Story so far: Countries
Aug
17
2010
A brief post to let you all know that the internet in NZ is not wifi so posts over the next few days will be brief with maybe no new photos! As soon as we find a cafe / bar hotspot, more blogs will be added. We are in Rotorua today, going to Waitomo (caves etc) tomorrow.
Stay Tooned please!
Aug
2
2010
Good job too cos we got ours conviscated at US Customs on the way in from Canada on the Greyhound! The fact we had a potentially dangerous laptop, I paid for our entry visa with Jane’s card, we had knives in our hand luggage mattered not at all. But oranges: dirty things!! bad fruit, bad fruit! To make matters worse we didnt declare them on our customs form – although Mike did ask that if we had declared them could we have kept them?? … Americans and sarcasm does not a cocktail make!!
So we are now in Seattle for days – first impression is that it is a cool place and we found a brew-pub within 72 minutes! Staying at the Green Tortoise Hostel (look it up) which is as a true hostel should be with communal kitchen and common room; plus daily trips and free dinners!!
Prob gonna go to the Science Fiction Museum & Hall of Fame tomorrow (Geek ALert!!) then the hostel has a pub crawl arranged for evening! Follow that with a 4hour coach journey to Portland on Wednesday (our Tenth Wedding Anniversary – no cards please!!) makes for a good few days.
Jul
3
2010
And we finally saw the illusive Canadian bear. One was a baby eating at the side of the road, the other slightly bigger also along the roadside:
May
24
2010
Long time no blog sorry all!
Had a great time in San Fran – managed to walk all the way up the big hill that you see in the films. We didnt really intend to but we were $4 short of the cable car fee!! Got the Holiday Inn for $56 per night which is tres cheap!!
We walked up to the Ferry Building which is a good local landmark along the waterfront…strolled down to the famous Pier 39 which is full of tourist gift shops, chain eateries, and ice cream shops! Not our bag, baby, so went on to the area where the sealions famously hang-out. They’re cool but collectively they stink! Went to the Thirsty Bear brewpub for dinner which was a great place. The best bar so far. 9 beers inc 2 based on English beers (which were a good effort). Had a Sample Tray of all in 5oz (1/4pint) glasses (see pic)
Drinks are in me!
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On day 2 we retraced our steps but on the Trolley Bus and Trams so went up to China Town for lunch (about 10 non-Chinese out of 250 eating!). Then wandered through Little Italy for a beer. PM we went to Castro which is the gay area and went to a couple of bars, inc one where we joined in a quiz night hosted by a drag queen!
May
15
2010
So I was 41 yesterday hence no new post. Although I wanted to share my happiness at being 41 with you all, I was too busy sharing a bottle of champagne with Jane to do anything else! Until we opened another bottle!!
A big TA to those who sent messages via Facebook though. That took about 2 hours to type back.!!
Today – May 15th – we went to four wineries in the local vacinity which was, as expected, informative and quite tasty!! Most of the tastings were free, and yes we did end up buying a doz bottles of a cheeky little red! The views from these vineyards is stunning! – there will be photos on this site come tomorrow!
Now, at 6 in the evening, we are sitting on the balcony (still big sun and about 75degC!!) with Robin playing guitar (fairly well btw) drinking some American (hard) cider before heading off out to a piano bar for the rest of the evening. We are hoping to go either to San Fran (70mile north) or Santa Cruz next week for a couple of days….car hire may be the way forward although keen to use the buses and/or Amtrak: we’ll see.
May
13
2010
So, settled quite nicely near San Jose, CA; about 70miles south of San Fran, in a place called Morgan Hill. Yes, we know it sounds like it should be a soap like Knots Landing or Falcon Crest, or Dawsons Ridge! Its actually quite pleasant, what-ho! Kind of like a big Shrivenham. Plenty of bars and coffee shops and restaurants; inc a brewpub which makes a very goood raspberry wheat beer. (Honest, it IS nice!)
Staying with the very hospitible Robin & Tamara, who fortunately are keen on sampling local beer and wine products!! No car, but looking forward to using the local buses to get around. BUT: they have a pool onsite with jacuzzi! Get IN. Literally!
My 41st tomorrow so looking forward to suitable celebrations – this may be my first “adult” bday abroad?!!
May
6
2010
Okay so we had a couple of ‘laptop-free-days’ hence the days of no blogs! Took a long trip out in the big Volvo to a desert park outside of San Diego. Had intended to camp again but got there a bit late on Tues so hotel’d it in a place called Julian(!)…talk about your Scooby-Doo gold mining town!! 2 hotels, tattooist, cider mill (NON aloco!) and NO BAR!! Didnt stay there for long! Headed to Anza-Borrego park where at midday yesterday it was 107 C!! — only the Brits, eh?! It was far too hot to camp as there was literally no shade, so we walked a couple of miles through a ’slot canyon’ then went in search of some illusive caves: couldnt find em tho!!
Apr
29
2010
This will make sense if you are a fan of the good Doctor and saw the episode where the rain went upwards; so: not only did it snow in the Grand Canyon but the snow actually went up! From the base of the canyon to where we were standing! But then to think about it, why is it snowing anyway?!! We even camped last night in this weather! (see pic!)
SNOW. @ THE CANYON?!
This is actually snow at 9am! Bloody foreigners are we!!
Seen some of the most awesome views- literally takes your breath away. And the rain and snow on the tent sounds like sizzling bacon frying! I know which I would have preferred!!
The Grand Canyon no matter which viewpoint you’re at always amazes. Without a doubt the most incredible natural wonder ever seen by these young (??!) yet humble eyes!
Like, Woah!
The Canyon late pm.
Apr
25
2010
Aswell as having celebrated St George’s Day as best we could, we are off in our ‘best bib and tucker’ (considering we’re travelling), to the Aussie High Commission in Hollywood at 9am for drinkies on the lawn, what-oh!! Talk about getting free drinks where you can! The Chippenham BeerFest on the 23rd would also have surficed! Although the beer here is mostly good, it is also mostly cold and fizzy, which means having to drink it fast! Damn and stuff!
Apr
21
2010
Wee what can we say? Went for a spin in the country, ended up driving over part of the Santa Monica mountains (where the opening credits of M*A*S*H were filmed- check that, Nath?!!) having had lunch in a oceanside diner on Malibu beach. $3 for parking mind!!
Some expert map reading (who needs SatNav?) by Jane and my skills at the wheel of the big Volvo meant we got to see a lot of the countryside!! Did get a few good pix, one of which is here of Malibu beach in groovy sillouette!!
MALIBU BEACH BABY!