Zubaidayah, Iraq

Talk about a road trip ... Hearsay went from Northern Ireland to the U.S. military postal sorting facility in New York City and then ... then to Rick's cousin, Matthew Houston, who is serving in the Army in Zubaidayah, Iraq. Check out these photos that Matthew sent back ...

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere's Hearsay, geared up and ready for patrol:


This is Hearsay in "downtown" Zubaidayah, with a mosque in the background. He's riding along with Stallion 5, en route to Combat Outpost (COP) Dolby for a logistical resupply:


Passing an Iraqi Army checkpoint:


Hearsay on his ride for the day, a MRAP (Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle):


Hearsay takes his turn on watch in the MRAP's turret:


Overlooking some shops on the route:


The mission's nearly complete and almost home, with the rest of the convoy trailing:


A map of Iraq ... Baghdad is located in the central part of the country. Words cannot fully describe how much we appreciate what Matt and the rest of our men and women in the military are doing for us. God speed, Matt ... (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/middle-east/iraq/)


TRAVEL FROM BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND TO NEW YORK CITY: 3,173 MILES
TRAVEL FROM NEW YORK CITY TO BAGHDAD, IRAQ: 5,995 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 40,078 MILES

Bushmills, Northern Ireland

Geoffrey and Hearsay made the trip to the Giant's Causeway, near Bushmills, Northern Ireland. According to Wikipedia, the Giant's Causeway "is an area of about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic eruption." The location has been declared a World Heritage Site.


ESTIMATED ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN BUSHMILLS, NORTHERN IRELAND AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 120 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,910 MILES