Story so far: USA
May
1
2010
A bit of a massive day really! Quite a big step (literally!) for we decided to do a 3 1/2-mile walk down into the Canyon and back up! Although it was along laid out paths, we were still walking with the canyon sloping rather dramatically away, on a track that was only wide enough for 2 peeps!
Big Step because Jane was rather nervous and the adrenaline shakes were kicking in big stylie, not having a particularly good head for heights/edges/Canyons!!! Fair play to her tho cos mind over matter won and we ended up having a “tick-box” trip. There are/will be pix of the route we took under PHOTOS, but sometimes the proportions don’t come out right, so lets just say we were about 15,000 ft up with no parachute, okay?!!
May
1
2010
. . . ’tis true. Snow and -2 C last two days whilst at the Grand Canyon, then 4hour drive further south into Arizona its +33 and Jane’s having a Californian Shar-Donnay and Mike’s drinking very nice brewpub TrippleberryWheat Beer (www.barleybrothers.com).
And why Only In America, ‘cos we are sitting looking at the genuine London Bridge (see pic); are staying tonight in the Windsor Inn; having gone from 2 below to 33 above; sitting by a manmade lake in the middle of a desert big enough to swallow Middlesex!! You’ve gotta admire them!
VIEW OF LONDON BRIDGE, AZ!!
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
24
2010
Glad / Sad to say that we actually went to an English-theme pub yesterday to celebrate St George’s Day!! Was about as English as Walkabout is Aussie, but what the heck! Put on our best English accents and went down a treat! Drank Belgiun beer, with an Aussie in a bar in America: how patriotic are we?!!
Oh well, all that fun in Malibu and the Santa Monica mountains seems to have used up our ‘good weather vouchers’!! Whilst we hear news of sunny days in old Blighty, we are among the many in LA looking at the skies and asking “What the …?” !! Clouds? Drizzle? Beach volleyball cancelled? !! Good job we kept our Visa receipt cos we want a refund!
Has meant that we were able to spend some QT indoors planning trips: Las Vegas on Monday for 2nights hotel & casino (!!); 3nights camping in the Grand Canyon; then Lake Havasu – home of London Bridge, look it up! – for a night in the Windsor Inn (!!) then back to LA in time for a trip to a brewery next Sat.
That’ll only leave us about 6 more days in LA (camping again) before heading up the coast in a Greyhound bus to San Jose to see Robin & Tamara. Its all GO, GO, GO!!
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!
Apr
9
2010
The time: 9am The place: LA The temp: 20 C !!
Oh yep its hot. Which means one thing…rooftop sunbathing with a jacuzzi!! Tell yer, by 11am its a wee bit too hot so jacuzzi and a beer it is!! We went for a long stroll along Hermosa Beach (also a good way to try and get a tan!) – loads of volleyball, skaters, expensive beach-houses etc! We even found a bar called “Chelsea Pub” which goes to show they ain’t got no class nor nothing!! — sorry Steve old bean!!
I dont't believe it!!
Apr
6
2010
Roger Taylor WHO?!!
And we’re here! Good flight in from LHR, on Air NZ. Food was good and we managed to blag the emergency exit seats!! In LA for this month near Redondo Beach (in view from the house here!!) and we’ve got the use of their Volvo S.U.V and spare mobile! How jammy?! That means Vegas, Highway 1, San Diego etc!
Thanks to ‘Just Ted’ we have already found a brewery that serves food til midnight! We’ve only been here 13hrs!! Not even had breakfast yet!! Talking of breakfast, we’re gonna hit Venice Beach today so that we can show them a real six pack!!
Oh yeah, and we’ve set up a Queen Tribute Band with Mike on drums!!