The USA Travel Diary series starts HERE.
The Day by Day Descriptions Start…
Diary Entries From 22 October to 15 November 1981
22 – 25 October 1981 New York
Weather: fine and warm
We arrived in New York 22nd October. We caught a taxi from Kennedy Airport to Toni’s aunt’s place which cost us 30 bucks. Toni’s aunt is very nice. She [Toni] also has three cousins Bart 22, Antoinette 18 and James 12.
We slept two doors down from them at the old ladies place. Her name is Tessie. She is as deaf as a doornail.
The room we sleep in is so old and creepy she hasn’t been in there for 12 years since her hubby died, and boy can I believe that!
The first Sunday we were in New York Bart took us for a drive and walk around New York. Man the place is gigantic.
We went to the Empire State Building which is where on the 80th floor my stupid contact lens fell onto the elevator floor. Luckily no one trod on it.
Toni found it after Bart and her had been groveling around on the rather dirty floor for awhile. I was pretty lucky because everyone waited to get into the elevator until we found the lens, which according to Bart, they usually would not have been so courteous.
26 -28 October
Place: New York
Weather: cloudy and drizzling
On 26 October we rode the subway for the first time, talk about creepy. Toni and I stuck like glue to one another.
New York would have to have the largest mixture of oddballs ever. I think the Jews take the cake. What a sight for sore eyes.
We met Bart at his work and he came home with us on the subway at peak hour. If we didn’t run we would have been killed in the stampede.
Tuesday, 27 October
We decided to go to the Rockefeller Centre uptown Manhattan. We caught the subway but unfortunately we didn’t get off until Queens Station, which was about 10 miles further than we wanted. But we did make it back.
Wednesday, 28 October
We went to Manhattan and saw the movie Mummy Dearest, it wasn’t bad. But not as good as I expected.
29 – 30 October
Place: New York
Weather: cloudy and windy
Friday, 29 October
We went to the World Trade Centre. Went up to the observation deck which is on the 110th floor. What a view.
I haven’t been that high apart from being in a plane. Afterwards we met Bart and we went to a bar. We had a couple of drinks then went home.
Saturday, 30 October – Halloween.
All the kids in the neighborhood dressed up in costumes and go knocking on doors. You give them money or candy. If you have nothing to give don’t open the door or you’d probably get an egg in the face.
Note from Greg in 2023: In 1981 in Perth, Halloween was seen as a weird and uniquely American phenomenon. These days though it is a very big deal for families with young kids (and some others) and there is plenty of Trick or Treating done.
6 November 1981
Place: New York
Weather: cool and cloudy
Friday, 6 November
We went to the Statue of Liberty. We met two guys from Egypt while we were there and Toni had her photo taken with one but I refused. We went inside the statue and climbed to the top of her head. Which was done by climbing 167 steps up the narrowest, most spiral staircase you have ever seen.
I was buggered when I got to the top, and for the next few days do you think we could walk? Forget it, my legs were aching so much I could hardly move.
Saturday, 7 November
Place: Washington DC
Weather: sunny and cool
We caught the Greyhound bus to Washington DC. Which took just over four hours. We booked into the Ramada and our room was more like an apartment.
That night we went out for the first time since being in America. We went to a country and western club called Bronco Billy’s. [GM: I found this Washington Post article dated 1983 reviewing Bronco Billy’s in DC.]
We had a ball. I met this guy there called Doug Smith. He had been to Australia working for Shell in Queensland from 1972 to 75. He offered to take me to lunch tomorrow and show me some of the sites so I agreed.
He seems very smart and wealthy. He gave me his card and asked me to call.
Sunday, 8 November
Place: Washington DC
Weather: sunny and warm
Doug took us out for brunch at a beautiful French restaurant in old town Alexandria. Later on he drove us to Mount Vernon which is George Washington’s estate. It was beautiful.
After that we went to the Capitol Building which is where Doug works.
9 – 10 November
Place: Washington DC
Weather: fine and cold
Monday, 9 November
We moved from the Ramada into the Americana Motel in Arlington which was a lot cheaper. Doug came over that night, we watched TV for a while then I went to his apartment for a couple of hours.
Tuesday, 10 November
We went to the Washington Monument, to the White House, but it was closed and then to the wax museum which was also closed. So we did a lot of walking but not much seeing.
We went to a jazz bar called Rumours. We were supposed to meet Doug there but he never showed up so consequently I didn’t enjoy the night as much as what I had hoped to.
Note from Greg in 2023: Doug’s card reveals he was the Legislative Assistant to Minority House Leader John J Rhodes (Republican, Arizona), and if anyone reading this knows Doug, tell him I don’t think we’ll ever be friends.
11 – 12 November
Place: Washington DC
Weather: fine but freezing
Wednesday, 11 November
We went to the wax museum, a guy gave us directions, then he tagged along with us. His name was Bill the Dill.
That night Doug, and his friend Mike (who Toni liked) came over. We watched TV for a while then I went back to Doug’s place and stayed the night. I’ll always remember this Remembrance Day.
Thursday, 12 November
We went to the White House. We had to have our bags searched to get in. But it was very interesting. Afterwards we went back to the hotel to sleep. Doug didn’t ring.
Friday, 13 November (Black Friday)
Place: Washington DC
Weather: bloody cold
Unlike Remembrance Day I would remember today, but not very happily.
We did a lot during the day. We went to Arlington Cemetery, Lincoln Memorial, Kennedy Centre and the Air and Space Museum.
Doug didn’t call again so I decided to call him. He seemed very cold on the phone and I got pretty upset.
We were supposed to do something tomorrow as it was Doug’s birthday but he forgot it. I felt so angry I just wanted to get away from DC.
Saturday, 14 November
Nothing happened. I’d rather forget this day.
However I had my first fortune cookie today and the note in the cookie seems rather appropriate it read
“don’t let doubt and suspicion bar your progress”
Seems like good advice to me. I only hope I can be wise enough to follow it.
15 – 20 November
Place: Ocean View, Virginia
Weather: I don’t think they have it
Sunday, 15 November
Caught the bus to Ocean View, Virginia. Met this sailor called Keith Kromer. He helped us find a hotel and helped us to try to locate Wayne.
Our hotel was called Twin Sails. We had a meal across the road at a bar called The Drifters. We were in the midst of hundreds of sailors which did not please me at all. Men at the moment aren’t my favourite pastime.
We stayed in Virginia until 20/11/81. There is nothing to see there except sailors so I won’t bother writing about it.
I was glad to leave and get back to New York. Toni enjoyed herself there.
2 replies on “The USA Trip Diary – Part 3”
I wonder if Doug was married…. bit of a cad but Tren dusted herself off and moved on.
New York in the early 80s sounded like a manic city, what an adventure 👌
Strangely, that had never occurred to me, but seems quite possible. I think she got over it pretty quickly and as you will see, it wasn’t her only liaison with a man during that trip.
Yes, I gather NYC in 1981 was quite wild. Trenna told me that the day before they arrived at Toni’s relative’s place there had been a drive by shooting at the intersection just up the road. Quite different to sleepy old Perth in 1981.