Up and running again at last. In case you didn't get the email we sent, Apple did a big update to its system and messed up the offexploring site. It has taken 2 weeks to get a 'fix' done by which time we had reached Australia so I am afraid that although the photo is of San Francisco the location bit can't be altered back to the US. Monday Sept 23rd. We went on the ferry from Larkspur to San Francisco which took around half an hour. This meant we didn't have to...

Wednesday, Thursday & Friday spent time with my sister Sallie catching up with everything to do with family. Sallie also took us on a car ride re visiting the area around Noosa. The photo is of me doing a bit of tropical gardening, helped by Spencer Sallie's little Maltese cross puppy. On Friday Sallie & I treated ourselves to a manicure & really decadent pedicure. You are sat in this large massage chair with your feet in a foot spa while being thorou...

The big travel day dawned. There was a cycle road race going through Occidental in the morning, so after breakfast and final packing, clearing up the house and saying a last farewell to Guy & Donna we used the Tom Tom to find a new route without flattening anyone on two wheels. The sat nav took us around Sebastopol and we made good time to San Francisco, returned the car and took the bus shuttle then the Sky Train back to the domestic terminal at the airport ...

Our last full day in the USA with Guy and Donna. The morning was spent packing - trying to get everything back in the suitcases - why do we travel with so much stuff? After a bite of lunch, Guy took us in his truck to Armstrong Woods near Guerneville - about 45 minutes up the road from Occidental. This wild life area was donated by the Armstrong family to the state early in the 20th century as an unspoilt area of protected redwoods. This is a lovely area of roll...

Busy weekend with friends calling to see us. Saturday it was supposed to be Rick & Dee unfortunately Rick was sick so only Dee could come. It was great to see her and catch up on things. She has worked for the local Vets for many years and also rescues needy horses. It was good to talk horse for a bit. We had steak and when I say steak I mean STEAK. They were called New York strip steaks and must have weighed near on a Pound each! Yum! After Dee left at ar...