USA Holiday 1997 by Heather Collins

California, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Nevada

Day 1: Thursday 7th August

The day dawned bright and clear, a perfect English summer day, a perfect day to be going on holiday! This was the day we had been planning and looking forward to for months because we were flying off to Los Angeles, California. We spent the morning packing and checking the house in readiness for the arrival of our house-sitter, Claire. After a snack lunch the taxi arrived to take us to Heathrow and with a farewell to the cats we closed the door and were on our way. We arrived at the airport terminal in good time and checked into Air New Zealand at 3.30pm. It was the easiest and most laid back check-in we have ever experienced, no queues or hassle with security this year! After wandering around the airport shops for about an hour, we boarded the 747-400 at 4.45pm. Our seats were just forward of the wing on the right hand side and we had lots of leg room for a change. The flight was smooth and uneventful with good food and cheerful staff. David had about an hour on the flight deck which he found very exciting. We all got a bit of sleep and eventually arrived at LAX at 4.15am, 8.15pm local time. We cleared customs and immigration quickly and after collecting the luggage we took the courtesy bus to the Wyndham Hotel. We all went straight to bed - pretty tired - but happy to be back in the U.S.A!

Day 2: Friday 8th August

After a good nights sleep, we all woke about 6am. David got up about 7am and went to collect the hire car from Alamo. Katy and I got up leisurely , showered and dressed and waited for David to return with the car. He finally appeared about 8.30am with a tale of woe. He had rejected two cars at Alamo before accepting a white Chevy Lumina but was not happy with it - it was filthy. Sticky mess on the dash and stained carpets and seats. Also, Alamo had insisted he buy extra insurance even though it was all paid for in England. We decided to change the car at Long Beach and phoned ahead to arrange a replacement. We were assured by Alamo a clean car would be waiting for us later in the morning. After a quick breakfast of coffee and pastries we checked out of the Wyndham and headed off towards Long Beach. It was a beautiful Californian day - blue sky, sunny and warm. We went straight to the Queen Mary and took a tour aboard. It was very interesting to see part of our heritage moored at Long Beach. We had a happy couple of hours looking around but the best bits are part of a hotel and not open to the public. We left the Queen Mary complex and went to Alamo to change the car. What a fiasco!! The promised clean car was not waiting for us and after much argument we decided to change the filthy car for another Chevy Lumina which was also pretty dirty but was a newer model. We had to wait nearly an hour for it to be cleaned, by which time we were all hot, tired and hungry. We finally got under way again about 2pm and after stopping at a Subway for a quick lunch, we left Long Beach and joined the Interstate going east towards Riverside. The traffic was really heavy but we were able to use the car pool lanes and eventually arrived in Riverside at 4.30pm. We checked into the Best Western and were given two huge rooms leading off each other. The bed in our room was wider than it was long - enough room for four people! We had a lovely swim in the pool and started to unwind and relax in the hot spa. After a couple of hours rest we wandered around a local Mall and had a meal at T.G.I. Friday's. We returned to the motel about 9.30pm and went straight to bed - exhausted!

Day 3: Saturday 9th August

We all slept pretty well despite the air conditioning not working. Woke about 4am - very hot - and dozed on and off until 7am. After a Danish and coffee/juice breakfast we were on our way again at 9am. It was very hot but cloudy. We continued east towards Palm Springs . We stopped at the Premium Outlet Center and did some shopping, lovely!! It was very hot and sunny by now. Continued on our way and drove through Palm Springs. What a beautiful town. Immaculate, manicured lawns and attractive Spanish style buildings, palm trees everywhere, and contrasting the lushness was the desert wilderness on the other side of the road. We stopped for lunch at a Chinese Restaurant and pigged out on huge portions! It was very hot, over 100f. We drove on to the Joshua Tree National Park. We had gone about fifteen miles into the park when David realised we wouldn't have enough gas to get all the way to 29 Palms so we turned back, filled up and did the first bit of the park all over again. What an incredible place. We had many stops to get a better look at the Cholla cacti and interesting trees and rock formations. Saw a lizard climbing one tree and two coyotes at the side of the road. Very few people or cars about. It felt so good to be back in the desert again. We arrived at 29 Palms at 6pm and checked into the Motel 6. Excellent room. Had a swim and relax by the pool for about an hour and then went to a local supermarket to buy some fruit, snack, drinks etc. which we took back to the motel and ate watching a TV. PS The motel was full of marines from the nearby base - Katy wanted us to leave her there!

Day 4: Sunday 10th August

We all slept well and woke around 7am. Had an excellent breakfast in the diner next to the motel. We left 29 Palms at 10am. and headed east on the I10. The road took us through rugged desert for nearly two hours. Sand dunes, mountains, dry lakes - all magnificent. The road went alongside a railroad for several miles complete with graffiti done in small stones in the sand by the track. We crossed the California/Arizona stateline at Parker and also met up with the mighty Colorado River. Took a lunch break a few miles out of Parker and picnicked on tortilla chips and dip and doughnuts-also some fruit for the health freak! The river was busy with folks enjoying themselves on boats and jet skis and generally having fun. What a great place! We carried on and arrived in Lake Havasu City just after 2pm. and checked into the Super 8 motel. Katy was tired and wanted to rest so David and I went for a look around the town. It was very hot - almost unbearable- we had to keep going into shops to cool down. Found a good bar where they brewed there own beer. David was very happy! Checked out London Bridge - it certainly looked happy in the desert away from dreary, cold London! Returned to the motel and Katy and I had a couple of lazy hours by the pool before changing and getting ready to go out for some food about 7pm. We were driving along when we heard a strange noise coming from the back of the car. David had left some Coca Cola cans in the trunk and one of them had exploded with the heat. Fortunately, most of the mess was contained in the packaging. Found a pizza place for dinner - far too much to eat, so took the rest back with us. Wandered around the London Bridge complex for a bit - still very hot even though it was dark. Saw a skunk running around - an amazing site for us but apparently they are common pests in Arizona. Katy wanted to make it let out it's smell but we were obviously not frightening enough!

Day 5: Monday 11th August

A leisurely day of rest. We did some souvenir shopping and checked out the local Malls to get out of the heat - well over 100f. Had a picnic lunch in the motel of last nights pizza and some fruit and cakes. Took a drive down to Parker Dam but it was closed to the public that day - don't know why. Interesting Art Deco construction. Very, Very hot. We could only stay out of the car for a few minutes, thank goodness for air conditioning! Drove back to Lake Havasu and the motel. Katy and I had a lazy couple of hours by the pool and David had a return trip to the brewery. Surprise, surprise!! We went for a walk in a park area along the shore of Lake Havasu and admired the tall date palm trees burdened with fruit. The area had been designed for people to have fun with picnic tables and permanent barbecues and boat jetties. David was very impressed with the barbecues , they were so strong and well made. We returned to the brewery in the evening for an excellent meal. We sat by a window overlooking London Bridge lit up with fairy lights and fringed with palm trees - a beautiful sight.. After a walk along the river side we returned to the motel and re-packed the luggage - it didn't take long for the cases to get messy!

Day 6: Tuesday 12th August

We all felt a little sad to be leaving Lake Havasu City but after a quick breakfast stop and a half hour break for David to "surf the web" and send some e-mails, we were on the road again. We headed north to Route 66. Our first stop was at Oatman. What a place! An old mining town preserved from another time - not "done up" at all. The sidewalks were wood and the hitching rails were still intact outside the stores. The jail, complete with gallows, was a bit eerie! There were wild burros hanging around in the main street waiting to be fed by accommodating tourists. On the road leading into Oatman many of the bushes were decorated with tinsel and baubles - don't know why. Carried on to Kingman and stopped for a quick "Carl's Jr" lunch and filled up with gas. Got on the I40 and had a fast drive to Seligman and then took the "66" up to Grand Canyon Caverns. The country had completely changed since the morning. We had left the desert and were now in a landscape of softer mountains and green valleys. The soil had turned red and the temperature was about 20f down on Lake Havasu at about 80f - it felt almost cold. We had a reservation at the Grand Canyon Caverns motel which we had made from home. It was a really old fashioned place with the rooms in single story blocks behind the reception area and small shop. Just like a movie set! We had two separate rooms so were able to spread out. After unpacking, we went up to the caverns about a mile behind the motel and took a tour. Breathtaking, deep underground chambers and rock formations. It was cool, 56f, but totally dry with a humidity of only 6% so not at all unpleasant. During the Cuban missile crisis in 1963, the caverns were stockpiled with barrels of water and cartons of food and porta-loos - enough to keep 2000 people alive for two weeks. All these items were still there - in the same condition as when they were put there over 30 years ago. Because of the low humidity, nothing decays. The interesting guided walk lasted about 45 minutes and then an elevator took us back to the surface and the shop/cafe. Live snakes, including a rattle snake, and tarantulas were on display in small tanks. Lovely! We returned to the motel about 5pm in time for a quick swim in the pool and then back up to the caverns restaurant for dinner. Not very good - but as it was the only eating place for 50 miles we didn't have a choice! There was an "all you can eat" buffet but as most of it was gone we got a reduction. The entrees were Mexican which pleased David but not Katy or me! Had a quiet evening relaxing and reading at the motel. It was strange not to feel hot - I missed the desert!!!

Day 7: Wednesday 13th August

Checked out of Grand Canyon Caverns and drove back to Seligman. The road was lined with wild sunflowers. Hardly any other cars about. Stopped in Seligman to admire old Route 66 buildings - like another time warp town. David was very excited because there were Harley Davidson's everywhere! Got on the I40 and had a fast ride to Williams. We arrived at 11 am - too early to check into a motel so we bought some lunch supplies at Safeway's and found a Trail Ride place just out of town. David and I watched our precious daughter ride off into the hills with rather a nice young man. His name was Corrie and he was a fan of "Aerosmith" so they had quite a lot to talk about. We sat and ate peanuts and fruit and relaxed for an hour until the riders returned. Drove back to Williams and checked into the Downtowner Motel. Kinda quaint!!! David found it on the internet and made a reservation by e-mail - more cheap and cheerful than we were used to but clean and comfortable never the less. Took a stroll along the main street and then watched the Grand Canyon Railway steam into the station. Quite a sight puffing and hooting along. Had a nice steak dinner at the Cowboy's Kitchen, my choice, and then walked downtown to watch a "gunfight" between four cowboys - very entertaining. Went back to the top end of the town and saw a free musical show performed by a group of local people called the Route 66 Players. Very energetic and enthusiastic - a good evenings entertainment.

Day 8: Thursday 14th August

We all slept well at the Downandouter, whoops, I meant the Downtowner. Went to Williams Station to watch the Grand Canyon Train leave and to catch the morning cowboy show. Very entertaining again. We left Williams after the train left at 9.30am and drove to Flagstaff where we stopped at a supermarket to pick up some provisions for lunch and then headed north towards the Grand Canyon. We were going along really well, very little traffic, when after about 35 miles we ground to a halt at 11.30am. The road was completely stationary in both directions. After a 20 minute delay we were on our way again. A mobile home had turned over right across the road blocking both carriage ways but no one was hurt, fortunately. We arrived at the Grand Canyon National Park at 12.30pm and suddenly there it was! Indescribable, magnificent, stunning, awesome, vast, beautiful - how can it be put into words. The immense scale was breathtaking - almost too much for a mere mortal to take in. We ate our lunch and then set off on foot along the south rim. It was very hot and quite humid - in the 90's. We walked for a couple of miles just drinking in the beauty that was before us. The trail was quiet away from any buildings. After a couple of hours we were beginning to get tired so we caught the free shuttle bus to the trail end at Hermit's Rest. After a brief stop, we took the bus back to the Visitors Centre and then tried to park at Yavapai Point to watch the sun go down at 7.21pm. Unfortunately, most other folks had the same idea and there was no space so David left Katy and me there and went off to park the car further up the road. We only just made it in time but it was worth it to watch the sun disappear behind the north rim after bathing the rocks with beautiful pink light. Everyone clapped when the sun went down - it seemed the right thing to do. Drove back to Williams arriving at 9pm all very tired and hungry. Went to Hoffmans Restaurant for a meal. Ghastly place!!! First we were shown to a table where the seats were ripped and dirty. Then we had to wait ages for our order to be taken. We waited and waited for over half an hour for the food to arrive. David could see it waiting on the side for at least ten minutes before it was brought to us. The food wasn't bad but the service was awful. When we left, the cashier asked if we would like the tip to be added to the bill. David told her very firmly we would not be leaving a tip and then she tried to charge us twice as much for the food!! My tip to the Hoffmans Restaurant is - sort out your attitude!!!

Day 9: Friday 15th August

We were all woken in the night by hooting trains! Checked out of the Downtowner at 9am and went to the station to watch the show and see the train leave again. Picked up a few supplies and went on our way. Took a detour south out of Flagstaff towards Sedona. We had been told of a place at Oak Creek Canyon where Native Americans sold hand made jewelry. Eventually found them in an overlook car park at the top of the canyon. Katy and I set off to check out the stalls. We both bought some necklaces and were pleased with our purchases. We returned to Flagstaff and picked up the I40 again going east. Our next stop was at the Meteor Crater. What an extraordinary place - almost surreal. It was just one huge hole in the ground almost a mile across and 600ft deep caused by a meteor crashing into the earth 50,000 years ago. The site had been used as a training ground by the Apollo astronauts and there was a very interesting exhibition area about meteorites and space missions. Well worth a visit. On to our next stop at Holbrook and another Motel 6. We had two adjoining rooms with an interconnecting door. Did a big load of washing in the guest laundry and then went into town for dinner. Found a good Mexican/American restaurant and all pigged out. Excellent food and service - take note Williams!. After our meal we watched a group of Native American dancers performing outside the tourist office. Beautiful costumes especially the young girls in their "jingle" dresses. Went back to the motel and worked on the next part of the trip. I was in the bathroom preparing for bed at about 11pm when there was a hammering on the door. Two very large policemen wanted to question David about stolen license plates! Obviously, they had got the wrong man but it was a bit scary at the time. They left full of apologies and the rest of the night passed peacefully.

Day 10: Saturday 16th August

Had a delicious breakfast at Roadrunners Cafe just down the road from the motel then went to the supermarket next door for lunch supplies. Headed for the North entrance of the Petrified Forest National Park and drove through the Painted Desert. Beautiful formations of rock in red , pink, cream and white. Very hot, we ate our lunch at a purpose built site with picnic tables under cover from the sun. We had a huge "hoagie" between us filled with several different cold meats and salad. It was like a long loaf of bread split and filled. Couldn't eat it all...... Drove south through the Petrified Forest. The petrified trees looked so normal and ordinary until you touched them. They were completely turned to stone and very heavy. Weird! It is forbidden to take even the smallest piece from the National Park but in Holbrook every other outlet is selling the stuff! Apparently, the National Park is only part of the area where the petrified wood is found and the only area where it it preserved. The rest is found on private land and the owners can do what they like with it, hence the vast quantities for sale in the town. David drove rather fast on the way back to Holbrook. The road was so straight and quiet it was just too tempting. Saw some more coyote's strolling along. Stopped in Holbrook at a "rock" place and David bought a small piece of wood for $10. Returned to the motel about 5pm all quite tired and a bit scorched. No pool so had a refreshing shower. David and I planned the next part of our trip and phoned around to book accommodation. It was quite difficult as a lot of places were fully booked. This took a good hour by which time we were all hungry. Had a delicious Chinese meal a few blocks from the motel and then mooched around the local stores until 9.30pm.

Day 11: Sunday 17th August

Checked out of the motel and after breakfast at the Roadrunner we were ready to leave Holbrook. Stopped for some gas and watched a train go by. Three engines pulling 100 wagons - it seemed to go on for ever. Quick supermarket stop and then headed north into Navajo country. Very quiet road - virtually no traffic - very little sign of life, just a few scattered buildings. Very beautiful scenery, green valleys and distant mountain ranges. Stopped at Hubbell Trading Post for a comfort break. It consisted of old wooden buildings dating from 1878 originally used as a trading post with local Indians. There were old carts in the barns and the whole place looked like a movie set. Everything was very expensive in the gift shop. Continued on our way and arrived at Canyon de Chelly at 12.30pm - way earlier than we had expected. It was always a surprise how far we could drive in a short space of time because the roads were so empty and straight. We took a driving tour along the south rim of the Canyon stopping at various overlook points. It was just as spectacular as the Grand Canyon but on a smaller scale. The Canyon bottom is cultivated by the Navajo and they also keep animals there like horses and sheep. Ancient cliff dwellings were just visible with the naked eye on the other side of the canyon but were fantastic viewed through binoculars. A "must" for every traveler! Bought some more Indian jewelry from road side sellers. Checked into the Best Western at Chinle. The most expensive stop so far at $118 plus tax. Lovely indoor pool, though. The sky had been darkening all day although it had been very hot. There were some bright flashes of lightening but no rain. The temperature had dropped considerably by early evening and a cool breeze had sprung up. We went to the only supermarket in Chinle to get some beer. Oh no - disaster!! No beer is sold in the Reservation. David couldn't believe it - no Coors that night!! Had a good dinner in the restaurant next to the Best Western. We all had Navajo food. David and I has a delicious beef stew and Katy had Navajo shredded ham in fry bread - a sort of unleavened bread a bit like Naan. All the restaurant staff were Indians and most had really long black hair tied in pony tails or plaits. The service was excellent even though it was a really busy place.

Day 12: Monday 18th August

We woke to a beautiful day with clear blue skies and warm sun. The dark clouds and threatened storm of yesterday had disappeared. We had a light breakfast at the same restaurant we had dined at last night and checked out of the Best Western at 9am. We filled up with gas ( no gas for 100 miles said the sign ) and headed north. We were still in the Reservation and the scenery was magnificent. Immense red rock formations towering above a flat green plain. There were very few signs of life around just a few scattered settlements. It was interesting to see Hogans attached to most homesteads. Hogans are the traditional home of the Navajo people and are round houses made of wood and mud . The Navajo are obviously keen to preserve their traditional ways of life as many of the Hogans appeared to be relatively new. We made good time and arrived at the Four Corners National Monument at 11am. We expected it to be crowded with tourists but it was quiet so we had it mostly to ourselves. We took it in turns to put our hands and feet in each of the four states ( Arizona, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico ) and took photographs of each other. There was a large collection of market stalls surrounding the monument and we spent a happy hour or so inspecting the goods and bought one or two souvenirs. I purchased a pair of silver and turquoise ear-rings to match the necklace bought near Sedona. This was the farthest point east we were traveling on this trip so we felt we were half way and were starting on the return journey back to Los Angeles. Carried on into Utah in a north west direction. We drove past lots of "Nodding Donkeys" and eventually arrived at Bluff where we stopped at the Twin Rocks Cafe for some lunch. We had the most enormous steak sandwiches - more like a loaf of bread each filled with steak and salad. We sat on the verandah in the shade from the hot sun and admired the red rocks which the cafe took it's name from. Drove on to Mexican Hat and checked into the Mexican Hat Lodge. We had the biggest room so far on the trip. One enormous room with a double and single bed and another room off with a double bed and a bathroom, of course. Also a door leading to an outside balcony, which ran round the whole of the first floor, with a view of Mexican Hat Rock. Took a drive to Goosenecks, an area where the Colorado River has carved deep, narrow canyons and almost doubles back on itself leaving long, slender strips of rock that look like goosenecks. As we stood looking down at the river hundreds of feet below us we got talking to a couple who had spent the past five days canoeing and camping on the river and wanted to see what it looked like from on high. We then embarked on an 18 mile off road drive on dirt track through the "Valley of the Gods". Tricky drive but just manageable in a saloon car. A four wheel drive would have been better but as it was a hire car we weren't too concerned! When we finally got back onto the tarmac road, the car was covered with red dust and David spent about an hour cleaning it off when we got back to the motel! Had a good dinner at the San Juan Inn about half a mile up the road. Katy had soup, spaghetti and sauce, bread, strawberry sundae all washed down with copious amount of iced tea and yes, you've guessed it - she was sick!!! David and I had hamburgers and salad - much more sensible! Back to the motel for a quiet night in reading and watching TV.

Day 13: Tuesday 19th August

Today David and I celebrated our 30th Wedding Anniversary - not bad, huh!! We all slept well and woke refreshed. Had breakfast at the San Juan Inn - Katy just had melon slices! - and then headed towards Monument Valley. What can I say? It was like being on a film set. It was all so familiar but on a much bigger and more imposing scale in real life. We took a drive along the dirt trail meandering between the famous rocks to get a closer look. They were bright red with the early morning sun glinting on them against a clear blue sky with small, fluffy white clouds - a truly magical place. Many of the rocks have names and we stopped along the trail every now and then to admire the sights. Deep in amongst them, well away from the road was a new looking Hogan, which reminded us that Monument Valley was part of the Reservation and the rocks and Mesa were sacred places to the Native Americans. We left Monument Valley about 11am and drove on to Page, Arizona on the shores of Lake Powell. A fairly unprepossessing place. Checked into the Best Western after cruising around for a bit. Not much to see - we were glad we were only passing through. It was very hot so Katy and I headed for the motel pool and enjoyed a couple of hours swimming sunbathing and generally relaxing. David went off to get the car cleaned and came back enthusing about the car wash place he had found. He washed all the sand out from under the car that we had picked up going off road - we didn't want Alamo complaining about the state of the car when we returned it! Went to a local eatery, the Dam Grill for dinner. I wasn't too hungry so just ordered soup. It came in a large hollowed out bread roll - neat!

Day 14: Wednesday 20th August

We left Page around 10am and were pleased to be on our way. Stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam just outside of town - another amazing engineering structure holding back Lake Powell and the Colorado River. Headed south west through fairly indifferent countryside for a couple of hours until we reached Kanab, Utah. Stopped for some lunch and then went to a strange place called Lopeman's Frontier Movie Town where parts of old movie sets were arranged in a large area behind a shop /museum. It was completely deserted apart from one girl serving in the shop. We had a great time wandering around poking about in funny old wooden shacks for half an hour or so. The road out of Kanab towards St.George became more and more scenic. Quite unintentionally we found ourselves entering Zion National Park. We all agreed that it was the most dramatic and beautiful place we had seen on the entire trip. Great towering red sandstone cliffs with circular patterns worn into them by wind and rain erosion. Incredible switchback road with a mile long tunnel blasted through the rock. We wished we had planned to stay there longer - we will have to go back another year. Arrived in St.George about 4pm to find we were once again in Mountain Time and the time was 5pm ! Incredibly hot and dry, in excess of 100f. Checked into the Motel 6 and then did some shopping in K Mart - we love that shop!!! Had a buffet style all-you-can-eat meal at the evocatively named Chuck-A-Rama! Excellent value and recommendable. Back to the motel about 9pm to use the guest laundry. Still very hot - 92f.

Day 15: Thursday 21 August

After a nice breakfast in St.George we were on the road again by 10am. Our impressions of St.George were that it was a nice, clean town with a happy atmosphere that was comfortable with itself. We took the I15 south and crossed into Arizona for a short while and then into Nevada. The casino's started on the stateline! The scenery was barren mountains for the first few miles but then flattened out to dessert with the occasional Joshua Tree. We could see Las Vegas from about 20 miles away shimmering in the heat in the valley. As we approached we saw several Air Force fighter 'planes circling and then going into land at Nellis Air Force Base just outside of Vegas. Drove down the "Strip" and were amazed at all the changes in just one year. There was building going on all over and we spotted a couple of completely new hotels but the most stunning was without a doubt "New York, New York". It was just as exciting inside as out unlike most of the other hotel/casino's which were pretty dull on the inside. David and Katy took a ride on the "New York, New York" roller coaster and both agreed it was the best they had ever ridden. Grabbed a quick lunch and a last drive down the "Strip" and then got back on the intersate heading south. Arrived at the Prima Donna Resort on the Nevada/California stateline about 4pm. Checked in at Whiskey Pete's - one nice room on the second floor of the tower overlooking the pool. David went off for to have a look around and Katy and I went to catch some rays by the pool. The pool area was beautiful - a large pool with a water chute, waterfall, fountains and fringed with palm trees. There was also a hot tub and large area with sun loungers. Best of all, it was really quiet and there were pool attendants on duty who quickly put a stop to any unsociable behaviour! Katy ( and I ) admired an extremely handsome young Native American man who was in the pool area! The air temperature was 105f so we spent most of the time in the water! We had dinner in the Coffee Shop Restaurant. We all ordered the Special - Prime Ribs, expecting BBQ Ribs - But when the meal arrived it was pork chops - American English caught us out once again! After dinner, we went to Buffalo Bill's on the Shuttle Bus and all had a ride on the log flume. We were all handed laser guns and had to shoot at targets as the ride progressed. At the end the scores were totaled up - I got 300 ( I didn't take it seriously!) Katy scored 2900 but David got a massive 11,300 - what a sharp shooter!! Back to Whiskey Pete's about 10pm. Katy and I went to bed - pretty tired. David went to play the machines for a while.

Day 16: Friday 22nd August

My Birthday!! We all woke late and had a lie in. It was nice not to be moving on for a change. We had a leisurely breakfast in the Coffee Shop and then went back to Buffalo Bill's. We all had a trip on the Motion Movie ride. Not bad - we have been on better. David and Katy then rode the roller coaster. They both agreed it was the best one they had ever been on, even better than NY,NY. I couldn't face it - the drops were just too great for me. I don't mind speed or going upside down, I just can't take stomach lurching drops! It was very hot, 110f so we decided to take the car and drive out into the desert. We went east along a very peaceful, quiet road through the mountains. The desert either side of the road was thick with the largest Joshua trees we had seen anywhere and patches of cholla and yucca. I caught site of an eagle soaring in the blue, cloudless sky near the small town of Nipton. The road ended at a boating marina, Cottonwood Cove on the shores of Lake Mojave. The lake was crystal clear and teeming with large fish. We walked out on the wooden jetty and looked down at them in the water. We had lunch at the only cafe and then made the return trip arriving back at Whiskey Pete's around 4pm. We got changed and headed straight for the pool. It was still hot, around 105f, but there was a bit of cloud around to give a little shade. Ate at the "all you can eat" buffet at Whiskey Pete's. There was an incredible assortment of food to choose from. Some, like the prawns, looked far better than they tasted! Took the shuttle bus over to Buffalo Bill's after dinner and David and Katy rode the 'coaster again, this time in the dark. Apparently, it was just as scary the second time around! We returned to Whiskey Pete's and watched a movie on TV called "Campus Man". It was so good, we watched it to the end, even though it lasted three hours i.e. about one and a half hours of movie and one and a half hours of commercial breaks!

Day 17: Saturday 23rd August

I was actually up, showered and dressed first - the first time this vacation! After some breakfast we checked out of Whiskey Pete's and left the poor suckers behind gambling their dollars away. As we entered the freeway, we followed a Wells Fargo Security Truck, probably stuffed full of the profits! Headed south west out across the Mojave Desert. Passed the Worlds Tallest Thermometer at Baker. It showed 106f - pretty hot, huh? Stopped at Calico Ghost Town again. Much as it was last year except there were more "cowboys" performing. Katy did some "gold panning" and got to keep the biggest nugget she found. ( fools gold!) She also had a "wanted" poster printed with her name on. Arrived at "Baking Barstow" around 1pm - too early to check into the motel so we had some lunch at a Bun Boy and then went to the Factory Outlets south of town. It was too hot to do any serious shopping but we got a few odds and ends. Back to Barstow and checked into the Motel 6. We had two nice adjoining rooms and after settling in, Katy and I headed straight for the pool - Bliss! - it was still very hot. David went to the supermarket to get some beer. When he got back to the car, he discovered he had a flat tyre. He drove slowly back to the motel to change the wheel only to discover the spare was just an emergency one. He managed to find a garage that was still open and left the flat tyre to be repaired and ready for collection the following morning. Had a so-so Chinese meal and then hung out in the supermarket before returning to the motel for a lazy evening.

Day 18: Sunday 24th August

David collected the repaired tyre at 8am and was very impressed with the efficient service, all delivered in a cheerful and helpful way. I would hope that American visitors to England with a similar problem would find the same kind of service, but somehow I doubt it! We left Barstow and continued West. The scenery was still high desert, mountains and Joshua Trees and a relatively quiet road. We stopped at Victorville to visit the Mall as we remembered it being good from last year. Did some shopping and then went to an out of town Target and did some more! Katy finally bought a denim jacket - she had been looking for one all vacation! Back on the road and heading for LA. As we got closer to Los Angeles the road got wider, faster and busier - six lanes in both directions. We began to leave the desert behind and trees, grass and gardens started to appear as we drove into the suburbs. We arrived at the Motel 6 in Anaheim, after a few wrong turns, about 4pm. Two lovely big rooms on the second floor overlooking the pool. Katy and I went straight down for a swim as we were feeling a little travel weary and wanted to unwind. It was very warm, about 90f, but felt relatively cool after the heat of the desert of the past few days. The pool area was lovely, set in the middle of the motel with gardens and palm trees surrounding it. We had a nice meal at a local restaurant and then returned to the motel for an early night. David and I repacked our luggage which took a while as we had got quite a lot more than when we arrived two and a half weeks ago! We heard some bangs and pops coming from outside and went out on the balcony to investigate. It was a beautiful fireworks display over Disneyland - looking forward to our day there tomorrow!

Day 19: Monday 25th August

We were all up, showered, dressed and breakfasted by 8.30am - a first! We walked the two blocks from the motel to Disneyland and were inside at 8.45am waiting for the rides to open at 9am. We had planned to do the "Indiana Jones" ride first - but so had everyone else! The queue was enormous - at least a one and a half hour wait, so we decided to return to it later. We did all the main rides and didn't have to wait more than half an hour at each one - not too bad. However, all the rides were very mediocre, the best one being "Space Mountain". We finally went back to "Indiana Jones" at about 2.30pm. we thought this ride was a bit disappointing, too. We decided to return to the motel for a swim and rest up a bit. On the way to the exit, we watched a group of Barber Shop singers performing. I was "invited" to "assist" them which was rather embarrassing as I had to sit on a stool, wear a plastic beak, flap my arms and say "Tweet,Tweet"! Got back to the motel around 4.30pm and fell into the pool and spa - bliss!!! We ordered a pizza and bucket of ribs delivered to our room. The most delicious pizza we had ever tasted and the ribs were out of this world! We returned to Disneyland at 8pm just as it was getting dark. David and Katy went on some of the rides again and I wandered around the shops. The prices were way over the top - even a bottle of water was five times the normal price at $2.50 - a bit of a rip-off! We watched the "light show" - quite pretty - floats with "fairies" dancing and singing. We were too far away to see well, however. Stayed on to see the fireworks which were pretty spectacular and accompanied by music. Just as we were leaving Disneyland, we saw "Mickey Mouse" for the first time that day. "He" gave Katy a hug and signed our map - big deal! We were all disappointed with Disneyland. We thought it was overpriced and tacky and poor value for money. It certainly was not the "Magic Kingdom" for us. We walked back to the motel and fell, exhausted into bed.

Day 20: Tuesday 26th August

We got up leisurely and after some breakfast at the motel we checked out and headed towards Los Angeles. I had picked up a leaflet about the Farmers Market in LA off the Santa Monica Boulevard so we decided to go there and check it out. What a place! A bit like Camden Lock in London but better. Lots of shops and market stalls selling all sorts of things, mostly tourist stuff, but hey, we were tourists!! Katy bought a cowboy hat for $12.99 to wear Line Dancing. Mixed up with the shops were many different eating places and fresh food outlets. One shop sold nothing but nuts - you name it - it was there. There was even one place making peanut butter. There were hand made chocolates and candies, fresh fruit and vegetables, meats, fish and seafood. We decided to eat lunch there and had a great steak sandwich. It was a good place for "people watching" and to just hang out. I would recommend it to anyone visiting LA. We left the Farmers Market and drove to the Pacific Coast at Santa Monica. It was nice to walk along the shore and admire the roller-bladers gliding along the purpose built track half way up the beach. We went on the pier and rode the Ferris wheel and got a great view of the perfect beach. We returned to the car and drove to Venice Beach and decided to go back tomorrow and spend some time there. We checked into the Hacienda at LAX. What a great hotel! Friendly, helpful check in staff, a lovely room over looking an attractive courtyard and free car parking! We went to the "Happy Hour" and were given champagne and hors d'oeuvres and were entertained by a guy singing and playing the guitar. Some other guests, Germans, joined in with the singing and it sounded beautiful. Katy and I went for a swim in the pool and spa for half an hour or so. We really noticed the drop in temperature, it was only in the mid 80's We had a good dinner at a local bar and then went back to the hotel. I did a load of washing in the free! guest laundry - yet another bonus point for the Hacienda. We received a fax from Andrew, Tracey and Max - kinda miss those guys back home!! David had a chat with Mike in San Francisco on the 'phone. Shame we didn't get to meet up with him this trip, we shall just have to go back another year. Katy went to bed and David and I went down to the hotel bar and watched couples dancing - we think it was "swing" - .they all did it so well and were really having a good time.

Day 21: Wednesday 27th August

Got up late and had a leisurely breakfast in the hotel coffee shop. Drove back to Venice Beach and spent a couple of hours walking up and down looking in the shops and watching the world go by. I bought a new sweatshirt ( which Katy has subsequently pinched! ) and Katy found some real cool shades as her old ones had fallen apart. We then went on the beach for a couple of hours sun and surf. It was interesting watching the lifeguards patrolling. They were very vigilant and herded anyone in the wrong part of the sea to safer waters. The girl lifeguards were very athletic looking - not a bit like the top heavy bimbo's featured on "Baywatch". We met up with David, who had been off on his own doing boy things, and had an excellent lunch at Jody Marodi's Sausage Shop - recommended to us by Mike in San Francisco. On our way back to the hotel we stopped off at Bartel's Harley Davidson shop. David was almost drooling! Katy and I went straight to the pool when we got back to the Hacienda for a cooling swim before showering and getting ready to go out. We drove a little way north, just below Beverly Hills and arrived at Marci's house a little after 6pm. Marci is a friend of Fiona who works with David at LNN and David had helped them get together by e-mail over the past few months. By way of a "thank you" Marci had invited us to her home for a barbecue. Marci and her friend Steve were most welcoming and hospitable and we spent a very entertaining evening with them. We ate a delicious meal on the patio and Steve, a clinical hypnotist, entertained us with stories of his work. He put Katy and David "under" but had no effect on me! We returned to the Hacienda about 11.30pm after enjoying a most pleasant evening.

Day 22: Thursday 28th August

The end of our vacation had arrived. We all got up late and after repacking our luggage and having breakfast we checked out of the Hacienda. We loaded up the car and drove up to Beverly Hills to admire the beautiful houses of the rich and famous. It really is an attractive area and it is obvious why it is such a popular place to live. We then drove down to the Farmers Market again and had some lunch at a Chinese fast food outlet. It was then time to return the car to Alamo and get the shuttle bus to LAX. David was sad to see the car go - he would like to have taken it home with us! We arrived at the airport in good time and checked in for our Air New Zealand flight home. The flight was uneventful and we arrived back in London just after 11am. We went down to baggage reclaim and had to wait an hour for the luggage to come through. Our cases were almost the last to appear - panic was beginning to set in! We got home to Odiham at about 1pm to find everything in order and all the cats fit and well.

P.S. David contacted American Holidays about the extra insurance we had to pay Alamo and we got it all refunded without any hassle after a couple of months.

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