Continuing Adventures in America ================================ By Paul Robert Lloyd Sunday, 18 December 2011 At the end of last year I stated that [I'd only be taking one long-haul trip this year][1], one that would take in Austin, San Francisco and Canada. Between then and March, my itinerary changed so that I could visit my brother in Brazil (and indulge in a [bit of utopian architecture][2] on the way) but it was a tough decision. Ever since visiting [Montreal in 2007][3], I've long wanted to see more of Canada. Luckily, I was later invited to my friends Dan & Liz's wedding taking place in San Francisco in November. This presented the opportunity to make another overseas trip, one that could take in Canada and the [An Event Apart][4] conference happening in Washington DC the week before:

My itinerary mapped.

* **20 October:** Depart London Heathrow * **21-25 October:** [Washington, DC][5] * **26 October:** [Ottawa, Ontario][6] * **27-29 October:** [Toronto, Ontario][7] * **30-31 October:** [Saltspring Island, British Columbia][8] * **1-2 November:** [Vancouver, British Columbia][9] * **3 November:** [Coast Starlight][10] * **4-6 November:** [San Francisco, California][10] * **7 November:** Arrive London Heathrow Obviously, this contradicted [my desire to cut down the air miles][11]. By my failed logic, if I'm travelling such a long way, I should cram in as much as possible for that distance to have been worth flying--even if doing so would result in further flights. Thankfully parts of this itinerary were joined together by rail, which remains my favourite means of travel. Still, I end the year with a tinge of guilt, and answerable to the valid accusation of hypocrisy. Having tried so diligently last year to reduce the amount of flying I do, I hoped to keep this year's long-haul flights to one. With an important part of my family now settled in S�o Paulo, and some of my best friends based in North America, maybe such lofty goals are foolhardy. On this, I discovered [an interesting quote by Samuel Johnson][12]: > Nothing is more unjust, however common, than to charge with hypocrisy him that expresses zeal for those virtues which he neglects to practice; since he may be sincerely convinced of the advantages of conquering his passions, without having yet obtained the victory, as a man may be confident of the advantages of a voyage, or a journey, without having courage or industry to undertake it, and may honestly recommend to others, those attempts which he neglects himself. I lack no courage to undertake a journey; I do however lack the courage of my convictions. [1]: /2010/10/sxsw_greener_is_better/ [2]: /2011/07/the_architecture_of_brasilia/ [3]: /2007/07/montreal/ [4]: http://aneventapart.com/2011/dc/ [5]: /2011/12/washington_dc/ [6]: /2011/12/ottawa/ [7]: /2011/12/toronto/ [8]: /2011/12/saltspring_island/ [9]: /2011/12/vancouver/ [10]: /2012/01/san_francisco/ [11]: /2010/02/a_green_focus/ [12]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hypocrisy