The End of the Road (Trip)

We slowed down our road trip pace after we left Las Vegas because we still had 5 days to get the van back to LA. It was nice to have a bit of a break from holidaying-  we've been very busy for 23 days now and it's hard work you know! OK it isn't that hard but still...!

After leaving Las Vegas we drove alongside Lake Mead. We stopped briefly to see the old London Bridge from 1831 that was bought by a developer and reconstructed in Lake Havasu, Nevada. 

Just like London...except for the weather

That night we camped by the Colorado River at Buckskin Mountain State Park. I had some apartnent admin to do, calling the gas company in Aus. It was very hot and frustrating trekking around trying to find enough reception to Skype Australia. Luckily I could jump in the lake to cool off afterwards. Ros was a bit tired so she didn't coming swimming. She helped me by standing on the shore and counting me down to jumping in the water because it was really cold at first and I was being a wimp!

Campsite by the side of the river

That's not a dog head in the water - that's me!

The next day we crossed back into California and went to Joshua Tree National Park. I don't think I need to mention that the park entrance road was closed due to road damage-we just expect this to happen to us now. We continued West and went to a different entrance. It was incredibly hot in the park with only a little bit of shade from the Joshua Trees - we are properly in the desert now. We waited until a bit later in the afternoon to go on a short walk.

Hiding in the shade

Taking our classic 'sitting in an empty road' shots!

We camped in the national park for the night but there was no water and our tank was very low. We even had to save that night's washing up for the morning to conserve our supplies - that was my excuse anyway!

We came within about 70 miles of LA the next day but instead we turned south towards San Diego. We stopped in the Palomar Mountains for the night, about 50 miles from San Diego, and drove into the city in the morning.  We have no pictures from our campground that night, because it was horrible, our worst one yet.  In fact we had to abandon camp after a couple of hours because it was so gross, and we don't exactly have high standards when we're on the road so you know that it must've been bad!  We drove back a few miles to an RV park we'd seen the sign for - it was much nicer.

We made it to San Diego after only a couple of traffic jams and found all day parking for $10!  Already we were doing a lot better than our last city outing in San Francisco.  We walked around the downtown area for a few hours then we went along the harbour and took a tour of the USS Mission aircraft carrier.  We then had an couple of hours to pass in the car park and Starbucks before we went to see the San Diego Padres play baseball.  

San Diego

Enjoying the audio tour at the USS Mission museum

I almost got a photo with this guy - some baseball player??  But the security people took him away to get ready just as it would have been my turn - oh well!

Passing the time before the game with free hot dogs and popcorn

The last two nights of our road trip we spent along the Southern California Coast on the way back to LA. We spent our time on the beach making the most of probably the last sunshine we'll see for at least 5 months, maybe longer!  I'm not looking forward to that - online coat shopping time I think!

Last night on the road - finishing up all the food and beer!

Last road trip sunset...until next time

Next, and final destination - New York City.

Weekend in Vegas

On the way to Las Vegas we stopped at the Hoover Dam for a quick look.  We weren't impressed.  First of all had to have our van searched by security before we were allowed to go.  Then it cost $7 to park (or you could drive back across the dam to Arizona and park for free - we did that!), and then there were thousands of tourists there.  The Glen Canyon Dam was much better.

Once we arrived in Vegas we went out to see a bit of The Strip just before dark.  We went into a couple of casinos and watched the fountains at Bellagio, but it was all a bit overwhelming after a long hot day of driving and we retired pretty early to our hotel (yes - a real bed!) so we could explore properly the next day.

Paris

Bellagio Fountains

The next day we were up and out early - probably way earlier than you're supposed to get up in Las Vegas, probably more around the time that you're supposed to go to bed!  Oh well!  We walked pretty much the whole length of The Strip - it is LONG!  We gave up on gambling after the third casino though.  I had lost $16 and Rosie had lost $8.  We're not very serious gamblers!  

We revived ourselves (Las Vegas is way too hot for all that walking around) at the Bellagio Buffet, which was amazing, and delicious.  Then we went back to our hotel for a couple of hours.

The strip in daytime

Well that's $8 we're never seeing again!

More fountains - they are our favourite part of Vegas...

...Oh, and the food - that's good too - this was one of my desserts at the buffet!

That night we went to see the Cirque Du Soleil show 'O' - the water circus.  It was awesome.  No cameras allowed unfortunately.  

Afterwards we spent some more time on The Strip at night.  We got caught up in a massive drunken crowd at the Treasure Island Casino where they have a free show of fighting pirate ships. The show was rubbish after 'O' and after fighting our way out of the crowd we had had enough of Vegas.  It's just all a bit too much and all of the excessiveness (if that's a word?) made me a bit sad.  At the buffet I saw one guy get 6 different desserts, he had one bite out of each and then they got thrown away.  The next morning we were were watching the news at breakfast about all the Americans going hungry because they can't afford to eat and the food banks being closed down due to lack of funding :-(  I ate all of my desserts by the way :-P

In summary, one day is Las Vegas is plenty - back to the wilderness for us!

The Grand Canyon State

More from Arizona: The Grand Canyon State.
Another day, another detour!  The direct route from Page to the Grand Canyon was closed due to a collapsed road so we ended up taking the the long way to the South Rim of the canyon.  We arrived in the early afternoon and went to the campground to find a site and have lunch.  We had a bit of a shock when the local elk came to visit our picnic table - the deer are a bit bigger here than we've seen so far!!

Later, we walked a section of the Rim Trail and went to Hopi Point on the canyon rim for the sunset.  At nighttime we attempted to make smores - it was pretty unsuccessful.  But charcoaled marshmallows with un-melted chocolate that fell out of the biscuits still tasted good!

First view of the Grand Canyon

Along the Rim trail

One of our camp neighbours!

Shadows in the canyon before sunset

Smores materials!

The next morning we hiked the Bright Angel Trail to Indian Gardens 4.6 miles down into the canyon.....and the 4.6 miles back up!

Heading down in the shadows - still nice and cool

Getting warmer, but still going down so OK

Taking a rest before the hike back up!

On the way back up: 1.5 miles to go

We were just down there!

We made it back!

Back at the campsite an elk comes to investigate my laundry!

Post-hike pizza is becoming a regular thing with us :-)

After the Grand Canyon we started driving towards Las Vegas.  We were going to stick to the freeway but the decided to take the old Route 66 instead (after a recommendation from a man we met at the gas station!)  We prefer the deserted roads to the freeway any day.

Route 66 (the windscreen hasn't had a wash for a while - that's my job, Rosie usually pumps the gas while I clean :-S)

Lots of Route 66 weirdness - including Rosie and a pair of legs!