Hitchin’ A Ride

During yesterday's drive, we started to notice a knocking sound coming from the direction of the engine. Engine knocking sounds are generally not a good thing to hear, and we were quite worried something was seriously wrong with the engine. We called AAA, who sent a tow truck to take us to the nearest mechanic.

Luckily for us, it turned out to be an engine strut that had come loose - no danger or damage caused, and the total bill for repairs a mere $50. we were very relieved!

They Said We'd Never Make It

We finally made it to North Dakota! State number 28!

Driving To North Dakota

In our efforts to ensure we pass through all 48 contiguous states, we travelled along this dirt road for a couple of hours until we crossed the border into North Dakota...

Close Encounters

On the way to North Dakota, we drove past Devils Tower - as featured in the movie Close Encounters Of The Third Kind. It is an impressive outcropping of rock; the only object of any height in the area, surrounded by flat fields.

Legend says the marks on the sides of the rock were made by a bear that was chasing after some young Indian girls. The girls had climbed up onto a rock to escape, and as the bear came nearer the rock rose up into the air, forming the tall peak seen today. The bear scrambled to climb the sides, gouging the rock with its claws. However the rock became too tall for it to climb, and the girls escaped.

Bear Park USA

Just a short drive from Mount Rushmore we stopped in to visit a Bear Park for some photo opportunities. It was excellent - we drove around in our car and saw plenty of different animals, including elk, long horned sheep, deer and bear. The best part though was when we got out of the car and walked to the baby animals section, where we saw some black bear cubs playing.

They were amazing to watch - they were like little puppies with lots of energy, plus they could climb trees, which made for excellent viewing. We watched them for about half an hour before heading back to the motel.

Mount Rushmore

This stop was one that all of us were really looking forward to. Although we had seen Mount Rushmore in pictures and on television numerous times, nothing prepared us for actually seeing it in person. It was a very awe inspiring place. We spent a good few hours walking around and looking at the monument, with just a bit of rain to slow us down a little. The rain made it look like the presidents were all crying :P

Lost Springs

The appropriately named town had it's population quadrupled when we drove through it...

Pike's Peak

Pike's Peak in Colorado Springs. Famous for being the place that inspired America The Beautiful to be written and more importantly, for it's annual rally car race (according to Andy that is).

We drove all the way to the top of the mountain - 14,110 feet above sea level. Near the top, the clouds closed in and we could barely see where we were going - not a nice thing when there are thousand feet drops on either side of the road and no guard rail! By the time we reached the top, it was snowing and we had to wait out the storm� the air was very thin, and we found it a little hard to breathe.

On the way down, we spotted what might be the last living Big Foot - which looked strangely like someone we know...

Hot Dogs And Milkshakes

A little roadside store where we stopped for lunch on the way to Colorado Springs. The hot dogs were ok, however the milkshakes were awesome!

The War Between The States

Wrestling at Four Corners - where the states of Arizona, New Mexico, Utah & Colorado meet.

Travelling Through The Arizona Desert

Arizona is one of our favourite states of the trip so far - full of amazing rock formations and brilliant blue skies. If you look closely at the first shot, you'll see Andy in the left hand corner...

Let It Snow

Would you believe this shot was taken less than 5 miles from the Northern Rim of the Grand Canyon? We didn't expect to see snow on our trip - let alone near the Canyon!

Turns out it had been snowing as recently as two weeks earlier, and the camping ground had only just been opened 10 days before we got there.

Hangin' Out At The Grand Canyon

Liz climbs to the highest point of the Canyon; Andy quickly regrets the comments he made to her...

It's A Story...

;

Riding the mules into the Grand Canyon (just like on the Brady Bunch) was excellent!

We had originally booked an all day ride, however because of rock slides in the Canyon we had to take a half day ride instead.

This worked out for the best as Andy had not been feeling very well (he had been feeling ill since before Vegas), and would not have lasted on a mule all day. Andy didn't enjoy the ride down at all (probably something to do with his mule having a tendency to walk very close to the edge and completely ignore any directions Andy gave him). As you can see however, he really started to get into the swing of things on the way back up.

Also, if you get the chance, be sure to ask Andy why he named his mule Bastard Donkey Farty Pants... (although I am sure you can probably figure it out - yes... it really IS what you are thinking!)

Vegas Baby Yeah!

We finally arrived in Vegas after a big day of driving. It was pretty late by the time we got there, not that it mattered of course, as Vegas is open 24 hours.

Before heading to bed, we caught the "Girls Of Magic" show, and wandered amongst many of the casinos along the strip.

Next morning we had an awesome swim in the hotel pool, played a few hands of blackjack (first time for Andy), saw the lions at MGM, and fired an old WWII machine gun. Yep, a pretty typical day in Vegas!

On The Road To Vegas

 
Andy takes a rest on the freeway; Liz & Andy catch some afternoon sun...

Aeroplane Graveyard

Mojave Desert, where aircraft go to die...

Last Day In LA

Sunday morning we visited an exhibition at the Natural History Museum called Collapse. It is a new exhibition created by Liz's cousin Vanda, who is a director at the museum. On the way out of LA, we stopped for a photo opportunity at the Hollywood sign, before heading towards Vegas...

Trouble At The Border

At the USA / Mexico border, Mark amazed Liz and myself with his uncanny ability to fit the car into tight places... and then proceeded to direct traffic... and abuse random Mexicans...

(posted by Andy)

Andy Finds A New Friend in Tijuana

As you can see, she was really REALLY happy to pose for this photo ;)

I'll Be Back

Mark finally loses it over comments on his orange shirt...

We're On A Mexican Radio

Saturday we all were up by 5am to drive down to Tijuana, Mexico. Being the excellent tour organisers we are, Liz and I even managed to have an Army & Marines open day set up on Oceanside beach for Andy, on the way down.

Andy Arrives

(yes I know he is about to leave - that's how far behind we are...!)

Andy's first day was action packed. After landing at the airport, we rushed over to Universal Studios to see Star Wars Episode III, stopping on the way to photograph a giant doughnut and a stretch hummer.

After the film, we headed into downtown LA to Hollywood Boulevard, a brief view of the Hollywood sign, Hollywood Boulevard and Manns Chinese Theatre. We returned to our motel in Pasadena for a quick swim before falling asleep exhausted - a big day!

Universal Studios in LA

The day after arriving in LA, Liz and I spent most of the afternoon at Universal Studios. The studio tour was excellent, although the Jaws attack was closed unfortunately. Along the way we saw a few of our favourite characters, including Spiderman...

Gettin' More Kicks

On our journey to Los Angeles, we rejoined Route 66, where we saw the site of the original McDonald's (now a museum), the Wigwam Motel, and the Bono's Historic Giant Orange. It was truly a fun filled day of sightseeing! Our only regret is that we were unable to stay at the newly renovated Wigwam Motel.

Dougaldonkey is back!

Hi everyone.

Just a short note to let you all know we will start posting to the blog again soon.

Thanks to everyone who was concerned about us. Contrary to popular belief, we were not kidnapped by aliens & replaced by evil clones. Nor did our new Aussie passenger cause any trouble (well, maybe just a little trouble). No, nothing exciting like that - we have only just got internet access again...

More posts to follow.
--
Sent from my Treo, 28/5/05 11:58am

Put 'em up!

  

In the Saguaro National Park, Tucson, Arizona, we ran into some prickly creatures. The Saguaro Cactus is only found in the Sonora Desert of the southwestern United States, and boy, oh boy, did we find a lot of them.

Gunfight At The O.K. Corral

A re-enactment of the famous gunfight on October 26 1881, between the Earps and the Clantons in Tombstone, Arizona

Roadside Intrigue...

You will just have to travel along I-10 in Arizona to find out...

Take Me To Your Leader

Time to go...

Liz prepares to leave Earth with her new friend Glugfrradjkkly :)

Mark decided to stow away too (he was hoping he wouldn't be noticed)...

Visiting The UFO Museum and Research Centre

This was a pretty interesting museum, documenting all the evidence surrounding the events in Roswell in July 1947.

The Truth Is Out There... Somewhere...

Roswell, New Mexico. The first aliens we spotted upon arrival... ;)