Belfast, Northern Ireland

What an amazing journey Hearsay has had, going from Sydney, Australia to the opposite side of the world. Hearsay was hosted in Belfast, Northern Ireland by Geoffrey Bowman, who along with Rick and several other writers, co-authored a book scheduled for release in 2010.

Along with Geoffrey, one of the places Hearsay visited was the dry dock at Harland & Wolff where the Titanic was built.


Hearsay overlooks the Belfast skyline, which is obviously dominated by the cranes at the Harland & Wolff shipyard.


A better view of the Harland & Wolff cranes ...


This is the Northern Ireland Assembly, which is the country's equivalent of the United States Capital.


A map of Northern Ireland ... Belfast is located on the country's eastern coast.



ESTIMATED TRAVEL BETWEEN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA AND BELFAST, NORTHERN IRELAND: 10,640 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 30,790 MILES

Sydney, Australia

Yes ... you read that right. Hearsay has made the long, long journey to the land down under, where he's being hosted by Colin Burgess, the editor of a book series to which Rick recently contributed.

The Burgess family took a trip to Sydney and brought Hearsay along for a day of fun in the sun.

Here's Hearsay on a ferry, coming up on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ...


This is a great view of the Sydney skyline, along with the famous Opera House ...


An even better shot of the Opera House ...


Hearsay soaks up the sun on beautiful Manly Beach after a delightful ferry ride from Sydney's Circular Quay ...


A map of Australia ... Sydney is in the southeastern part of the country, on the coast.(http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/pacific/australia)


ESTIMATED TRAVEL FROM YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA TO SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA: 9,550 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 20,150 MILES

Bratislava, Slovakia

We haven't mentioned Hearsay's European cousin, Habeas, before, have we? Habeas lives in Bratislava, the capital city of Slovakia.

He recently went on a tour of the city, and sent back these photos.
This is a panoramic view of Bratislava.


Here's Habeas at a World War II memorial in Bratislava.


This castle dates to the eighth century. Amazing. Absolutely amazing.

Here in the background is St. Martin's Cathedral, where 13 Austrian and Hungarian kings were coronated during the Turkish occupation of Budapest in the Middle Ages.


Finally, Habeas overlooks a bridge over the river Danube, with a round, UFO-shaped restaurant on top.


Bratislava is located on the western edge of Slovakia, near the border with Austria. (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/maps/europe/slovakia)

Kennedy Space Center, Florida

OK ... so Hearsay has been to some pretty cool places in the last few months, but this installment pretty much takes the cake. Here, our intrepid traveler was able to make his way to the Space Shuttle Launch Pad B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

This is Hearsay at the base of what's known as the External Tank (the rust-colored tank in the middle) and the Solid Rocket Boosters that would launch Endeavor into space. There wouldn't be much of Hearsay left if he happened to be in this spot during an actual liftoff.



That leads to this view, of the very top of the External Tank and the Florida coastline ...

Finally, Hearsay winds up just outside Endeavor itself, and is shown here in front of the spacecraft's Forward Reaction Control System.


ESTIMATED TRAVEL FROM HERMITAGE, TENNESSEE TO YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA: 330 MILES

ESTIMATED ROUND-TRIP BETWEEN YADKINVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA AND KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLORIDA: 1,060 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 10,600 MILES

Nashville, Tennessee

Joe Estep took Hearsay on a whirlwind tour of Nashville. Here's just a few of the hot spots they hit in and around town ...


The legendary Ryman Auditorium, the longtime home of the Grand Ole Opry.


Of course, Nashville wouldn't be Nashville without Roy Acuff and Minnie Pearl!!!

Franklin, Tennessee

Hearsay continues on his adventures with our friend, Jennifer Estep. Here, he's shown with Rick's best friend since high school and Jen's brother, Joe Estep, at The Bunganut Pig Pub & Eatery in Franklin, Tenn., just outside Nashville.

What exactly is a bunganut pig? Good question. There IS an explanation, and it has something to do with a pig going to school at Oxford.

At any rate, Hearsay got to hang out with Joe and Jen, and even members of the band they went to see. There are a few rumors concerning where Hearsay will be next, so stay tuned.

ESTIMATED TRAVEL BETWEEN CLEVELAND, OHIO AND FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE: 480 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 9,540 MILES

Cleveland, Ohio

Who would've thought that Hearsay would ever wind up in Cleveland, Ohio? Well, he did, thanks to Jennifer Estep, a good friend of Rick's who lives in Hermitage, Tenn., just outside Nashville. Jen is the sister of Rick's best friend from high school, Joe Estep, and she's the daughter of Rick's adopted godmother, Sandi Estep.

I guess that makes her Rick's godsister, right?

Jennifer was in Cleveland on business, and she took Hearsay along for the ride. Hearsay, along with Jen's friend Mike Kerestesy, was able to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

ESTIMATED TRAVEL FROM RED BOILING SPRINGS, TENNESSEE TO CLEVELAND, OHIO: 850 MILES

TOTAL TRAVEL: 9,060 MILES