Grand Canyon and it's beautiful

Well, it's been awhile since we last wrote .... Sorry ... it's been very busy so now it's time for us to spend some time relaxing in the Lake District starting tomorrow.

Yosemite was a major hit. The drive wasn't as bad as we thought although the start was a little exciting. We had to decide to go one way or the other. The AAA recommended we go over the mountains near Tahoe and follow the straighter valley road to a place called Lee Vining then cross back over the range into Yosemite. The other way was stay the West side of the range and wind our way to Yosemite. We followed the AAA advise over the mountains and started south. About 50 miles on we found a sign saying the pass to Yosemite and the one before that were closed ... presumably because of snow ... Oh No we thought. Back over the range and add 2 hours to the trip.

We pushed on regardless seeking an update on the sign. Fortunately we crossed into California from Nevada and the border guard had the latest news on the pass. It was open after all.

The drive over Tioga Pass from Lee Vining to Yosemite was magnificent. Long but beautiful. Incredible gorges and mountains. It took nearly 2 hours to travel the 60 odd miles into Yosemite Valley. We stopped for a snow fight on the way. Great fun.

Upon registering for our cabin first advise was not to leave a thing in the car. Not because of thieves but because of bears, yes, bears would smash your windows for anything that had an odour in the car. Or in our case the van which was working out far more comfortable than the four wheel drive.

After a quick meal and early night for sleep in the rather tiny cabin we saw the evidence of the bears nightly endeavours first thing in the morning. As we headed to the shuttle bus for the village we walked past the car park. A couple appeared to be emptying their car. As it turned out they we in fact clearing it up after bears had invaded it for a bottle of Vitamin C. Apparently the mother bear smashes the window, pushes baby bear through the hole and baby bear seeks out the smelly food, or in this case Vitamin C. These bears are either going to have a very healthy winter hibernation or, if they eat them too fast, a bad case of diaherria in the morning.

The shuttle bus took us to Yosemite village to look at the museum and Indian camp. We heard a very interesting talk on Indian artifacts too. After that we took a short drive to Bridal Veil falls which was quite nice. We were lucky for the recent snowfall and then warmer weather. The fall was actually working for the first time in months so we had lunch sitting by a stream nearby. The girls and the fathers raced twigs.

Nicole and Phil went for a short bike ride upon returning to the cabins. Rebecca tried to ride but wasn't too good so Kim and she went for a walk. Nicole and Phil saw 10 squirrels, 3 deer, 5 mountain climbers and 1 coyote. Dinner that night was at the Yosemite Lodge. Much nicer than the meal the previous night and it was an "as much as you can eat" restaurant.

After a lovely full moon bus trip back to the shuttle we caught an early night because the next day was a really long drive to Death Valley.

As it turned out the trip was again much easier than we thought. The roads are fantastic in America. Wide, safe and smooth and the speed limit is often 75 miles per hour (over 120 kilometres per hour). The first part of the drive was back over the Tioga Pass which again took nearly 2 hours. Toward the end we saw mountain goats which was exciting.

The middle section heading toward Lone Pine was boring, straight and barren.

Turning off at Lone Pine toward Death Valley the terrain became noticeably more barren, dry and hot. It was amazing to rise and drop 1000's of feet on relatively straight roads in a short period. Signs warned us to avoid overheating the car by turning off air conditioning.

The girls we really good on the long trip. They either read, talked or slept. So good they have stopped asking "when are we going to get there?".

We finally got to Stovepipe Wells, where we were booked to stay, at around 4.30pm. The room was huge with fantastic air conditioning. The hotel also had a pool. Mind you there is not much in Stovepipe Wells ... a hotel, a general store, ranger station, and an accountant (that's another story).

Dinner was very nice at the hotel restaurant.

Nice morning was an early start for our drive to Las Vegas. We stopped at the Death Valley Museum for some real excitement as Clare found a scorpion in Yarros backpack. A ranger told us they are not dangerous in this part of the world so Yarro carefully removed it.

Back into the car and more driving through the desert. And more driving, and more driving. Finally we reached Las Vegas and found Circus Circus fairly easily. Dinner at the hotel was a major disappointment. As much as you can eat but not much you'd like to eat.

Next morning Phil and Yarro went shopping for a new bag for the Baileys since they broke the first one. In the afternoon they took the girls to the indoor amusement park in the hotel whilst Clare and Kim went shopping.

That night we headed off early to see Spellboun at Harrah's ... more excitement. We arrived to find out the show was closed that night. Not cancelled but closed. Apparently they had sold the whole show to a private party and no room for us. Kim and Clare made representation in no uncertain terms and things were fixed by the hotel manager. The manager bought us tickets to another show and dinner at the hotels restaurant. What a great dinner too. We wish we only had more time to enjoy it. As much as you can eat again but magnificent food ... prawns, scallops, pasta, chinese food, a fantastic deserts.

It was then a quick dash to the show at a different hotel. Lance Burton was amazing. The girls loved it. Cars, girls, birds disappearing and reappearing all over the place. The girls loved it particularly when they got to be part of the show.

Next morning was again an early start for the drive to Grand Canyon. As it turned out we started around midday and the drive was longer than expected. We crossed Hoover Dam which was amazing then long straight roads until nightfall. Dinner was quick and simple at the hotel cafeteria. Good mexican salad though.

Anyway, we better sign off for now. More on the end of the USA trip and England so far very soon.

... to be continued ...