Sunday21st. As we were leaving Death Valley last night it was quite scary as we did not know where we were going and it gets very dark and cold and there are no signs anywhere. Bit like being lost on the moors. We never ventured off the path, we had had a full and tiring day and seen loads but left it late and had not booked a hotel. Before us lay just a very very long very very dark road with us tired and fully of scary stories of those whom had perished before. Very wierd and earie. Glad to reach civilation even if we did have to pay 90 dollars for the great western at rivercrest. Just relieved to have somewhere.

Monday 22nd. Left Rivercreast, pool at great western too cold but did get a bit of blogging done. As we were driving down the 178 it was quite beautiful a long windy road with sheer cliffs but pretty we suddenly had to look at the side of the road, couldnt quite believe what we were seeing but there sitting at the side just feet from us was a golden eagle, it was a magical moment but because we were so stunned i never got a photo, it was just sitting on the 178 15mins from walkers pass and ablsoutely beautiful.
Following the 174 near the river was quite beautiful with miles and miles of almond trees and grapevines. Arrived in Monterey and went straight to see the beach. There were pelicans right there in the water. Magical Ive never seen pelicans in the wild before so was chuffed. We went for a walk and saw lots of sea lions. It was great but they do make a bloody awful very loud noise. There was a street market on in the evening and reminded us a bit of greenwich on a bigger scale. After eating we went back to a beach but it was a bit cold and dark for us to swim.

Weds 24th. Went on the Montary senic 17mile drive and saw loads of different birds, pelicans, gulls, commerants and sand pippers all very close. saw a dead seal too. Forgot to mention on the 178 the other day the roadkill included 2 racoons and 2 skunks (deer etc are a bit mundane to mention but people should drive a bit slower) Also went to the museam and custom house and the old cannery. Too posh for me here but a couple of the beaches are great. Robin wants to learn to surf!

Tuesday 16th Sept. Had a wonderful day today at the south rim of grand canyon. Watched a condor soaring over, it was being mocked by 4 crows at one point. It was a magical hour as we watched it, lost it and found it again. It covered so much space and looked massive even with the Grand Canyon as a backdrop. The canyon is so big 277 miles long and 18 miles wide not counting the side canyons. The condor made it seem quite small just gliding over high areas. Absoutely wonderful. The canyon itself was spectacular also and cannot wait to do some more exploring tomorrow but car was playing up so went back to hotel to phone dollar. It is sorted it was just dust from the Indian Reservation yesterday Went to the imax cinema this evening to see the national geographic film on the canyon then went to the best steak house in tusayan.

Wednesday 17th got up early and went straight back to grand canyon. attended a lecture on geology which was very interesting and good fun. Spent day walking and viewing bits, went up watch tower at dessert view which is well worth a visit on its own. fantastic day. Saw a deer, coyete, more young condors loads of crows and a hawk. We are getting quite good at nature spotting. Drove to a town called kanab and pulled into a motel, didnt realise it was called son of sam motel. Might have thought twice about staying had i seen the name the night before.

Drove through some beautiful cowboy country

We have been in four states now California, Nevada, Arizona and Utah.

Went to visitors center at Bryce Canyon then went to do the Navajo Loop walk. Got about 20ft down and Robin who had run ahead just round the corner started screaming. My immediate thought was snake bite, fortunately it was only a wasp sting but robin refused to hike any more that day so we just walked the viewpoints. I thought bryce canyon would be dissapointing after the grand canyon but it is spectacular though much younger than the grand. Am looking forward to doin the hike tomorrow as all the canyon is like a fairytale castle with spires, gargoyles and pretty bits.

Saw ravens, deer, chipmunks galore and a lizard.

Staying in Penguitch tonight. Went for a walk and picked up a small package in a shop which said 'snake eggs' Was just asking jim, why in the world would they sell something as dangerous as snake eggs, when the package moved and made a noise. Well I threw that packet across the shop and screamed like a girl. Of course robin and jim laughed as loud and long as could be! I am not going in any more indian novelty shops!! Never.

Am getting so that i would love to spend more than one night in the same place but there is so much to see and do its difficult not to move on. Death Valley next but first more bryce canyon.

Friday 19th Sept Had a lovely dinner last night with John Wayne stood in the corner. Apparently they made most of the john wayne westerns around here so loads of shops selling cowboy and indian stuff but after the snake egg fiasco i am never going to enter another shop. Got up early this morning and went to Bryce canyon. Did the sunset and javajo trails and it rained! It took us about 3 hours to walk but it was well worth the effort. I took some wonderful photos, it was an amazing place. Went to Fairyland canyon after and it is very much like its name. Jim went fishing in the afternoon (as our legs were aching) Robin and Jim caught a big fat 00 ! It was still very beautiful by the lake though and we saw lots of jays, chipmunks, cattle, deer , magpies etc. Lovely happy days.

Sat 20th Sept

Went to a rodeo!!!! Stopped at a town (will look up the name, forgot to write down) just for lunch and to get photos developed and saw a sign. Had to go!!! Real cowboys. I had great fun and even jim enjoyed himself. Delayed us getting to Death Valley but not for long, will do some tomorrow, we are staying very near.

Sunday 21st Sept spent a fantastic day at death valley, was out of hotel and in the valley by 9am . Went to Dante's View first, absoutely fantastic, from our high vantage point you could see right down death valley, the salt flats and the sand dunes. Well worth the climb, though very hot here. Stopped at some spectacular points and finished at scottys castle, am going to send home the booklets with the maps so that i can remember where i went in years to come. Every day is brilliant though we have done over 2and1/2thousand miles so far.

(found my pages)

Thursday 11th Sept. Stayed in a best western in moajve last night and it was so comfortable couldn't wake the boys this morning so I went for an early swim which was lovely. We did leave Mojave by 9.15am and were in Las Vegas by 1pm. We are staying at the stratosphere hotel and while Jim had a nap robin and i went swimming on the 8th floor. Robin loved the pool and we played water volleyball and then had a game of ping ping. It was a really nice pool/leisure center.
This evening we had a walk along the strip. We watched the show at Treasure Island and saw the circus. We also investigated the Venetian, which is massive and quite impressive though the whole place is unreal and so false that i can't really take to it. Its all shopping and gambling and i suppose neither of those persuits really interest us and we cant go into the music bars as robin is not allowed. Will book show tomorrow.

Friday 12 Sept. Bought tickets for Excaliber. The buses just go up and down the strip all day long and you can jump on or off whereever and as many times as you like. Had a good look round excaliber, mgm and the massive video game room next to m and ms, why do sweets walk up and down the street trying to grab you? Robin thought the video game place was great and we bought him a ticket to go on anything for one hour. He didnt know what to do first, he was like the squirrel on coke in beyond the hedge!! All the hotels here have themes and the water features are amazing but i cant wait to leave and visit some more wide open spaces



Sun 14th We left Las Vegas for the Hoover Dam which was fantastic. Jim really enjoyed himself and we had the full tour and took twice as long as normal cause Jim had so many questions to ask the guide. It was very interesting and educational but robin and i felt jim went a little too in depth with questioning the guide. however it is a tour that i am glad i never missed as it was fantastic though a bit frightening being so far underground with the water only 300ft away.!

We left the Hoover Dam quite late which made us quite late arriving at the West Rim of the Grand Canyon so we booked in at the ranch for the night. Robin loved it and did not want to leave today he spent the night and early morning playing cowboys and lassoing and learning card tricks and making marshmellows and choc round the camp fire and learning some indian history. We got up at 5.45am to watch the sun come up over the canyon!! Spectacular! and then robin and i went for a horseback ride round the rim of the canyon it was great. After breakfast we went up to the canyon and went onto the glass rim, which i found quite scary but the view was breathtaking. I think i was made to appreciate nature as i enjoyed this so much more than vegas and i had such high hopes of vegas especially after loving new york so much.

Anyway this afternoon we left the West rim and took route 66 to the south rim stopping along the way. We are now in a hotel inWilliams, Arizona and we are going to visit the South Rim and various places tomorrow. They put a stop on my credit card today so i dont know how far i will get!!!!

Love everyone, will write again soon

Angela Jim and Robin

Will try to upload some photos soon but this computer has had function disabled. I do have some great ones

The next few days

We left Sanger and headed for Grant Village in Sequoia National Park driving through the beautiful Kings Canyon National Park. We saw General Grant Grove with some of the biggest Sequoia ever, there were loads of them. Mariposa Grove in Yosemite has the biggest but has nowhere near as many. General Grant tree was magnificent but so were lots of others. A very special place.

Went up to Boyden caves which was lovely though quite a hike. Robin wanted to see a bat but learned geology instead. An impressive cave with lots of marble and a creek bed inside and outside.

Did a short trek at Grizzly Falls and travelled to Roads End cause we wanted to see if you drove off or turned round. (We turned round)

Roaring River had splendid views but we are a bit overwhelmed by the majesty of it all.

Booked to spend night in cabin with showers at the end of site (Jim said they were allotment sheds)

Was up nice and early as the beds very uncomfortable! Had to go to loo in night (too many beers) and of course I woke Jim up to come with me in case of bears! Had my own grumpy bear!

Next day made for Giant Forest Area of Par and General Sherman tree in the Giant Forest. You can look up park maps if you like! Went to the museum - lots of learning and the forest - lots of walking. Then drove to tunnel log and took photo of Jim driving through, they really are spectacular trees.

We then went to Crystal Cave and had a very hard 1/2mile walk. It wasn't getting down but knowing we'd have to walk back up. We learned what poison oak is along that road, we also know what it does and did manage to avoid it. It was really lovely with waterfalls and a stream and the cave itself was excellent, marble, larger stalagmites and stalactites and more draperies than the Boyden Cave and it also had a worm living in it that is found no where else in the world.
We didn't see the worms of course but the tour guide was bragging. At the end they asked us to carry up a bucket of concrete as they are digging up the concrete floor for preservation and asked everyone to take a bucketful up, no mean feat. We were all huffing and puffing, Jim suggested they get a donkey. The Americans do not have a sense of humour like ours and do not really get jims quips!

On the way to Moro Rock we saw our first bear and a few more deer, bears are really cute but i would not like to get too close. The climb to Moro Rock was quite streneous but worth it the view was spectacular.

We then drove out of the park to a place called Three Rivers and finally found somewhere to eat, we were all starving, all that walking and climbing and everywhere in the park (foodwise) was shut for the winter (someone should tell them 100 degrees is not winter) Then about 10pm we found a place to stay. A trailer park! Once again we left early.

Got to Bakersfield for breakfast. We have gone from lush green forests and granite mountains to cowboy like western rolling hills to desert and are staying today in Mojave surrounded by iron donkeys because Jim needs to rest Robin needs to write some homework and I wanted to blog.

Tomorrow VIVA LAS VEGAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Could Paulina or Yvonne please print this off for me in case it is lost somehow as I would like to have a copy of where we were and when. Today is Wed 10th Sept. Will keep pieces of paper and blog again when I can get to library or hotel with free internet!

Love and miss everyone but there seems to be so much to fit in its fun.

xxxxxxxx

our first 10 days in america

We arrived in San Fran safe and well. the only thing we forget was robins boots which were left at Paulinas. Yvonne, sorry, Jim pinched your deodorant! Robin enjoyed the plane journey and played games and watched films the whole way.

Our car was upgraded for free at san fran which was a good start. San fran itself is quite a busy vibrant place. Fishermans Wharf was great as was Lombard street and the crazy ride down. We walked all the way accross the Golden Gate Bridge and when we were 1/2 way back robin challenged jim to a race, so i held the bag while they raced! robin won!! surprise poor Jim was out of breath but did put a brave spurt on at the end when robin was getting a bit brave about winning. I have lost my notes for the 3 days spent in San Fran but as soon as I find I will update. While we were there it was our anniversary and Jim woke me specially in the middle of the night (he obviously couldnt sleep) to wish me happy anniversary, I still havent worked out if he was being romantic, wanted to be the one who remembered or just couldnt sleep.

On Wed 3rd Sept we went to the Japenese Tea Gardens and got in for free, it was very tranquil, beautiful and enlightening. We visited the DeYoung museum and learned a little history of american art, we then went to the bison enclosure after walking around the American Footie Pitch in Golden Gate Park. Robin chased all the ducks and birds, we saw the terripins in the lake, then we caught a bus to a well dodgy area which we had 15min walk out of! We rode a tram which was great past some very beautiful buildings, their opera house is particularly stunning. That night we awoke when the police arrived to chase a man through our motel, they never caught him but they all made loads of noise. Hadnt realised the hotel was dodgy till then. the no soliciting sign should have warned us i suppose but we enjoyed ourselves especially being the only ones in the swimming pool each evening.

We spent and hour trying to get right road out of san fran and had a long drive to Yosemite. We stopped in Oakdale a lovely small town with a rodeo museum. At Yosemite we went to the visitor center and had a hike around curry village and along the John Muir trail, and bridalveil falls. Couldnt find a bed in Yosemite so had to drive 1 1/2 hours back to Bucks Meadow for the night but it was a nice hotel and decided to stay for 3 nights and drive into the park every day.

On Friday 5th Sept we spent the whole day at Yosemite, we started and the indian village and museum (feel we have to educate Robin!) and then had a hike up to vernal falls then to the top of nevada falls, the views were spectacular though the hike was strenuous with all the steep steps but we bathed our feet in a pool at the top of the mountain and the natural spring pools are icy cold or we may have had a swim. We then walked around the lake to the stables. At the end of this day i felt that our trip was wasted on us cause it shouldve been taken by a poet or an artist who could convey to others the outstanding beauty of all that we had seen so far. Its all so awe inspiring and somehow a bit spiritual.

Sat 6th. After our long trek yesterday Jim and Robin had a good sleep (even all my noise wasnt waking them)! and we didnt leave till around 9am for Yosemite. We got a bit lost first thing but eventually made it to Glacier Point where once again i wish i was a poet or writer cause the views were vast i now also wish i could take good photos but even those cannot show the true beauty of everything. We also went on a trek though easier than yesterday, Jim and Robin got withing 6ft of 3 young muledeer and we also saw lizards, birds and loads of chipmunks and squirrels. We also had a trek to mirror lake but didnt quite make it cause it was getting lake but Attenborough Jim who way explain scat and stuff found deer scat, coyote scat and reguergated stuff that owls spit out or cough up. Jim obviously learned loads in Yellowstone before.

Robin and I soaked our feet in the Merced River on the way home. Jim is really tired and asked if he could have a day off soon. Had fun in the pool and hot tub this evening but robins is not eager to do his homework. We have also started learning spanish as we have time in the car, i dont suppose we will learn very quickly but i will keep you posted as to our progress. Will be sorry to leave Yosemite tomorrow but there is so much more we want to fit in.

Sunday 7th Sept Into Yosemite for our last visit. We went stright to Wawona and it was a very relaxing area. The hotel there looked lovely and they have a western village where they have taken all the old cabins from Yosemite vally and rebuilt them as they were before in Wawona. The had Western folk telling stories and dressed in old fashioned western gear. They were very helpful and enlightening. We went of the last stagecoach ride of the season from the Wells Fargo building. Have got photos but it was all amazing.

We then went to Mariposa Grove and went on a tour of the big Giant Sequoia trees. The drive itself was very bumpy and shook us to bits but the trees were awsome. The tour was educational and enjoyable and its nice to see conservation in action. Some of these trees were growing before Jesus was born or before the Egyptians were a civilation. Cannot get the whole trees in one photo but you can imagine getting a neck ache looking up and for 16 to 20 people to stand across the girth of the tree is not unusual. The really are big Giants.

Here I must mention Park toilets, they deserve a mention as the most awful ever.

After leaving the park we went through some lovely but sometimes strange places until we found a place called Sanger where we have a room for the night. Jim is made up as the hotel is only 60 dollers and robin is made up cause we had chinese and jim was very happy cause the chinese only cost 15.50dollers. The weather here has been in the 100s since we arrived.

I must mention the trees again they were so magnificent, you could drive a stagecoach through two of them, their colour, granduer size and firth cannot be put into words. Some of the trees had names like Old Grizzly and the faithfull coulple which were 2 trees grown togeter. One tree had no middle and you could see all the way up to the sky through its center but it was still alive and growning. Fire does not kill them, they either fall over or men pull them over.

Sorry if i am going on but am going to write so we remember all our trips next year and in years to come. Please e mail me if you have messages or want to chat.