West USA

This page is dedicated to Valerie who complained that her beautiful state was not registered on my site even though she had hosted us. Here it is. California with some Arizona. Way back when Huckleberry was a lad we went to California to look for gold. We found no gold but we sure found a golden time.
A living map, click around.
Travel MapGrand Canyon linkCarefree, Arizona linkLos Angeles linkHearst Castle linkCalifornia coast linkDeath Valley linkMammoth Lakes linkYosemite link

Cactus on the hillsides around Carefree
CAREFREE

Four hundred miles east of Los Angeles by car, round Phoenix, to Carefree. British Airways 2nd night hotel out in the hills. Here is the view from our back window. Quite a pleasant surprise. 100degrees F. Cactus as high as trees.
Grand Canyon GRAND CANYON

Moving on until we hit this dip in the road. What! People complain about roadworks at home. Look at this. We climbed 5000 feet to meet this, no bridges. Just have to drive round.
Death Valley DEATH VALLEY

Well after Las Vegas we moved towards the west looking for California. Had to spend the night in the middle of Death Valley. Here is my wife refusing to move another inch.
Mammoth Lakes MAMMOTH LAKESYou thought Death Valley was hard work well here are 3 layers of mountains to cross. We'll find the Pacific Ocean yet. Mammoth Lakes just one ridge to cross.
Yosemite YOSEMITE

California at last. Yosemite you domed beauty. There are bears. There are? Is our flimsy room door that led straight out into the park going to keep them out. Would those bears try to get in.

Coast Line of California

 COASTCaliforni-ing along the coast, car roof off, radio high, dark glasses, hair blowing in the wind, guitar slung across my back, driving through Carmel down towards Hearst Castle, Santa Barbara and Los Angeles.
Hearst Castle HEARST CASTLE

Hearst Castle castling on the coast.
Queen Mary QUEEN MARY

Queen Mary queening on the coast. Is that the sun rising over the stern. No it is the home of the Spruce Goose. What the hell is that I hear you say. It's a 6 engined sea plane built by Howard Hughes and it flew once.
First Uploaded 7th September 2002

Uploaded; 13 February 2005