Courtesy of Paul Crosby of Lombard Shipping and Mainair my Trike arrived in one piece at Titusville Florida, the home field of Trevor Sayer the British Instructor and Mainair dealer for the USA. Trevor and I rigged her up and took her out for a test flight; all was well.

A few days later in the company of John North flying Trevor's Blade 912 I headed for Lakeland and Sun and Fun, my first cross country and 85 miles to the west . After a very bumpy journey and a wild landing I had made it. We then spent the next week manning the Mainair stand together with Roger Pattrick, Chief Designer of Mainair UK.

The interest was enormous. Sun and Fun is a massive typically American highly organised G.A and Ultralight meeting, and at one point I was astounded to see more than 40 Powered Chutes flying around in a small area. Only the Yanks would try this.

I would recommend any Limey to visit this place at least once in their life, but avoid the portable toilets like the plague, in the heat the smell is incredible. If you do use them don't get locked in like my son Sean, who had to be resuscitated after 45 seconds; it's a good way to get rid of a troublesome mother in law though.

The American friendliness and hospitality knows no bounds. I was approached by many Ultralighters offering me a landing places all over the USA, including many I had already contacted over the Internet. A fantastic country and people thanks all, you are too many to name here. I do have my doubts though about the sanity of many of them who boil tea bags, cool it, add ice then wait for this Brits DRINK IT! [to all you Yanks we pour the cold stuff away or water the plants with it] - disgusting habit. They also drive on the wrong side of the road without prosecution and wrap beer in a brown paper bag before drinking it?

I had a few days rest from the heat and dust of Sun n Fun when my wife Kerry and son Sean joined me and we were carried off to Busch Gardens by Charles and the Lovely Elaine from New York state in the biggest RV I had ever seen - it had everything but a full sized swimming pool .Charles works for Budwieser, who own the gardens, so used his influence to smooth the way in. I hope to land in their garden near Syracuse for a few beers on the way around.

On Saturday the 15th April I prepared to leave and head North West but first I collected a new Warp Drive prop donated at a very special rate for my trip - many thanks Dale and Del, who will also refurbish my old prop and supply it as a spare.

I headed off, rucksack in the back, towards Ames Field 130 miles away and spent the next two hours plus being thrown around the sky by the heat turbulence of the day. At Ames, my first real solo stop, I expected brass bands and flag waving; instead Ned was indoors dozing and Suzanne was out building a house. Even the Tortoise I avoided as I touched down ignored me.

This is a commercial field and Ned rebuilds banner towing planes, usually Piper Cubs with enhanced engines. I was here to meet my family, who had driven up for a few days, and Bill Dickert the local Ultralight instructor - ex Marine Corp - together with his mother Hennie, who claims to be 82 yrs and looks more like 62 . Bill's guest Don Hubbick from Vancouver was on his annual 8000 mile round trip drive to visit Sun n Fun - that's dedication.

This is the land of the famous Suwannee River [remember Al Jolson]. We installed ourselves in the local Motel overlooking the beautiful river and then Bill with his girl Viv took us out for a moonlight cruise. It was magical. Holding Bill's hand instead of Kerry's was a bit strange' but I took this as a local custom and said nothing!

Next day we headed off down the river to swim in the local fresh water springs and in true Brit abroad fashion I ended up with sunburnt knees. I then took Bill out flying and we became the first to fly along the river below tree level in a Trike courtesy of the stability of the Mainair Blade and the Rotax 912.

The river dwellers were delighted and cameras flashed along the route.The river floods once in every four to seven years with advanced warning and Bill tells me he just carries on as normal using a canoe instead of his car! All the houses are built on stilts.

Next morning the reporters from the local papers came, plus a photographer who took so many photos I got fed up and politely asked him did he need me to remove my clothes. He turned green and disappeared in a cloud of dust in his car, leaving behind $10,000 worth of gear.

Sadly Kerry and Sean had to leave a few days later heading for Orlando then England. The parting was very hard for both of us, but she will join me for a week in June.

I am now waiting for the upper winds to subside before leaving this lovely area and continue on my way to Panama City and then on to Pensacola my last stop in this state before heading into Louisiana