h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hah! That's it Tavaron! Thankyouverymuch. Perhaps that's why I forgot all my border crossings, because nothing notable happened. .

.. as well as it being 200 yrs ago. .

This does inspire me to try to make a piece of writing from nothing interesting. . And I do love to cross UK county borders, from Devon into Dorset, from Dorset into Hampshire, from Hampshire into West Sussex, from West Sussex into East Sussex. This is very thrilling to me, even though nothing notable happens. . I shall retire to my journal to work this one out .. . Thanks for the inspiration.

cc

My favourite border that wasn't:

In 1963, early summer, all our goods were packed into the van and sent off. We got up very early, piled into the family car - a 1957 Chevrolet, green, hardtop, with those wings - and set off in the general direction of North.

The thing is, we kids thought we were leaving the country. Our friends had given us going-away parties and gifts, and told us to write. We crossed into Arkansas, for some reason, In Missouri, we stopped for breakfast.

My dad, sensing a teachable moment, informed us: 'You're in the North now.' We looked around, but it all looked boringly normal. They even used the same money and everything.

Then the Strange Thing happened. The waitress showed up to take our breakfast orders.

'How do you want your potatoes?' she asked.

Gasp. And there were NO GRITS on the menu. We had left the country.

Ouch! A traumatizing culture shock!

Always looking for something to soften the blow I came up with this:

It could have been worse - they could have served marmite

That would have been even more surprising than hash browns.

My earliest border crossing I can recall, the family was crossing the Nevada-California border, back in an age when there was still a quarantine station on the border.

We had to dispose of some fresh Oklahoma grown tomatoes before crossing and my pet paper wasp had to go.

Hi Cactuscafe - I enjoy crossing UK county borders too, especially to read the ridiculous signs the tourist board erect at those locations.

I live in 'Jane Austen country', believe it or not. It's not yet a member of the United Nations, but when it is we'll all wear poke bonnets and write poetry.

I was driving near Hastings the other day when I saw a sign welcoming me to '1066 Country'. I was disappointed. I'd spent ages fiddling with the FM Radio trying to find Dolly Parton.

I love it, Icy.

Thank you for that, Icy. I shall now add "Brontë Country" to the list of countries I have visited

Morning all! I love these county/state border stories! They are so great, they make me feel very inspired. . Now I want to go border crossing some more.

Ahh, yes Icy, 1066 Country, , I come from near there, that's one strange frequency, no DP indeed. There does seem to be an Indie/Folk band called William the Conqueror, I just checked so perhaps they'll get some airtime. .