America

This evening we are travelling from Tahiti international airport to Los Angeles which is an 8 hour flight and luckily we have been able to book exit seats on the plane for extra leg room.

The flight goes well and we are served dinner that night and breakfast in the morning. In between we manage to get a few hours sleep.

We arrive at LA and passport control and immigration at the airport takes forever, from landing to leaving the airport takes two hours.

From the airport we then catch a shuttle bus to the pick up point for our car rental, it’s about half an hour away from the airport.

Once there you have the option to use the self service check in or go to a person at one of the counters, we try the self service check in.

If you know what you are doing then it’s ok but we have already registered all our driving licence details and other requirements prior to this trip but the system wants them all over again. You then select your car type, small, medium, large, etc. but not the car model. We thought we had booked a Toyota Corolla.

The machine then gives you a print out and we find someone to help us as we have no idea what you do next.

It turns out that you then go across to the parking lot and pick whatever car you want that is in your class, check it over yourself then just drive off. As you leave the car lot security check your print out to make sure you have the right class of car and that’s it you're off.

The experience is a bit stressful but we have our car and can start our road trip up the west coast. The first leg of the journey will takes us to Las Vegas. According to Google this should take us four and a half hour but in fact it takes more than eight hours partly due to a bush fire in the desert near one of the highway routes this causes the road to be closed for hours and causes a major traffic jam. The radio reports tell us that planes carrying water bombs have been deployed but until the fire is out the road will be closed. Needless to say we find an alternative route.

We eventually arrive in Vegas at our hotel which thank god after the long journey isn’t to difficult to find and get into.

We park the car in the huge car park and it’s a trek though the casino to hotel reception to check in then a trek back to the lifts to get to our room.

Its my first experience of Vegas and a casino here and it’s enormous, we get to our room and it’s great, lovely large double bed, large bathroom and a great view out over the city.

It's ten o’clock by now so we go out for a walk around to get our bearings and get something to eat.
There is neon lighting everywhere on buildings and billboards, just about anywhere it is possible to stick an illuminated sign.

Well it’s been a very long day and we are both very tired so it’s off to bed now at 2 am, tomorrow we plan to drive to the Hoover Dam.

Day 2

As planned we get up and go for breakfast in one of the many eateries at our resort and then head off to the Hoover Dam.

The journey from the hotel to the dam is pretty straight forward and takes about half an hour. We park on the far side of the dam which is free parking and walk back across the dam to the visitors centre.

There are different tours that you can do at the site and we decide to do just the visitors centre which has a really good exhibition telling you all about how the dam came about, how is was built and how the water is used to produce hydro electricity.

We spend a good half day here taking it all in and enjoying the various outdoor areas which give you great views across the dam.

The structure itself is quite spectacular built in an art deco style and rising from the canyon floor some 726 feet.

After our visit we decided to head back to Vegas and try to go a scenic route around Lake Mead which is in the national park. We come off the main road and at the start of the park there is a check point and they are charging you to enter. Its only 10 Dollars to drive through on this road but there is nothing along it and you can see the same scenery on the main road so we give that route a miss and decide to head back to Vegas the way we came.

Back at our hotel we decide to explore the hotel facilities and on the second floor is a lovely outside pool and bar area with palm trees, sunbeds, 3 pools and cabanas with misting jets around them to help you cool off.

We then head back out onto the strip and take in more of the sites whilst it is light. As the light fades and evening approaches we head to Bellagio to watch the amazing water fountains that perform to music which provide a spectacular visual display of water, light and sound.

From here we continue are walk down the strip and end up at the Venetian Hotel and have dinner in one of the Italian restaurants. The interior of the building is set out like an Italian street and has waterways with gondolas ferrying people through the place, even the ceiling is painted with sky and the clever lighting makes it look like it is moving.

After dinner we walk through more of the hotel complexes taking in all the sites, every hotel and casino has a different theme.

Its 1am by the time we head back to our hotel and get to bed, tomorrow we have another long journey ahead of us across the desert heading to Lompoc California to meet Andrew’s second cousin Maureen. The journey is around six hours.

Day 3

We head off after breakfast and across the desert, there’s not much to see, just wide open space, mountains in the distance and little or no vegetation. If there is it is only a few bushes 1 or 2 foot tall and the odd palm tree.

It is very desolate with the occasional settlement but they are few and far between. The temperature outside today is 106 degrees fahrenheit. Good job our car has air conditioning.

As we get closer to our destination the scenery changes and we drive through some lovely mountain areas near Ventura. From here there is a lot more vegetation and in some areas the hills turn to rolling fields planted with food crops.

We eventually arrive in Lompoc and have a little difficulty finding Bill and Maureens house so Andrew calls Maureen and she meets us at a petrol station and we follow her back.

Its great to finally get to their house and to meet them both, we have a drink and catch up for a bit then go out for dinner.

After dinner we head back to their house and spend until 1am chatting away.

Day 4

We wake about 8.30 am and bought a cup of tea in bed by Maureen which is a lovely start to the day.

We have arranged with Andrew's mum, Pat that we will Skype her at 9.30 that day as Maureen and Pat usually Skype each other on a Sunday but as we are there it would be nice to catch up whilst we are together.

We use the tablet I have so that when we get connected to Pat Maureen and Andrew can give Pat and Graham a guided tour of Maureens house which is what happens.

After that we are off out for brunch with Bill and Maureen as they know a very nice hotel not too far from their place so we pack the car and follow them as we want be coming back this way.

At the hotel we are shown to our table which looks out across the airfield and we are served a glass of Champagne, some orange juice and some water along with tea or coffee to start.

There is an extensive buffet that is layed on and you go and help yourself to whatever you want.

You can start with fresh fruit and cereal then go back as many times as you like and select your next course. There is a cooked breakfast option with a wide selection to choose from, omelettes, seafood, cheese and biscuits, cooked meats, and various chocolate desserts, cheesecakes, and cream cakes. We have about three courses.


Its not long before we are full and had enough. Now we have to get going on our way and continue our journey to San Francisco stopping briefly at Pasa Robles to see Alison and Mike, Maureens daughter and husband. Its been lovely spending time with Bill and Maureen and they have made us very welcome and looked after us well.

The journey to San Francisco takes us along Highway 1 which runs along the coast and has some stunning scenery with the sea and rugged coastline on one side and mountains on the other.

We stop in various places along the way to take in the scenery and at one particular spot stop at a beach where there are seals swimming in the sea and basking in the sun on the sand.

We continue up to Monterey and join the 101 highway which will take us all the way into San Francisco. The journey to the 101 along the coast is slow and takes a long time due to it being a holiday weekend and everyone is out.

We eventually arrive at the motel in San Francisco which is easy to find and just off the 101 in the Castro area of the city. The journey has taken us about 7 hours.

The Motel we are stay at is the Beck's Motor Lodge on Market Street which has recently been refurbished and when we check in we find we have a lovely room with a comfy double bed and lovely shower etc. Perfect.

We have a quick change into some jeans as it's a little fresh outside now at 10.30pm and head out to find some dinner and check out a few bars. This part of the city has a nice friendly feel to it and the bars are quite busy, before we know it it's 2am and all the bars shut as the state law here is that alcohol cannot be served anywhere after this time. Its been another long day and now it's time for bed anyway.

Day 5

Its another lovely day and when we get up we head across the road to a nice cafe for a cooked breakfast. We have decide not to use the car today and go exploring the city by using the metro and walking around.

First we head on the metro to the city centre and then walk along the waterfront where we can see Alcatraz which is a prison on an island out in the bay.

The prison housed many notorious criminals, one of those being Al Capone. The prison was closed in 1963 and later re-opened as a tourist attraction. We had planned to take the boat trip to the island and do a tour of the prison but unfortunately you need to book this in advance, so far in advance that the next available tours are being booked for August 2016.

We continue our walk along the harbour and and up Fisherman's Wharf which have been converted into shops and restaurants, it is very busy with people celebration American Independence Day.

At the end of the wharf you can see seals relaxing on the floating wooden platforms that have been placed there specially for them.

From here we continue our walk along the harbour and back into the city and up to Coit Tower which is a 212 foot tower built on top of Telegraph Hill. The tower is Art Deco and has lots of fresco’s on the inside walls that depict life in America in the thirties and forties. A lift takes you up to the top of the tower where you can get a 360 degree view over the city.

From here we continue our walk taking in the views and looking at many of the lovely old buildings. In some places the roads are very steep and the walk quite strenuous but we take our time and come to Lombard street which is famous for being a very steep one way road that snakes it’s way down the hill.

After that we head back to the city centre and check out Bloomingdales and Nordstorm which are two well known enormous department stores in America. They are amazing buildings in themselves and one has a huge atrium in the middle with curved escalators to take you to each level.

We then head to the Civic Centre and the United Nations Plaza which is on a long avenue with an impressive building at one end.

Unfortunately this area hasn’t got the best feel to it as there were lots of down and outs gathered in clusters in part so we don’t spend much time here.

Well that’s a lot of walking today so we go back to our motel for a rest before heading out for dinner and a few drinks.

Day 6

Today we decide to use the car and are going further afield and out of the city but along the way we first stop at a park and street that is known for it lovely old buildings.

The houses are known as the Painted Ladies as each one is in a different colour, they are beautifully painted and some are very ornate.

We continue our drive and go over the Golden Gate Bridge which is a huge structure across the bay and luckily there is hardly any low cloud today so get a great view.

From here we head through the hills to Muir Woods which is a national park known for it’s Giant Red Wood trees. We have a lovely walk around the park and then head off again in the car to Sausalito which is a small town north of San Francisco on the edge of the water.

Day 7

Its another day and first we have breakfast and then take our coffee across the road and sit on the balcony at the motel watching the old trams running up and down the street.

After we head off out and use the underground to Union Square and go to Chinatown, the Yerba Beuna Gardens which have some stunning buildings, one being San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, before heading to Golden Gate Park which stretches for miles from the city out to the sea.

We walk passed the Victorian Flower Conservatory, through the Aids Memorial Garden which has a dry river bed with large boulders carved with peoples names on them and pebbles stacked in pyramids in between the trees.

We continue on and around the lake and back to the underground and back to our motel.

We have done a lot of walking again today so relax for a while before heading out in the evening to the Mission area where there are lots of churches.

Some of the buildings in that area have been painted with murals and one street in particular it was well worth a visiting as the walls on both sides of the street have been painted with some great street art.

Day 8

Its our last day and we have to be out of the motel by 11am so pack our bags and vacate the room, luckily we can leave our bags at reception for the day while we go and explore some more.

We head back down to Union Sqaure and decide to go on one of the old cable cars which takes us back to Fisherman’s Wharf. It’s great fun travelling up and down the hills on one of these old cable cars.

We head to the harbour area and walk along to Fort Mason, get a takeaway lunch and sit eating it overlooking the Marina.

From here we walk along the sandy beach at Crissy Fields which is a nature reserve right on the edge of the water which stretches along San Francisco bay and up to the bridge.

We then have to find a bus and tram to take us back to the motel so we can pick our bags before we set off to catch the ferry across San Francisco Bay to Oakland where we will catch the Coastal Starlight train to Seattle which takes us up the west coast.

We get the 9.30pm train that evening and once on the train have to wait a while for our room to be ready as each car has an attendant allocated to it and they make sure the room is sorted and your bed is made.

Whilst waiting we check out the rest of the train and end up in the Parlour Car which is like a lounge area and has large windows great for observing what we will pass by. We sit there enjoying a drink until about 11pm and then head to our room, the bed is made, we have fresh towels and water, the room is small and cosy but we have our own bathroom with toilet and shower, its everything we need.

Day 9

We wake up about 8.30am and head to the restaurant car for breakfast, we have scrambled eggs, sausage, fried potato pieces and a croissant washed down with orange juice and coffee whilst watching the ever changing scenery.

The rest of the day is spent enjoying a nap, having a coffee or two and enjoying the countryside that we travel through.

We go through mountains, flat prairies, over many rivers and alongside lakes, the scenery is very varied and beautiful.

The train makes several stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers but the stations are all quite small and don’t have much to see part from Portland station which is in a city and the train stops here for a little longer, we get off to stretch our legs and get some fresh air but not for long as the train is behind schedule so doesn’t stay long as they want to make up time.

For lunch and dinner on the train you select a time slot and you are then called to the dining car at that time. The menu is simple with a choice of 3 or 4 dishes to choose from, for lunch we have a cheeseburger with salad and for dinner we have have a steak with jacket potato.

As we have booked a sleeper carriage the three meals we have had were included in the cost of our trip.

Our train reaches Seattle at 8pm that evening and then we transfer to a coach for the final leg of the journey up to Vancouver.

After a few hours we come to the border so have to get off the coach with our bags and go through passport control. This doesn't take long as there are only about 10 passengers on the coach this evening.

Once through the coach meets us on the other side, the bags go back on and we are off. The last part of the trip takes us about an hour and we arrive in the centre of Vancouver at 12.30 that night.

We have no Canadian money with us but luckily find a cash point quite quickly and flag down a taxi which takes us to our hotel which is a 10 minute drive away.

We check in, head straight to the room and crash out as it's been a long day.