Eugene is a place in Oregon

Not a person. Just to clear that up before we go on with proceedings. Hoh rainforest lived up to its name by having trees and raining a lot. Our tent was bombareded with heavy water from approx 2am until... well, until we left yesterday morning. Me and Ed had to pack up the tent in hammering rain, and we spent most of the day sitting in the car in wet clothes. It would have been a shame to leave the Pacific Northwest without getting rained on. It's part of the reason we came.

Since arriving here in the US I've built up my stock of redneck gear. I'm talking vests and stupid caps and aviator shades. I'm going native, that's the way I see it. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. Pictures to follow, one I've spiralled down into full blown whitetrash mode.

Got to Eugene after a long drive, but one which was pretty exhilarating. Along the way: stopped for a whizz in a gas station and got gawped at by slack-jawed natives, who couldn't recognise winning Irish charm, even when it jumped into their laps and started nuzzling them and purring. Stopped in Aberdeen, WA, a depressing seaside avenue of fast food joints and car bodyshops, also notable as the place where Kurt Cobain was born. We ate in a diner that was called Duffy's. It was under the impression it had Irish roots, and displayed its affiliation by having a logo that featured skipping leprechauns on the top of each menu. We drank about 6 coffees apiece here.

Last night in Eugene we went to a hyper-cool bar with Nathan and his friends, who are all interesting and very sweet people. The music was almost exclusively hip West Coast bands interspersed with The Futureheads and the Kaiser Chiefs. Oh, and Gang of Four. Quite hip indeed. Today we head for the Oregon Coast.

The happenings in London depressed us more than you can imagine.