Morning smiles

I have decided that every day has a little gem in it no matter how mundane the day’s activities may seem.  For example, this morning I took the Explorer in for its service.  Nothing fancy in that right?  But along the 40 minute drive to the service centre, I was blessed with numerous little ‘moments’ that brought a smile to my face.

My first gem was probably the worst bed head hair you’ve ever seen.  But not just any early morning bed head.  No this one was perched atop Barbie Grandma who was out in her silk dressing gown and pink fluffy slippers taking pookie for a pee.  What was amusing about this was simply the fact that she was walking along the green patch on the edge of the footpath in a quite upmarket area of the city centre but on a very busy road.  Only in America for that one.

Thinking that my fashion moment had been and gone for the day, I was most happily surprised to then get another one – this time a cyclist caused the corners of my mouth to rise again.  Not your average Lycra wearing click-clacker.  Nope this fella decided that he would start his day wearing his full body leopard print Lycra suit along with some Elton John glamour specs.  I almost run up the gutter with that one.

Then it was the floral armchair perched on a traffic island that made me smile and wish for my camera.  Now that one mightn’t seem odd, but put it this way - the freeways here are 6 lanes wide each way; that is, 12 lanes across.  These lanes are all occupied, generally 24/7, by big 4X4 trucks all driving easily 120 to 140kms an hour and if you are lucky, the drivers might be busy texting, talking on mobiles,  eating or even drunk.  So to see a lovely old floral armchair/recliner sitting smack bang in the middle of this driving nightmare is not only a true mastery of engineering but also an irony to look at – a recliner for chilling out in, sitting happily in amongst the speed and stress of Houston traffic.

My final gem, all before 8am, was the ubber friendly coffee man.  I just love the “yes maam”, “there you go, darlin” and “yall have a great day now” that you get here.  I think I even got a blessing with my coffee.

So…I wonder what the rest of the day will bring!!!

Home time

I guess by definition, a holiday must end.  And so our 5 week road trip finally reached its conclusion with a glorious sunset as we pulled into our driveway.  What an amazing journey and if anything I have learned, it is that the USA is a stunningly beautiful and diverse country.  It certainly has its quirks (and possibly more so than any other country) and we have been entertained by some pretty odd folk and things.  But I really didn't want to stop and get out of the car, and could easily have turned left rather than right and kept on going!

Garden of the Gods

Garden of the Gods 

Plains Bison

The last run of our trip took us through southern Colorado through to Colorado Springs, Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Oklahoma.  We tried to stick to the back country roads as much as possible and that enabled us to visit some pretty special sites such as the Garden of the Gods, Sand Creek Massacre National site, Wilson's Creek Battlefield, and Pea Ridge Battlefield.  We also visited Fort Scott, and the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Reserve where we were able to spend some time with some Plains Bison, Prairie Dogs, Elk etc.  I have managed to visit places that were home to names we grew up with such as Wild Bill Hickok, Bill Cody, The Dalton Boys, Calamity Jane, the James Brothers, Black Kettle, Geronimo, Sitting Bull, and I have also belted out all the 'tunes' where appropriate.

Steamboat Springs

Kansas Sunset

Pea Ridge Battlefield

We've gone through desert to the Grand Canyon, onto coastal ranges and beaches, to vineyards and castles, the Great Salt Lake, the wonderful Rocky Mountains, across the prairies of the central plains, and along the rivers of the Missouri and Mississippi.


And we have barely even touched the surface of what there is to explore here!

Along the way, various folk we've spent some time with, usually in a bar here or there, have asked 'what has been my favourite spot' so far.  I truly couldn't answer - its all been wonderful and a learning experience.  I guess Colorado certainly took my heart but I was also really surprised by Missouri and its beautiful rolling hills and river systems.  I have been struck though by the extremes, not only in the weather (-28 in Colorado to 25 in Houston!) but also by the economy of each place.  Some towns we have been through are extremely poor with shops and houses boarded up and looking like ghost towns.  Others have clearly been prosperous at some point in their history, and some are doing well today.  But it made me realise how fortunate we truly are in Australia.  Sure we have our issues and we could all have a go about something, but when placed beside some of the lives and places we have seen here, I don't think we have much to whine about!

Next journey.......

A week in the Boat

This road trip has taken us through some amazing country and its been hard to choose my favourite....however, I can honestly say I have fallen in love with Colorado.  What amazingly beautiful vistas and the people have been incredibly friendly and welcoming.  We have just finished up a week of hard skiing in Steamboat Springs - the Boat, as its locally callled.  Steamboat is probably one of the most remote ski areas in the Rockies.  Its famous for its 'champagne snow'.  But what I liked about the community is that it is an old mountain and cattle town that just happens to have a great ski mountain along side rather than a holiday village that is a ski resort.  So it has a wonderful mix of old timers, cattle and horse folk and international visitors.  Its also a serious olympic ski training area for the US team.  So its not all good time partying.

The skiing was brilliant.  A fabulous variety of slopes to explore and be challenged by.  We did a full six days of skiing so its safe to say my body is objecting loudly to the battering I gave it.  But it has held together for me like a trooper even if its now collecting on the commitment!  Such is life!!

From Steamboat through Colorado backcountry to Colorado Springs and then onto Kansas tomorrow.  Definitely would like to come back to Colorado - have seen Elk, Mule Deer, Bison, Colorado Foxes, Eagles and all the usual squirrels.  Beautiful part of the country......

The Colorado River

The
Temple, Salt Lake City

Sunrise, Salt Lake City

North Window

I have been truly blessed in my life to have seen some beautiful things.  Today….will rank among the top of the list.  Driving through Nevada and Utah, and particularly trailing along the edges of the Colorado River, has been amazing. There is no greater artist than Mother Nature.  In all things, the artwork in Southern Utah is beyond perfection!   Try as I might, I don’t think my photos will do her justice.  Today we left our brief bed rest in Salt Lake City, which is a really pretty city I might add, and made our way down through canyon country, the Arches National Park, and along the Colorado River.  I can’t find sufficient adjectives in my vocabulary to impart how truly beautiful Southern Utah is.  Sitting comfortably beside the Grand Canyon, today’s trip ranks as one of the most beautiful landscapes I think I have ever seen.  Magnificent colours and rock formations, messa and cliffs, mountain ranges like nothing I have seen before, and the beautiful, yet sadly shackled, Colorado River combine to leave the observer speechless.  This part of the USA is beyond WOW.

North and South Windows

Balancing Rock

Park Avenue, The Arches National Park

Pondering Life

Turret Window

Ice crystals, Utah

Cisco ghost town, Utah

California Dreaming

Crossing the Colorado River at Needles, the introduction to California is by way of the Mojave Desert and rocky mountain range after range.  Some would argue that this country is nothing more than hell on earth, but I found it absolutely beautiful.  The rock formations, the rainbow of colours in the layers of the canyon walls and the huge changing sky above.  The only true eyesore is the tarmac that snakes its way across the valley floors and over the rise, peppered with speeding trucks and cars!  I image the early explorers and pilgrims making their way west from somewhere lush like New England would have thought that they were destined to die of thirst in the lonely expanse of country that is south eastern California, but for those who hung in there, the Pacific coastline, when she appears on the horizon it truly beautiful and somehow comforting.  To know I am looking across the water to home is good for the soul.

We skipped LA and its hustle and bustle and instead made a beeline for Santa Barbara just in time to watch the sunset and to settle into some comfy digs for the night.  Santa Barbara is a lovely village with a great old fashioned feel to it.  The architecture is all Spanish-mission style and it has a wonderful old ‘main street’ leading directly onto the pier.  Sitting in a little coffee shop watching the world go by, it was hard to believe that I was only a short drive from LA.  Everything felt really relaxed and charmed in Santa Barbara.  Even the seagulls seemed to have taken a chill pill.

From there, I followed the scenic coast highway north.  This driving route is breathtaking to the extent that concentrating on the twisting road is almost impossible.  The Californian coastline is incredibly rugged and in places baron while in other spots, lush with oak trees, huge stands of eucalyptus, and the occasional redwood.  We took some detours into the countryside along the way and discovered a veritable smorgasbord of fruit trees, strawberry farms, vegetable crops of every description and of course, oil beam pumps.  The towns varied from downright ‘plant your foot and move through quickly’ to great little market towns with old store fronts and mission style buildings.  All still draped in their Christmas decorations and lights.

My next stop was Santa Maria to catch up with some friends.  After getting in some quality ‘dog time’ with hypo Sam, we were taken on a tour of the local area to view the Elephant Seal rockery at Morro Bay.  What amazing creatures and unbelievably enormous.  I had no appreciation for the size of these guys.  Huge big blobs of fat that can move surprisingly quickly to protect their harems from the curious eyes of the young fellows!  A relaxing meander along the rocky cliffs, followed by a wonderful snack and coffee at “Fat Katz” on a pier and then home to a true Chilean style BBQ (my host being a Chilean/American).   

Hearst Castle

Roman Baths of the castle

From Santa Maria to Carmel and Monterey via Hearst Castle.  Now that place is something to be seen.  I don’t believe you can genuinely suggest this property is kitsch.  It is a true museum piece and something that I think both Mr Hearst and his one-of-a-kind architect can rest in peace being proud of.  It is magnificent and filled with amazing antiquities that have been treated with respect in terms of their placement and incorporation into the castle. Its wonderful to see that this property and its treasures have all been protected and cared for.  A trip along this coastline isn’t complete without taking a few hours to explore and learn about Hearst and his castle.

Carmel and Monterey – well both these communities are lovely in their own ways.  Carmel is like a postcard.  It’s a really leafy hickledy pickledy community nestled on the hills right up to the rocky cliffs adjoining the ocean.  Gorgeous little shops, cafes and galleries line its main street and it really is a magnet for the rich and famous.  Monterey, also hugging the coastline, has a more laid back coastal town feel.  It was once a huge fishing community with a cannery and wharfs for manufacturing all things seafood.  These days it still has a significant fishing fleet, but its wharfs have been turned into a wonderful museum, gallery, aquarium and entertainment district.  Its also home to the Harvard marine research centre.  Again, seals make the beaches their home at various times of the year and therefore, humans are prohibited.  Very cool I think.

Painted Ladies

Next stop…..San Francisco.  What a fantastic city.  Loved it.  I even kind of got to enjoy the ridiculous up and over streets and walking up then down, then up then down just to get a coffee.  I don’t think my butt has had such a good workout in years.  I did all the compulsory tourist stops – Golden Gate, Fisherman’s Wharf, Sausalito, Pacific Heights, Russian Hill, the Crooked Street, Cow Hollow, the Painted Ladies and the Golden Gate Park.  Push biking is definitely the way to explore SF apart of course, from the wonderful old cable cars!    Also took the opportunity to enjoy some world class blues at the Biscuits & Blues bar.  A great way to top off the visit to this beautiful city.

From SF there is only one place to go and that is the Sonoma and Napa Valleys to taste wines and meander, which I most dutifully did.  There was no arm-twisting although I will need many more SF hills to whip this body back into shape.  Both food and wine in the Napa were wonderful and staying in a great little B&B with our own fireplace was a perfect finish before we donned the snow gear again and headed into them thar hills towards Lake Tahoe………