America Unchained

I'm watching this documentary called "America Unchained" - it's a British guy who flies to California, buys a car, and attempts to drive across the US without giving any money to "the man." In other words, no chain restaurants, stores, hotels, or gas stations. As you might guess, the gas station bit is definitely the hardest. I can't even think of the last time I used a non-Shell/Amoco/Exxon to fill up, even when on long road trips with stretches through no-man's land and only small towns. But he's managing to find them!

They ended up all over the place - at this crazy bed and breakfast built in the shape of a beagle (yes, as in the dog, with four legs and a nose...), this amazing old soda shop that was closing down on the day and serving it's last milkshake, and a motel where the family owners invited them to Thanksgiving dinner.

I think the best part was seeing my country through the eyes of a foreigner who was looking for places that embodied the 'spirit' of America to him - independence, the American dream, etc. It made me really want to try and do more "unchained" living when I'm in the US next time. My family still uses Ashworth's drugstore for all our prescriptions, the local soda shop and pharmacy - and if it's possible to find these places even in homogeneous, yuppy Cary, it's possible anywhere!

You can get the DVD online at www.channel4.com/shop, but it's probably formatted for the UK/Europe.