Monument Valley and The Valley of The Gods.

 

We headed off from Flagstaff by 7am as we were headed to Monument Valley and wanted to get a head start on the heat. Although hot it hasn’t been as punishing as home as it is a dry heat.  We stopped about an hour into our drive at a place called Sonic Burgers, mainly for a restroom stop. Now this place was the weirdest burger place I have ever seen. I am not sure if this was locational, pretty much a Indian reservation town or not but there was no counter, just a room with ATM swipe machines, a menu display and then a phone to dial your order. No cash, no people, just machines. Then you went to a hole in the wall and you food was handed put to you via a faceless hand. We decided to head on and forget the food lol 

On the side of the road we saw a mule/ donkey just hanging out and eating grass. Wish we had him at Grand Canyon lol  I was not allowed to stop and take him with us. : (

Now we needed to get fuel and in Australia you pump you petrol then go pay for it. Here you go pay for it and then they activate the pump. I think this is a little confusing because how do you know how much you want. And then what happens if you pay to much. I guess you have to go back in a get change. Weird, I think this is all in an effort to get you to use the ATM swipe facility at the bowser so we have been using the credit card and getting fuel that way. The funny thing is that they ask you for a zip code, and the only one that I know is 90210 lol from the TV show. BUT can I tell you it works..isn’t that hilarious. So here we are all over the West coast putting in 90210. : ) Hey,  it gets us fuel.

I then had a drive of the Jeep, lots of fun til I had to go off-road to get to the burger  place for lunch as they were doing road works and that was the only way to ge there. Here’s me first time driving in America, wrong side of the road, going up and down ditches for a burger lol ( I can hear them now- lookie at the mad Aussies lol)

So then off to Monument valley where we had to pay $10 to get into the reservation, We were approached by and Indian man about a tour through the valley which we decided to take. It was one rough road, I still have a sore butt. Here we are with another family bouncing up and down in the back of a modified ute. But we got to see some great parts of the valley and good conversations with the Indian man and his father in law who was very knowledgeable about the area.  The tour took an hour and was well worth it.

We then headed down to a place where John Wayne shot a movie and a small cabin where he stayed. We sat atop of a hill in a makeshift shade area and enjoyed the view.  I took photos of old wagon and stage coaches at the museum they had there.

We stopped at a Navajo stall and I bought a silver handcrafted key ring as a memento of this trip to this area.

Then off to Bluff where we were staying the night. Along the way we saw a sign for the Mexican Hat and we went off road and uphill and down dale to see this really interesting rock structure.  Later on a small stop we saw a Coyote running up a rock face and away from us real quick.

 

On the way to Bluff we saw a turn off for a place called the Valley of the Gods. So we headed in there , which was a graded ( a term used loosely here) road that headed in a look through some of them most impressive rock formations I have ever seen,. Many would rival Monument Valley for sure. I was in awe of this amazing place.  The route took about an hour and it was so impressive I would recommend anyone take the journey through there.

Then off again and finally to our hotel, the Desert Rose a wonderful place nestled at the base of a canyon.

http://www.desertroseinn.com/

 After cleaning up we headed to the Twin Rocks cafe situated at the base of a rock canyon with overhanging rocks and a twin rock spire.

 

http://www.twinrockscafe.com/

 We had one of the best steaks for dinner no not buffalo)and then went back to the motel and  out that back on a wooded porch swing and watched the sun go down over the canyon.

A wonderful day…

Car happy in Bluff ( not the buff )

 

Grand Canyon and Buffalo Wings

After a later sleep in, we left the motel and headed towards the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, This was a shorter drive only about an hour and a half.  We arrived to see maddening crowds of people everywhere. We did manager to avoid some by sitting out in rocks jutting out into the canyon. A very effective escape until people decided to stand around us. Grrrrr!!!

The canyon from the Far East end of the south rim (work that out) was really beautiful and far more interesting, With the Colorado River winding its way through the base it was stunning. We spent a lot of time  going in and out of vantage points and looked through the telescope the ranger had set up for tourists. We finished at Yavapai Point where an old observation tower had been converted into a gift shop and display center.  

We headed back to the motel and arrived back at 4pm hungry and ready to eat. We walked over to a Buffalo Wings Bar and Grill. (They assure me they are not made from Buffalo)  The food was yummy and plentiful and after we had had our fill we left for a rest back at the motel. I caught up on some much needed laundry and a chat with mum and dad and it was an early night for us.

Off to Monument Valley Tomorrow.

Car  (full on Buffalo) in Flagstaff.

Now That’s a Big Hole in the Ground.

We left Las Vegas after a small brekkie and headed towards the Welcome to Las Vegas sign to get a few shots of the famous monument. I read that the sign has been moved numerous times because of the ever expanding strip and it is now placed far to the south of Vegas complete with its own car park and viewing area. 

We then headed off to Zion National park. Although beautiful and majestic we were disappointed that the only way to take the scenic route is via shuttle bus as you cannot take private vehicle through there. So this was a huge chunk out of our day to get there and drive back as all the literature we had read never mentioned the shuttle. Apparently this is only a new conception,  but I do not know. It was interesting going through the mile long tunnel that cuts through the mountain in the dark. At least it was cooler lol

Then we headed down to  the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We were really glad that we bought the year pass to the National Parks for $80 which covers both of us in the car. We were unsure if we would get the benefit from it, but so far with Yosemite $20, Sequoia and Kings Canyon $20, Zion $25 and then the Grand Canyon at $25 we are now saving money as we still have parks in Utah to go to and tomorrow we are heading to the South Rim of the canyon also.

  We stopped at a Buffalo farm and I saw a huge herd of them grazing in a field. I have never seen them before and that was pretty amazing.  They were grazing in a huge open fiels full of windmills. Very pretty.

We arrived at the Grand Canyon after coming through some beautiful country and long sweeping flowering fields surrounded by tall pines and lovely blue skies at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon.  We took the “walk” (high altitude ….little air lol) to Bright Angel Point and can I tell it was stunning, sheer drops so far down you could not see the bottom. I hate heights, but this was beautiful. Perfect day, sweet views and stunning cloudage. I even went out and sat on a rock to enjoy the view. By now it was 3pm and we had so much to see. The little bridges from one rock face to another were scarily beautiful, but I swear they were rocking. lol There were some strong wind gusts up there. Stunning Stunning Stunning.

We then headed to Vista Encantada which was equally stunning (not sure of other adjectives to describe it) and we were the only ones there, so far we have avoided major crowds except at Yosemite. The view here was back towards Nankoweap canyon, which was a “take your breath away” view.  

Then off to Roosevelt Point, named because President Roosevelt came to this point and said that is should be preserved for future generations and he pushed for it to be classified as a National Park and be preserved as such. (A little history lesson there) This view showed razor steep cliff faces and large jutting outcrops of rock.

It was getting late and we still had a long way to go. As we headed out of the park we saw two deer grazing on the fields. We pulled over very quickly and I got a shot of them running away. So now I can add this to my list of animals I have seen. : )

We then headed out of the park and past the Vermillion cliffs and down the mountainside. The Vermillion Cliffs were amazing and followed us toward the Grand Canyon for a long time. We didn’t stop to eat but grazed during the day on snacks we took with us from Vegas.

 We came to a place on a bend in the road where people called the Cliff Dwellers lived near Marble Canyon. These people had taken huge rock boulders and made them into makeshift housing at the base of the mountains. IT was amazing. Some of the “houses” were only fit for a hobbit. The earth and rocks were red and all situated in the shade of the cliff face. Amazing.

 

Just on sunset we arrived at Navajo Bridge. Twin Bridges that span a huge ravine that just drops down so far to the almost green waters below. The setting sun and clouds made a beautiful picture.

 

That was our last stop before heading to Flagstaff to find our hotel. We didn’t get into there until 9:45pm and are exhausted… On the road again tomorrow.doing the other rim..

Car in Flagstaff.

A day Around the Town

 

After brekkie we headed down to the strip to get our show tickets for tonight. We are going to see a shot called V-The Ultimate Variety Show at The Planet Hollywood Casino. If you go down on the strip at 9:30am they post half price shows and meal deals to buy at 10am. So we waited in line and got half price on a show and lunch buffet. Then back to the resort for a quick change.

We walked over the road to the MGM grand and headed to the monorail station, that was enough walking for us today. We were headed to the Harrah’s casino for a buffet lunch. The monorail went really fast and the futuristic voice over (reminiscent of the computer voice in the Sylvester Stallone movie Demonlition Man). The food was yummy and the salt and pepper calamari to die for Yummy deserts and a chocolate fountain too 🙂 Happy Car.

 We then headed back down the strip to walk to food off. We went into the Paris Casino and walked along Le Boulevard and sow Le Retaurante and Le Cafes. Actually it was really well down and everything, including the French maids were very original. lol We lost a few dollars and had a free drink so I guess that all evened it out. The interior was the underside of the Eiffel Tower with cloudage ceilings and lovely boulevards and restaurants. We went along to the area where they have conventions and sat in this near empty huge ballroom complete with massive crystal chandeliers and long mirror lined walls. IT was beautiful. After a short sit we then headed out into the heat again and off to Planet Hollywood.

We ended up getting VIP tickets for the show and did not have to wait long inline to get into the show. It was quite good although only a small theatre, but the acrobatics and flying acrobats that whizzed past you over head were amazing., They had this wall of drums and a man suspended from the ceiling playing the drums, very clever. The acts were funny, but the audience participation scary, you hope you don’t get picked lol

Time for the long walk home back out to the strip, down the mass of people and I mean mass.. By now everyone is on the strip, past “flick flackers” and in and out of MGM and then back to the motel. Shhhh I am sleeping,

Car in Las Vegas.

Tyred Out

Well the day started out well with a lovely brekkie again by the pool and then an early start out to go to the north rim of the Grand Canyon. We were about an hour and a half out when Cheryle the mad GPS sent us off to a dirt road. We headed along for a while and then decided to turn back and re routed ourselves as we were heading out into the “never never” near some huge mountains with rock faces looked too much for us to manage.  I did get to see some lovely flowering cactus and bullet shells, time to get outta there lol

We got back off the dirt road  and headed once again on the highway when the cruiser started shaking and we had to pull off to the side of the road and we had a flat tyre. We had to change the tyre on the side of the freeway and then head into the nearest town to get it fixed. When we got to the tire place after asking for directions. There we found a  wonderful helpful man that told us the tyre was stuffed and there was wire from the inside of the tyre poking through. He rang the car rental company and they would only replace the tyre and pay for it if they had the EXACT same tyre.  They didn’t have one of course. They then said to give us a used tyre to get us back to Las Vegas then we go swap the car at the airport. The only problem is they didn’t have one, in the end the guy hunted around and found one.

 We were starving by now so we had a ”nice…. calm down ….and… it is all ok” burger at Arbies and was asked by the server , so where you from, you are so polite lol not sure what that meant ???

We headed back two hours later and no closer to the grand canyon  It was getting late and we got back to the resort to ring the hire company and they said to head over to the airport and they had organized a car swap for us and that they would pay for the tyre. So off we went and when we got there they did not have a car to match our cruiser so we yet again got an upgrade to a Jeep Liberty, lol which is so funny as we were originally getting a little two door focus lol  Check out our new ride….

http://www.destinationchrysler.ca/images/fun/jeep/Jeep-Liberty_2008_800.jpg

 

I guess going off road now will not be a problem. 🙂

We are now heading for free happy hour at the pool… a drink in in order.

Car in Vegas………….

P.S.  I saw Elvis last night; he was not in the building.  🙂

Doing The Strip in Vegas

 

We headed down to the pool area for a delicious buffet breakfast and yummy coffee.  We then had a laze around and re charged the batteries.

We then walked to the strip to check things out and we ended up walking  for hours. In and out of casinos and only made it to a few as there were so many.

We went to this one mile shops and did a bit of retail therapy, the shopping centre was amazing and was the first I have seen that actually looked like a city, complete with a cloudage sky ceiling. AMAZING.

We then had Chinese on the strip for lunch and headed back to the resort to get away from the heat; my feet were melting into the oozing sidewalk.

We then had a little time back in the cool before heading out again to the strip. We walked about half way down. The crowds were horrendous. We watched the fountain show at the Bellagio and then went back to the MGM to lose a few dollars. They have a BMW we are trying to win lol We were thankful at 10pm when they were lining up 10 deep at the reception at the MGM to check in that we stayed at a non casino resort.

I bought a few gifts for family and took some shots of the lights, but people everywhere and mass traffic made decent shots hard.

We were bombarded by what I have coined “flick flack men” that flick and make noises with cards of “interesting” women on them to entice holiday makers to go have a little “fun.” We declined the offer lol  We headed back later from the casino, but alas with no BMW.

Car in Vegas.

Getting Hot in Death Valley

We left Tulare early, destination Las Vegas via Death Valley.  Can I just say that they do not call it Death Valley for nothing, it was 114F (49.4c) yesterday in Furnace Creek, I have no idea how it got its name.. lol …Can i just repeat that in case you didn’t catch THAT is was 49.4c there !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I have never ever been so hot. Two days ago we were freezing and in snow and now sweltering heat where you feel as if you are breathing fire. We stopped a few times to look at old buildings built by people long gone, walked up a lookout sweat and all to take in the grand vista and stopped to talk to a local on a Harley to get the local gossip. We looked at a place called The Devils Cornfield, which was really interesting.

http://www.hikinglasvegas.com/slide%20shows/Death%20Valley/Devils_cornfield.jpg

All these bushes looking like corn cobs and the sky was so blue with beautiful Californian cloudage…. pretty awesome. Around every corner there was another new barren, but amazing sight to look at.

Some facts about Death Valley :

Death Valley is a desert located in the southwestern United States. It is the lowest, dryest, and hottest location in North America.^[1] Badwater, a basin located within Death Valley, is the specific location of the lowest elevation in North America at 282 ft (85.5 m ) below sea level. Death Valley holds the record for the highest reliably reported temperature in the Western hemisphere, 134°F (56.7°C) at Furnace Creek in 1913.

It was a huge day and we arrived late into Las Vegas to heavy traffic, but luckily we were close off the highway to our resort. We were so pleased to walk straight in and register and get to our lovely two room apartment with all the amenities. Great Tuscan feel to it and what’s great is there is a laundry lol I so need to wash.  Vegas looks huge coming down from the mountain to see it all  spread out and the Stratosphere looming above all the other buildings. Now if only I could get the courage to go up there lol 😉

Car in Las Vegas 🙂

Sequoia and Kings Canyon

We left Fresno after a really great night sleep. The room was great and comfy. We asked Cheryle ( the gps) to take us to the Ihop for pancakes for breakfast and she zoomed us off for a brekkie treat. We then headed to Kings Valley and Sequoia Valley to see the giant trees, the Gerneral  Grant  giant of a tree measuring 40ft across the base and the General Shermran another wowzer of a tree. We had to walk down a steep hill which was fine going down but on the way back it was hard going, They had signs about how  at 7000ft the air is thinnner and they had lots of  seats where peoplewere stopped on the way back up panting and gasping for air, it was a tough walk.

We headed up a mountain trail to a panoramic point, no RV’s or long axle trucks could go there as it was too steep so perfect for us and quiet. We walked again up another hill ( pant  pant) and came to the most beautiful of sights, a stunning panorama of snow capped mountains, misty hills and sweet cloudy sky. It was beautiful; we acted like mountain goats and grabbed a rock and just sat and looked at the beauty.  I also got to see my first chipmunk today, can you believe it, they are such cute and tiny and FASTTTTTTTTTTTT little fellas and they were all over the pace. I took a couple of shots, none too great as they move fast for little things.  We stopped and ate lunch at a campground where there were locks on the bins so the bears cannot get to them, there was signs everywhere about looking after you food in case of bear attack, but we have yet to see one L  we then headed down the mountain and stopped along the way a few times to enjoy the views. We went through smoke as they were burning off some of the mountain and saw Smokey the Bear signs, how cute, it was an extreme fire danger.

The road down the mountain was one of the most steepest and windiest I have ever been on with at least 12 hairpin turns and 11 miles of curves and signs that said use first gear only.,….. It was interesting with me being on the cliff side and being able to look straight down..Lucky me lol arrggghhh!!!!   We arrived at the Microtel at Tulare and found the room to be mighty nice and comfy.. Sorry to Brooke who rang last night and the phone just kept hanging up…. Thanks for trying thought.  We headed next door to a place called Cool Hand Luke’s ( add web site) for dinner and was had the biggest feed imaginable, we could not eat it all. When you sit down you get lovely hot and toasty sourdough rolls and a little mini campfire pot of chilli beans (do not eat if you don’t like mouth burning on fire spicy) and then our drinks were served in a huge jam jar, they like to do things big in Tulare. A Yummy steak and prawn meal was enjoyed by both of us then sleep…. We are off to Death Valley tomorrow and then off to Viva Lost Wages lol  so we shall see what the temperatures are like in the desert finally …………….hope you are all well and doing fine…. Hugs to you all.

  Car in Tulare.

Yo Yo Yosemite

After Starbucks coffee to wake us up after another early morning and a shared cherry pastry we left Reno and said goodbye to the Grand Sierra Resort.

We were headed to Yosemite National Park for the day. We stopped on the way at a place called Mono Bay, a beautiful huge lake that was so crystal clear and beautiful.  

We  drove passed some gorgeous farmland with rolling green meadows with grazing cows with snow capped hills in the background, so scenic and full of photo ops.

We then headed to the Yosemite information centre and bought our pass to all the National Parks. (As we plan to head to a few over the next few weeks) Off to Yosemite and when we arrived we were so close to snow it was amazing. The huge majestic peaks were covered with patches of snow and the air was so fresh and cool. The rocks drove into the air so high. It was amazing, going through canyons and then down to flat flower covered valleys.  The waterfalls and mountains are all wondrous examples of natures’ beauty on a grand scale. We spent 6 hours in the park and then headed to Fresno for our nights stay.  

Leaving the park with cool fresh air to arrive in warm Fresno, the weather has changed for sure. I need sleep….. it’s been a long day.. sorry for the delay in posts… no internet for two days….

 Zzzzz Car in Fresno

Loving Lake Tahoe

We got up early this morning and headed down to Starbucks for a coffee and then headed off for the day to Lake Tahoe.

Can you believe it but there is snow on the far mountains here, I am so excited. We started climbing the mountain, ears popping to about 10,000ft and can I just say the air is thin up there, wow you notice the difference.

We stopped at Mt Rose summit, the highest year round sierra pass. It was cold up there and we were so close to snow. We then headed on and came to the most wonderful lookout, (not a lot of them around and very difficult to pull over) of the beautiful Lake Tahoe, one of the loveliest things I have ever seen.  A deep blue lake surrounded by show capped mountains, so breathtaking.

We headed down to Kings beach and say by the water and watched the kayakers, sail boats and one crazy man being dragged high behind a boat on a parachute. It was warm and lovely. An ice cream truck came by and we sat eating our Klondike bars and enjoying the view.

 I saw a path heading down to the water and walked up there and climbed on some rocks only to hear this weird roar. (I think it was a duck fighting but no idea) but we were in bear country and I skedaddled outta there. lol 

We headed back through the town looking at the antique shop and back to the car. We drove down passed hundreds of people rafting on a stream on river road; I could not believe how many people they fitted into each of the blow up rafts.  We then turned back and headed back over the mountain and stopped to sit at the lookout once again. Now time to gamble.  See you when I am rich lol  

Car in Reno