HOW!!! We finally left Palm Springs, California, with a definite feeling that we'll be back! Along with Western Oz, it's been one of our favourite places as far as lifestyle goes.

Our next destination was Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix in Arizona. It still has a native American feel about it and that way of life is still visible here. Part of Scottsdale is still as it was in the 1800s, very cowboy and indians! The whole of the area is in desert country, cacti, rock formations and temperatures well into 100 degrees. Had a right result with our motel, BBQs in the grounds, cooked brekkie every morning and between 5-6:30pm every day there were free cocktails around the pool, any drink you like! We certainly made the most of that! There was a plus side to jims tattoo (Pride of North London - Spurs), it caught the attention of a North London rival fan from Staines, Arsenal Steve and Sharon. As you've seen in the last photo album he's a bit of a Bradley Walsh lookalike! They come here on hols every year to meet up with a couple from San Francisco who they met here in the pool 5 years ago, Aaron and Mary. We ended up joining their gang and becoming friends over happy hour and at the bar opposite until 3am the next morning! Drank the place dry of beer, Jamesons and Gin. Going to meet Aaron and Mary in San Francisco and they're going to take us to see the San Francisco Giants (baseball). On the wall in the motel bar is a 1991 Spurs shirt hanging amongst baseball and NFL jerseys, the locals have no idea where it came from and who it belongs to but they do now! Spent 5 days around here exploring the area and making the most of the pool.

Thought it was time to explore the rest of Arizona and first off was Sedona, Red Rock Country. Then came yet another wonder of the world to cross of the list, the Grand Canyon (South Rim). Absolutely awesome, over 200 miles long and up to 20 miles wide in some places with the Colorado River some 300ft down winding its way through. Words can't describe how spectacular it is. Found a good lookout for sunset where the colours changed from yellow-orange to deep red-purple, reminded us of our days at Uluru. That night we had our first proper US feed - ribs, chicken, corn, beans, baked potato, salad and bicsuit, all covered in BBQ sauce and ranch dressing....aaaah! All washed down with a beer and a yeeeeehaaaaaa! Had a proper Western feel, all that was missing was the horses tied up out the front! Next morning we explored the Eastern rim which we thought gave a better view of the River and of the sheer size of the canyon extending as far as the eye could see. Our ambition is to kayak the length of the Colorado River through the Canyon cos the scenery must be unbelievable from the bottom. That afternoon we headed for Utah, our 3rd state to visit and home of the Navajo region and Monument Valley, a famous area from numerous cowboy films and TV ads. Strange landscape, dead flat with enormous rock formations jutting out of the ground forming oblong monuments. Spent the next couple of hours driving in amongst the huge rocks and taking lots of pictures and generally b*****ing about in the desert getting absolutely caked in bright red dust!

Spent the next couple of days back in Arizona at Lake Powell and Glen Canyon. Its a huge canyon filled with water, manually filled by the construction of the dam in the 1950s. The water was run-off from the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. In some places its 500m deep and has more shoreline than the entire West coast of USA. We thought the best way to see the lake was to hire a couple of kayaks which was great fun, especially trying to stay afloat in the waves of the passing speedboats and waterskiers! Practise for the Canyon kayak trip!

Carried on our natural rock exploration to Bryce Canyon in Utah. Nowhere near as big as the Grand Canyon but still spectacular. It covers 200 miles/sq but in a totally different formation. Natural amphitheatres filled with spear like rocks called hoodoos and naturally eroded grottos and bridges. Utah is split between desert and mountainous pine forests, typical bear country - not a time to leave the biscuits out! In summer temperatures hit well over 100 degrees and in winter drop well below freezing, its a popular ski resort with Salt Lake City as the capital. You can even have six wives here which interested Jim, when you get fed up with one you can just move onto the next! Stayed at a place called St George for the night thanks to a puncture, out in the middle of nowhere is not the place to be waiting on tyre fitters, no quik fit here!

Next morning with a repaired tyre we headed down Route 15 to Nevada...and everybody knows whats in Nevada!!! $$$$$$$$$$$ We hope!

Hope everyone is ok and enjoying our updates.

Take care

Travellers xxx