Our next big adventure.... Two years off work and backpacking the world!!!

We arrived at our hotel about 10.30pm Sunday Night. There was light rain and still daylight. The hotel didn't have our reservation and not something you want to hear after a long day. They gave us a room and we left all the parties involved to sort it out. Finally got to bed at 1.00am still with daylight. Next morning still nothing sorted out about our reservation but we were allowed to stay in the room for that night also. We bought an all day pass for the bus and took a few different routes during the day. Both Sharon & I expected a small town built of timber. It is just another city. Nothing interesting lots of cars but not a lot of crowds. When we returned to our room our key cards had been cancelled. Monday night we met our tour leader Jeff for the next 9 days and given a run down on what we will see and do. Including Jeff there are 13 off us. After our meet & greet, most of us went into town and had dinner at Humpies. A nice gastro pub. We left at 1...

Wednesday we are heading for Grand Canyon. On the way just out of Page we had a look at Horseshoe Bend. Thought we would get there before it becomes too hot and too many people. We arrived at 8.15am with the parking bay already full of Asian tour buses. It was a great view of the Colorado River bending around the Canyon in a shape of a horseshoe. When we got back to the carpark at 9.00am we passed many more people wanting to get a look. Next stop another donation to Navajo Nation to see Little Colorado River Gorge. The park was established in 1962 as a Navajo Tribal Park. It was a nice canyon and worth the stop. Then it was the mother of all canyons. We came in from the less popular east side and our first stop was Desert View Watchtower. The Watchtower was built in 1932 is 70ft (21m) high and has great views over Grand Canyon. Next stop was Tusayan Museum and Ruin. I had no idea what this was about. When we arrived Ranger Ted was about to conduct a tour so I joined in. Sharon was...

Friday, we had breakfast at the Green River KOA campsite. That night we stayed in one of there cute cabins again. It was $20 a night more expensive than the last KOA we stayed in. They did supply tea, coffee and pastries for breakfast. The cabin was also air conditioned instead of just a fan. They do not supply any linen. By law if they do they need a separate laundry from guests. Being filled up on sugar we are heading for Arches NP. I have decided to take a longer way and go down Hwy 128 which follows the Colorado River. It had been recommended to us. We are travelling on Interstate 70. The speed limit is 80mph (130km) but Sharon refuses to do that speed. I was doing that speed yesterday & I was still getting passed. Speed update Sharon has reached 80mph to get past all the slow arses doing 75mph. I have said it before and I have to say it again. WOW. I just can't compare this drive to any other. It is truly unique. USA just doesn't seem to stop with all of it...

When we left Crane Flat camp site Saturday morning we headed to Lee Vining. We reached an altitude of 9600ft (2096m). There was still snow around at that altitude. Once again stunning views over mountains and lakes. At Lee Vinning we went out to Mono Lake to have a look at the Tufa. Tufa is formed from underwater springs. When the water rises from the lake they form crystallised stalactite's. Saturday night Sharon wanted a shower. I don't know why! It had only been 5 days since her last one. I found a place with a shower through Wikicamps called Keough Hot Springs. They also had swimming. The pool was fed from a hot spring. It cost us $28 for the night to camp in dirt with many ants. The showers cost $2 each and the pool for guests was $8 each. We didn't worry about the pool. Sharon enjoyed her shower even though you only had 6 mins to have one. The shop attendant gave Sharon an extra token, so she could enjoy 12 mins. Sunday it was a trip to the Ancient Bristlecone...

Monday, we picked up our hire car from Oakland Airport. Jake & Ally where kind enough to drop us there. We decided to head for Lake Tahoe driving in from the North of the Lake. Sharon & I could not believe after going about 200km we where still on a 5-lane highway. It was the Monday of their long weekend called Memorial Day. The traffic going back to San Francisco was at a standstill most of the way. Being an interstate highway there wasn’t much to see along the way. We turned off near a town called Truckee and drove about another 20km before turning into a campsite I found using Wikicamps. The campsite was called Goose Meadows. Their camping fees are expensive over here much like everything else we are finding. The fee is $22 US a night for a site. All you get is a drop toilet, picnic table and a Bear Locker to lock away anything that is enticing for bears. As I have mentioned before adult wages can be as low as $2.50 per hour. You can start to understand why there is a h...