Heather Gorringe - Around the World in 80 Megabytes.

People watching

My Nuffield mentor - Alan Beckett recommended that on a solo trip such as mine that you never eat alone. That way you strike up conversations and connections. Indeed I have tried this tip many times since I've been here and had some great conversations, - but what I will say is that when you are on your own, - people watching is fascinating.
I was sat outside the very nice hotel in Santa Barbara tuning in to 4 lovely american ladies chatting about their menu choice.
They're off sailing and one had a new skirt which the other described as "sassy". They have velour tracksuits on and sun visors.
But it was their discussion about the menu - they discussed in detail absolutely everything about the meal, and questioned the waiter twice on what they were going to have.
They discussed the salad, the vegetables, the type of bread (wholewheat) whether or not to have onions - which dressing will go on what. They  chose the fruits  in season . One checked that the iced tea was unsweetened, and recommended the homemade potato chips which they make on the premises.
I was earwigging on people who really care about the food that they eat - questioning what it is they were going to get. They had every choice possible available to them. This was Santa Barbara and it seemed you could grow just about anything you like there (the flowers are UNBELIEVABLE)
I often think as farmers we need to help attitude this along in the UK and choose our restaurants accordingly, -  and ask questions that we think are important about that food...oh, and of course try some variety. I now love Sushi!

Studying the cattle industry...

Heather tips on travel....

Well, I feel I have got the hang of driving in the states, and today I had a wonderful day at Paso Robles equivalent to our vintage shows at home.

Then I headed up the pacific coast road with the plan of staying at Santa Cruz. However, when I got there it was a bit commercialised for my idea of an perfect stop so I carried on for a bit, found a Starbucks - had an Earl Grey Tea (and an egg sarny actually), and planned where I was headed using my laptop. I found loads of hotels in Half Moon Bay but when I clicked on them - they said "Full"...

I decided that they couldn't all be full and so started to treck around a few...to no avail. No matter I decided to up the coast towards San Francisco and find a little B and B in a bay or cove.

I did find loads of Pumpkin farms - I cannot imagine what they dooooo with them all.

If its Halloween I reckon each family must end up with 40. Incidentally, despite the most gorgeous beach and weather there were more folks at the pumpkin farm than on the beach!

Anyway, I pulled over at every hotel and motel and B and B, but it turns out that on this Saturday night the whole population (or so it seemed) had left San Francisco and headed down the coast!

And so it was that I found myself driving in lane four of seven - in the middle of San Francisco headed over the Bay Bridge! It was indeed a mixture of Maureen from Driving School mixed with Crocodile Dundee...

A tinge of panic was coming over me, but I managed to repress it and found a hotel near Oakland (phew).
All is well, and the bath is enormous.
Here are my travelling tips for all farmers on tour!

1. Believe your laptop when it says the hotel is full.
2. Head INLAND not to the nearest sprawling metropolis...even if you have heard of it!
3. Keep as calm as possible...
4. Carry your own Earl Grey teabags with you at all times. This ensures when you finally do arrive at your destination you can have a cup of tea - before you head for the beer!

Using Social Media websites to travel.

When I went to my first Nuffield Scholarship meeting there was a discussion about whether or not to take a laptop on your trip.

The pros were improved communication and all the obvious benefits and the cons were slowing you down at the airport, security issues and many more.

During my trip my laptop has been essential: Yesterday I plugged into the free hotel broadband while sitting outside a potential hotel - checked availability and price (and my emails) before walking in and booking.
So what?

Its true that I could have just asked the front desk on the price and availability... but the internet connection along with Social Media Websites such as Tripadvisor and Expedia tells me SO much more. I get pier reviews on the hotel, the area, personal safety, whether there's a deal or discount for a single traveller. I know before I walk in what a fellow single traveller thought of the hotel when they stayed yesterday - not what the hotel thinks about itself two years ago. For a lone "Crocodile Dundee" this is indeed very handy.

Connecting with home is brilliant too. Whilst the point of this adventure is to take me away from my comfort zone, its extremely useful to dip into life at home. Karen from Wiggly Wigglers just emailed me to let me know I had spelt the title of my blog incorrectly...(Tut Tut) She says "One itsy bitsy thing though, Megabytes is with a y, rather than an i (it sounds like you are on a round the world vampire trip otherwise!!!)"

Here is a shout out to my team at home - how is it working for you in terms of communication with me while abroad? Any good examples?

Fasten your seatbelts - switch on your SatNav - we're off

I have been awarded The Beckett Scholarship from The Nuffield Farming Scholarships Trust to investigate the opportunities that Web 2.0 and Social Media can offer farming and rural enterprise.

My first trip on my own in is a 5 week tour across the USA leaving husband, son, farm and business physically thousands of miles behind,  and virtually just a click away...

I met up with Anna Farmery from The Engaging Brand who helped me put together 3 key questions which I hope to end up answering:

What are the barriers to farmers and rural business using Social Media and Web 2.0?
Are there case studies where companies and individuals have used social media as an opportunity to build community and opportunity.
Can I use Social Media for sales from my farm and business, and therefore can the wider rural community benefit?

Having travelled up from LA to Santa Barbara I can see that farming is pretty important, it even extends to the SatNav I'm using in the hire car. I have named her Ailsa and she has been of great use to me - in fact I have no idea how I would have navigated my way down the seven lane freeways without her...
But anyway here is the puzzle...It would seem she says "Carrots" when you switch her on...

Now before you think that I have misheard her, I have replayed it many times in case she is advising me of any impending doom...to no avail...she says "CARROTS". If you can clear up this small mystery as to why WHY she is mentioning that good old tasty orange root before we head off for Universal Studios - or Santa Barbara would be gratefully received...