Fionn, The wild and beautiful river you pedaled along was the Russian River, named for a Russian fur trapping settlement in California, that was bought out as part of the Alaska Purchase. It means you definitely got past Bolinas, past Drakes Bay (where Sir Francis Drake's engraved lead plaque was discovered, claiming California for England) and past Bodega Bay (where Hichcock's movie "The Birds" was filmed). To pedal all of that is a tribute to your physical shape, because even if the views are breath taking, so are the hills.

And for now I must stay a Guest, as my job allows me frequent access, as long as no emergencies intrude (I do the disaster relief/NBC Weapons of Mass Destruction deployments as one of the interfaces between FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and DoD (Department of Defense). And I share all your missives with my fellow travelers to be.

Brawn, as far as I know, the "twining" involves providing housing and sponsoring alternating visits between the groups. Since Morris dancers tend to run in packs, they are frequently either leaving for England, or sponsoring a trip to the States, en masse.

As for the Border Morris, they tend to be the personality types whom I characterize as those who should be watched through a small hatch in the door, while they sleep. (Are the Welsh like that?)