Howdy
15/06/2010 We left San Francisco heading over Yosemite national park and the Sierra Nevada not realising how outstandingly beautiful it is and a great place to camp and trek in ( All campsites were full), Snow capped mountains with snow still at the side of the roads, Enormous gushing waterfalls, and lush meadows where we saw our first wild Grizzly bear. We followed the eastern side of the mountains down to a small town called Bishop arriving early evening to find the California state Rodeo finals taking place, A Great night, Cowboys who can't have dangly bits after being thrown around on bucking bronco's and Bulls, Cowgirls lassoing cows, We think we were the only ones cheering on the Bulls., loads of yee haa's.
The following day we crossed death valley, a vast nothingness, Sand, Salt flats and mountains in the distance, Badwater the lowest place in the USA at 283ft below sea level ,The mercury hit 110 degree's where we were told this was a cool day.
16/06/10We carried on to Las Vegas, Sin City (Tip 1, Book your room online, 4 star casino hotel $29 midweek $ 40 weekends) Outside our hotel was the Fremont experience, A covered esplanade with the biggest TV screen in the world, covering the whole street, Here on the hour all the Casino lights are turned off and they have Spectacular thundering musical montages (Queen was brilliant) followed by live bands performing on various stages and everyone dancing in the street. (Us included) At the Fitz comedy store show, Being British, guess who got picked on, I told the comedian my name was Montgomery just to help him, He even had Oonagh on stage, We held our own though and played up to him. At Caesars Palace we saw in concert probably the 2nd sexiest pensioner after myself, Cher, (as fit as a butchers dog at 64 ) great performer and skimpy outfits. We did all the Vegas strip thing, Lions in the MGM, Gave our opinions on a new trailer for a TV program starring Sharon Osbourne sort of poor Loose women show. I even won big on the slot machines.
20/06/10 Crossing the Hoover dam was a great start to the day, Making our way to the West rim skywalk over the Grand canyon, The 50 miles off beaten track, The last 10miles are on a dirt track 10mph, What a rip off $80, But having come so far you buy the ticket. Then your bussed out to the rim, Your not allowed to take your camera on the small glass walk, You can beside it (Tip 2, Don't waste your time and money). Following in the footsteps of the Sunbury Birches we tried to get our kicks on parts of the Mother road route 66, staying in a bikey town of Bishop, 2 roads and lots of Harleys.
21/06/10 We ticked another off our wish list and took a helicopter flight over the Grand canyon, (So unfair Oonagh was chosen to sit in the front with the sexy blond girlie pilot A great way to view the canyon and a lot cheaper than doing it from Vegas). Before heading south past Phoenix and Tucson to Benson, another great drive of vast vista's.
Tombstone and the OK corral where the real life local sheriff was the drummer in Tommy Steele's band (1960s pop star). He picked up on our accents and gave us a update past and present. Nothings really changed, Only the saloons and houses of ill repute have gone and been replaced with novelty stores. Boothill cemetery is an interesting walk, Hanged, Shot, Murdered, Lynched and so on.
Heading South again through New Mexico, A journey where the vast emptiness is only broken by freight trains, 126 Container carriages being pulled by 4 locomotives, Does that tell you that how there's nothing to see apart from mountains in the distance and the deserts. (Some lovely cactus).
$7 won on the slots in Vegas, a slap up McDonalds for dinner was had by all.

You have a great day now, The Chaffers