As it turned out getting into the US of A proved a wearisome business.  Just a few minutes under 2 hours in the queue for passport control; 5 officers, 250 passengers constantly topping up their numbers as flights land.  Some palpitations too as I listened, over and over again, to the recorded announcements of dire warnings about bringing food into the country.  I'd been given some jams and toffees by a friend as a gift for my hosts here in Washington; and she'd suggested I bought them some good cheeses too.  As I'd not really noticed the question about bringing in food on the customs declaration form I had, in effect, lied.  Well one good thing about 2 hours queuing; plenty of time to make amendments!

When I was finally processed I asked as politely as possible if the shortage of staff was due to budget cutbacks?  She'd already smiled when I told her the main purpose of visit was to attend my son's wedding and she looked at me and said,"Well I don't want to diss my government but that should not have happened".  She apologised on behalf of the US Government; so that's alright.   Honesty paid too, in this instance, as she seemed concerned only if I was bringing in meat, veg or seeds and waved me through.  As did the actual customs officer a few minutes later as I passed through with my case.

Despite his manifest hopelessness in the face of global financial instability my hosts, Jan and Stu, think Obama will win a second term.  Apparently the Republican front runners are creationist Mormons.  The first is OK for the Republican roots but the second is deeply suspicious.  But watch out for Huntsman, the dark horse, who was Obama's ambassador to China.  Oh, whoops, he's a Mormon too

As a heavyweight reflection on the 'Declining Empire' I brought Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire' to use as a comparator.  Naively not realising that the abridged edition runs to some 700+ pages.  Ah well.  Reaching page 140, as the descent into Washington Dulles began, I have to say his observations on Judaism and the birth of Christianity were refreshingly adroit.  In the 1770's and 80's, when he published, one would need to be circumspect whilst charting an overview of a civilisation that lasted over 1000 years as it moved from polytheism of 57 varieties into a single state religion; at which point it disintegrated.  He needed to avoid some obvious pitfalls.  As I gradually get used to the eccentricities of 18th century language I begin to see how carefully he dances.

I am clearly setting up a tradition of (harmlessly) falling off my motorbikes on the first day of possession.  As I tried to move the new blue monster out of Stu's backyard, via the lawn, I encountered a bit of a step onto the path.  I got the front wheel up OK but not the back one and as I began to slide backwards I just knew she was going over.  Fortunately its been raining a lot recently and Stu hasn't cut the lawn which is luscious and soft.  No damage done except to ego.  And the second attempt worked fine.  Several bulb and contacts problems at the testing station meant a failure loomed but as luck would have it a mate of the tester, who is a Land Rover and Jaguar mechanic, stopped by at just the right moment.  He also happens to have 6 motorbikes.  Both front and back brake contacts to the brake light were 'cattled' (geordie slang if you don't know it - cattle trucked!?!) but our man fixed it.  The banter in that workshop was a joy to listen to and it was a much better welcome to America than passport control last night.  I hate riding in the rain and avoid it whenever possible but I needed to get the test done and the vehicle registered so despite the unseasonable rain - don't worry Peter it never rains here at this time of year Stu re-assured me a couple of weeks ago - I had to plough through it.  I suppose its a good introduction to driving here as I sincerely hope I will not have to drive through anything as unpleasant or uncomfortable for the whole of the rest of the trip.

Last night I discussed poverty in the US with Stu and Jan.  She is a senior journalist and has many contacts as well as the journalists love of speculation and enquiry.  This is a country with an insane dichotomy between the few ultra rich and the many many in dire poverty; so far only Patrick has seriously objected to my decline theme.  We will see how the debate goes when I get to the wedding.

And now the sun has come out.