Spouting Cave

North America has long been a land of migration and discovery. From the outset of European colonisation of the 'New World', and even further back among pre-Columbus Native American tribes, exploration across its vast spaces has been intrinsic in the history of the continent. More recently, in the 19th century, the phenomenon of the American railroad was the driving force behind the United States' expansion and economic development, and during the 20th century the "Great American Road" emerged at the very heart of the country's mythology, idealised in books, films, and perhaps most readily, in music. Before I left home, I created a mammoth "America" playlist (with sub-playlists for different regions of the country - cool, no?), and it's been interesting how many of the songs very explicitly capture exactly what I'm doing, often namedropping the very places I'm headed towards. Part of the appeal I see in backpacking around the USA lies not ...

When one thinks of California's best attractions, the state's dramatic coastline necessarily comes to mind. From the diverse attractions of San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego, to quaint and idyllic seaside towns; from golden beaches and the jagged cliffsides of Big Sur, to the misty redwoods in the North and surf culture in SoCal, the Pacific seaboard seems to have it all. The Californian desert, meanwhile, is a much less iconic region, and perhaps a strange stopping point for a traveler. It is an even stranger location for one of the biggest professional tennis tournaments in the world, the prime reason for my visit. But when I arrived in Palm Desert, where the imposing gates of Country Clubs mark almost every corner, and the streets are lined with high-end restaurants and shops, things started to make a bit more sense. In this town of mostly wealthy retirees, there are no hostels or budget motels, and public transport is practically non-existent. But wi...