Back twenty years to... Thursday, May 25th, 2006. Day 47. The wonders of online-booking, and the flight up to Alaska. A fair dose of Northern Exposure, the 'Nenana Ice Classic' and the Alyeska oil pipeline. The Mecca Bar – and Chilkoot Charlie's.

"Early awake to watch the sun rise across the river. I’m surely in 'Exquisiteplace, Stunningville, Cute County – Oregon'. Now, as I eat breakfast, I’m entertained by two large rabbits, 'jumping on one-another'. Soon then – there will be more. Next leaving the place, a proud momma duck waddles across the pathway, and following-on behind her, a procession of smaller offspring – in training – learning how properly to waddle. I’m sure the leader winks at me. It’s 'Disney', or the like. 'The Very Best of Beatrix Potter – the Movie'. The sun is shining. The sky is blue – and the only care I have in the world, is an annoying little oil leak, as it begins to chip-away at me – right at the back of my brain. It was brought to my attention at 'Oil Can Henry's'.

Driving on Interstate 5, north again, and I exit to Roseburg, park in the centre of town and take a tour of the ribbon development that is Main Street. I walk past a bar, and impulsively 'stick my head in'. The clearly insane bar lady shouts at me to 'Have a beer'. It’s now nine forty-five on a 'school day'. But I do as I’m asked and take a seat at the bar. I tell her that: 'It's a bit early for me' and ask her for coffee. I’m immediately berated with jocular insults from three other customers already at the bar, drinking draft beer and smoking. Despite this abuse, I'm so sorely tempted to stay, but I finish-up my cup, get a picture of the trio, and leave. As I do so, the bar lady yells back at me, 'Y'all come back soon now. Ya he-arr'.

Having stopped-off at Sutherlin, Oakland, Yoncalla and the so sad and unfortunately named town of 'Drain' – now south of Springfield, I reach the 'Deerwood RV Park', check-in and hook-up. I need to track-down a Sprinter dealer, to get the transmission leak fixed. This is not only a nuisance, but a bad use of valuable time. Happily though – good small towns have been plentiful, and so picture-wise at least – I’m up-to-speed."

In Search of Small-Town America: Volume 1 is a free-of-charge Pdf digital download – available from our shop. A table of contents, the introduction, the route-map – and featuring content on the first two States travelled: New Mexico and Arizona.

In Search of Small-Town America: Volume 1 is a free-of-charge Pdf digital download – available from our shop. A table of contents, the introduction, the route-map – and featuring content on the first two States travelled: New Mexico and Arizona.

Jeremy Hammond I am a British writer and photographer, and have travelled through India, China, Southeast Asia and Australia, but most extensively in North America. In the late seventies and early eighties, I worked as lighting crew, and later designer, for many top-named British bands, on tours through Europe, Japan, and the USA. I’ve worked as a cruise-ship photographer, in office and store design, database design, visual arts book publishing and as a London-based freelance photographer, specialising in interiors and architecture.