I’m currently in the Holiday Inn at Kayenta Az (for Monument Valley). They wanted $12 per day for internet in Vegas! It’s free here so first chance to post. This is an expansion of an earlier post.
Mum’s arthritic hip flared up so she could hardly walk two days before we flew out and we nearly called it off but we got here thanks to my boss for a 5am lift to Heathrow and helpful pople with wheelchairs. I’ve hired a wheelchair myself for the three weeks and we’re getting around pretty well. Actually better than without as I can push her further.
Vegas was – well – Vegas. Stayed at the Sahara which was OK and then walked the Strip going into every casino. Walked 11 miles on Wednesday. Not showing a profit – about $100 down. Fremont Street was amazing and Max missed out on a killer meal Binions! Crab stuffed mushrooms, rare sixteen ounce rib-eye, strawberries Romanoff 24 floors up.
Vegas temperatures in the low 80s.
Death Valley was awesome. Better than we both expected although I reckon that I left half of my left lung pushing Ma up Zabriskie Point (go on a diet, woman!). Temperature was a nice 76F.
The Grand Canyon was up to it’s publicity. Yep, “Grand” will do it. Very helpful park ranger gave us the secret Illuminati codes that got the car through all of the barriers. The Riff-Raff were forced to use the shuttle bus. People kept coming up to us and asking how we got the car in. For those who came up when the wheelchair was obvious, I took to replying “I break your lumbar spine – that’s all there is to it”.
Monument Valley also exceeded expectations by miles. The car was blue and is now pink with dust.
My only quibble. It’s so DAMN COLD!!! Snowed at the Canyon and around 45F here now. While we driving up to the Canyon, it hit 34F.
Just had a meal of Navajo fried bread sandwich. Nuff said… Temperature is around freezing.
Off to Moab, Utah, tomorrow for “Arches” and “Canyonlands” national parks. We have a $50 All Parks Pass so we’re going to damn well see them all if I have to drive all night!
More later, peeps!
Neil
p.s. I’m on my fourth hire-car but this one seems to be holding together. 1200 miles so far.
p.p.s. I’m pretty sure that I hate lots about the new site.
p.p.p.s With the site being chewed up beyond all recognition, strangers might stumble across this thread, So, for those of you wondering who I am, well I’m a aging geek Brit taking his mother on a trip around the South west USA and, now you’ve read this far, tell me WHAT IS THE POINT OF ALL THOSE BLOODY “STOP” SIGNS? You can SEE that there’s no-one for 35 miles in any direction except for me just behind you and still you stop. Dead. Do I have to stop too? Guess I do. Can I bring myself to do it? Not so far…
Bloody hell! Haven’t you got a lot of SCENERY?