Great experience for you Kim - nice to know there's some old world politeness and hospitality still around...
That is a huge drive as well - we have trouble putting that in perspective on this small island, so I just checked out what it would mean in UK/European terms if I could drive 1400 miles east from where I am now... (no point in going west, obviously..) I'd cross 7 countries, and just make it across the Ukraine into Russky - about 200 miles east of Kiev.... Just in case you needed reminding how big the US is...
Nice story...
Katey x