So it might've sounded as if we didn't like Vegas, if you read our previous blog. Admittedly, some parts of the 'Vegas Experience' just aren't really for us; we're not big drinkers, we're not gamblers, we're not really into 'shows' or 'adult entertainment', and some of the other punters here are as rough as baggies fans! But we've kept ourselves busy! Our 'hummer' trip into Death Valley was great, Sal really enjoyed the 'old-style' Vegas show we saw (surprisingl...

We arrived in Vegas on the Friday of a Holiday weekend, and it was mad busy. We had trouble finding the hotel, and eventually had to pull over and call them on the mobile. 'We're a sixteen-story building, with the hotel name on the top, you can't really miss us', the receptionist said, helpfully! We found it, checked in, and went out to see 'the strip'. It was so tacky and seedy, and incredibly busy. We're glad we're staying in a chilled-out, 'off-strip' non-casi...

After driving the last 15 miles to Stagecoach Ranch along a rough, rutted desert track (don't tell the car-hire company!), we arrived, dust-coated and all shook up. We'd missed our chance to ride that day, due to our late arrival (aw, shame!), and would have to wait until the day after. The ranch had been made to look like a 'wild west' town, and I just couldn't stop whistling the theme from 'A Fistful Of Dollars'. We visited the gift shop, 'cos Sal was desperate...

We are by no means 'hardcore outdoor' people, as you probably know, but we had to laugh at the folks who were dressed for 'extreme hiking' whilst taking a ten minute stroll 'round the canyon rim, followed by a visit to the cafe and souvenir shop, it was like a Ray Mears' convention! 'Hiking' in the UK brings to mind a drive to somewhere remote, a 12 mile walk over rough terrain, and a packed lunch. In the US, 'hiking trails' are mostly short strolls along proper...

I really liked Sedona, and could have stayed longer. Sal liked it, but wasn't into the 'new-age' atmosphere, and all the Japanese and Korean tour-groups were annoying her, so she was ready to move on! Sadly, she couldn't find a fridge-magnet with 'Sedona rocks!' on it, and I failed to locate a t-shirt with a slogan like 'I went to Sedona and had my chakra realigned', very poor! I'd spotted a huge meteor crater near Flagstaff, AZ, on the map, which was on our way...