Leaving Las Vegas

I know that Las Vegas has a lot of negative press, but it is what it is. It's brash, bright and some might say a little vulgar. But I ask you this...Where else in the world can a casino sales guy say "Hey fella, have you ever seen a midget jump out of a cup cake?"! I know I have seen the Grand Canyon and some fantastic national parks, but that has to be the best bit of my trip so far!

As I walked down the 'Strip' people kept trying to give me business cards of naked women. My Hulk Hogan good looks are a winner with the American ladies here! Quite openly they state that their charges are $160 per half hour. I told Si we should club together, and get her to carry our bags to the airport. He declined.

On the mash potato front, I am pleased to announce that we managed to find some of this delicacy. I was truly ecstatic to see mash and meat loaf on the menu. Unfortunately American definition of meatloaf is mince beef and ketchup on toast. Still, I was in it for the mash. (I even had a choice of brown or white gravy, an embarrassment of riches!!). Our quest for healthy eating continues.......

Clare
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Zion Canyon NP Pics

The photos say it all.

We were ten miles out of Barstow...

Well, what an awesome time we've had since the last post.

We took the big ol' Pontiac V6 and pointed it in the direction of Zion Canyon and Bryce Canyon National Parks. Spent a day in each and could have spent a week in each to be fair. Both are a geologist's dream - Zion with it's massive sandstone cliffs and mountains getting ever closer together as you venture up the canyon, Bryce with its hundreds or thousands of purple and red limestone 'hoodoos', which are eroded pinnacles of rock. Loads of photos to follow, time limit a bit tight in this Californian library though.
We retuned to the 'rape of the senses' (Clare's quote!) that is Vegas and had a great day there yesterday, gambling in it's finest and most opulent casinos.....the Bellagio, Mirage, Caesars' Palace, the Wynn....the list goes on, they all have their penny slot one arm bandits!
We ended up six dollars down after reaching the one-time high of three bucks up. All good though. Me and Clare nearly didn't find a hotel for Saturday night (VERY pricey in Las Vegas - at least 130 bucks a night), but we found this ranch out in the desert with rooms with wood effect carpet on the floors that served us well, and for a lot less money.
Took the bus today to Bakersfield, California, via the desert town of Barstow, where we are now, waiting for the train to Merced tomorrow where we can get a shuttle bus to Yosemite National Park. Our 50-buck National Park Pass has sure had some use recently....

-Si

Vegas

After a beautiful day at the Grand Canyon, Clare and I dropped off our hire car in Flagstaff and caught a train, then a minibus, to Las Vegas. On the train we met a girl who said she was the girl who dances in the iTunes adverts, you know, the one in silhouette. Maybe she was, who knows. She had a very posh english accent and said she had gone to a very posh Bristol girl's school which I know (ahem) and Cambridge University. We arrived in L.V, very tired, at 3AM. After a dodgy cab ride (took a 100% tip on a 7 buck journey, nice) and a problem with our motel reservation, we finally checked in to our motel and got some sleep.

Got up the next day at lunchtime (we really needed the sleep) and set off for Las Vegas Boulevade, A.K.A 'The Strip'. The casinos here are mind-blowing to say the least. 50 foot high bronze statues of lions, a quarter or half scale model of the Eiffel tower, a complete Venetian canal along with gondoliers, and a 120 metre long, 5 storey high arched TV screen are a few of the highlights for me.

Unlike the vast majority of people here, old SWH here came out of a casino up. Yes up. OK, I only won 9 bucks on the penny slots, and yes, it was all in 5 cent coins which I had to cash in, but I walked out of that place with my head held high:
















Clare and I have decided to take a few days away from the madness of L.V. and have hired a big ol' Pontiac V6 (a midsize car here, bargain) and headed out of Vegas towards Zion and Bryce Canyon National Parks. We're now in a small town in southern Utah called St. George, and we're off to Zion tomorrow. More pics and my unique commentary to come!!!

-Si

The Big 'Ol G.C....

Spent a couple of days in noisy Flagstaff, Arizona. Why noisy? Our hostel (although very nice) was a block from the train station, and goods trains come through town about once every 15 mins, 24/7, sounding their horns as they pass through town. Seriously, you could hear these horns 30 miles away.

Anyways, enough complaining. Flagstaff is a very cool university town with loads of very friendly people and some great bars. I was seriously miffed as I was I.D'ed going in to EVERY bar (Clare did warn me they were tight on I.D. here, to be fair), but I thought old slap-head here would cruise in, no worries. How wrong was I. Met a nice bloke in one bar (!) called George, who bought me and Clare a pint of Sam Adams each as he accidentally put his stool leg on Clare's foot. A true gent, he even gave up his barstool for Clare. Word up, George, if you're reading this! I got the second round in, served by a lovely young lady in Volcom hotpants (mint, Sandy, mint), at six bucks each plus tip hardly cheap!!!

Anyways, the next day Clare and I got a hire car (my first time driving an auto, an interesting experience) and headed out to Grand Canyon National Park with a nice Dutch couple we met (Rebecca and Andreas) who got us in to the park for free with their park pass. In the park, we stumbled across this quite nice 10 mile wide, mile-deep and 270-mile long hole in the ground. Anyway, I think the pictures speak from themselves, so I'll shut up now.









































































-Si

The 'Murials' of Albuquerque

We spent a chili-fuelled top couple of days in the largest city in New Mexico, Albuquerque. You may wonder why the odd title to this entry? Well, Albuquerque (I'm going to refer to it as Abq in the future as it's a long word to keep typing!) is a city with many amazing murals painted on it's walls, and Clare (bless her) had a bit of a difficult time pronouncing murals, and kept calling them 'murials', which I thought was most amusing (she'll kill me for posting this!).

Anyway, check out some of them for yourself:
















This one is supposed to symbolise the racial diversity of New Mexico (get me with my arty speak!), and shows a locally famous white writer, a Native American bloke and a Hispanic lady who both campaigned for their respective rights to vote. No more lessons, now, I promise, its just that it's such a good painting!

Here's a couple of other ones:































It seems that there is only one thing to eat in Abq, and that's chili! There are even shops and a museum dedicated to these spicy bad boys. Our breakfast, lunch and dinner all came smothered in chili (and it's really hot here, none of you namby-pamby school stuff) unless you specifically (and sensibly) ask for NO CHILI. And then they look at you kinda funny.

Another highlight (for me, anyways) of Abq is the National Atomic Museum. As you may know, New Mexico is the birthplace of the atomic era, as the first ever atomic bomb was partially designed, and subsequently detonated in southern New Mexico (no more lessons, sorry!). Now, this museum (staffed by some SERIOUSLY OLD blokes) has your usual 'blah, blah' about peaceful civilian uses of nuclear power, but what I really wanted to see was the nuclear bombs. They have all sorts here (deactivated, obviously!) including replicas of the 'Fat Man' and 'Little Boy' that were dropped at the end of World War II on Japan, and two 'broken arrows', which are nuclear bombs that were temporarily 'lost' in Spain when an American B-52 jet crashed over there in the '60's. These are the real things, with dents where they hit the ground and everything (sorry about the morbid fascination here!):















































Anyway, before you think I'm a complete freak for posting lots of pictures of bombs, then I'll tell you now that I left this museum with the inevitable impression that only one side of the story is told, and it's completely pro-nuclear. For example, in the exhibit on Marie Curie, there's no mention of the fact that she died of radiation-derived cancer! In short, an interesting place to visit, but take it with a pinch of salt.

On a slightly more peaceful side, Clare loved the cutaway-nuclear reactor model, and seems (worryingly) highly knowledgeable on the workings of a Nuclear Power Plant (a budding Homer Simpson, possibly?):
















Anyways, moving on from the atomic museum, Abq has a great 'old town' area, with some top native American craft shops that Clare loved perusing, and some great old churches, like this one (sorry I don't remember the name of it!):
















As you can see, the weather in New Mexico is absolutely rubbish!

We left Abq on Friday for Flagstaff, Arizona, where we are now, and thanks to the University of Northern Arizona's extensive (and free to use) computer facility, I've been able to post this massive blog entry. We're off to the Grand Canyon tomorrow with a Dutch couple we met in our hostel, so expect some awesome pictures soon...

Si

Mash Potato and Hulk Hogan

This is an SOS, I am in desperate need of mash potatoes and gravy (Dad, you would hate this country!). I could even make do with Bisto Instant, and dare I say it...Smash. Also America's idea of vegetables are Peppers, pickle and chili! What is wrong with peas and carrots? Come to think of it, through in a couple of yorkshires while you are at it!! It's Sunday tomorrow, and while you lot are all tucking into your Sunday roast, Spare a thought for Me and Si as we tuck into our 100th burger since we have been here. Yes I am really an old grumpy British women in disguise, and proud! Also tea bags would be gratefully received.

In other News... I have been demoted from road safety! Si is now navigator, organiser, traffic expert and public relations (I speak too fast for the Americans!). My role is to provide the positive attitude, and obviously I still hold the title of being comedy genius.

Still having a brilliant time, starting to get used to carrying our rucksack. I have developed muscles on my shoulders and have developed really muscley calves. In a nutshell I am becoming more butch every second. My next aim is facial hair, and my dream of becoming the female version of Hulk Hogan will be realised.

Clare
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Denver Photos

First up, here's me being a total fatty in a motel in SLC:

















Denver State Capitol (note bling bling gold dome!):

















Me and Clare a mile high (!):

















Me 'milking a cash cow' in dowtown Denver:

















Clare in front of the Stanley Hotel doing her best 'Here's Johnny!' face. A spooky place indeed!:

















Estes Park:

















...and so the snow starts to fall on us and Blue's van (note Blue lent me his very colourful hat to keep my bald bonce warm!):
















A snowy me and Clare (Clare had 6 layers on at this point!):
















Clare and Blue (Clare thinks she looks like a ten-ton tess due to the six layers!):

















Blue at the controls of the van - check out how snowy the roads were, and they got worse!:

Denver

We reached a very cold Denver on Sunday night. After an interesting cab ride to our hotel (our cabbie was Algerian and loved football, above all his hero and countryman Zinedine Zidane) we checked in and got some well deserved rest after a 14-hr train ride from SLC. The next day we eventually managed to find a hostel that was open and checked in. Denver is a pretty cool place (literally!) with loads of skyscrapers, and a handy free electric bus that cruises up and down the main shopping mall all day. The 13th step of the State Capitol building is exactly one mile above sea level, which explains the temperatures there. After yet another hamburger meal that night (it's pretty hard to eat healthy round here!) we got back to our hostel. There I met Blue, an aussie backpacker on the final part of his US roadtrip (hey Blue if you're reading this!) The next day, Blue took me and Clare out for a mini road-trip to Boulder. Boulder is a great, laid-back place, but the best thing was that the VERY FIRST snow of the season started falling as we looked out a coffee shop window. We carried on in the snow to Estes Park (please note at this point, that Blue had only seen snow for the first time in his 29 years a day or so ago, and had obviously never driven in it) where we found the Stanley Hotel, a big spooky looking hotel that was the inspiration for Stephen King's The Shining. After a tasty lunch there we headed towards the Rocky Mountain National Park through the mountains in a roundabout way back to Denver. The snow started to come down very heavily making Blue's first driving experience very tricky indeed (his 2 wheel drive van somewhat inadequate for the driving conditions!). After 3 slight 'detours' off the road we make it back to Denver in one piece (3 1/2 hours to drive 35 miles, steady now!). We checked in to our motel after saying our goodbyes to Blue for a very short night's sleep. The next day we were up at 5AM to take the bus, then train, to New Mexico where we are now. Photos from Denver to follow.....

Salt Lake City Photos

This is Beehive House, Brigham Youngs's old place, who was a famous writer who lived in SLC:
















This is the famous Mormon Temple in Temple Square:
















Here is the view from the State Capitol towards downtown SLC. The State Capitol is currently being renovated, so it doesn't make a pretty picture! As you can see, they love their long streets in the 'States!

















We got very bored and had a bubblegum blowing comp one afternoon. Clare won with this monster - it actually got even bigger than this! She is very proud of her achievement.

Floral sheets and coffee

Well the real travelling experience begins. Tonight will be our first night in a hostel. It seems okay, we have been provided with floral sheets, so all is well! Unfortunately since I have been here I have developed ANOTHER vice, caffeine!! The coffee is so strong here, but I can't get enough of it. Drank so much on our last night in salt lake city that I could hear my own heart rate, and I was convinced that I had a bumble bee stuck in my ear. Might have to start on decaf, but I don't want to be a wuss.
I will continue letting Si be the descriptive one, telling you how beautiful this place is, and I will be in charge of random rants and observations!!!

Clare
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Utah Saints! U-U-U Utah Saints!

Spent the last couple of days in Salt Lake City, Utah. Had a very interesting tour of Temple Square, which is the centre of the Mormon faith. It seems like all the Mormons there are young, pretty girls. I'll leave you to draw your own opinions on that.

Salt Lake City seems a pretty nice place with loads of parks and great views of the surrounding mountains and salt lake. We caught a snowboard and skating show there with some sort of reggae band playing a load of covers including Four Non Blondes.

The worst part about SLC is the Amtrak service there. The train (one a day only) arrives at 3:15 AM. Ouch. So Clare and I decided to stay up and wait for the train instead of getting a motel. We walked around downtown until 1AM then admitted defeat and headed for the train station. However, we met a cool guy there called Don who is a Genealogist (hope that's the right spelling Don, and hi if you're reading this). SLC is a big place for doing family research.

We arrived in Denver last night after a spectacular train journey through some awesome canyons and mountain passes. Didn't see many people or cities though, this really is a big country!

Photos to follow when I can get another PC with a USB port.

-Si

Clare's perspective

Well the computer phobe is on the Blog. I don't want to repeat anything that Si has told you, but thought I would keep you updated. We are having a brilliant time, and starting to get used to the American culture. Si is the official navigator, as I have been lost for the last 4 days. I am incharge of road safety, as the trucks are massive here, and even with our 10 ton rucksack, we would be no match for them. The weather is beautiful, although all the locals are wearing sweaters. We are slowly working on our tans, I have become an ocean of freckles, and Si has developed 'go faster stripes', from wearing his sunglasses!!

Reno

We arrived in Reno in the evening, when all of it's neon-lit splendour was on display. During the daytime, its a hot and dry, but honest kind of working-class American town, where our British accents went down a treat. Although it's off-season, there's still loads of people there trying their luck in the casinos, including an awful lot of Japanese people for some random reason. There's some cool stuff to check out downtown, like the National Motor Museum. Check this out, this is my new car, a desert race-spec Hummer...




















After a while though, Clare and I got a bit sick of wondering around the casinos, pawnbrokers and tacky gift shops, so we took a random bus out of town into the desert (although there was a massive K-Mart out there, hence the bus-stop), to get a new perspective on the place. Check this out...

















Most of the skyscrapers you can see are casinos!

Next stop is Salt Lake City, Utah, although we have a monster 12-hour train journey to look forward to to get there. The train station in Reno has 2 trains a day, one goes east and one goes west. Simple as that.

-Si

San Francisco Photos

Here's a few pictures for you from our time in San Francisco!

Bubba Gump's Place:















Sea Lions at Pier 39:















Need I say anthing about this one!:



















It's a long way down from up there:















Lombard Street:

San Francisco, all the way to Reno....

Greetings from Nevada's second gambling capital, Reno!


Clare and I had a nice couple of days in San Fran, we had the biggest lunch ever down at Bubba Gump's cafe (Dee-lux fishwich with a leviathan portion of fries, tasty) down at Pier 39 after checking out the sea-lions. We then walked from there all the way out to the Golden Gate Bridge (a very long way!), but it was well worth it as the bridge is awesome. We walked about 1/4 the way over the bridge before my vertigo kicked in and we had to turn back (yeah, yeah, I'm a wuss!). On the way back we (wisely) got the bus, taking in the very steep and crooked Lombard Street. Clare picked up some new shoes after her flip-flops based 'faux-pas' walking out to the bridge.


This morning we caught the early train from SF to Reno. The trains here are really comfortable, and the views as we passed through the Sierra Nevada on the way to Reno were awesome. However, the trains here appear to work on geological time - I swear I could run faster than the pace we were going at. But it was all good though.


Going to stay in Reno a few days (it's like a bigger version of Blackpool, but in the mountains) and will hopefully take in Pyramid Lake tomorrow which is a local beauty spot about 25 miles from here. Then it's off to the Mormon capital of the world, namely Salt Lake City, Utah, for a few days. Random choice, we know.

Will try and get some photo's up when we get to use a PC where we can get to the USB ports. In the meantime, hope all it good with everyone.


-Si

Goodbye......

Well, the time has finally come!

Tomorrow afternoon we set off for London so we can get a good night's sleep in (possibly, if the nerves allow!) before our flight to San Francisco on Sunday from Heathrow.

Thanks very much from us both for all the good wishes and messages - you know we're going to miss you all!

Take care

Si and Clare