2010
We have booked our trip for 2010! Departing Perth 23rd April and via Sydney on the A380 to LA. Then departing LA on 2nd June via Sydney and home on 4th June.
Flight details:
Depart Perth Friday 23rd April on QF574 at 5:45am (Boeing 737-400) – arrive Sydney at 12:00 Friday 23rd April.
Depart Sydney Friday 23rd April on QF11 at 1:05pm (Airbus A380-800) – arrive Los Angeles at 9:45am Friday 23rd April.
Depart Los Angeles Wed 2nd June on QF12 at 10:30pm (Airbus A380-800) – arrive Sydney 6:15am Fri 4th June.
Depart Sydney Fri 4th June on QF575 at 8:10am (Airbus A330-200) – arrive Perth 11:15am Fri 4th June.
17th June 2009
We have booked our trip for 2010! Departing Perth on 23rd April, flying via Sydney on the A380 to Los Angeles. Returning from LA on 2nd June via Sydney and home on 4th June.
For the first part of the trip, we’ll be traveling with our friends Jim and Bette along the east coast of the USA—from Florida to Maine and points in between. We’ll be driving Jim and Bette’s Gulf Stream Conquest Super Nova RV.
26th January 2010
James Taylor and Carole King
Scott and I got together after work in the early hours of Australia Day to make some bookings:
- Tickets for Carole King & James Taylor concert in Phoenix on 19th May have been booked.
- Hotel in Phoenix is booked.
- Car rental for the last 15 days of the trip (Phoenix 19th May to Las Vegas 2nd June) has been booked.
Scott booked the hotel in Las Vegas (the Bellagio) as a Christmas gift to me.
The airfare from Las Vegas to Jacksonville, FL on 27th April was booked on 18th January.
Things are starting to come together!
Flights within the USA
Tue 27th April: South West Airlines 0131
Depart LAS VEGAS NV (LAS) 9:40 AM → Arrive JACKSONVILLE FL (JAX) 4:55 PM
Sun 16th May: South West Airlines 2925
Depart BOSTON MA (BOS) 7:30 AM → Arrive ST LOUIS MO (STL) 9:30 AM
Wed 19th May: South West Airlines 1459
Depart ST LOUIS MO (STL) 6:35 AM → Arrive PHOENIX AZ (PHX) 7:55 AM
Wed 2nd June: South West Airlines 0333
Depart LAS VEGAS NV (LAS) 12:15 PM → Arrive LOS ANGELES INTL (LAX) 1:25 PM
Shows and Events Planned
Sat 24th April, 8:00 PM – Buddy Holly Musical, La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Los Angeles
Sun 25th April, 7:00 PM – The Beatles Love (Cirque du Soleil), The Mirage, Las Vegas
Sat 26th April, 7:00 PM – Jersey Boys, The Venetian, Las Vegas
Mon 10th May, 7:10 PM – Boston Red Sox vs. Toronto Blue Jays, Fenway Park, Boston
Wed 19th May, 7:30 PM – Carole King & James Taylor, Jobing Arena, Phoenix
Day 1 – 23rd April 2010
We landed a few minutes early, with nice views of LA as we came in. It took about 20 minutes to get off the plane because of the large number of passengers, then a long walk to immigration. The lines at immigration were long, but we managed to get through in around 30 minutes.
Our bags were already on the carousel, and we loaded them onto a buggy. Then came another 20-minute wait for customs — no problems there — and soon we were out into the LA sunshine. The shuttle bus arrived in about 3 minutes and took us to the Dollar Car Rental facility. After about a 10-minute wait, we endured the usual upsell attempts from the lady trying to sell us extras and upgrades we didn’t believe we needed.
We had about 10 cars to choose from and picked a Ford Focus, a nice little car.
Scott had given me instructions on how to get to the hotel in Anaheim, but I also set up the GPS, which gave us the exact same route within moments.
Driving to the hotel was no problem. I seem to have the whole driving-on-the-wrong-side-of-the-road thing down to a reasonable art. It took about 35 minutes, mostly along the 405 freeway.
Before checking in, we crossed the road to Target, then eventually made it back to the hotel around 1:00 pm. Thanks to Scott’s maps, everything was a breeze, and we were soon in our room — 723. After a brief unpack, we both had a shower — bliss after about 30 hours of travel.
We were so tired we decided to take a three-hour nap. Honestly, three hours’ sleep is probably a good night’s rest for me most nights.
At 6:30 pm, we wandered outside and strolled the 200 metres to the Outback Steakhouse for an OK meal. We were entertained during dinner by six different emergency vehicles blaring their way through the intersection of Harbor and West Chapman. Good to be back in the USA.
After dinner, we walked back to Target to kill some time and were finally in our room a bit after 10:00 pm.
We were both very tired — it was after midnight on Saturday morning, and I was falling asleep at the keyboard. I’ll report more tomorrow. Buddy Holly musical tomorrow night!
Day 2 – 24th April 2010 – Los Angeles
Wow! Today was a long day.
I was up just before 6 a.m. and was entertained by the History Channel on TV. It started with the history of coffee, then milk, followed by cheese (I learned a few things I wish I didn’t know), and then, just before we headed out, they were on the history of the potato.
Just after 8 a.m., we headed to Carrows in Buena Park for a very pleasant breakfast—eggs, pancakes, and bacon for $4 each. The orange juice there was the best I’ve ever had. We were served by Tina, who’s originally from Wales, Britain. She was running around like mad but was very nice. When we paid the bill, we chatted a bit—she said she moved to the USA because it was too cold in Britain, and she had worked at Carrows for 13 years but was very unhappy. Sad.
Next, we went to Cerritos for our first Wal-Mart visit of the trip. By the way, we saw three Wal-Mart trucks driving from the airport to the hotel yesterday, so the count starts at three.
We also visited an AT&T store to get a SIM card for my second phone so I could send cheaper texts home.
The GPS was acting up, going dead for no apparent reason. We struggled to find our next stop, a hockey shop, where we looked at skates for Ryan—no luck there. Then it was onto Fry’s for some electrical stuff and a couple of DVDs.
After this, we went to a shopping mall, where we both bought some clothing from JC Penney.
We were back at the hotel around 4 p.m., then wandered over to Target for a few supplies before a brief stop back at the hotel.
A bit after 6 p.m., we drove 21 kilometres to Las Palmas to a very nice theatre. On the way, we stopped at an IHOP for dinner—Rayls had the senior tilapia (the fish was quite young; Rayls is the senior), and I had the senior pot roast—my favorite at IHOP. It was a great meal, better than last night’s Outback and half the price.
Then we headed to the theatre for the Buddy Holly musical. Great show, but I was so tired I struggled to stay awake and dozed off a couple of times. What I saw was fantastic, and I hope to see it again one day—when I’m less jet-lagged.
Day 3 — 25th April 2010 — Las Vegas
Thanks to a Christmas gift from Scott, we’re staying on the 21st floor of the Bellagio, overlooking the famous fountains. Every 15 minutes, the fountains perform a show set to music. The TV in our room is tuned to the music channel so when the music starts, we wander to the window to watch the show. Poor Rayls hasn’t been able to drag herself away since we arrived! It’s like fireworks synchronized to music, but with water — absolutely unbelievable.
Rayls just videoed the latest fountain show, which was set to Elvis Presley’s Viva Las Vegas. Very fitting!
The Journey to Vegas
We left our Garden Grove hotel, just a few miles from Disneyland, around 8:05 a.m. Our GPS was useless and needed to be thrown in the bin—it never picked up a signal from LA to Vegas.
Luckily, it was easy enough to navigate. For Scott’s sake, we took Chapman to the 57 Freeway, then the 91, and finally the 15 northbound. Interstate 15 starts at the Mexico border and runs past LA to Vegas, then continues north through Utah, Idaho, and Montana to the Canadian border.
At 10:00 a.m., we stopped for breakfast at my favorite spot, Denny’s in Barstow. We each had a Grand Slam breakfast but couldn’t finish it. The hot chocolate was excellent, with free refills!
Back on the road, around noon we spotted three jet streams from planes flying between Vegas and LA. We wondered if Hannah—Rayls’ longtime friend Sharon’s daughter—was on one of them. Hannah got married in Vegas and told Rayls she was leaving Vegas for LA around lunchtime, so maybe!
Arrival in Vegas
We got into Vegas around 1 p.m. Parking, checking in, and getting to our room went smoothly. We’re in room 2160, and it’s just fantastic. I could get used to this—one Powerball!!!
Tonight we plan to follow up our Buddy Holly night with a Beatles night at Cirque du Soleil Love—that is, if I can drag Rayls away from the fountains!
Day 3 — 25th April 2010 — Las Vegas (Part 2)
The Beatles Love Cirque du Soleil show was very impressive—great music and great acts. We really enjoyed the couple of hours there.
Our evening started with a challenge—finding our way out of the hotel! We’d allowed an hour to walk the 600 metres from the Bellagio to the Mirage but ended up coming out the main Bellagio entrance, which meant walking around the lake and stopping to watch the fountain show from ground level. It wasn’t quite as good as the view from the 21st floor. The walk was a bit of an effort—lots of people and stairs.
When we reached the Mirage, we had to find the Love Theatre, which took a few minutes as we wound through the enormous casino.
We lined up at the box office to pick up tickets I had ordered about a month earlier and had about 10 minutes to spare before the show started.
Afterward, we checked out the Beatles gift shop right outside the theatre but didn’t buy anything.
Having got our bearings, we found our way back to the hotel much more easily. On the way, we browsed the shops and foyer of Caesars Palace—some very expensive stores, but nothing purchased.
Back at our hotel, we visited some shops, including Tiffany’s Jewelers—again, no purchases. Then we went to the buffet, where the line was quite long but only took about 30 minutes. The food was good, although Rayls, who likes her meat well done, was worried her beef might just get up and walk away!
There’s a gift shop near the elevators where we made a small purchase before heading back up to our room for the last three fountain shows of the night. The midnight show was set to the National Anthem.
Day 4 — 26th April 2010 — Las Vegas
And so ends a long day in Las Vegas.
This place is tiring even without the nightlife.
We started out driving northwest, following written instructions to find breakfast, some quilt shops for Rayls, and a mall to check out some clothes.
We went up Sahara Avenue—an area I visited last year looking for a barber—then right onto Florida…
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Tuesday, 27th April 2010
Today we’re scheduled to leave Las Vegas and fly to Jacksonville, Florida, to meet up with our friends Jim and Bette.
Flight Details:
- South West Airlines Flight 0131
- Depart LAS VEGAS NV (LAS) at 9:40 AM
- Arrive JACKSONVILLE FL (JAX) at 4:55 PM
Day 5 — 27th April 2010 — To Florida
Here we are in Florida, the 48th state of the USA we’ve visited. Only two states left—one of which we’ll do in a week or so. Alaska will be the only state missing after this trip.
The east coast of the USA is exactly 12 hours behind Perth time, so 6 p.m. here is 6 a.m. there.
We left our Vegas hotel fairly early. Southwest Airlines uses a boarding system that’s strange to me—the earlier you check in, the better your chance at good seats.
The Bellagio in Vegas was without doubt the best hotel we’ve stayed in, and we really enjoyed our two nights there. Thanks again to our son Scott for his wonderful Christmas gift of accommodation.
Rayls has an amazing knack for efficient packing! Things are strewn everywhere, but a few minutes later, the bags are packed and ready to go.
We made our way through the casino at 7 a.m.—people gambling and drinking already—then to the car and off to the airport. Following Scott’s directions, we were at the rental car facility in about 10 minutes. Vegas airport is very close to the city.
We parked the car in the rental garage, then took a shuttle bus to the airport.
Check-in was easy, but then came the monster: Security! Most US airports were built pre-9/11 and weren’t designed for modern security. Vegas’s airport is no exception. I was randomly singled out for additional screening—had to wait in a glass room while a security guard rudely checked my shoes for explosives and secret compartments. After the inspection, I was free to go.
We stopped at Wendy’s for breakfast—cinnamon scrolls—then wandered to gate C9.
Southwest Flight 131 started in San Diego, with legs to Jacksonville, Tampa, and Buffalo—quite a busy day for that plane.
Day 5 — 27th April 2010 — To Florida (Part 2)
Before continuing, I want to make a comment on Vegas, and the USA in general—there is no litter and no graffiti! The only litter in Vegas is on the pavement near the annoying dudes who try to hand you cards advertising shows (probably strip shows). These guys click the cards and thrust them at you as you pass. Some people take the cards and immediately drop them, which causes minor litter issues. I’d like to tell these dudes to shove it where it hurts, but this is the USA—you never know what they might have in their pockets.
Australia could learn a lot about keeping places clean from the USA.
Our flight arrived on time. Rayls and I managed to get seats together over the wing. We think we left a few minutes late. You could see the Vegas Strip clearly as we taxied to the runway, but after takeoff, there’s not much to see—it’s pretty barren out there.
The Southwest flight attendants were pretty cool—lots of joking and fun, even during the safety talk. They had us all laughing. The passenger in the aisle seat didn’t say a word the entire flight, much to Rayls’ relief.
The flight took just under 4 hours and was uneventful.
We landed in Jacksonville, which is 3 hours ahead of Vegas time. The airport was small by US standards but bigger than Perth.
Arrival and First Impressions
We got our luggage but hit our first snag—apparently, I was supposed to call our friend Jim when we were ready. I don’t recall that. Luckily, Jim and Bette know my memory issues, and just after we walked out, there they were.
Quick hugs and handshakes, then we loaded the car and were off. I expected a concrete jungle, but it was open, almost rural.
Good to see Jim and Bette again; they are good people (Jim, I hope you read this!). It’s been two years since we last met, and the laughs started immediately.
We had dinner at Cracker Barrel—I love those restaurants. Our server was a lovely lady who endured a lot of banter. She was led to believe Jim and I were married and played along. Good food and a fun time.
We drove about 50 miles from Jacksonville to St. Augustine, taking a “nickel tour” of the town. It is arguably the oldest town in the USA. We even stopped at Sonic for dessert—I had a banana split.
Just as it got dark, we arrived at the house, part of a complex for seniors, so we fit right in. A lake just 10 metres from the house—and it has alligators!
We’re only here briefly and will hit the road Thursday. We unpacked, did laundry, and chatted before I was wiped out and went to bed. It was raining a little as I lay down—nice, and I was asleep in seconds.
Only a few hours of sleep before waking to update this blog.
Day 6 — 28th April 2010 — Florida
Today we traveled to the Kennedy Space Center, about 100 miles from Jim and Bette’s house.
Before we left, Jim and I attended his morning gathering of slightly past middle-aged men known as the “Liars Club”—an interesting experience.
We had breakfast on the road at IHOP, which surprisingly had poor service—Jim’s and Rayls’ orders got mixed up.
We arrived at the Space Center just after noon. They put you on a tour bus to a viewing area where you can check out the launch pad. Then the bus took us to the mission control area. We were guided through the lead-up to the Apollo 8 mission before entering an area with a Saturn V rocket—what a monster!
After wandering around, we got back on the bus to the visitors’ area and tried out the shuttle launch simulator—very cool with lots of shaking and noise.
We also visited the astronaut memorial.
All in all, a great day.
On the way back, we detoured to a post office so Rayls could mail a package. A Florida resident had ordered some fabric from Rayls’ work website, and to save shipping time and cost, Rayls offered to send it from Florida.
We got home around 6:30 p.m. and enjoyed a nice chicken dinner made by Bette.
There’s much packing going on—Jim and Bette leave for Maine tomorrow, where they’ll stay in their RV until September. We’ll be with them until 16th May.
Tomorrow we start our road trip, heading for Savannah, Georgia—about 300 miles—then ending the day in Summerton, South Carolina.
Day 7 — 29th April 2010
We drove from St. Augustine, FL, to Summerton, SC, with a stop in Savannah along the way.
The camper is pretty cool. Two sit in the front, two sit just behind — one in a comfy chair, the other on a couch that folds out into a bed. I mostly sat on the couch and even managed to nap for part of the drive.
As usual, I was up at 3:30 AM — a pain, but it gave me time to work on my websites!
We left at 7:25 AM, 12 minutes behind schedule. This is a big event for Jim and Bette, who will be up north for six months (so Jim hopes). You can imagine the prep involved! At the last minute, we grabbed our three bags and hit the road north on I-95 toward Jacksonville.
Jim and Bette have a game to pass the time on the road: spotting license plates from all U.S. states and Canadian provinces. Jim’s blog said today was exciting:
“Pretty exciting day for plate watching. We ended up with a total of 32 plates, including Alaska, Oregon, a few Canadian plates, and even a Canadian Northwest Territories plate — haven’t seen one of those for about 20 years!”
After about 1 hour and 22 minutes, we crossed from Florida into Georgia and stopped at the Georgia Welcome Center for a rest and to pick up maps. Five of us are in the camper — Buster the dog needs a break too. Oddly, Buster always wants to get out when we cross a bridge or see water by the road. He also watches TV, just like our dog Hunter does at home!
We continued toward Brunswick, stopped for fuel and a buffet breakfast, then got back on the road. Just outside Savannah, we parked in a Walmart lot, unhitched Jim’s car, and Bette stayed with the camper while Jim, Rayls, and I headed into Savannah.
Day 7 — 29th April — Savannah
Savannah is historic, with many old buildings dating back to the founding of the USA.
Jim, a retired history teacher, kept us entertained with USA history stories — very interesting!
Sad to say, the main reason we visited was to tick off an item on the bucket list (as Jim calls it): the movie Forrest Gump. The iconic park bench scenes were filmed here.
We visited the Savannah History Museum, watched an 18-minute video on Savannah’s history, and found the actual park bench donated by Paramount Pictures — even the suitcase Forrest uses is there. For trivia fans like me, this was a highlight!
There was also a quilt display that Rayls checked out while Jim and I impatiently waited!
After the museum, we headed toward Chippewa Square, the actual filming location of the bench scene. This took a while due to some bad directions.
Jim’s blog:
“Turns out the location is not marked at all — it’s in one of Savannah’s many pretty city squares. Garry and Raylene finally decided where the spot most probably was, and just as I was about to take a picture, a tour trolley came by and announced that the exact spot was right where we were standing. Success!”
We made a quick stop downtown at River Street, bought a Savannah pin, then returned to Walmart to pick up groceries. After hooking the car back up, we drove 129 miles to Summerton, SC.
We’re staying at a Days Inn. We hoped to dine at a fantastic local diner Jim recommended, but it’s closed Thursdays, so we went to Cracker Barrel instead — nice meal.
It was an early night. I was up at 3:40 AM, now sitting in bed typing on this laptop.
Tomorrow: breakfast at that great diner, then on the road to Wilmington, North Carolina — one of son Scott’s favorite places. Dinner with Jim’s friends and possibly a cruise planned. Should be interesting!
Day 8 — Wilmington, North Carolina
We started the day at the Summerton Diner in South Carolina. The food was great, and the accents — wow! “Y’all come back now, ya hear!” I felt very self-conscious speaking because our Aussie accents stood out more than ever. Everyone at the diner was wonderful, and we even had the chance to meet a school buddy of Jim’s he hadn’t seen since 1966.
After breakfast, we drove toward the North Carolina border and stopped at Pedro’s South of the Border for lunch. I had hot dogs, and Rayls bought a few souvenirs.
From there, we took US-74 and arrived in Wilmington mid-afternoon. We checked into a Days Inn, while Jim and Bette parked the camper in the car park.
Later, we visited Jim’s school friend Mary Alice and her husband Skip. What a beautiful home! They warmly welcomed us, and we couldn’t have asked for better hosts. We went out on a boat ride along the Intracoastal Waterway, surrounded by stunning scenery, impressive homes, and sleek boats — an unforgettable experience.
Back at their home, we enjoyed a fabulous dinner — the perfect end to the day. We returned to the hotel around 8:00 PM to repack. It was a reasonably late night, but absolutely worth it after such a fantastic day. Hopefully, we’ll see Mary Alice and Skip again — maybe they’ll come visit us down under!
Day 9 — 1st May 2010 – Outer Banks Adventure
Today we traveled from our Days Inn hotel in Wilmington, NC, along the East Coast to Cedar Point. There, the camper and car were driven onto a ferry for a roughly two-and-a-half-hour crossing over the Atlantic Ocean to Ocracoke Island, the southernmost tip of the Outer Banks.
The ferry was quite interesting — about 50 vehicles aboard, ranging from motorcycles to our large camper. There was also a club cruise of about eight Corvettes, four of which were packed alongside our camper. One poor guy was so close to our camper that it took him 10 minutes just to get out of his car — a convertible would have been much easier!
We spent part of the trip upstairs on the deck chatting and enjoying the breeze, then returned to the camper for lunch.
Arriving at Ocracoke around 1 PM, we made a quick stop at the visitors center, then took another ferry for a half-hour ride across to the larger island of Hatteras. We ended up in Rodanthe, where Jim and Bette parked their camper at a campground and kindly let us use their car to find a nearby hotel. It was harder to find than expected, but we settled into a clean, quiet hotel close to the beach — no internet or phone, but I had my best sleep in months.
After checking in, we went out to find dinner and returned to the hotel by 7 PM. We took a short walk along the Atlantic Ocean beach — wow, what a sight! Then back to the hotel, where I quickly crashed.
Tomorrow we plan to explore the island sites before heading back to the mainland — no ferry this time, just a bridge.
Day 10 — 2nd May 2010: Outer Banks & Wright Brothers Historic Flight
Our hotel wasn’t the Ritz, but it was clean, quiet, and I managed about nine hours of sleep — a rare treat!
We met Jim and Bette at 8:20 AM and were on the road by 8:30. Unfortunately, the early start meant missing a couple of places Jim wanted to see, as they didn’t open until 10.
We arrived at Kitty Hawk around 9:30 AM — an incredible experience, standing at the exact spot where the Wright Brothers made their first powered flight in December 1903. We explored the area and climbed the hill to the monument — truly an awe-inspiring place where history was made over a century ago.
The rest of the day was spent driving toward the outskirts of Washington, DC. We checked into a Days Inn in Dumfries, about 30 miles from downtown.
Tomorrow, we plan to catch a train into DC and spend the day walking around the sights we want to see.
Day 11 — 3rd May 2010: Washington DC Area
It rained today, so at Jim’s suggestion we visited the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum Annex at Dulles Airport — and as a bonus, we ended up seeing quite a bit more. It turned out to be a very good day.
We left just after 8:00 AM and stopped at Dunkin’ Donuts for breakfast. By 10:00 AM we arrived at the Smithsonian, after navigating the usual DC traffic. Parking cost $15, but entry was free.
The displays were absolutely awesome — hundreds of aircraft with incredible history. Highlights included:
Boeing 707
Air France Concorde
Boeing B-29 Superfortress Enola Gay — the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb (“Little Boy”) on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945
Lockheed SR-71A Blackbird — the fastest plane ever, capable of speeds over 2,100 mph. Its final flight in 1990 took just 64 minutes from LA to Washington, DC
Planes were displayed both on the ground and suspended from the ceiling — truly an impressive collection. This museum is a must-visit for any aviation enthusiast.
Exploring DC Proper
Originally, we planned to return to the hotel after the Smithsonian, but Jim suggested heading into downtown DC to visit the Pentagon Memorial.
We stopped for lunch at the Hawk and Dove, a classic Capitol Hill bar where Jim used to hang out when he lived and worked in DC. On the way out of town, we took photos at the steps of the Capitol Building and stopped at the National Archives, where we saw the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and other important documents. Luckily, we even found parking right out front.
Jim really is the best tour guide — having lived in DC for years, his knowledge is unmatched.
Lastly, we visited the Pentagon Memorial, which honors the 180+ people killed there on 9/11. I had visited last year with Scott, but wanted Rayls to see it too. The memorial features benches for each victim, with a reflecting pool beneath each one. You can also see the reconstructed section of the Pentagon; the marble looks noticeably newer.
On the way back to the hotel, we stopped at Walmart and had dinner at IHOP.
Thanks to Jim and Bette for doing so much for us — and a special shout-out to Jim for doing his blog before mine so I could “cheat” off him!
Another great day. Tomorrow we’ll do our DC walking tour.
Day 12 — 4th May 2010: Washington DC
Today was a long day of walking, but Jim and Bette helped out a lot, so it was manageable. We were prepared for a full day, so no complaints.
We started at 8:00 AM, picked up from the hotel, and were taken into DC near the Lincoln Memorial. The Lincoln Memorial honours the 16th President of the United States and was dedicated on May 30, 1922. It’s located on the National Mall and is an iconic site.
Next, we visited the Korean War Veterans Memorial in West Potomac Park, just a few hundred meters southeast of the Lincoln Memorial and south of the Reflecting Pool. It commemorates those who served in the Korean War and was dedicated on July 27, 1995 — the 42nd anniversary of the armistice — by Presidents Bill Clinton and Kim Young Sam.
We crossed the front of the Reflecting Pool for another Forrest Gump moment and visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. This memorial is located in Constitution Gardens near the National Mall, just northeast of the Lincoln Memorial.
We then walked along the Reflecting Pool toward the Washington Monument. The Reflecting Pool is the largest in Washington, D.C., a long rectangular pool lined with walking paths and shade trees on both sides, reflecting both the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument.
At the eastern end of the pool, we stopped at the National World War II Memorial, which consists of 56 pillars and a pair of arches surrounding a plaza and fountain. It was opened to the public on April 29, 2004.
We continued walking to and around the Washington Monument. This obelisk, made of marble, granite, and sandstone, stands 169 meters tall and commemorates the nation’s first president, George Washington. It is both the tallest stone structure and the tallest obelisk in the world. No building in DC is allowed to be taller.
Further up the Mall, we turned left on 7th Avenue and stopped briefly at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden — a pleasant spot with shade and a fountain, perfect for a quick rest.
We then visited the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Store, where Rayls bought a couple of pins. After a quick break at McDonald’s, we headed over to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial at Judiciary Square. This memorial honours nearly 19,000 U.S. law enforcement officers who have died in the line of duty — an astonishing number.
Our search for the White House took longer than expected. It’s a large building, but we had trouble finding the “front.” We walked around one side and then the other, getting a much closer view. People were milling around the West Wing, and there was talk that the President might appear, but after a half-hour wait, no sign of Obama. I was fascinated by the Marine guarding the door — he faced away but stood at attention and opened the door as people approached from inside. How did he know someone was coming? Must be an earpiece.
For old times’ sake, we walked to the hotel Scott and I stayed at last year, then caught the Metro from Farragut North Station on the Blue Line to Arlington Cemetery. Without Scott’s help this time, it took a few minutes, but a kind young lady helped us figure out the ticket system.
The train ride was about 10 minutes — clean, no graffiti, and no scratched windows. Much better than back home in Perth. The train travels under the Potomac River, taking us from DC into Virginia.
Arlington Cemetery spans 624 acres and is the final resting place for veterans and military casualties from the Civil War to recent conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq. Earlier remains were reinterred here after 1900. Most visitors, including us, come to see the graves of the Kennedys — JFK, Robert Kennedy, and now Ted Kennedy. There were many respectful school groups visiting.
The walk uphill to the Kennedy graves was tough after walking about 11 kilometres already, but we made it and spent a moment at each gravesite. After a quick visit to the gift shop, we caught the train back to the last station where Jim, Bette, and Buster picked us up and drove us back to the hotel.
After a two-hour break, we were picked up for dinner at Cracker Barrel.
Tomorrow, we plan to head north toward Maine, hoping to reach Scranton, PA, or possibly further.
Day 13 — 5th May 2010: Newburgh, NY
Today was a travel day covering about 700 kilometres, and the thing I find most fascinating is that at some point or another, we were in five different states all in one day. Try doing that in Australia!
We started in Dumfries, Virginia, then travelled with Jim and Bette along Highways 66 and 81 into West Virginia. After about 35 minutes, we crossed the Potomac River into Maryland. Just 11 minutes later, we crossed into Pennsylvania, passing through Harrisburg and Scranton before turning right onto Interstate 84 and ending up in Newburgh, New York.
Tomorrow, we aim to reach Meredith in New Hampshire, where we’ll stay for two nights.
Day 14 — 6th May 2010: Tilton, NH
Today we left New York and passed through Connecticut and Massachusetts before arriving in New Hampshire.
We checked into a Super 8 Motel in Tilton, NH, where we’ll be staying for the next two nights. We’re about 20 miles from Center Harbor, home to Rayls’s beloved Keepsake Quilting store, which she plans to visit tomorrow.
After checking in, we drove up to Meredith, a very beautiful part of the world and the filming location for On Golden Pond.
Dinner was at a diner, then back to the hotel by 6:00 PM for a quiet evening of updating websites, watching TV, and hopefully getting some sleep.
Tomorrow is Keepsake Quilting day for Rayls and a day to kill time for me. On Saturday, we head for Maine.
Day 15 — 7th May 2010: Center Harbor, NH
We’re now two weeks into the trip, and in three weeks, we’ll be home. Time flies.
Today was another day focused on Rayls! We took a very pleasant drive to Center Harbor, NH, where she visited Keepsake Quilting.
On the way, we stopped at a scenic spot called Squam Lake. I snapped a photo of Rayls standing on a pier — the same pier featured in the movie On Golden Pond, where a character arrives by boat to collect mail. Rayls insists I’ve seen the movie, but I deny it. She can’t remember which character it was — maybe Jim can help.
While Rayls spent two and a half hours at Keepsake Quilting, Jim, Bette, and I wandered around Center Harbor. It’s a truly scenic spot — very peaceful and beautiful.
On the way back to the hotel, we drove through Meredith again on some very scenic roads. A terrific location, especially just before the summer rush. The weather was cool but pleasant.
A quick note on check-in yesterday: after going to our room, I noticed the trash bin was full. I asked the receptionist if they could empty it, but she seemed confused — like I was speaking another language! Jim had to step in and explain what I meant. Turns out I should have said, “the trash can is full of trash.” All fixed, and it made for a funny moment.
Tomorrow we head 140 miles to Moody Beach in Maine — that will be our 49th state visited.
Day 16 — 8th May 2010 – Moody Beach, Maine
The trip from Tilton to Moody Beach was much shorter than expected — just 65 miles instead of 140.
We crossed into Maine at a small town called Berwick, marking our visit to every mainland U.S. state. Including Hawaii, that makes 49 states visited, with just one to go: Alaska.
Once again, it was a very scenic drive, though it rained the entire way. After a long hot summer back home, the rain was welcome.
Once in Moody Beach, Jim and Bette parked their camper, and Jim took us out in search of a hotel. We found one quickly with the essentials — TV and internet — for just $38 a night. The guy behind the counter had the strangest accent and even bragged that the TV was in colour!
After settling in, we had lunch at a diner and then browsed a couple of local stores — one specialising in lighthouses, the other an old bookshop. Lighthouses are a big thing around here.
We’re planning to eat in tonight, though there are a couple of restaurants within walking distance.
We’ll be here for a week. Tomorrow is laundry day and perhaps a trip to Portsmouth in the afternoon. Monday brings our first-ever train trip to Boston for a Red Sox game at Fenway.
Day 17 — 9th May 2010 – Moody Beach, Maine
Happy Mother’s Day!
Today was laundry day. Poor Rayls and Bette spent about three hours washing clothes — much needed. Jim and I relaxed and watched cooking shows on TV.
It was a bit cool, not freezing, but the wind had a noticeable bite.
After lunch, we headed south and stopped at Knights Quilt Shop. While Rayls shopped, I watched a squirrel, two chipmunks, and a wild turkey feeding just outside the rear window — fascinating!
Next, we visited Cape Neddick Lighthouse, a beautiful spot right on the Atlantic Ocean.
On the way back, we stopped at Perkins Cove, the filming location for the outdoor shots in the TV series Murder, She Wrote.
Then through Ogunquit and back to the hotel by 4 PM.
Dinner tonight will be at The Hayloft.
Tomorrow is our first-ever trip to Boston!
Day 18 — 10th May 2010: Boston, Red Sox
Happy Birthday to our son Scott!
Today started with a very pleasant drive down to Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Many towns in New England carry English names, reflecting their early English settlers.
We stopped at a couple of stores along the way and spent about an hour strolling Portsmouth’s main street. Lunch was at Subway, then a quick stop at Kittery Trading Post in Kittery — a cool store where even I bought something: a warm, somewhat silly-looking hat for tonight’s ball game. It’s expected to be very cold.
Back at the hotel by 1:00 pm to rest before our afternoon adventure.
At 2:30 pm, Jim picked us up and drove us to Wells train station, just a couple of miles away. We caught the 3:20 pm Amtrak train to Boston. The train was comfortable, with restrooms and a small shop. Though it’s only about 65 miles, the trip took two hours due to slow sections. The scenery was lovely until we neared Boston suburbs, where graffiti became common on the walls and buildings lining the tracks.
Arriving at North Station around 5:20 pm, we transferred to the “T” — the local subway. We boarded an empty carriage to Kenmore Station, but it quickly filled as Red Sox fans poured in for the game.
Fenway Park, said to be America’s favorite ballpark, was buzzing. We had good seats in the outfield bleachers and really enjoyed the atmosphere.
The US does sporting events well — they always honour the military and veterans. A local sang the national anthem, and since the opposing team was Canadian, two anthems were performed. There was a ceremonial first pitch and a great build-up full of patriotism. I couldn’t help but compare this with Australian events, where generally there’s no national anthem at regular games, and during finals you often hear a recorded Julie Anthony version — which I’m not a fan of.
Crowd-watching was entertaining. Americans constantly move around during the game, unlike Aussie fans who usually stay put until breaks in play.
And then there are the vendors in bright yellow shirts selling peanuts, clam chowder, hot dogs, and Coke, shouting their wares as they walk the aisles. The peanut vendor was especially fun — he’d throw a pack to someone wanting peanuts, wait for the money to be passed down the row, and collect it. I’m not sure that kind of trust would fly back home!
On the field, the Blue Jays started well, but Boston edged out a 7-6 win.
The seventh-inning stretch was a highlight — everyone stood and sang Take Me Out To The Ball Game, followed by a singalong to Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline. As Neil Diamond fans, Rayls and I loved it.
It was a great night, as much for the crowd’s energy as for the game.
Getting back to the station was a bit tricky, but we made it onto the 11:20 pm Amtrak train back to Portland, Maine. We arrived at Wells around 1:15 am. Jim’s car waited with frost on the windscreen; it was 1°C outside.
A long day, but a really good one.
Tomorrow: a later start, then off to Kennebunkport.
Day 19 — 11th May — Kennebunk
A later start today after the baseball game and a 2 am finish.
Jim and Bette picked us up at noon, and we headed north toward Kennebunk. Strange name — I believe it’s of Native American origin.
Lunch was at Subway, then we stopped at a quilt shop on the way to Kennebunkport — Mainely Quilts. No purchases this time!
We visited Kennebunkport, where the senior George Bushes spend their summers, though they weren’t home.
Next, along the coast to Cape Porpoise for some lighthouse viewing.
On the way back to Moody Beach, there was some snoozing happening in the back seat.
We stopped at Dairy Queen for a yummy treat.
A quick detour to Pine Tree Place Home and Garden for Rayls — purchases made.
Dinner was across the road from the hotel again. We were there on Sunday night and it was okay, but tonight was bad, bad, bad. Luckily Shirley Bassey is still alive to keep things interesting!
Back at the hotel just after 7 pm.
Day 20 — 12th May — Portsmouth
Another slow day.
We started at 9:30 am, drove down to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and wandered the historic main street with its interesting shops.
After lunch at Rusty Hammer, we headed back toward Moody Beach, stopping in Ogunquit for a look around. Once again, some interesting shops.
Early finish — both of us feeling a bit wiped out.
Dinner options were limited, so we walked to Jake’s.
A quick shout-out to my son Scott’s comment on yesterday’s entry: Scott, that jacket was the warmest I’ve got! The jacket and goofy hat kept me cozy on a cold night — and finally, my blog is up to date!
Day 21 — 13th May — Portland
Today we drove about 30 miles north to Portland, Maine.
Beautiful weather — crisp, clear, around 20°C.
Portland is a lovely city, very scenic — much like all of Maine, really.
We wandered through the shops in the main area, with lots of pirate-themed stuff to buy. We also checked out the port — no cruises yet; they start Saturday.
Lunch was at Dewey’s, then we headed to Portland Head Lighthouse. What a beautiful spot!
I helped a young man take a family photo, and we ended up chatting for about 20 minutes. Compton Noble is originally from Guyana but now lives in Portland. We talked mostly about cricket.
Back at the hotel by 3:15 pm for a power nap.
Jim and Bette picked us up at 6 pm for dinner at Stutsey’s Pub Grill, just 200 meters up the road. Very nice meal.
After dinner, we took a drive along Wells Beach, then back to the hotel just after 7 pm.
A good day. Tomorrow is laundry and local shopping for the ladies.
Day 22 — 14th May — Moody Beach
After nearly a week here, today was our last day in Maine. Tomorrow, Boston; Sunday, a flight to St. Louis.
Rayls went off at 10 am with Bette to do laundry.
They returned just after noon, and we all headed out to lunch.
After lunch, Rayls and Bette went shopping.
I stayed back to keep an eye on the cricket T20 semifinal between Australia and Pakistan. Wow — what a great win!
In the evening, we all gathered at Mainax Restaurant for dinner — nice roast beef roll.
For dessert, Dairy Queen’s banana split — definitely the health food of the nation. Yum!
Back in the room by 7 pm.
Packing now — off to Boston tomorrow.
Day 23 — 15th May 2010: Boston
Today we head to Boston for one night, then tomorrow we fly Southwest Airlines down to St. Louis.
We’ve spent the last 19 days with Jim and Bette, traveling all the way from St. Augustine, Florida, up to here in Maine. They have looked after us so well, and we really appreciate all the time and effort they’ve put in. Because of them, we’ve been able to see so much along the way.
This morning, Jim kindly drove us the 65 or so miles to our hotel near Boston’s Logan Airport. Thanks, Jim and Bette — we really appreciate everything you’ve done for us.
Jim went above and beyond during our drive from Moody Beach to Boston — he managed to drive right next to a Wal-Mart truck for about 20 miles. Highlight of the trip!
For new visitors to the website, you might not know that Rayls and I count Wal-Mart trucks as we travel around the country. That truck you see there was the 118th we’ve spotted on this trip. Rayls guessed 193 on day one, and I guessed 232. There’s still plenty of road ahead, so I expect that number will keep climbing.
The drive into Boston was uneventful — except for the Wal-Mart truck — and we arrived at the Hilton Boston Logan Airport just after 11:00 am.
We unloaded our bags from the car and said our goodbyes to Jim and Bette. It’s always hard to express thanks properly — words never seem quite enough. They have been wonderful hosts, and hopefully, we’ll see them again sometime.
I half expected not to be able to check in so early, but the Hilton staff were fantastic and let us head straight to our room (475), where we dumped our bags and planned the afternoon.
Around midday, we caught the hotel shuttle bus to the train station. Bonus: two young ladies flying out kindly gave us their weekly unlimited travel passes, valid until the 18th, absolutely free! That made the day’s exploring even better.
We took the Blue Line train to Government Center, then switched to the Green Line to Park Street Station. The Green Line trains are pretty rattly and creaky — not quite the smooth ride we expected!
It turns out Boston is a very pretty city — lots of trees and gardens. We walked across Boston Common to 84 Beacon Street, the site of the Bull & Finch Pub. This is the pub that inspired the TV show Cheers and was originally chosen from a phone book. When the show producers asked the owner, Tom Kershaw, to shoot initial scenes, he agreed — charging just $1. Since then, Kershaw has made millions licensing the pub’s image and memorabilia. We snapped some photos and Rayls picked up a few souvenirs.
We then strolled along Commonwealth Avenue Mall — a lovely, wide boulevard lined with houses and dotted with statues. It was a beautiful day and a very pleasant walk. We browsed a street flea market but didn’t buy anything. Just off the mall, I got to rest on a bench outside a fire station (Ladder 15).
After a long walk, we made it to Fenway Park. We circled the stadium and enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner at a restaurant underneath. It was great to sit down for a while.
We then took the same rattly T train we’d used after Monday’s game back to Government Center Station. We explored the area around the station before catching the Blue Line to the airport. We couldn’t find anyone to pass the travel passes on to, so we gave them to the Hilton shuttle bus driver, who promised to share the kindness.
It was nice to be back at the hotel — I even managed to con the staff into free internet (normally $15 for 24 hours). Parking here costs $32 a day, but luckily, we don’t have a car.
On the advice of our friend Eileen from St. Louis, we checked in online for tomorrow’s flight and snagged good seats. No need to get to the airport as early as we thought. Plus, the hotel is just an eight-minute walk from the Southwest terminal — another bonus!
Day 24 — 16th May — St. Louis
Up at 6:00 am and at the airport just after 7:15. Check-in and security went smoothly, and our Southwest flight departed right on time at 8:15 am.
It was a three-hour flight to St. Louis, but with the time difference, we landed just after 10:15 am local time. Our friends Eileen and Phil met us and drove us to their home in West Alton, just near the Illinois border.
It’s basically a farm out here — a very pleasant, peaceful environment. We had lots of rain this afternoon. At one point, we just stood at the garage entry watching the downpour. After a long, hot summer back home, it was nice to see so much rain. The downside is that this area is a floodplain, and it’s rained eight days straight. The water is rising, and we saw plenty of flooding on the way in this morning.
There was a family gathering today — a lovely lunch starting around 2 pm that stretched on until about 7 pm, with great food and even better conversation. Eileen and Phil have six grown children; today the two eldest visited — John with his wife Diane and daughter Heather, and Dale with his wife Christy.
Internet is limited here, but I’ll do my best to keep things updated. We’ll be here Monday and Tuesday, then flying out early Wednesday morning at 6:30 am to Phoenix. Who’s idea was that 6:30 am flight!?
Day 25 — 17th May — St. Louis
Day 27 — 19th May — Phoenix
Two weeks from today, we start heading home.
It was an early start — 4:00 am alarm (2:00 am Phoenix time). Rayls, as only she can, had pretty much finished all the packing, so we were soon on our way to the airport.
We’ve spent the last three days with Eileen and Phil and had a wonderful time — saw a lot, rested a bit, and talked incessantly! Thanks again to both of you; hopefully, we’ll see you again soon.
At the airport just after 5:00 am, check-in and security went smoothly. Gate 10 for departure, and no dramas — unlike our son Scott, who once spent six hours stuck at St. Louis airport with a delayed flight!
The flight to Phoenix was bumpy at first. We hit a weather front that had us bouncing around for over an hour, but it soon smoothed out, and we landed right on time, just before 8:00 am (10:00 am St. Louis time). Baggage came through fine, and the transfer to the car rental facility was easy.
The rental process, however, was a bit of a pain. The car was prepaid through jigsawtravel.com, including insurance — but the guy behind the counter was keen to upsell. First, he offered a full-size upgrade for $43 a day, quickly dropping to $13, then $10. I said I’d pay $5 a day; he laughed and said, “If you want to drive to Vegas with no power windows and no cruise control, that’s your call.” Then he pushed “breakdown protection” for $10 a day — meaning if their car breaks down, I’d pay towing fees. I declined, unimpressed.
We chose from about six cars and ended up with a Nissan Versa, which seems nice enough — power windows and cruise control included. It’ll be doing a lot more than just the trip from Phoenix to Vegas. Our dodgy GPS from LA kicked in while we were still undercover at the rental place, leading us out into the wild blue yonder toward Glendale and our hotel. It worked fine for 15 minutes, then sputtered to a halt just when we needed it most. Fifteen minutes later, after some wandering, it kicked back in and has worked fine ever since.
At 9:59 am, we arrived at the Jobing.com Arena Will Call window to pick up tickets for tonight’s show. The line was exactly one person — me — and we were out a minute after opening.
The hotel was too early to check in, so we GPS’ed three quilt shops and found two. Rayls checked out The Quilted Apple and Quiltz — both had chairs for husbands and decent reading material, which I declare a good quilt shop! (A drink would be nice too.)
Back near the hotel around 2:15 pm, we were both starving and thirsty — nothing to eat or drink all day except leftover cinnamon buns on the plane, which Rayls fell asleep on before I could reach. Those Southwest peanuts are pretty stingy! We went to Cracker Barrel for a very late breakfast, late lunch, or early dinner.
Back at the Hampton Inn and Suites by 3 pm — a very nice place, highly recommended by Scott, who stayed here earlier this year and got us a steal on Priceline. It’s walking distance to the concert — a real bonus. Scott’s only complaint was slow internet, but mine is zipping along — maybe they upgraded since.
It had been a long day. We tried for a nap — Rayls managed, but I was soon up writing this masterpiece.
At 6:20 pm, we walked over to the arena. Great seats, and what a fantastic show! One of the best concerts I’ve been to, and the Phoenix crowd was really into it. The show finished around 10:45 pm. We strolled around the arena area for a bit, then back to the hotel. Here I am writing this while Rayls snoozes. She got two hours on the plane, two hours this afternoon, and now is out again. Lucky for some!
Tomorrow, we aim to head for Palm Springs — most of the way to LA along I-10. Scott has us booked into a nice-looking 4-star for $58 via Priceline.
Day 28 — 20th May — Palm Springs
Back to where we started — lovely scenery, back in California.
We began the day in Phoenix, hoping to get to Palm Springs, CA, staying at the Westin Mission Hills Villa. We were out the door around 9:00 am. The hotel was good overall, except for the housekeeping staff yelling at top volume down the corridor starting at 8:00 am — not the most relaxing wake-up call!
Made a quick stop at Wal-Mart and then Denny’s for breakfast. It had been a few weeks since we’d seen either of those places.
Hit the road just before 11 am — I-10 for 410 km. Not the most scenic drive, but those Wal-Mart trucks kept us alert, and we even started noting license plates from each state, just like Jim and Bette do. Kool 94.5 kept the sixties tunes going for a while, but after about an hour we lost the signal and switched to country music. Spotted 21 Wal-Mart trucks today, bringing our total to 140.
We found two quilt shops on the way into Palm Springs and made purchases at both. The first was Monica’s Quilts and Beads Creations. We spent about an hour there, and Rayls had a lovely chat with Pattie, who often checks quilt blogs from down under. Nice shop — and it passed my approval because it had a comfy chair and some interesting magazines. Every quilt shop should have a chair for us blokes to get comfortable while the wives shop! The second was the Quilter’s Faire, which was close to the hotel. Not as nice, but still had a chair.
We arrived at the hotel — actually a villa — the Westin Mission Hills Villa, around 5 pm. As the name suggests, our accommodation is a villa, and it’s very nice — especially for $58 plus $15 for parking. It’s part of a golf course estate. There’s a laundry, kitchen, dining room, lounge with TV, bedroom with TV, and bathroom (no TV there). Pretty classy place. We did laundry just a few days ago, but what the heck — it’s here, so Rayls tossed a load in.
Around 7 pm, we headed to Applebee’s for dinner and then into downtown Palm Springs for the weekly Village Fest. It was about a mile walk (and back) down the main street as we checked out the stalls. Very artsy area, Palm Springs. We were back in the villa by 10:00 pm.
Some interesting street names around here — we’re on Dinah Shore Drive. We also saw Bob Hope Drive and Kirk Douglas Drive. Lots of streets named after palms. On the way from Phoenix, we spotted Sore Finger Road!
Tomorrow we aim to drive into LA, then out of LA, and head part of the way toward San Francisco along the coastal Highway 1. Not sure where we’ll end up — hopefully Santa Barbara or maybe a bit further, depending on quilt shops and LA traffic.
Oh, and the villa has two fireplaces — one in the lounge and one in the bedroom!
Day 29 — 21st May — Lebec, CA
So here we are! Rayls tells me this is Lebec, California. I’m not so sure, but I guess it’s right. How did we end up at least 100 miles from where we thought we’d be? Well, that’s a long story…
The Westin Mission Hills Villa in Palm Springs gave us a good night’s sleep — a nice place. Palm Springs is big on golf — at least 15 courses within 10 miles of the hotel.
We had a reasonably early start today, just after 8 am. Stopped at iHop for brekkie and saw five or six narcotics cops come in. A couple had long hair and beards, suggesting undercover work — until you spotted their T-shirts saying “Narcotics Police” on the back. The guns on their hips were a bit of a giveaway too!
Then it was onto I-10, heading toward Los Angeles. Our plan was to follow I-10 all the way to its end at Santa Monica Pier.
Leaving Palm Springs, you go through San Gorgonio Pass, one of the windiest places in the world. I know because it was a tough drive keeping the car on the road. The Pass is home to 3,500 wind turbines, generating enough electricity to power about 100,000 homes — roughly 250,000 people. Quite a sight, all those windmills.
Rayls had three quilt shops lined up today, all near I-10. First was Busy Bee Quilt Shop in Calimesa — which had a bookshop next door. I actually spent more time in the bookshop than Rayls did in the quilt shop! We both made purchases — three books for me, one free. Next was Ginger’s Quilt Shop in Upland, and then The Fabric Patch in Montclair. Purchases were made at both, and I popped up the road to a Best Buy — my first of the trip.
Back on I-10 just after 1 pm, we drove 60 miles into LA and arrived at Santa Monica Pier around 2:30 pm. We walked the pier — very windy — and checked out a few stores, including Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.
At around 4 pm, we headed north. Our plan was to drive Highway 1 along the coast from LA to San Francisco, with stops along the way. An old family friend, Jim (not to be confused with Jim from Jim and Bette!), once told me you have to do the drive from San Francisco to LA along Highway 1 — with the ocean on the correct side of the road. Yeah, yeah… we thought we knew better.
It quickly became clear as we drove through Malibu that it was going to be a tough drive. Being on the wrong side of the ocean matters — all the ocean-view car parks were on the opposite side of the road. If you stop, you have to cross a very busy road to get to the ocean side.
Then came the problem of where to stay for the night. I texted my lifeline Scott to Priceline a hotel in Santa Barbara, a couple of hours up the coast — no luck. Nothing decent at a good price. After lots of back-and-forth texting, we decided to abandon the coastal drive and head for I-5 to find a place to stay for the night.
We’ll do the coastal drive on a future trip, preplan it, and do it from north to south.
Scott got us a decent Ramada hotel in Lebec, about 80 miles north of LA on I-5. There really isn’t much here besides the hotel, three service stations, and three food outlets — including a Denny’s. Dinner was at Denny’s, naturally!
Tomorrow we plan to get across to the 101 and head up to San Jose — around 300 miles. We’ll save the coastal towns for our planned future north-to-south trip.
Oh, one last thing I forgot to mention yesterday — when checking into the Westin Mission Hills Villa in Palm Springs, I had an Aussie moment! The lady said our villa was on the “first floor.” You’d think after six visits to the USA I’d know what that means, but no. I spent several moments trying to figure out how to get to our upstairs villa before I remembered that “first floor” means “ground floor” in the USA. Sigh!
I have some photos to add for yesterday and today’s story, but I’m too tired now — maybe tomorrow.
Day 30 — 22nd May — San Jose
I thought today was a pretty good day. Probably drove a bit far — just over 500 km — but we got to where we wanted and now have a nice $58 Hilton Hotel just outside San Jose as our reward.
We started out in that place we ended up in last night (Lebec). Around 8:30 am, we headed north on I-5 for about 100 km before turning left onto Highway 46 at Lost Hills. The scenery was rugged and quite pretty. Sixty km along 46, we reached the intersection with Highway 41 — a famous spot! It was here in 1955 that James Dean crashed his Porsche Spyder and was killed. More on that below.
I know some folks might think the places Rayls and I visit are a bit strange. To reinforce that thought: James Dean is just a bit before my time, I’ve never seen any of his movies, and I know very little about him — yet I still wanted to see the crash site. Who cares what others think!
We stopped at the intersection and then drove about a kilometre up the road to visit the memorial outside the Jack Ranch Cafe. We had breakfast there and enjoyed looking at the memorabilia in this old-time cafe. It really oozes James Dean, and it was a great stop.
The weirdest thing happened just as we arrived — a couple on a Harley Davidson rolled in for breakfast. Probably in their 30s, dressed in leather. After ordering, the woman looked around and then said to her partner, “I wonder why there’s so much James Dean stuff here.” The guy, who’d parked just 10 metres from the memorial, said he wasn’t sure but thought Dean was killed when he wrapped his car around a lamp post just outside Palm Springs. Idiot. Palm Springs is nearly 400 miles away, and the accident, which did not involve a lamp post, was just half a mile from here.
We were back on Highway 46 by 11 am and took the short drive to the 101, then turned north toward San Jose. I’d done my homework and yes, I do know how to get to San Jose!
Once again, a very scenic drive — mountains nearby, farms producing all sorts of things, and lots of vineyards. Traffic was light, making for a pleasant trip.
We arrived around 2 pm and checked out three quilt spots: Quilters Nest (okay), then the San Jose Museum of Quilts and Textiles, which was a disappointment — $8 to get in, and Rayls was done in less than half an hour. Finally, Beverly’s Fabrics and Crafts, where Rayls lingered for quite a while and made numerous purchases.
We had a look downtown. I believe the Sharks are playing tomorrow night, trying to avoid a sweep. It was very quiet in town, but we enjoyed wandering around.
Then it was on to the hotel Scott booked for us in Santa Clara — right next to the Yahoo headquarters. I even spotted the eBay/PayPal head office. No big deal, I know.
There’s an iHop nearby, so we had dinner there.
Tomorrow we head on to Sacramento. We’ve been to San Francisco twice before and just want to walk the Golden Gate Bridge again. Then on to Muir Woods National Monument to check out the redwoods.
Bonus at bedtime: channel surfing found AFL footy on ESPN2 — Hawthorn vs Carlton. Good to hear Dennis Cometti’s voice again.
The plan (which has already changed and may again) is to head for Lake Tahoe on Monday. Sadly, the direct roads from Tahoe to Yosemite, which were scheduled to open in late May, are still closed. That means a long detour to Yosemite if we want to visit — we’ve been there before, and it’s very beautiful.
Then comes the decision about how to get to Cedar City, Utah, to visit Amy and Steve — either a long driving day or a stop along the way. I suspect from experience we’ll do the long drive and arrive late Wednesday.
James Dean
James Dean had major roles in only three movies:
East of Eden (1955), playing Caleb, the “bad” brother who couldn’t win his stiff-necked father’s affection.
Rebel Without a Cause (1955), his true starring role as the brooding red-jacketed teenager Jim Stark, which cemented his image in American culture.
Giant (1956), where he played Jett Rink, a non-conforming cowhand who strikes it rich discovering oil.
Filming Giant was just wrapping up when Dean, driving his Porsche Spyder race car, collided with another car near Cholame, California on September 30, 1955. He’d received a speeding ticket just two hours earlier. Dean died almost immediately from a broken neck. He was 24.
His brief career, violent death, and highly publicized funeral transformed him into a cult icon of apparently timeless fascination.
Day 31 — 23rd May — Sacramento
Today we drove through San Francisco and onward to Sacramento, with two major stops along the way. It was a really good day.
My love for San Francisco dates back to 1967, when I first heard Scott McKenzie sing San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair). That song had a huge influence on me, and to this day it remains one of my favourites. It was a great thrill to meet Scott when he performed in Perth in 1994, and Rayls and I are now proud to call him a friend. I’ve been honoured to create and maintain the Scott McKenzie website since 1996.
All that background is relevant because today, as Rayls and I drove through San Francisco on our way from San Jose to Sacramento — a drive of just over 200 km — we stopped to walk the famous Golden Gate Bridge again. We’d been here twice before and seen all we wanted, so the bridge walk was the main goal.
We got up fairly early and were on the road shortly after 8 am, arriving at the Golden Gate car park around 9 am. There are only 81 metered bays on the San Francisco side, and I was determined to get one. No problems — half the car park was free, so we grabbed quarters, paid for our two hours, and set off.
I walked this route in 2003 and didn’t remember any issues with heights — but this time I struggled. When we reached the first pier, I clung to it for dear life, but eventually we made it the full 1.7 miles across — and back again. It was a great walk on a lovely day, and I was sweating by the end.
The views from the bridge are incredible — such a beautiful location. Glad we did it.
Leaving the Golden Gate car park, now with a long line of cars waiting, was surprisingly easy. We crossed the bridge north toward Muir Woods National Monument.
I’d loaded the GPS coordinates from the National Park Service website, so I figured we couldn’t go wrong.
Around 10 miles north of the bridge, we followed signs to Muir Woods and were confident… until we weren’t.
The GPS wanted us to turn up a narrow lane just as we were about to arrive—no way! We kept going up Highway 1, the road I had ditched just after LA a few days ago. It’s narrow, with tight bends, strange intersections, and cyclists—tough driving.
We ended up on top of a hill with magnificent views of the Pacific Ocean and back toward San Francisco. Worth the detour, but still no sign of Muir Woods.
We got caught up in a community event where we asked for directions. Following those, we turned back down the hill and this time took the narrow lane the GPS had warned us about. It only went a few hundred metres before the GPS wanted us to head off-road—and down a cliff. No chance.
Back to Highway 1 we went, and at a weird intersection spotted Muir Woods Road. Down that we went, finding the car park full, with roadside parking for miles. Luckily, I squeezed into a small bay—thank goodness we didn’t have that upgraded car from Phoenix!
We walked along a lovely track by a stream. The redwoods are impressive trees, and we had a lovely couple of hours.
After our second walk of the day, we headed for Sacramento. Scott had us booked into a Hilton for $49—the same hotel he and I stayed at last year. Nice room.
We checked out some stores in Sacramento—Fry’s Electronics, Old Navy, and Barnes & Noble—but no quilt shops today!
A really good day overall. Tomorrow it’s on to Lake Tahoe, just a couple of hours away. Not sure about Tuesday; maybe we’ll just hang around Tahoe. Wednesday we head to Cedar City, Utah—no Yosemite on this trip. We’ll take the most direct route to Cedar City, 540 miles straight across Nevada on Highway 50. Scott and I did it back in 2001—we drove through the night that time; this time it’ll be daylight.
Day 34 — 26th May — Cedar City
Today was a real marathon—537 miles from our hotel in Lake Tahoe, across the entire state of Nevada, to Cedar City, Utah. That’s 9 hours and 35 minutes behind the wheel!
We stopped only once for breakfast in Carson City, then pushed through without any more breaks except for refueling when we finally reached Cedar City. Phew!
The 25 miles between Tahoe and Carson City showed just a hint of snowdrops.
Fuel was a bit of a challenge—we had to try three different gas stations in Carson City before finally getting some petrol. Those zip codes can be tricky!
Surprisingly, the drive across Nevada was greener than I expected, with some very scenic snow-capped mountains. Not exactly a fun drive, but it was okay.
We lost an hour crossing time zones and arrived in Cedar City at 5:25 p.m. It’s great to be with Amy and Steve again.
Day 35 — 27th May — Cedar City
After yesterday’s long haul and the altitude struggles, today was pretty low-key.
A bit of shopping, some TV (Iron Man), and lots of talking.
Tomorrow we’re off to St George.
Just winding down now. A week from today we’ll be home. As much as we enjoy the USA, we’re ready for our own bed, and to see Ryan, Scott, and of course Hunter.
Day 36 — 28th May — Cedar City
Another quiet day. After such a long trip, it’s nice to relax before heading home on Wednesday.
Rayls and Amy took off just after 9 a.m. for St. George—a 45-minute drive away, and a nice one at that!
Steve and I headed to St. George a little later, hit three stores, then met up with the girls for lunch at Cracker Barrel.
After lunch, Steve and I returned to Cedar City, while the girls kept shopping until 5 p.m. They visited the Quilted Apple, Ben Franklin, Quilted Works, Michaels, Jo-Ann’s, Roberts, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Coldwater Creek, and Barnes & Noble—picking up fabric, beads, and charms.
We grabbed Applebee’s Car-to-Go for dinner and watched In Good Company before bed.
Not sure what tomorrow holds—Rayls and Amy are having a craft day, and Steve is working. Sigh!
Day 37 — 29th May — Cedar City
There’s no doubt the people of Cedar City are prepared!
Cedar City is around 400 miles (640 km) from the coast at Los Angeles, yet the locals have a lighthouse—ready for when that major earthquake finally sends California into the ocean!
Today Rayls and I checked out the lighthouse at the Providence Center Shopping Mall. It actually lights up at night, though there aren’t many ships passing by. Interstate 5 is just a few hundred metres away, and they say about 5 million vehicles pass each year.
It was another quiet day—Rayls and Amy made bird nests while I pottered around on the computer.
We also did a bit of shopping before lunch (Christensens and Bealls) and grabbed lunch at Arby’s.
Dinner was a very pleasant salmon meal, followed by watching It Came from the Sky in the evening.
Day 38 — 30th May — Cedar City
We really enjoy our time in Cedar City, but sadly, this is our last day on this trip. As much as we love exploring the country, it’s equally nice to relax and catch up with friends Amy, Steve, and their son Daniel.
Amy made pancakes for breakfast—yum!
Rayls started packing while I butted in, leading to some debate on how best to fit everything. The end result: four bags, all just under (or very close to) the 50-pound (23 kg) airline limit.
In the afternoon, we went to the movies with Amy and Steve to see Iron Man 2.
Steve grilled burgers and brats for dinner, paired with Amy’s salad—a perfect meal.
We finished the night with a movie (Cold Mountain). It’s so pleasant watching movies as the sun sets with the view over Cedar City from the lounge.
After the movie, we said our goodbyes to Steve, who leaves early tomorrow.
Tomorrow we head back to Las Vegas for our last two nights before flying home Wednesday night.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the last Monday of May (May 31 in 2010). Formerly known as Decoration Day, it commemorates U.S. soldiers who died while in military service. Originally enacted to honor Union soldiers of the American Civil War (celebrated near the day of reunification), it was later expanded after World War I.
Day 39 — 31st May — Las Vegas
Blast! I filled up the car somewhere on Highway 50 last Thursday (I think) and thought I had timed it perfectly so the car would be nearly empty when I return it to Dollar on Wednesday. Today, driving to Las Vegas with a quick stop in St. George, the fuel light came on. Seems like the second half of a tank disappears faster than the first. So I’ll probably put $10 in the car before we return it. Dollar rents you the car full and wants it back empty—seems a bit of a rip-off to me, so I’m stubbornly trying to get it as close to empty as possible.
Poor Amy worries we might get bored after all the fun and excitement with friends in other parts of the USA. Nothing could be further from the truth. It’s been great just relaxing, chatting, and catching up on movies.
We left at 10 a.m. this morning, and it’s about an hour of scenic driving to St. George. We stopped at Roberts, a sports store (firearms, anyone?), Wal-Mart, and Subway, then headed on. It’s 200 kilometres from St. George to Las Vegas along I-15. Just a few miles out of St. G, you enter Arizona and head through the Rockies with an impressive downhill drop and mountains all around. After about 45 kilometres, you cross into Nevada and back down to sea level. Normal breathing at last!
The last 150 kilometres aren’t much to write home about until you spot Vegas about 30 kilometres out. Traffic was light all the way to the hotel, and here we are for the last two nights—back at the Bellagio and watching the fountain show again.
After a couple of hours’ rest, we headed out down the Strip. I added that $10 of fuel and ended up at an outlet mall, where I snagged a bargain on a couple of pairs of shorts. Around 6 p.m., we had dinner at IHOP—not the best choice, pretty bad meal.
Back at the hotel by 7:30 p.m., we watched some fountain shows, then headed out again at 9 p.m.
We checked out the incredible flowers and water features in the hotel lobby before stepping outside for a fountain show from ground level. Then it was across the street to Miracle Mile Mall for some window shopping, followed by more walking down the Strip—almost to MGM, then back.
As I’ve mentioned before, Las Vegas is tough for walkers—narrow pavements, stairs to cross where there are no sidewalks, not very disabled-friendly. I definitely struggled tonight.
We made it back to the hotel in time for the 11:15 p.m. fountain show, then headed upstairs to our 12th-floor room to watch the last three shows. The midnight and final fountain show is always to the national anthem. Being Memorial Day weekend, they played Lee Greenwood’s I’m Proud to Be an American several times today.
Okay day, but we do miss Cedar City. Looking forward to heading back soon. Tomorrow is our last full day in the USA on this trip.
Day 40 — 1st June — Las Vegas
Today’s our last full day in the USA on this trip. We had a great time but are definitely ready to go home—our own bed, shower, and dog. Went to a pet shop today and saw some adorable puppies—Jack Russells like Hunter and Dachshunds like our previous dog Jesse. Lucky our bags are full, or a puppy might have been smuggled in! Will be nice to see Ryan and Scott too.
At 10 a.m., we headed to one of the many 50% off show booking kiosks along the Strip. Got in line, but nothing really grabbed us. We were leaning toward Human Nature, an Aussie band playing at the Imperial, but they weren’t on the discount list. So after 20 minutes, we thought we’d walk over to the Imperial to try the box office.
Asked a security guard where the box office was, and he pointed us just “over there.” When the clerk told us Human Nature had finished their week-long run last night (on vacation—typical Aussies!), we spotted a discount kiosk right outside the Imperial—no line!
The clerk handed us a list, and we picked Donny and Marie at the Flamingo, just across the road. It’s an expensive show but with great discounts, so we grabbed tickets. Maybe all that time in Utah softened us up! I remember the Osmonds from the Sixties on the Andy Williams Show, so I’m fine with seeing them now. Reviews are excellent.
Walked back to the hotel, grabbed the car, and headed out for a very late breakfast—more like lunch. We drove to Henderson to check out some shops but couldn’t buy much—no room in the bags, not even for puppies!
It was 92°F here today—pretty warm.
Thanks to Jim for his comment—having great times with friends was the highlight of the trip. Driving next to Walmart trucks was fun but not the highlight, Jim knows that! The many things we saw and the time with Jim and Bette were terrific. I’ll pass on your best wishes to Hunter.
Watching one of our last fountain shows—a popular one set to Lee Greenwood’s I’m Proud to Be an American, a great patriotic tune. Sort of like I Am Australian by The Seekers.
Later, the Donny and Marie show was pretty good—lots of fun and memories. They’re in their early 50s now but still looking good.
After the show, back at the hotel by about 10 p.m., we checked our bags’ weight—a ritual since we’ve been with Amy in Utah. Three bags are set, each close to 49 pounds. The smallest bag felt heavier, but maybe the scales lie?
We took the bags downstairs through the casino and stored them in the car for now. Then we went for a light dinner at Applebee’s since we hadn’t eaten yet. Afterwards, we drove through downtown Fremont Street before heading back down the Strip to the hotel.
Back in time for the last two fountain shows.
Tomorrow is a slow morning—only about half an hour of packing left. Amy is coming down from Utah to meet us around lunchtime. She’s staying the night in Vegas before flying to Boston on Thursday to visit her daughter.
Day 41 — 2nd June — Heading Home
Today we start the long trip home.
We’ll check out of the hotel around noon and have lunch with Amy before heading to Las Vegas Airport around 4 p.m. (that’s 7 a.m. Thursday Perth time). Amy’s coming down from Cedar City and flying on to Boston tomorrow to see her daughter, Katie.
It’s an hour flight to L.A., where we have just over three hours before our Qantas Flight 12 departs at 10:40 p.m. to Sydney.
We should be home in Perth around noon on Friday.
Day 42 — 3rd June — Heading Home
We left L.A. just after 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday, 2nd June, and arrived in Sydney on Friday, 4th June.
There was no 3rd June for us.
Day 43 — 4th June — Home!
I’m sitting on our Sydney-to-Perth flight—about 45 minutes out of Sydney, so roughly four hours from Perth. It’ll be nice when airlines put internet access on planes—some do already (Southwest Airlines is close).
Our last day in Vegas started quietly but got hectic by the end.
We checked out of the hotel at midday and headed to Henderson to meet Amy for lunch at Mimi’s Cafe. Amy flies to Boston tomorrow to see her daughter Katie.
Around 3 p.m., Amy went shopping while we headed to the airport. This turned out to be a lucky move, despite some stressful moments.
We decided I’d drop Rayls at the Vegas terminal to wait with the four bags while I returned the rental car—a method we’d used back in 2008 and found to be the best option. The other options were parking the car in short-term parking to check bags, returning the car, and then taking the shuttle back—or returning the car first and hauling bags on the shuttle. Since our bags are heavy, we preferred to avoid moving them on and off shuttles.
However, I wasn’t sure which terminal to return the car to and initially headed for long-term parking—bad call! After some lane changes, I made it to short-term parking, so we ended up going for the second option: parking, checking in, then returning the car.
At the Southwest check-in counter, I casually mentioned we’d be happy to take an earlier flight. The clerk then told us our flight was delayed and that we had less than 90 minutes in L.A. before our Sydney check-in closed. After a long wait, he found us seats on a 5:25 a.m. flight—major bonus! Bags went straight through, and we drove back to the car rental to return the car. Luckily, the fuel light had been on for the last 20 miles, so we got the most of that extra $10 of fuel I’d put in.
We did 2,112 miles in the car in two weeks—from Phoenix to Palm Springs, through L.A. up to San Francisco, across to Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, then the long drive to Cedar City, and finally Las Vegas. The car was in dire need of a clean… and some fuel.
Rayls won our Wal-Mart truck count at 167 sightings. It slowed right down in the last week. We did see an Alaska plate on the last day but didn’t keep up much with state plates after Phoenix.
No issues with the shuttle bus—just the two small cabin bags. We had an hour wait at Vegas airport, then an uneventful 41-minute flight to L.A. (shorter than many bus rides!).
The walk from LAX Terminal 4 to Tom Bradley International Terminal was about 500 metres. We used a $4 trolley for our bags instead of the free shuttle—just easier.
Qantas check-in took 15 minutes, and we managed a window seat on the Sydney flight. Nice to be free of the bags for a while.
Security took about 30 minutes—no drama. Then to gate 123, where the first Aussie accents we’ve heard in weeks greeted us. Do we sound that bad? We’ll get used to it soon enough.
Boarding was easy; seats 80J and 80K. Flight left on time but took about 20 minutes to take off.
What can you say about a 14+ hour flight? You do what you can. The entertainment system had hundreds of movies and TV shows. I watched Invictus, Extreme Measures, and some documentaries.
It was dark the whole way across the Pacific—from 10:30 p.m. Wednesday in L.A. to 6:10 a.m. Friday in Sydney.
Our son Scott warned the Sydney transfer would be “10 times worse than bad,” so we were prepared. Unloading passengers off an A380 takes time—about 20 minutes, eating into our two-hour transfer.
I had to do duty free for Ryan and Scott—10 minutes. Then collect our bags—another 10 minutes. We stacked them onto a free trolley and faced Immigration.
We used the new electronic passport system. No line, just scan your passport and stand in front of a camera. If recognized, you go straight through; if not, you see an officer. I had to see an officer (beard, I guess), but it was quick.
A customs officer checked our entry cards and sent us through a side exit. Done in five minutes.
Regular readers will remember the guy who sat next to Rayls on the first Perth–Sydney flight back in April. He was a terrified first-time flyer, and Rayls talked him through it. The Qantas head flight attendant was so impressed she gave Rayls a $50 duty-free voucher for international flying. Rayls used it tonight on the L.A.–Sydney flight to buy a necklace for just $10 after a $60 discount—well done!
Back to Sydney Airport, now for the dreaded transfer to our domestic flight to Perth. The free trolley I was using had a jammed front brake, so I had to push hard. We found a second trolley, moved bags over, but it was still tough.
After a 5-minute walk, we reached a closed-in, windowless, hot area to line up. Every so often they called people for flights leaving soon. After 20 minutes, our flight was called, and we were checked through to Perth.
Thank goodness for that. We have two sons to help with bags in Perth; hopefully, each brings their own car!
The shuttle bus to the domestic terminal took 15 minutes and was packed—no fun, especially for tired, smelly passengers.
At the domestic terminal, we stopped for Krispy Kreme donuts (never saw them in the USA!) before heading to gate 10.
Fifteen minutes later we boarded. Just before pushback, there was a delay because a passenger got bad news and had to be deplaned with their luggage.
There were many empty seats, but the flight was disrupted by five young men (early 20s) in black T-shirts who walked around swearing and drinking too much. No idea why Qantas kept giving them alcohol. I could say “Welcome back to Australia,” but they were American!
Just as I was writing this, a movie started—The Ghost Writer. A good movie, but hard to stay awake.
The flight map shows we crossed the coast at Esperance and are just 41 minutes from Perth. No internet on this flight, so I’ll save, shut down, and get ready to land. I’ll upload this as soon as I get home.
We’re both looking forward to seeing our boys and Hunter.
Home
Now I’m sitting in my lounge chair. We’re home!
Ryan and Scott met us at the airport with two cars—phew!
Our plane landed at 11:14 a.m. It was about 27 hours from boarding in Vegas to landing in Perth.
Nice to see the boys, and Hunter gave us a big greeting.
We spent a few hours unpacking the bags.
The boys have now headed off, and Hunter’s looking for his dinner.
Yep, we’re home.
Thanks for reading.
Gaz
