(Part One)
Last month we had a 'hooray' in the spacious USA!
We crossed the Med to London then flew on to hot LA.
There shared a shuttle taxi on its Interstate Highway.
Our destination Ojai, where our distant cousins stay.
Fond welcome on arrival, perfect climax to that day.
The comfort of their mansion; the kindness we were shown
By cousins John and Mary made us feel so much at home.
They drove us round Ventura, massive mountains to admire.
Such beauty and immensity has that Californian shire.
Went to Santa Barbara, wondered at its style;
And Universal Studios, lingered quite a while.
Drove John's tractor round his land; weeded between his
maturing vines;
Rode his 'Harley-Davidson' which almost blew our minds.
Musical Verse Interlude ....
On our final Saturday, luncheon was arranged
To greet and meet with more our kin, migration long
estranged.
Cousins Yi and Andy came, up from Orange south LA;
Daughter Anne, friends Henshaw there, they also made our
day.
Early Sunday morning on Amtrak we entrained;
Viewed the western coast line, scen'ry so well famed.
Washington's Tacoma, six hours late we came,
Where our dear friends were waiting still to greet us with
acclaim.
Paul and Don we clearly saw when off the train we stumbled.
"Where is sister Sally", her dear old pal Jake mumbled?
At last a 'Lion Rampant' waved up front the train.
Standard-bearing lady saw she'd picked the wrong end!
Great then was the laughter when fast-running down the train
Came happy Sal to join us all with hugs all round again.
Twas too late that night to think what the weeks ahead might
hold -
Sight-seeing, cruising, chatting on about fond days of old.
The rest of this safari has so many weeks to run...
New music must be found before more mem'ry rhymes are
sung...
About proud Seattle and cool Alaska's vast expanse;
But nothing could be surer than these'll be a Scottish
dance.
We'll 'jig' down at Redondo to music it's not heard;
And 'reel' along to Qwest Field, after Arctic trips are
dared
To seek out wild black bears and ice glaciers' blue expanse;
But nothing could be surer than these'll be no kilted dance!
