Snow in America: fabulous beaches, great surfing and an incredible waste

Last Modified: 08 Sep 2008
By: Jon Snow

After two weeks at convention Jon Snow is venturing into real America as the countdown to November's election begins. First up: San Diego.

I am in what they call an RV park in La Jolla.

I'm surrounded by lovely Eucalyptus trees and greenery, dappled shade from the brilliant hot sun, a small pool, and a laundry close by.

It's sublime... until you reckon with the freeway cursing this Californian valley, all six lanes of highway.

What's striking is the greenery in a place that is lucky to see 10 inches of rain a year. Curious.

Well, step out with me at midnight and the water sprays are gushing. Yes it's raining water right across Southern California tonight, raining water in a state desperately, even perilously, short of water.

Oh and by the way, there is no "gravity feed" of water. All water in the US has to be pumped, so imagine the energy that goes into greening up this otherwise brown and yellow countryside.

It's sublime... until you reckon with the freeway cursing this Californian valley.

I went to the border this morning, not a lovely place, but watched "repatriations" of people who had tried to cross.

Far more succeed than fail at his point. Indeed, a few weeks back 400 ran down the freeway and nearly all of them got away.

And do they arrest them when they get here? Certainly not, unless they commit a crime which they generally don't. Crime rates are 30 per cent down over the last three years.

But despite the waste, the speed and the rest, this is God's own country. It's beautiful with fabulous beaches and great surfing.

Tomorrow ... er ...LA.

Best, Jon

Jon Snow is making a documentary for Channel 4 which will be shown in the autumn.