HE AVOIDS the motorways, gets wet when it rains and was once nearly swallowed by a twister in Kansas. But that does not stop George Bombardier, 64, driving across the country from his home in California to visit his daughter in Connecticut — in his golf cart.

Even more remarkable is that Mr Bombardier, a retired roofer, can complete the journely of almost 3,000 miles (4,828km) in just ten days.

Along the way, he gets 50 miles to the gallon and reaches a top speed of more than 45mph (72kph).

He has made the cross-country journey four times, with the most recent probably being his last. “I’m not going to do it again — it takes a toll on you,” he said from Shelton, Connecticut, from where he will take a train back to California.

Members of the Highlands Golf Club in Shelton can barely believe where Mr Bombardier’s cart has come from. “Golf carts are slow,” Tony Marranzino, the clubhouse’s barman, said. “He must at least have had a windshield.”

Mr Bombardier does not even play golf – making his choice of transport even more eccentric. “I just like to drive my golf cart,” he said. “I have other transportation, but every now and then I feel like doing something crazy, so I do it.”

His is no ordinary golf cart, however. Mr Bombardier has converted it into a miniature replica of a 1975 Chevrolet Bel Air, including tailfins and hooded headlights.

“I get a real taste of America,” Mr Bombardier said. “You know what’s going on out there. You see a lot. There’s no hurry. I do it for fun, that’s all.”

His rules of trans-continental travel in a device made for driving from the seventh hole to the clubhouse are as follows: avoid the interstate motorways,eat at locally owned restaurants and always stop for police officers, who often wrongly assume that he is breaking the law. Oh, and watch out for the weather.

“If it rains, you get wet,” he said. “I woke up in Kansas to a full-blown tornado.”

Kansas is his least favourite state on his route. His favourite is sunny California.

Mr Bombardier’s daughter, Diane Wilson, says that she is always amazed at her father’s visits. “I guess you could say that I’m impressed he comes all this way to see us,” she said.

And if anyone wants a golf cart in the shape of a Chevrolet Bel Air, it is now up for sale.

ODD JOURNEYS

May 28 and 29, 1983: The Aldington Prison Officers’ Social Club, Kent, paddled a bathtub 90 miles in 24 hours

December 17, 1994 to October 1, 1997: Phil and Louise Shambrook from Lincolnshire rode 23,701 miles around the world on a tandem

April 22 and 23, 1998: Ashrita Furman, from New York, walked 80 miles around a running track balancing a milk bottle on his head

March 1998: Edd China and David Davenport of Hampshire built a motorised sofa which has since travelled more than 16,000 miles

May and June, 2000: Steve Stevens crossed the US coast to coast on a penny farthing in 30 days

February 14, 2001: Gary Hatter arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida, after driving 15,000 miles in 260 days from Portland, Maine through 48 American states, Canada and Mexico on a lawnmower

April 21, 2002: Six people morris danced for 26 miles from Madder Market to South Walsham in Norfolk