So after a massive trek across San Francisco with our suitcases and four blisters on my hand later we arrive, dripping with sweat, at the car hire place. Why the hell didn't we just get a taxi?! We were pleasantly surprised to see a shiny, modern Nissan Altima waiting for us, automatic of course. Dom quickly got used to the controls and after losing and finding the car keys three times (yes seriously) we set sail. I was amazed at how quick Dom got used to driving on the other side of the road and also how to control an automatic and my previous worries and concerns were soon cast aside. I felt really safe being chauffeured around. Glad we paid for a sat nav although I still giggle every time the woman on the machine says 'calculating rout' it's not 'rout' it's route. Tut.

On route to Yosemite we stopped at 'Dennys' for a burger and shortly after I felt quite sick. Dominic thought it may have had something to do with the mountains of onion rings, bacon and mustard i'd consumed but I still argue it was the celery. The drive to Yosemite was beautiful. Absolutely stunning. Awe-inspiring. We were surrounded by mountains and trees and wildlife, the photographs really do not capture the true sense of depth and scale. After cruise controlling most of the journey we arrived early evening in the park and were given the keys to our tent cabin. The temperature was freezing (well compared to the sunshine in San Fran) so out came the layers. Our cabin was cute and surprisingly cosy and spacious. I made time to explain camping ettiquette rules to Dominic, what with me being a hardened camper from my childhood. Camping was fun. Being told that a massive snow storm was blowing over the next evening was no so fun. Unfortunately we had to cut our stay short by one night to ensure we got over the Tioga pass before it was closed for bad weather/driving conditions. Apparently it was closing the next day until May! If we had not done this then it would have meant at least a 12 hour detour to our next stop, Death Valley. Whilst packing our luggage in the back of the car I noticed Dominic had a rather somber face. He then began scrambling about in the car, checking pockets and the like before announcing "'i've locked the keys in the boot". I gave my reply by remaining silent. After moving seats, profuse sweating and legs dangling out of the car he finally managed to climb through the gap in the back seats to the boot. Boy, that was lucky. Dom's absent mindedness is fast becoming a liability (I still love him though).

Views over Tioga were astonishing. They really have to be seen to be believed. As we were driving to our motel in Bishop I couldn't help but think how lucky I was to be able to see this scenery. Hope all of my family can see it one day. We were your typical tourists pulling over at the side of the road every five minutes to get a picture. I'm sure Dominic is turning into David Bailey with his new fan-dangle DSLR camera.

Our one night stop over in Bishop, an old gold mining town, was fun. Motel was unexpectedly un-seedy. We mainly just chilled after eating yet another oversized, make you fall asleep you're so full, meal - this time Mexican. Breakfast was amazing. Well, it was muesli, yoghurt and fruit, but to me that is amazing after over a week of white bread bagels! We noticed snow covering the mountains of where we drove from yesterday so felt content that we had made the right decision to leave Yosemite early. When walking back to our motel room Dominic managed to walk into room 201. We were actually in room 202 and it wasn't until I said 'our room's next door' that he realised - twas hilarious!

Arcade fire, Radiohead and Little Dragon were just a few of the people accompanying us on our journey to Death Valley. Dominic loves the car and earlier told me "i never thought I would get to drive a car as nice as this". Driving in America has been one of his dreams and whilst I was dazing out of the car I feel the window go down and Dominic exclaim "woo-hoo" whilst pumping his fist. Living the dream. We took time to listen to a few of the local radio stations, thigh slapping country and western is popular as are whet your whistle food adverts. We noticed at least three of the tunes played on the radio compare a baby's smile to the rising of the sun over the mountains but my favourite had to be "where I came from it's corn, bread and chicken" - give it a listen it's got a real foot tapping tune.

We are currently in Stovepipe Wells (in Death Valley) in the middle of a sand/dust storm eager to get out and use the outdoor heated pool. We really are in the middle of nowhere and the one restaurant doesn't open until 6pm so we're making used of the breakfast items we stole earlier including apples and pots of philipelphia. Yum. We can almost touch Vegas! Woo-hoo!