Planning Ahead
Plans are well under way for the 2009 trip.
No Rayls this time! My travelling companion will be youngest son Scott.
This does make things a little cheaper — Scott will be paying for half the hotel room and half the car rental. Sadly, I still have to pay for my air fare and my own food. That’s the good news. The bad news is… no Rayls!
We depart Perth Airport on 29th March 2009 and, as per our 2008 trip, we’ll fly Qantas to Narita, Japan. After using their very nice Day Room, it’s on to Los Angeles via American Airlines, arriving on 30th March.
The plan is for lots of sporting events, theme parks, and maybe even a bit of sport of our own — golf, mini golf, and more.
30th February??????
Update: 21st February
How do you book something for the 30th of February???
Tried to book the Day Room at Narita Airport a few days earlier than the one-month window they allow. Got this message back:
Thank you for your inquiry about our dayrooms.
However, it is impossible now. It is possible to make a reservation for your day room before one month, you want to use our dayrooms on 30th March 2009. Therefore, please send us a mail in our web-site one more time before just one month, 30th February 2009.
Thanks for your understanding.
Sincerely, Mariko Okamoto
So now we have to wait until the 30th February to make our booking!
Day Room Booked
I tried again on Saturday 28th February. It wasn’t the 30th (of course), but it was 31 days away, so within the “one month or less” range. This time they accepted the booking — and that’s a load off my mind. The Day Room is a pleasant way to pass time at Narita.
Narita Airport Crash
Just one week and two hours before our Qantas flight is scheduled to land at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, there’s been a serious crash.
A FedEx McDonnell Douglas MD-11 burst into flames Monday morning after bouncing, catching a wing on the ground, and ending up smashed on its left side on the runway. Initial reports indicated wind speeds around 40 miles per hour, and airlines had been warned about wind shear at the time of the accident.
Tragically, the pilot and co-pilot died in the crash.
It makes things feel just that little bit more real — knowing we’ll be flying into that same airport in less than a week.
Sunday 29th – Monday 30th March 2009
The trip has officially begun!
We left Perth on Sunday 29th March, flying out at 10:55pm on Qantas QF79 to Tokyo (Narita Airport). Rayls and Ryan came to see us off, which was a nice send-off for Scott and me.
The flight? One of the best I’ve ever had — smooth all the way, good service, and I even managed to grab about five hours of sleep. Not bad at all for a ten-hour haul.
We touched down in Tokyo at 9:55am on Monday 30th March.
No dramas at Narita — we walked straight into our Day Room, which is such a great way to refresh after a long flight. Even better, it had internet access, so I was able to sneak in some updates on the cricket websites back home.
A good start to what we hope will be a great trip — more to come once we hit the USA.
On the Road: LA to Vegas
Tuesday 31st March – Wednesday 1st April 2009
After arriving in Los Angeles around 10:30am, we had a smooth run through Immigration and Customs, then hopped on the shuttle to Dollar Rent a Car, where we picked up a Chrysler Jeep. Nice car — though we’d later find it drinks fuel like a thirsty camel.
First stop was the hotel in Buena Park. After a short break, we wandered over to Knott’s Berry Farm. Scott jumped on a couple of rides; I braved just one — the Ghost Rider. Bad idea. Somewhere on that wild wooden roller coaster, I lost (or broke) my sunglasses. Annoying.
From there we headed to WalMart in Cerritos, checked out an AT&T store, but tiredness was hitting hard, so it was dinner at Carrows and then straight back to the hotel to crash.
A Big Day in LA
We were up around 9:30am on Tuesday 31st March (jet lag was definitely messing with our clocks). After packing up, we crossed the road to Carrows again for breakfast — eggs, toast, bacon, oatmeal, and some of the best orange juice ever.
Next up was a stop at Sports Authority in Cerritos, on the hunt for Kings and Lakers gear — no luck there.
By midday, we were driving toward downtown LA, and yep — we ended up on the dreaded Interstate 5. All went well until gridlock hit, with police weaving through the chaos. We bailed off onto a side street and, thanks to the GPS, soon made it to the Glendale Galleria. Scott checked out the Lego and Apple stores, but still no joy on the sports gear front.
Visiting Scott McKenzie
Around 1:30pm, we visited our good friend Scott McKenzie — yes, the Scott McKenzie who sang San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair) in 1967.
Scott and I go back to 1994, when he toured Australia with the Mamas and the Papas, and I’ve been running his website ever since (www.scottmckenzie.info). We brought along a lovely quilt that Rayls made for him. It was a shame Rayls couldn’t be there to give it to him in person, but Scott appreciated it all the same.
We chatted for a few hours — lots of laughs and plenty of talk about wrestling between the two Scotts. He told us about a new song he recently recorded as a tribute to Denny Doherty and mentioned catching up with Barry McGuire (Eve of Destruction) to maybe write a new tune. Great visit — hope we catch up again in a few weeks when we’re back in LA.
Ice Hockey Kings Style 🏒
From there it was off to Staples Center for an NHL game between the LA Kings and Dallas Stars. Thanks to Scott’s VIP tickets, we even got on the ice to shoot a few pucks at goal — a very cool experience.
Scott had bought a Kings jersey with “Hartman” on the back, and while browsing in the store, a man asked about the name — turns out his name was Steve Hartman, and his daughter Allison was with him. Nice folks! Later, we discovered we were seated near them during the game, and their kids had scored some warm-up pucks — and kindly gave two to us. One of the nicest moments of the night.
Even more surprising, we met Steve’s friend Mark, who’s been to Perth and even called it “WA” — a true Aussie traveller. He offered to host a barbie for us if we return. Great people.
As for the game — it was a real show. Anthem, military tribute, full energy. The Kings lost, but it was an unforgettable night.
Late Night to Barstow
After the game, we hit the road toward Barstow, stopping briefly at a Walmart in Victorville (sadly closed at midnight). We grabbed a quick meal at Jack in the Box, then checked into the Days Inn for some much-needed sleep around 2am.
Wednesday 1st April – Hello, Las Vegas
Woken at 9:30am by a knock on the door. No idea who it was, but it was time to get moving anyway.
We grabbed breakfast at Denny’s, though not quite up to its usual standard. Our old friend Trena from last year was there, but didn’t serve us this time.
After stocking up at WalMart, Scott drove us to Las Vegas. The Jeep didn’t love the long drive, or maybe it just loves petrol a bit too much.
Arrived in Vegas just after 2pm and checked into the Bellagio — Scott had scored a great room on the 19th floor (Room 190626). I’d wanted 190654 (my birthday), but no luck.
The view is incredible — right across from the Eiffel Tower at Paris, with a perfect look at the fountain show. Every 15 minutes, set to music — beautiful in the day, magical at night.
Bellagio Nights
We checked out the Fashion Show Mall, hoping for cheap show tickets, but nothing exciting grabbed us.
Back at the Bellagio, Scott set us up with Skype so we could call home for free — a handy way to keep in touch.
Dinner was the Bellagio Buffet — no complaints there — and we were back in the room by 9pm.
Now, as I write this (close to midnight), I’ve spent the last few hours watching the fountains from our window and typing up the last couple of days. Great view, great trip so far.
Tomorrow we fly to Phoenix for the day, and then it’s off to Dallas on Friday. But don’t worry — we’ll be back in Vegas in a few days!
Thursday 3rd April 2009 – Vegas to Phoenix
Today was a travel day — Vegas to Phoenix.
Getting the rental car back and making our way to Las Vegas Airport was a breeze. Security was quick — we were through in about 15 minutes. Somewhere along the way (probably between the hotel room and the car), I managed to lose another pair of sunglasses. That’s two pairs down already, and we’re only a few days in.
Our flight left on time, and after a short 50-minute hop, we were in Phoenix. Baggage collection, rental shuttle, and car hire were all straightforward, and soon we were driving the 10 miles or so to our hotel.
The Heart Attack Grill
After checking in, we headed to a fast-food place with a reputation — the Heart Attack Grill. Let’s just say they’re not pretending to be healthy. Huge burgers, sky-high calories, and absolutely no diet drinks allowed.
Scott went all-in with the Quadruple Bypass Burger. I kept things modest with the single. Scott managed about a tenth of his burger — probably a wise move.
A Trip to Walmart & an NHL Night
Next stop: Walmart. Mission: yet another pair of sunglasses for me.
That evening, Scott went solo to an NHL game at Jobing.com Arena — Coyotes vs. Kings. Another tough night for the Kings, but Scott had a front-row seat next to the penalty box and loved every minute of it.
While he was at the game, I tackled something even more adventurous: laundry. I found a laundromat about three miles away and, with a bit of guidance from the kind lady on duty, managed to figure out the machines and get our clothes clean.
With some time still to kill, I caught a movie: I Love You, Man. Not great — definitely one to forget.
Friday 4th – Saturday 5th April 2009 – Dallas Days
After a short but pleasant stay in Phoenix, we were up early Friday morning, packed, and on our way. Returned the rental car and hopped the shuttle to the airport — all smooth.
Phoenix made a nice impression: blue skies, lots of open space, plenty of palms and cactus. Kind of reminded us of Perth — if Perth had more cactus, that is.
Flying with Southwest Airlines was easy. Flight 33 left only a few minutes behind schedule, though it took a full 25 minutes to taxi to the end of the runway — clearly a busy time at the airport.
The first leg took us to El Paso, a short flight of just over an hour. We had a 20-minute stopover, then back in the air for another hour or so to Dallas Love Field.
Bags and car pickup went without a hitch, and it was about a 20-minute drive into downtown Dallas, where we checked into the Westin Hotel. Very nice.
Thanks to the time change and travel, it was after 3pm by the time we got settled, so the rest of the afternoon was for relaxing and catching up online.
At 6:30pm, we went to Denny’s for dinner, then drove by Dealey Plaza for a quick look. The flags — both American and Texan — were at half-mast. We suspect it might be due to the Binghamton shootings, but weren’t sure.
Saturday 5th April – JFK and a Day in Dallas
A bit of a slow start today. It was 11am before we made it to the hotel donut shop for a bite. I even had a sausage roll, though it was nothing like what we’d call a sausage roll back in Oz!
First stop: Dealey Plaza and the Sixth Floor Museum, where we took in the JFK exhibits. Scott and I had been there back in 2001, and while not much has changed, it’s still a fascinating place and well worth a visit.
There’s a new addition on the Seventh Floor, dedicated to photographer Bob Jackson, who took some of the most famous assassination photos — including the moment Jack Ruby shot Lee Harvey Oswald.
Afterward, we spent a while wandering Dealey Plaza, soaking in the atmosphere. It’s always interesting to hear all the different conspiracy theories floating around. Most people there seemed sure there was more than one shooter. Personally, I think Oswald acted alone — just a nut with a gun.
Next, we drove to the house where the famous backyard photo of Oswald was taken. There was a guy on the porch in a wheelchair asking $5 to go into the backyard. A couple of other people were there, but it felt a bit off, so we passed. Tried for another angle around the corner but were approached again, so we decided to move on. Definitely not the nicest part of town.
We also visited the Texas Theatre, where Oswald was arrested, and the intersection of Tenth and Patton, where he shot Officer J.D. Tippit. That pretty much wrapped up our JFK trail.
By 4pm, we were ready for a late lunch or early dinner and decided on Cracker Barrel. Our GPS took us on a bit of a wild detour, including a bonus lap of Dealey Plaza. Poor Scott was about ready to toss the thing out the window! But in the end, it was worth it — good food, great service, and a fun stop.
Back at the hotel for a bit of a rest, then at 6pm we walked 1.2 miles to the American Airlines Arena for an NHL game between the Dallas Stars and the St. Louis Blues. It was a great game, went to overtime, and the Stars got the win — big cheers from the home crowd.
We walked the 1.2 miles back, and while Scott watched the LA Kings game on his laptop, I typed this up while watching Shrek on TV.
Another great day in the books. Tomorrow… who knows what’s next? Stay tuned!
Sunday 5th – Monday 6th April 2009 – Houston, We Have Wrestlemania
We said goodbye to Dallas early this morning and made our way to Love Field, returned the car, and caught our 10:00am Southwest flight to Houston (Hobby Field). Quick flight — less than an hour — and all went smoothly… almost.
The only hiccup? I dropped the GPS, and that was the end of it. Completely dead. So we made our way (with a bit of trial and error) to a Best Buy, where we picked up a new one. Crisis averted.
We tried to check into our hotel around 1pm, but they were swamped and wouldn’t let us in until 3pm. So, we did the only logical thing: drove around in Houston traffic and went shopping.
Eventually, we were back and checked in a bit after 3. No time to waste though — we were off to Reliant Stadium, just a 10-minute walk away, for the main event of the day: Wrestlemania.
Getting in took a while (not surprising with over 72,000 fans packed into the stadium). Scott initially ended up between two very large wrestling fans, one of whom quite literally took up part of his seat. After a quick word with staff, we were moved to much better seats — a lucky break!
The event itself was huge. Pyro, music, lights — they know how to put on a show. The highlight was easily the Shawn Michaels vs. Undertaker match — a true epic.
By the time it all wrapped up (four hours later), we were starving. We stopped at a nearby Shoney’s, but unfortunately, it turned out to be the worst service we’ve ever had in the USA.
Scott’s burger came out dry with no sauce, and when we asked the server about it, she just shrugged. I refused to pay for his food, and the manager backed us up — he was great, only charged us for my meal and drink.
Total bill: $6.48, which I paid in cash. No tip, no smile, and definitely no return visit.
Crawled into bed around 1:13am — long day, but unforgettable.
Monday – 6th April 2009 – Monday Night RAW
The extra day in Houston was all about Monday Night RAW — another big wrestling event. To be closer to the venue (Toyota Center), we changed hotels.
After checking out around 10am, I had one mission: Shipley Do-Nuts. Back in 2001, we went to a location near the Johnson Space Center that had the best donuts ever. It was 42 km away, so we settled for one just 500 m down the road.
They were still good — and the hot chocolate in a Shipley mug was a nice touch — but not quite the same magic I remembered. Maybe it’s just nostalgia, or maybe that original store was something special. Still, better than Aussie donuts any day. Lighter glaze, cooked fresh… makes all the difference.
We stopped in at Fry’s Electronics, a massive tech wonderland. I picked up a camera for Rayls, and Scott wandered around like a kid in a candy store.
Then we checked into our Holiday Inn downtown, just across from the stadium. While Scott went to collect our wrestling tickets, I took care of the laundry. One dryer wasn’t working, so the staff dried and folded everything for us — delivered it to our room. Talk about service!
While waiting, I had a great chat with a gentleman who noticed my Kenwick Cricket Club shirt. Turns out he’s the owner of the hotel and helps run a 20-team cricket competition here in Houston. Lovely guy, and nice to talk cricket in such an unexpected place.
We headed to the stadium around 6:30pm. Not many restaurants nearby, so we braved the arena food — big mistake. Took forever, and the service was once again hopeless. Hard for us Aussies to tolerate when things move at this pace.
Seats were decent, though the guy in front of us (a bit of a wombat) decided to stand for most of the show. And wrestling’s the only event where signs and standing up to block people’s view is encouraged, which makes things frustrating.
Still, it was a good show, with a storyline heating up between the McMahon family and Randy Orton. I’m not really a wrestling guy, but it’s hard not to get caught up in the soap-opera-style drama. As my mate Scott in LA says, “It’s all about the story behind the story.”
We headed back to the hotel after the show and tried to get some sleep — our alarms were set for 4:00am ahead of a 6:00am flight.
I love the USA — it’s a great place to travel. But if I’m honest, I’m not a huge fan of Houston. It’s not as clean as other cities, and the people haven’t been quite as friendly.
Looking forward to moving on to the next stop.
Tuesday, April 7 – Planes, PA Systems, and a Chilly Capital
Up before the birds today — 4:00am alarm — for our early morning Air Trans flight from Houston to Washington DC via Atlanta. The Houston airport didn’t exactly shine with customer service (a recurring theme), and the check-in lady must’ve been moving in slow motion. By the time we finally cleared security, our names were being called over the PA — never a good sign.
Made it with about 15 minutes to spare and took off a few minutes after 6am. Descent into Atlanta was a bit dramatic — the GPS later showed we’d done two full circles before landing. Then there was a massive taxi to the gate that left us with just 10 minutes to catch our connecting flight. Luckily it was running late, so we made it.
On the tarmac, we spotted a huge fire — we assumed a plane crash. Turned out to be a fire drill, according to the pilot. Welcome to Atlanta.
Landed in Washington DC late and took a cab to our hotel — Scott picked well! We were just 500 metres from the White House, although Obama was off in Iraq.
The wind chill was brutal, especially for poor Scott in his light tracksuit. We wandered past the White House and were lucky enough to see a full motorcade of black SUVs and flashing lights — not sure who it was, but definitely someone important.
We checked in around 3pm, rested up, wandered to a Radio Shack, then had a bite at the hotel restaurant. Two flights and a full day in DC = sleep.
Wednesday, April 8 – Memorials, Museums, and Miles of Walking
Started the day at Burger King (yes, Rayls — they still have Cini Minis!). Then we hit the Metro and rode out to the Pentagon Memorial — a moving tribute to both the 9/11 Pentagon victims and those aboard Flight 77. The youngest was Dana Falkenberg, headed for an Aussie holiday with her family. Tragic.
We weren’t allowed to take a photo near the police car (firm “no” from the Pentagon police), so we moved on to Arlington Cemetery. Visited the graves of JFK and RFK, and then hiked across the Memorial Bridge to the Lincoln Memorial, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and Korean War Memorial — quite a trio.
Afterwards, a cab took us to the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum and then to the American History Museum. Caught the Metro back and enjoyed dinner at Luna Grill & Diner.
A massive walking day — I earned my comfy bed tonight.
Thursday, April 9 – Solo Missions and Mall Wanders
Scott flew out to Wilmington, NC early this morning. I stayed behind in DC and decided to make the most of it.
Took the Metro back to the National Mall, walked past the Washington Monument, and revisited the Lincoln, Vietnam, and Korean War memorials. Found a Gary R. Hartman on the Vietnam Wall — no relation, but a surreal moment all the same.
Later, wandered into the WWII Memorial before heading back to the American History Museum for round two. Caught a couple of trains out to a mall northeast of DC — but honestly didn’t feel totally at ease there, so I shopped quickly and returned.
Finished the day with dinner at Burger King. Bit lonely without Scott, but I was proud of how much I saw and did.
Friday, April 10 – Lost, Found, and 10.7 km Later
Another solo day in DC. Walked back to the Air and Space Museum and spent a couple of hours exploring more exhibits and hiding in the mini-theatres to rest my legs. The museum shop was great fun too.
Afterwards, I wandered back through downtown DC — past a law enforcement store and other interesting shops — and eventually found my way back to the hotel.
Stopped at a Subway for lunch and checked my GPS: 10.7 km walked today. Phew.
Saturday, April 11 – Planes, Trains, and Turnpikes
Time to leave DC and meet up with Scott again — but not before a few hiccups.
Checked out at 11:00am and took the Metro to Reagan Airport ($2.10 vs. $18 cab!). Check-in with American Eagle was, again, frustrating — each airport and airline seems to make up its own rules.
We boarded on time… and then waited 100 minutes on the tarmac due to weather delays at JFK. Took off around 3:05pm, landed fine, but then had to walk forever to baggage claim.
Rental car logistics were tricky — turns out you need to take the AirTrain to the Budget lot (thanks for the heads-up, security guy).
From there, it was 200 km of driving back to Philadelphia, most of it on the New Jersey Turnpike, with a couple of expensive tolls thrown in. Tough going, but we planned it this way to avoid the ridiculous one-way car rental drop fees.
Checked into a great hotel near Philly Airport, had Denny’s for dinner, and crashed.
Sunday, April 12 – Happy Easter from Six Flags
Picked up a very tired and hungover Scott from the Philadelphia Airport. He’d had a big night with the boys in Wilmington and barely made it onto his 7:10am flight.
After some food and rest, we drove to Six Flags Great Adventure, where Scott ticked off some serious thrills — including the world’s tallest roller coaster. Not my cup of tea, but he loved it.
The wind caused a few delays, but we got through what we came for and then headed to our hotel in Somerset, New Jersey — a quiet Crowne Plaza, perfect for some laundry catch-up and much-needed rest.
Tomorrow… we tackle New York City traffic. Wish us luck.
New York City – April 13 to 16, 2009
The city that never sleeps—and neither did we, much!
We made it to New York City after the usual mix of freeways, fast food, and a few wrong turns. Left Somerset, NJ around 11am, grabbed a Wendy’s breakfast (as you do), and popped into a Wal-Mart (sorry Geoff!) before heading into Manhattan.
Traffic through the Lincoln Tunnel wasn’t as bad as usual, though coming out of it still throws you the wrong way when you’re trying to go right. Eventually, we found our hotel—the Affinia—right opposite Madison Square Garden. Parking in NYC is… impossible, so Scott lugged the bags while I did laps around the block. The traffic is a free-for-all—horns, chaos, and pedestrians everywhere—but you get used to it. Kind of.
We dropped off the rental car at JFK (after some unexpected sightseeing thanks to the GPS) and caught the Long Island Rail Road back into Manhattan. The hotel room turned out to be great—spacious, comfy, and in a perfect spot.
Scott took to New York foot traffic like a local—charging through the crowds like he was in a video game. His suggestion: someone needs to invent a “Virtual Tourist NYC” game where you dodge people, potholes, and taxis.
We explored Times Square, caught a Broadway show (Mamma Mia!—even better the second time), visited Ground Zero, walked miles through subways and side streets, and even went to an NBA game at Madison Square Garden (Knicks vs. Nets—fun, but not a classic).
One night we walked over to the Empire State Building but were turned away due to weather. We did get up there the next night though—late, clear skies, and the city lit up below us. The view was amazing, and watching the endless line of planes circling to land was something else.
Other highlights:
A soggy but fun trip to Liberty Island to see the Statue of Liberty up close.
A subway detour through Greenwich Village where Scott spotted the apartment building from Friends.
Giant slices of New York pizza (Scott approved).
Non-stop sirens and honking—our hotel room may as well have been on the street.
New York is a wild place. Loud, chaotic, never dull. A bit exhausting, but unforgettable. Tomorrow—we fly west for San Francisco.
San Francisco – April 16 to 18, 2009
West Coast vibes and winding streets
After a smooth but long travel day, we swapped the chaos of NYC for the laid-back vibe of San Francisco. Caught the train and AirTrain to JFK, then a 5.5-hour flight across the country (time zones playing tricks on us), landing in SF just after 2pm. The usual airport shuffle—rental car and all—was easy enough. Our Chevy looked a bit odd but got us to the hotel near Fisherman’s Wharf without issue.
Late lunch/early dinner was at iHop, then it was a quiet night catching up on rest (and TV), because jet lag and a looming cold had us both moving slower than usual.
Friday was a bit of a wash thanks to those pesky head colds. We stocked up on meds at Walgreens and decided to skip Alcatraz when we found out tickets had to be booked way in advance (lesson learned). Instead, we took a scenic drive over the Golden Gate Bridge and checked out some shopping malls. Scott took a little detour down Lombard Street—San Francisco’s famously crooked street—and it was just as twisty as you’d expect.
Dinner plans at a 50’s diner turned out so-so, but that’s alright—we’re pacing ourselves.
Saturday was another slow start. After breakfast at iHop, we did a quick sightseeing stop at the Full House house nearby (Scott’s a fan). Then came some more driving around town hunting down a specific game Scott wanted—turns out the first mall was the same one we visited the day before, oops! We found what we needed on round two and grabbed a DVD for the road.
Later, we hit Six Flags for a few hours of fun before driving on to Stockton for an indoor Arena Football game. The fast-paced game and the coach-player banter were really something else, and the last-minute upset made it a pretty exciting evening. Definitely more fun than that NBA game we caught in New York.
By night’s end, we rolled into Sacramento and checked into a Residence Inn near the airport. Tomorrow we’re eyeing Lake Tahoe, but there might be another hockey game detour if Scott gets his way.
On the Road – April 19 to 22, 2009
Sunday 19th April
We’d planned to hit Reno today, but after enjoying that arena football game in Stockton on Saturday, we decided to slow down and stay an extra night in Sacramento. We switched hotels from the Residence Inn to a Hilton, which was nice for a change of scenery.
The morning was pretty laid-back. I took advantage of the hotel’s laundry facilities — finally got some much-needed washing done — while Scott relaxed.
Around 1pm we headed to the local mall and grabbed lunch at Dairy Queen. I went for a hot dog and a banana split — the classic combo never gets old!
After lunch, we drove the 80 kilometres down to Stockton for a hockey game between the Ontario Reign and Stockton Thunder. We lucked out with front-row seats and had a great time. The Thunder took the win, which had the crowd buzzing.
Back in Sacramento by 7pm, we settled in with dinner at Olive Garden — plenty of pasta to fuel us for the next day.
Monday 20th April
We left Sacramento in the morning, driving east along Highway 50 into the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Breakfast was at a Denny’s in Placerville — basic, but just what we needed.
Driving during the day through the mountains was amazing. There’s a beautiful river running alongside the road, and the views as we neared South Lake Tahoe were stunning — snow-capped peaks, blue skies, and clear water. The highest point was about 7,300 feet before the “roller coaster” descent into town.
South Lake Tahoe has a definite ski resort vibe — cozy lodges, plenty of snow on the ground. Then just a quick drive into Nevada, and suddenly it’s all casinos and bright lights. We passed through Carson City and ended the day in Reno.
Tuesday 21st April
Plans to push on to Crater Lake were scrapped — my cold was hanging on and Scott thought it best to take it easy. We had a slow morning, sleeping in till 10am, then set out to explore Reno a bit.
We hit up Best Buy and Barnes & Noble for some browsing, followed by lunch at Dairy Queen again (it’s becoming a theme!). Later, we made a Walmart run — I needed some replacement sunglasses since mine had taken a beating throughout the trip. I found a cheap clip-on pair for my prescription glasses — simple but effective in the bright sun.
For some fun, we played 36 holes of mini golf — I actually managed to beat Scott by 12 strokes, which is a rare win! Scott also tried his hand at a baseball batting cage — the 65mph balls were tough, but he did better on the slower 55mph machine. He swings more like a cricketer, trying to keep the ball on the ground — not the best technique for baseball, but entertaining to watch.
The evening was relaxed with some Stanley Cup hockey on TV and a buffet dinner at the hotel.
Wednesday, April 22 – From Reno to San Francisco (via Sacramento & Alcatraz)
Today we wrapped up our road trip, driving from Reno back to San Francisco via Sacramento. Reno felt like a smaller, quieter version of Vegas — lots of casinos but definitely a different crowd. Scott wandered through one hotel casino and felt like the youngest person there by a hundred years. I agree — it seemed to be a place for the older crowd, while Vegas draws the younger set.
We left Reno at 9:20am, cruising along I-80 through the mountains. We stopped back at the Sacramento hotel where I’d left something behind (classic me). Then we tried to find a Carrows restaurant for lunch in downtown Sacramento but had no luck. Instead, we ended up at a Denny’s just off the freeway — again! Reliable, even if not exciting.
We arrived at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco around 2:30pm and took the ferry out to Alcatraz Island. The prison tour was top-notch, especially the audio guide — it really brought the history to life. The views of San Francisco from the island were also breathtaking.
Back on the mainland, we checked out the seals at Pier 39 before a slow drive to our hotel near the airport. Dinner was at iHop again — finishing off the day with comfort food.
Tomorrow we fly to LA, then rent a car to drive to Vegas. Planning ahead to avoid those nasty rental car drop-off fees — always looking for the smart move!
San Francisco to Cedar City – Thursday, April 23, 2009
Today was one of those classic travel days where you feel like you’re on the move for most of it, but it’s all part of the adventure. We checked out of our comfy Hilton near the San Francisco airport at 11am, said goodbye to the rental car at Hertz (always a little sad handing back a trusty vehicle), and caught the super-efficient AirTrain over to Terminal 1.
We had a bit of luggage jigsaw to play — trying to keep both our bags under the 50-pound limit. It’s always a balancing act, but we managed it without too much sweat.
Security was its usual slow self, then about 45 minutes to kill before our Southwest flight to LA. Southwest has this quirky boarding system — no assigned seats, so it’s a free-for-all to find spots. We had the window and middle seats, but an elderly gentleman in the aisle seat wasn’t exactly thrilled when we asked to squeeze past. You get this strange dance when people try to claim seats that don’t really line up with their party — and the poor aisle sitter just hopes no one wants the middle. Classic Southwest drama.
The flight was just over an hour with some lovely views of San Francisco as we turned south. Once in LA, luggage came quickly, and we caught the Hertz shuttle to pick up our new wheels — a Nissan Altima this time (pronounced “Niece Arn” out here).
There was some debate over whether to take the GPS’s suggested “shorter” route through the 10 and 15 freeways or to avoid LA traffic with the longer way around. We trusted the GPS and ended up inching along the 405 and 10 in slow-moving traffic — the usual LA rush hour chaos.
Once we hit the 15 freeway, the traffic finally cleared and it took about two hours to reach Victorville. We stopped at Best Buy for a quick browse, then continued on to Barstow where we grabbed dinner at Denny’s — always a reliable standby.
Back on the road by 8:30pm, we drove a couple more hours and finally arrived in Las Vegas. We checked into the Luxor around 11:30pm — the room was alright, but no wireless internet and a fair bit of noise meant we weren’t hanging around. After just over nine hours on the go, we crashed hard.
Tomorrow, the road takes us onwards to Cedar City.
Cedar City – Friday 24th April 2009
We got up early, aiming to reach Cedar City by lunchtime. Checked out of the Vegas hotel at 9:15am and hit the 15 freeway. Just before crossing into Arizona, we stopped at Mesquite for a cheeky McDonald’s breakfast — perfect fuel for the road ahead.
Shortly after, we crossed briefly into Arizona before heading into Utah. Crossing the border into Utah cost us an hour’s time thanks to the time zone change, so our roughly two-and-a-half-hour drive stretched to about three and a half hours in total.
Cedar City is a gem tucked into southern Utah, right in the foothills of the Rockies. It’s the hometown of our good friends Amy and Steve, and we pulled up at their place just before 1pm. Amy was home to greet us, which was lovely, though Steve and their son Daniel were away until the next day.
By mid-afternoon, we drove up into the nearby mountains so Scott could get his snow fix. Amy and Scott had a full-on snowball fight while I stayed dry behind the camera — video evidence secured!
Back down in town, we stopped at Walmart for supplies, then returned to the house. Dinner was at Applebee’s around 5:30pm, followed by a relaxed evening at home watching TV and chatting.
Cedar City – Saturday 25th April 2009
Scott set off mid-morning, heading back to Vegas for a show and planned to return the next day.
Amy and I took a 45-minute drive to St. George to pick up Daniel and explore a few fabric shops — some minor wins for Rayls there! Lunch was a quick stop at Subway, and Amy’s company made the day all the more enjoyable.
After returning to Cedar City, Steve came home just in time for a burger dinner grilled to perfection. A quiet night with some TV rounded out the day.
Meanwhile, Scott was at the Britney Spears concert at the MGM in Vegas. Word is he had a run-in with Paris Hilton’s entourage, but apparently survived unscathed!
Cedar City – Sunday 26th April 2009
A laid-back day in Cedar City — exactly how I like it. The morning was slow with some tasty cinnamon buns for breakfast.
Scott arrived back from Vegas around 2:30pm, and we went to the movies at 4pm to see The Soloist — Scott was too tired to come, so I went solo.
Dinner was a lovely salmon, rice, and salad combo. Later, we watched a DVD Scott had put together from last year’s trip — very impressive work.
Tried to watch a movie around 8pm, but we all crashed early. Sometimes those quiet days are the best.
Monday 27th April
All good things must come to an end. Amy, Steve, and Daniel are wonderful hosts, and our visit, though brief, was really special. Hopefully Rayls and I will be back again next year.
Scott and I packed in the morning, juggling two extra bags — one filled with soft drinks, the other with souvenirs and goodies from the trip.
Lunch was at the Market Grill Diner with Amy and Steve. Great food, great company, and desserts to die for — Steve and Scott went for the coconut cream pie, and I enjoyed the world-famous banana cream pie. Yum!
After lunch, we said goodbye to Amy, loaded the car, and hit the road back toward Vegas.
We stopped at Fiesta Park in St. George for the second leg of our ongoing mini golf series. I had comfortably won the first round in Sacramento, but this 18-hole course (which we played twice) was a different story — I won the first round by one stroke, Scott took the second by one. A tie! Bonus: the service here was a big improvement from our 2001 visit, and they even let us play the second round free — redemption achieved!
Back on the road, crossing from Arizona into Nevada, Scott noticed we were running low on fuel but we made it safely to the next gas station.
We arrived in Vegas around 5pm and checked into the MGM Grand. Scott wasn’t happy with the room and promptly canceled our remaining nights there, booking us into the Wynn instead.
Dinner was a buffet at the Tropicana, where we even managed to lose just $1 on the one-armed bandit — a small price for a fun night.
A long day — from peaceful Cedar City to the bright lights and noise of Vegas. What a contrast!
Las Vegas – Tuesday 28th April
An okay day overall. We checked out of the disappointing MGM Grand — glad to be moving on! First stop was north of Vegas at Sam Boyd Stadium so Scott could get a feel for the place ahead of the U2 concert in October. Then over to Thomas and Mack Stadium where Scott picked up his concert ticket.
Breakfast was at Denny’s — unfortunately the service was pretty poor, which was a shame. After that, we headed over to the Wynn Hotel on the Strip and checked in just after 1pm. Our first room on the 23rd floor had wet carpet, so we swapped up to the 34th floor — room 3440. The view over the Wynn Golf Course was stunning — 18 holes for a cool $500! Yikes.
Later we walked up to Circus Circus to try some mini golf. The course style was a bit disappointing, so we decided not to count it as one of our official games. Lucky for me, because Scott beat me by five strokes!
After that, it was back to the hotel to chill for a bit before heading to Planet Hollywood for a buffet dinner. Full and happy, we went on to New York New York so Scott could ride the roller coaster there. Apparently it was a bit tame and a little rickety — sounds like Scott’s a thrill seeker!
Back to the hotel by 8pm to watch some TV and relax.
Las Vegas – Wednesday 29th April
A long and tiring day — but with a really fun ending.
Scott wanted to watch the Arsenal vs. Manchester United Champions League game, and I desperately needed a beard trim. While Scott relaxed in bed, I went on a quest for a barber shop. I drove 8km down West Sahara and found plenty of nail salons and dog grooming places, but no barbers! Just as I was turning back, I spotted a barber and got the job done. $10 well spent.
Once back at the hotel, Scott’s game finished, and we headed to Angel Park for some golf. We played 12 holes of par 3 — Scott crushed me by 10 strokes. Then 9 holes on the putting green — Scott won again. Stupid game!
By 5pm we were done and starving, so we stopped at Applebee’s for dinner on the way back to Vegas.
We got back to the hotel at 6:30pm, tired and needing a shower before heading to the Cirque du Soleil show at Treasure Island. Scott thought the show started at 7:30pm but realized at 6:50pm that it was actually 7:00pm — and we were a 10-minute walk away! We hustled and arrived exactly on time.
The highlight? The “baby” character threw a giant exercise ball towards us, then called Scott his “Dadda” and pulled him onstage! Scott got squirted in the face with a baby bottle and had the whole crowd laughing. Later, the baby found Scott again — shining a flashlight and calling him out. Then the baby drove a golf buggy right past us, stopped behind our seats, and invited Scott on. Next thing we knew, Scott was on stage dressed in full baby gear, pushing the buggy around. Scott had no idea a photo was taken, but now we’ve got proof he was the star of the show!
The show was a bit short, ending by 8:30pm, but absolutely fantastic. I haven’t laughed that much in years.
Afterwards, we hit the casino floor. Scott put $20 into a poker machine and walked away with $30 after 20 minutes. Then we tried roulette for another 20 minutes, starting with $20 and finishing with $30 — a nice $20 profit overall.
Back to our room by 10:30pm, and that’s pretty much Vegas wrapped up. Tomorrow, we hit the road for Los Angeles.
Los Angeles – Thursday 30th April 2009
We got up around 9am and checked out of the Wynn by 10:30am. Honestly, the Wynn was the best hotel I’ve stayed at on this trip — bright, clean, and with an awesome view. The windows went floor to ceiling, but I didn’t get too close because just looking down made me queasy! Scott, on the other hand, loved standing by the window watching planes come in low over Vegas airport. One plane even seemed to be doing some wild banking on approach — quite the show.
After checking out, we hit the road. Stopped just outside Vegas at Jack in the Box for breakfast/lunch, then back on I-15 to Barstow for fuel, and onwards to LA. Our hotel is a nice Sheraton in Anaheim, where we’ll spend the last three nights of the trip.
We caught game six of the Bulls vs. Celtics NBL game soon after arriving — what a thriller! Bulls won by 1 after triple overtime. Great stuff. There’s a Target right across the road, so I popped over to check it out for a bit.
At 8:30pm, we headed out to Camelot Mini Golf for the third round of our series. The course was interesting — more like three 18-hole courses all rolled into one! Scott easily took this one, so after three tests we’re even with one win each and one draw.
After golf, we tracked down a KFC for a quick bite, then back to the hotel. After 440 kilometres of driving and a round of golf, it was a long day.
Back in LA now, and it’s the final leg of a fantastic trip. Bit sad to be heading home but also happy — if that makes sense!
Los Angeles – Friday 1st May 2009
A long day ahead.
Six Flags Magic Mountain is as far north of LA as Anaheim is to the south — about 90 km (55 miles) away. I took a stroll to Target again before Scott got up.
We left the hotel around 10:20am and drove mostly on I-5. There were a few slow spots but overall it was smooth sailing.
Six Flags was the best of the three parks we’ve visited on this trip. New Jersey’s was tough thanks to a large group of rude visitors, and San Francisco’s was busy and hot. Today was cooler and less crowded. I even had a meet-and-greet with Sylvester and Tweety Bird — cool!
Scott rode a few coasters; I braved the Goliath with him. Wow — that one made me dizzy and queasy for a good while!
After Six Flags, we tried to grab a late lunch at McDonald’s, but the place was so new it wasn’t open yet. So, we went to a nearby In-N-Out Burger instead. Then it was back to the hotel — the 90 km drive took about an hour and 45 minutes, arriving just after 5pm.
After a quick freshen-up, we went hunting for some hockey gear for Scott, hit Walmart (more stuff!), and stopped at Fry’s Electronics (even more!). Our bags are definitely filling up fast — weight limits are going to be tight!
Dinner was at Outback Steakhouse — an Aussie place, of course. It was okay, nothing fancy. Back to the hotel by 10pm.
Good day overall.
Los Angeles – Saturday 2nd May 2009
Last day in LA — and the whole trip, really.
We looked for IHOP for breakfast, but it and several other places were packed — Disneyland crowds in full effect. Ended up with doughnuts and hot chocolate instead.
We hit Target across the street and some sports stores to look for Lakers gear, then back to Fry’s to grab a couple more DVDs.
Back at the hotel by 3pm, we packed our bags, shuffling weight between them to stay within limits — fingers crossed it all works out.
At 5pm, we headed to Applebee’s for our final dinner. Then onto the 5 freeway into LA for a Dodgers game at Dodger Stadium. What a night — the game went into extra innings and the Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres in the 11th inning. The car park was packed, but we made it onto the 101 and 5 freeways smoothly, getting back to Anaheim in about 25 minutes. On the way, we stopped at Jack in the Box for a quick snack before heading back to the hotel.
And that’s it! We’re all packed and ready to start the journey home early tomorrow morning.
Going Home – Sunday 3rd May, 2009
Well, it’s finally time to head home after five weeks on the road.
We got up early and left the hotel at 8:30am, making our way to the airport for our flight back to Perth. But before that, we stopped for breakfast at Carrows — the same place where we had our very first breakfast five weeks ago. A nice little full-circle moment.
Our flight was American Airlines AA169, leaving Los Angeles at 12:35pm. It’s a long haul to Tokyo — about 11 hours in the air, arriving at Narita airport at 4:10pm Tokyo time (3:10pm Perth time).
After a short stopover, we hopped on the Qantas flight QF80 at 8:40pm Tokyo time, heading straight home to Perth. That flight’s about 9 hours, and we landed back at 6:05am Tuesday morning — Perth time, of course. That’s late Monday afternoon back in LA.
It’s been a fantastic trip — full of new places, good times, a few headaches, and plenty of memories. Glad to be heading home but already thinking about the next adventure.
All over red rover – thanks for checking things out.
Gaz
