The final mileage

The final mileage tally comes to 3630 and 7 states. Although it has been tough at times with the early mornings and living out of a suitcase, I can't think of a better way to cover so many miles and see so many wonderful places.  

The states were:

California

Nevada

Montana

Idaho

Wyoming

Utah

Arizona

Goodbye America

The final night

Tonight we did our final excursion to Santa Monica and what a wonderful time we had. Unfortunately the traffic was so bad it took an hour to do a fifteen minute journey and we missed the sunset. 

We started off at Bubba Gump and had a very enjoyable meal. The waiting staff were the best we've seen all holiday, very efficient, very funny and quite extrovert.  I wondered whether they were auditioned rather than interviewed for the job. 

After we had finished eating we made our way to the Ferris wheel for a ride. Now I don't normally do rides but tonight was special so I clung on and away we went. I have to say it was pretty good. 

After the ride we had 30 mins to amuse ourselves, which is what we did. 

What amused us in Bubba Gump was you had this sign showing when you needed service and switched it for STOP FORREST STOP when you've had enough and want your bill.

and the answer is NO I haven't been drinking. 

Alas it is the end of a truly fantastic holiday. We have seen so much that we've only ever dreamed of and met up with some lovely people, especially Alan and Hazel. 

Group photo taken in Canyonlands, can you spot the infiltrator?

(it's the Japanese man with a blue hat on taking a photo on the left). Wouldn't you have thought he would have removed himself from an obvious group photo. We have found the Japanese to be quite rude and pushy when it comes to taking photos and they don't care about anybody else. 

Alan and Hazel

So until we go away again on another adventure, it's goodnight from me and goodnight from him. Love you all. x x x

The final day touring

We've woken up this morning to yet more clear blue skies. We are certainly going to miss the big blue skies and landscape. One thing we won't miss is getting up at 5:45 each day and packing and re packing the suitcases. Tomorrow in LA we get to lie in because our tour officially ends today and we make our own way to the airport on the hotel shuttle. We are looking forward to not setting the alarm or having a wake up call. But then it is our last morning and we need to be on the shuttle at 2pm so maybe we won't waste the morning. 

At some point I'll have to look back through the blog in order to work out the mileage. Driving from Flagstaff to Vegas totted up 303 and to Death Valley 295. I can't believe we've been sat on this bus so long. When we get to LA at about 12:30 we are going to the Mexican area for lunch and then doing a city tour. We thought we were going to be finished as soon as we got there but apparently not. We will eventually get to our hotel at 5pm which is when the flight check in opens so let's hope we can get decent seats. We then have to be back on our trusty bus at 6pm ready for a evening out in Santa Monica. It's all go touring :-)

Here's the view as we've entered California. As you can see from the photo, We now have the front seats for the final day. 

We have been surprised not to see solar panels on roofs especially as they have so much sunshine here but we have just past a giant solar energy plant, which apparently are becoming more and more common. 

 

Not a lot of interest on this drive but we have just past the San Andreas fault. Apparently there are three earthquakes a day in this region but the majority are not felt. The white rocks which stand out as being alien to the landscape are the fault. 

Our first view of downtown LA. 

Went to the oldest house in LA, which was built about 1818. We take for granted all our beautiful old properties, but here they are few and far between. 

Next stop is Hollywood Boulevard 

Wandered around Hollywood Boulevard for a while and saw lots of stars on the walk of fame and also foot and handprints.

Next was Sunset Boulevard and then on to Beverley Hills and Rodeo Drive. On the way we saw Marilyn Monroe's house 

Only in LA could you find a canary yellow Rolls Royce

This is the hotel where Pretty Women was filmed.  Doesn't look anything special does it, but what a good film. 

Now it's on to our hotel and if that was LA we've done it. This is the 12 lane motorway, 6 each way and its chockablock. Looks like it could take a while to get to our hotel. 

Now it's time to have a quick change before we're off out for our last trip. 

Death Valley

Up and out by 7:15 today for a trip to Death Valley. 

On the way, we had this telecoms pole pointed out to us disguised as a tree! This could catch on and all telegraph poles, lamp posts etc could be disguised. Imagine how green everywhere would look with absolutely no maintenance required. 

After a two and a half hour drive we arrived in Death Valley. What a disappointment not to experience blistering heat, it was windy and cool and visibility was very poor. Still enjoyed walking on the salt flats though and took lots of photos before going to have a buffet lunch at Furness Creek Ranch. 

Can you spot the sign on the rocks, centre towards the top, which is where sea level would be. 

At Furness Creek Ranch there was a wagon which would have been pulled by 26 mules back in the 1840s. 

Then of course steam came along and the mules could be put out to grass. 

After lunch the weather had cleared and off we went to Zabriskie Point to take some photos. The landscape was completely different to anything we had seen previously and was quite beautiful. 

Dust Devil

 Wish British roads were like this. 

It would have been lovely to be able to stay longer but it was time to return to the bright lights of Vegas. We looked around the various hotels and found a chocolate lovers dream. Georgia you'd have loved it. The largest chocolate fountain in the world. Well it'd have to be the largest in the world seeing we're in the US. 

We then stood under this ceiling, which was specially commissioned by the Bellagio, and wondered how it could possibly have cost $19 million to create. Shows how much money is made from the gambling. 

Watched the fountain display at the Bellagio, again. It was brilliant. Just a tad larger than the dancing waters grotto we used to love in T J Hughes in Liverpool when we were kids. 

John was amused by the giant motorbike protruding from the Harley Davidson Cafe. Just a pity it was surrounded by crumpled oldies who'd seen better days but could spend a fortune on a bike. 

Well that's it from Las Vegas. I'm glad I've seen it but doubt I'll ever come back. It is just too busy, too noisy and too bright and flashy. Glad we're leaving at 7:30 tomorrow morning.  Los Angeles here we come. 

Red Flag at night

You know when you're maybe in London and their are tour groups everywhere following a leader carrying a flag or an umbrella and you get really annoyed with them, well, for the first time on this holiday, we have become that group. In order to ensure we didn't lose our leader last night she carried a red flag.

Las Vegas

Where do I begin to describe the lights and noise of Vegas? It's certainly bright and it's also extremely noisy, traffic, music, people all go to create a cacophony of sound. 

We checked into our hotel at 3:30 and decided to do nothing until 5:30 when we were being picked up for a guided tour of Vegas. We were shown the best bits of a number of hotels, the Venetian, the Mirage, Caesers Palace, the Bellagio and also the old town. The Venetian was amazing with an opera being sung under a fairly realistic false sky. 

We then checked out the gondolas and marvelled at the shops. Next was the Mirage.  We wouldn't have minded standing in line if we had the 20m fish tank to observe. 

Then we did Caesars Palace.  

followed by a spectacular fountain show in front of the Belagio.  Although the temperature was still in the 80s it was quite windy and we worried that the show would be cancelled. Luck was on our side and it did take place but just our bad luck that it was gusting our way and we ended up soaked from the spray. At least we dried off quickly!

We then made our way to the old town and expected it to be a bit grim but it was just as lively. Fremont Street is the Main Street and it is covered, as in the picture. At 9pm Bon Jovi music was played and the most incredible light show took place on the ceiling. 

By the time was got back to our coach and then to the hotel it was getting on for 10pm and we still hadn't eaten. We went off with Alan and Hazel and sat and ate a couple of pizzas between us. It is now 11:45 pm and we are now tired and exhausted and looking forward :-( to a 6am wake up call and on the bus at 7:30 for yet another day. I think we'll sleep all the way home on Saturday night.  

Night night all. 

Flagstaff to Las Vegas

Off we go again. Not sure what we'll make of the bright lights of Vegas but I'm sure that the beauty of the last 10 days will be with us forever. Today we'll be hitting Route 66, (the only place the old man will be getting his kicks) and stopping at Seligman for a break before continuing to Vegas. Yesterday's mileage was 403, although we missed a bit of that by flying from Page and being picked up at the Grand Canyon after our flight. 

When Route 66 was bypassed by the highway, Angel Delgadillo and a few other residents of Seligman were upset when overnight their town died. They decided to set up a campaign to ensure that Route 66 lived on and eventually a small section was declared an historic route. Angel is now 80 and still barbering. John didn't get his haircut but one of our guys did and John did sit in the chair that has been used for the 66 years that Angel has cut hair and shaved men. 

Well we've now left Arizona and the bright lights and gambling machines of Vegas are calling. One of the last things we saw before reaching Vegas was the Hoover Dam. 

As it was too early to check into our hotel we were dropped off to have a wander and lunch. John couldn't resist spending/investing Nan's $1  Here's the results of his gambling. 

Looks like we will be returning lighter in pocket. Sorry mum. 

Now in our hotel and here's the view from our room on the 26th floor of Circus Circus.