Grand Canyon & Colorado River

The last two days have been adventuring around the Grand Canyon, North Rim. Much less known and hence a LOT less busy, we had picnic lunches, went for short hikes and explored what felt like the end of the world. Travelling through gorgeous green meadows, cypress forests and plateaus. So quiet, and at what we would call a perfect temperature to be outdoors here, 75%, it really did set the scene for the most amazing natural wonder we have ever seen. Grand is an understatement.

Funny note; Last night we stayed in a funny little town called Kanab, Arizona. The motel we rented via Expedia would probably be the most 'American Horror movie' yet! Anyone seen the movie 'Vacancy'? You didn't need to use much imagination at all :) Classic!

Tonight we are in Kayenta, which is on Navajo Indian Land. We crossed the Colorado River at Marble Canyon, and are travelling through countryside reminisent of a Roadrunner cartoon or straight out of an old John Wayne western movie.

Grand Canyon - Angels Window

Hoover Dam & Zion Nat.Park

Hoover Dam is one of the 'Great Man Made 7 Wonders of the World' for a reason. Massive!

The scenery and environment is so different here in Utah. The further west we go the bigger, redder and more impressive the land gets.

Zion & Grand Canyon lay ahead of us.

Viva Las Vegas

This place goes off! We have barely stopped for the last 3 days as there is just so much to see and do. We have walked miles and miles up and down the strip and our feet are really feeling it (blisters and all) but it is all worth it. The casinos are so large, some extravagantly opulent, some not so much, but all are packed with people, things to do and see, places to eat and shop till you drop!

We are staying at the Imperial Palace Casino, smack bang in the centre strip. The heat is phenomenal outside, but our eyes and skin are so over the air conditioning that who knows which is better for us. We saw a Cirque du Soleil performance last night, called Zummanity which was great. Watched the Bellagio Fountains, walked the Venetian Canals, visited Madame Tussards Wax Museum and ate at a Brazilan Grille where they bring every meat worth eating out to you on a stick...Luke's idea of a meal and our iron hit for the month!

Off to Planet Hollywood for dinner and David Copperfeild Magic Show tonight. (Thanks Heidi for the discounted show tickets tip, we have saved heaps!)

Tomorrow we pick up our car and hit the road again.

HWY 1

We have traveled down HWY 1 for the last 2 days...each mile has been more and more amazing. We stayed in the seaside town of Monterey and visited Carmel-by-the-Seaside (Clint Eastwood was Mayor once) which is home to some of the most exclusive homes and golf courses in the US. $25mill, half for the breathtaking views of the pacific, the rest for the mansion! And as if they didn't already have enough money, they even charge you $8 per car to drive the famous '17 Mile Drive' the winds past their driveways... Spyglass Links and Pebble Beach Golf Courses charge thousands for a round, but they are also occasional homes to the US Open and ProAm!

This morning we traveled a road that is right up there with the Great Ocean Road back home...Hwy 1...leading us down to Big Sur & Santa Maria it has the most amazing views of beaches, bridges, cypress forests and rocky vistas. The early morning fog and sunlight made it perfect. The pictures don't do it justice. Dad, was thinking of you!

We are now at Santa Maria airport, leaving California and heading to Nevada to commence a new leg of the adventure...Vegas here we come!

Luv
C

Vino Valleys and San Fran

We came down out of the mountains into one of the world's premier wine regions, Napa & Sonoma. The wineries are as with most things here in the US, much larger versions of what we know back home, with a little more money invested! The chateaus, wine houses, limo tours and arts & crafty areas were very impressive. The wine is fantastic. Varieties like white zinfandel are very refreshing in 32 degree heat, whilst Shiraz is almost non existant. Not surprisingly the staple here is also Cab Sav.

Just an hours drive south from the wine regions we hit San Fran. WOW. Our first sight was without a doubt the most amazing man made structure we have seen yet....the Golden Gate. Staying 3 nights, we booked a 2 day Hop-on Hop Off tour and have been exploring the sights bit by bit. Crookedest street, Nob Hill, Washington Square, North Beach, Chinatown & Tenderlions to name a few. Splurged with our accommodation here in the heart of Fisherman's Wharf, the Argonaut (www.argonauthotel.com) which is walking distance to lots of restaurants with san fran favourites on the menu, clam chowder, 'would you like some food with your garlic', sourdough bread and taffy (toffee)...lesson learned, Mexicans know how to make a margarita!

Our first few days here were sweltering in heat (about 32), but today it dropped to less than 15! The wind cut right through you, which made our trip to Alcatraz that much more authentic. The Rock was an awesome experience...very informative and fascinating tour that was quite errie at times. Loved it all though.

Tomorrow we will start our coastal tour south down HWY 1!

Mountains, valleys and waterfalls...

624miles in the last three days has provided us with the opportunity to see some of the most breathtaking scenery

the US has to offer. We travelled through the Sequoia National Park (Giant Forest & General Sherman - largest tree

on Earth), Kings Canyon (6000ft high) and then up through Yosemite (no words do it justice), each more amazing than the next. Lots of short hikes and many photos later, we stayed in two small towns, Three Rivers which is at the base of Sequoia, then Mariposa. Both were completely booked out and would have easily had more tourists than residents. (Lucky we booked a few days ahead!)

Tonight we are in Lodi, Calaveras Wine Country in the North of CA. If anyone has seen 'James' & Oz's Wine Adventure - The New World' on Fox, well we are about to follow their footsteps...bring on the vino!

Till next time.

Moro Rock - Sequoia National Park

LA Today

Today we did an organised tour of LA and the Star's Homes. Are now completely buggered...but now very educated on all that there is worth knowing about Los Angeles.

Toured the Star's homes in Beverly Hills, Hollywood, Walk of Fame, Sunset Strip, Kodak Theatre, Chinatown, Downtown LA, Farmers Markets and La Brea Tar Pits to name a few. Some highlights were the Las Palmas Hotel from the last scene in Pretty Woman where Richard Gere climbs the fire escape, Graumans Chinese Theatre and the wicked lookalikes, the Hollywood sign and a Chilli Cheese Hot Dog...the latter topped my list :)

Eating in tonight after an eventful visit to a grocery store. Hersheys, Reese's and Oreo on the menu!

Till next time

Day 1 (Longest day ever!)

Well we survived what a friendly American on the plane said would be the most testing day of our marriage to date...driving in LA. (She must have had a sixth sense for how uncomfortable a passenger Cheryl is :) ) Deep breathing and repeating 'Right is Right!'...we can now conquer anything.

Santa Monica was the focus of our attention today, parading the Saturday Farmer's Markets, Third St Promenade and the Pier. We have already acquired the taste for Bud from tap (liken it to Carlton Draught) and discovered 3 Starbucks within a 300m stretch of plaza. I now know why Americans are so proud of their homeland :)

Time for bed at this end...until next time.

Time - 14 hours and 10mins
Place - Qantas Club Sydney Intl
Destination - US of A

van den Bovenkamps about to embark on a 4 week adventure of a far away land. Will encounter many great land forms, see odd wild beasts, need to operate overtly large vehicles along wide stretches of bitumen and master the art of living out of a bag.

Currently dining on Sav Blanc and Crown Lager in an attempt to induce sleep for the 13 hour flight ahead.

Time to roll! Boarding call.

Luv Yas