a few references to that day's racing and the following days events" he added.
Lee and Steve are travelling separately from the rest of the UK tourists. They are flying into Washington DC (approximately 350 miles from Edenton) on Friday 15th April. From there they have two nights booked at Virginia Beach and will be arriving in Edenton on Sunday afternoon (17th April) in preparation for the tournament proper which starts on Monday 18th.
When the tournament finishes on Monday 25th of April, Lee and Steve have 48 hours before their flight back to the UK, so they will probably spend the last night (Tuesday 26th) in Washington DC.
Steve and Lee kick off their USA Diary on Friday, literally minutes before they leave Heathrow bound for Washington DC.
