Author’s Note

          Make no mistake. This book has a co-author. I am a real person, not just Joe’s imaginary friend, but for now I’d like to bask in the reflected glow of anonymity. That’s why in these pages I’ll just call myself “John”. We have changed most of the names of the people and businesses we encountered to protect their privacy, or spare us their wrath.

          But all of the stories we tell you here are true, and so are the conversations, although one or two are consolidations.  Since we both kept journals, our recollections were recorded close in time to the actual events. In a few instances as we reminisced, we remembered other details that we’ve included.  But all of those memories are accurate to the best of our ability to recall.

          As we traveled, we found that we entertained other travelers by telling our stories in tag-team form. Since that format worked well for us in the oral tradition, we have carried it over to the written page. So, have a good read, and safe travels to all of you.