USA Road Trip - Las Vegas to Zion National Park

Day 12, 13 From Glitzy to Glorius

A remote Ussie - Tourists at the Checkerboard Mesa

A big day today as we saddled up the Hyundai to head across the desert to the Zion National Park. The roads were busy in Las Vegas but the traffic petered out as we headed Eastwards into Utah via Arizona. Not a lot to see en route other than wide vistas, big skies and very occasionally a desert town. We made a stop on the way in Mesquite at another McDonalds. Mesquite looked to be a retirement community on the Nevada/Arizona border with big Casinos and a number of Golf Courses. Amazed that there is enough water? The Virgin River, a tributary of the Colorado, flows through the City but its not very big. The name has nothing to do with Mr Branson, it was named a couple of hundred years ago after a Pioneer.

A Ranch on the way

We were due for only a brief incursion into Arizona but they decided to do some big road works to keep us there for a while longer.
Anyway, no complaints, it was a good drive.

Heading for Utah

We were heading for the small town of Springdale where we would enter the National Park. The Ranger at the entry gate admonished us for not having our ID ready as we drove in. Have it ready next time - Yessir!
Conveniently, we needed to drive through the park to get to our Accommodation so we had the opportunity to view the southern part of the park in the Afternoon sunshine.
It was a stuttering drive as we stopped at every available viewpoint to take in the vista and take photographs - as you do.
Quite lovely scenery, apart from the mile long tunnel. We made it to the Zion Mountain Ranch with time for a walk before Dinner. They have a Buffalo Herd but unfortunately they had wandered off so were not on the menu at The Buffalo Grill. What a lovely fresh Salad and Steak they cooked up for us. One of the best, if not the best, meals of the trip. Our neighbours in the adjacent cabin were a group of ladies dressed in traditional pastel coloured long dresses. There were also some Ladies working in the Vegetable Garden at ZMR dressed similarly. We assumed they were Mormons? We did not like to ask but probably should have.

On the Ranch

Our little Cabin at Zion Mountain Ranch

 TW Pioneering

Cactus Flower

TW stepping down

In the Canyon - Riverside Walk

 After a great nights sleep we drove back down through the Park to Springdale and picked up a Shuttle bus to take us through the Canyon. Quite a few hiking options and we chose to go to the Emerald Pools in the morning. Fairly straightforward, TW found it a bit hot but enjoyed it anyway.  We were not sure of the exact elevation at the time because the Americans still use old money - feet. The Canyon base is around 4,300 ft (1300m) and we climbed about 350 ft - I think.
Lunch was taken at the Zion Lodge. This sits part way up the Canyon. They had a takeaway section with a very long queue so we opted for a seat in the Restaurant upstairs. We had to wait for a table, not quite sure why. The Lady at a Reception Desk was taking names for a Waiting List. After about 30 mins we noticed that people were going straight upstairs when her back was turned. We did the same and found plenty of empty tables and quick service, all a bit odd? Suitably refreshed we headed off for another shuttle ride up the Canyon and a very pleasant Riverside Walk.

The muddy Virgin River

 The Virgin River again, it's headwaters are just above the Park, It can be a torrent in the Spring and there can be flash floods in the Canyon after storms. Some hardy souls were wading up-river when the path ended. TW wanted me to do it. No way, I did not get where I am today by being brave and adventurous! We had to share our path with quite a few other Tourists and a number of scavenging squirrels but there was room for everybody. Our last shuttle driver for the run back to Springdale was a bit of a comic and kept us very well entertained with corny jokes.
We had a quick look at Springdale which meant a coffee and an enormous Blackberry Cobbler at Wildcat Willies before returning to the Ranch to cook up a Pasta Dinner. Springdale is only a small town with mainly tourist businesses lining the single street.
Could quite happily have stayed a while at Zion National Park to do a bit more hiking and to try the cycling. We were very lucky with the weather but it was about to turn and, anyway, we have a booking at Bryce Canyon up the road somewhere.

At the end of the day

Where we stayed - Zion Mountain Ranch https://www.zmr.com/  

USA Road Trip - Santa Barbara to Las Vegas

Day 11 - Flying down to Vegas

Heading to LAX again, this time to catch a plane to the desert City of Las Vegas. As expected, it was a busy road towards the Airport but we made time for a drive through Hollywood and Beverley Hills en route. We did not plan it at all and just put Sunset Boulevard in the Sat Nav. Some of the side streets were nice and TW jumped out at Hollywood Boulevard and looked at the Walk of Fame symbols built into the pavements. Lots of iconic street names flashed by. We tried to follow a Tour Bus for a while and then headed for the Alamo depot to give back our Malibu. Pretty slick operation, we did not have a chance to say goodbye before it was whisked away.

Crossing the Desert

One transfer bus later we were in the AA Terminal. Flying First Class this time as, with bags in the hold, it was cheaper than Economy. Security was tight and slow again, no not even tissues in your pocket! The Check-In staff said we could go into the Business Lounge but the grump on Lounge Reception said we were not flying far enough. Ugh! Back down to ground. Oh well, at least we had nice comfy seats at the front of the plane with the Chinese high-rollers and, of course, free drinks - hic!
TW took the window seat as we headed across the desert and probably took a few Gb. of pics of sand and desolation.

Las Vegas landing

It was clear skies for the evening landing into Vegas. It has become a big old place.

Our room in NY NY on the 12th Floor

Out on the Town

First stop was Alamo again. We tried for another Malibu (not the drink) but the one the rep gave us had no licence plates and when we said were off to Utah and Arizona she had to give us another? This one was a Silver Hyundai Sonata and TW took the wheel for the short hop to New York - New York, our hotel for the night. Getting in the correct lane for self parking was a bit dicey and the sat nav uttered the F-word or maybe it was TW? To be fair, driving on the Strip is not easy at all. A one night stay in Las Vegas is a bit unusual and, as the Hotel is massive, we had quite a tortuous journey from the car to the room and back again. Must not grumble though. The room was nice and we were soon out on the Town. Bit of a shock though with all the flashing lights and slot machines. We have no idea how to use the machines.  We can only just cope with the Petrol Pumps over here. They are enough of a gamble as you have to pay before you pump.

Our Hotel -New York New York

NY-NY had a load of different Restaurants. We opted for a fairly basic one and had salmon burger and chips with a salad. Our waitress was an Aussie from Queensland who has swapped the Gold Coast for the Desert. Must miss the sea?
Our after Dinner stroll was taken along the Strip, in and out of the Casinos and people watching before heading back to the 12th floor of our comfy New York Skyscraper.

Where we stayed - https://www.newyorknewyork.com/en/hotel.html  Las Vegas

USA Road Trip - Santa Barbara - Tandem Touring

Day 10 - Beside the Sea

In tandem in Santa Barbara

Our Motel was actually quite a distance from the Ocean but there was a bus into the City which was quite entertaining. We did not want to drive anywhere, anymore. Seemed a lot busier than on my last visit nearly 40 years ago. Still lots of smart shops and plenty of bars. Renting a tandem and pedalling along the coast was the highlight of the day. TW was the stoker and had no brakes but she had pedals and we did rather well. We lunched very nicely in a popular seaside cafe much like the ones at home but the waitresses probably had better legs. It was even warm enough to sit on the beach!

Santa Barbara

American buses are great places for people watching and the ride home from town was a classic. My favourite person was fairly large young Lady carrying an enormous Pizza. She was incredibly polite and said things like, you are a very nice man, to a disabled chap who moved aside so she could put her pizza down.

TW went missing on the uphill bike path

In scholarly terms she might have special needs but could teach the grumps a thing or two, bit of a female Forrest Gump. Across from her was a highly strung chap with dyed hair who clutched his bag as though it had a Million Dollars in it and avoided eye contact with everyone. A nervous Lady boarded and tried to make herself small. The driver was great too, so patient with a homeless chap who was trying to get on the wrong bus.
Back to Peppertree, too cold for the pool. Dinner was at a bakery across the street. Chucks again would have been an extravagance.  An odd character in the Bakery marched up and down until the Manager banned him. She received abuse for her trouble.

Mystery plant that TW liked

Santa Barbara Beach

Side Street - like the trees in bloom

USA Road Trip - Cambria to Santa Barbara via Hearst Castle

Day 9 - Hearst Castle and Sea Otters

What a View

Bluebird Inn

Cambria proved to be the perfect overnight staging post. The Bluebird Inn was a great Motel and, because it was in town, there were several Restaurants to choose from within walking distance. We chose Robin's and were not disappointed. The bill was a bit heavy but it rounded off a perfect day.

Nitt Witt Ridge

TW decided she wanted to visit Hearst Castle and the Motel Receptionist was really helpful in getting us booked in for a Tour for later in the day. A good Breakfast and were all set to go. First stop was to Nitt Witt Ridge. An eccentric chap who was a bin man built this house out of junk and maybe inspired shabby chic. I thought it might give us some suggestions for our refurbishment but TW was not impressed, she is a bit John Lewis. Not sure the Nitt Witt was a great neighbour.
It was a useful counterweight to our next target, Hearst Castle. Might seem odd going to visit a Castle in the USA when we have so many at home but this one has proper toilets and a couple of tidy swimming pools.

Hearst Castle

Every Castle should have one

The indoor pool

It was built by media mogul William Randolph Hearst who inspired Citizen Kane, bit of a heavy film in Black and White. The Castle itself is in stunning Technicolor on a fantastic location high in the hills overlooking the Ocean. WRH built it to entertain his celebrity guests and ran his Newspaper empire from here, not sure how he managed 'working from home' without the internet? Anyway he made a lot of money and spent it just as quickly. The place is stuffed with antiquities from Europe and has an Italian look to it. The estate is so big that it needs a fleet of buses to go from the Entrance to the Castle. He kept changing his mind and reworking the place and never quite finished it. Our guided tour was a nice way to spend the morning and we both found it interesting. Glad we stayed at the Bluebird Inn though, it's a bit creepy in the Castle.

Otters at play

Getting Otter - next stop was Morro Bay to see the Sea Otters. These very comical creatures were enjoying a swim near the wharf. They are an endangered species but at least they are not hunted for fur anymore. There are problems with toxins in the water and sharks tend to take a bite out of their numbers.

Morro Rock

Back on the road South through San Luis Obispo. We managed to get a bit lost in town but eventually found our way to Pismo Beach for our late Lunch at the Ventana Grill. Nice outlook and good grub.
Traffic now getting heavy as we moved towards Santa Barbara and it was a great relief when we reached the Peppertree Inn, our pleasant accommodation for the next two nights. Our room was bit dark because of a massive tree by the balcony but otherwise perfect.
There was a Chucks Diner next to the Hotel so that was Dinner sorted. Very busy and noisy on a Friday night. Looked to be mainly smart locals enjoying some relaxation after a busy week. We sat, and ate, at the bar and watched the expert barman ply his trade. The background noise was amazing. Americans talk - a lot!

Where we stayed- http://www.bestwesternpeppertreeinn.com/  Santa Barbara

USA Road Trip - Monterey to Cambria

Day 8- Heading South to Carmel and the Big Sur

Who is looking at who? Elephant stare

This was the best day in the car of the entire trip and perhaps we should have allocated an extra day to this stretch of seaside. We hit the Coast and made our way onto 17 mile drive. There was a 10 Dollar toll to pay but it was worth it. We stopped for coffee at Pebble Beach. It is a Public Course, anyone can play. Well if you have 500 Dollars in your pocket you can. We made do with a look at the practice putting green, that was free. Carmel by the sea beckoned. We did the Tourist thing, a wander on the beach and then a nose around the shops. It was still a bit misty and cool but we enjoyed our time in this very pleasant town.
Our aim was to have Lunch at the Mission Ranch, owned by Clint Eastwood a former Mayor of Carmel. We found it OK but they were only serving Dinner.
Must have a word next time I see him, Go on Clint, Make my Day - open for Lunch (please)!

Tee in the rocks

Tea for two at Pebble Beach

On course

Carmel Beach

Keen Shopper in Carmel

Mission Ranch

Mission Ranch

Their Reception recommended The Hyatt Carmel Highlands so off we toddled.

Lunchtime vista

Great views of the Ocean, even with low cloud, and a nice Lunch with great service. They only have Valet parking by the Hyatt but a kind Lady at a hotel up the road let us park free over lunchtime.

Onward and downward along Highway One. It is a fairly leisurely drive, Americans going South towards LA are somewhere else, on one of the fast track options. It was a stop and start journey as we took in the scenery from the various viewpoints.

Looking back in the mist to Bixby Bridge

Nepenthe Restaurant - Coffee Break

Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park
an 80ft waterfall hits the beach

A stop at the Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park was recommended to us. We duly stopped and paid our 10 Dollars. Some bounders parked by the road and avoided the fee. Some foreign tourists ignored the signs that the beach was out-of bounds and were give a citation by the Park Rangers. There were also wiped down as the local vegetation includes poison oak an innocuous looking plant that can cause very nasty allergic reactions.  We had a good chat with one of the Rangers and he told us that some indigenous people are immune. He also told us that the whale we saw off-shore was a Humpback. 

TW takes in the view at JPBSB

Poison Oak

Piedras Blancas Beach

The Elephant Seals are a sight to see. They were nearly hunted to extinction but were saved when we humans found other sources of oil. They first turned up here in the 90's and now about 17,000 call this beach home. Happily not all were on the sand for our visit, they are very, very smelly! Next stop the Bluebird Inn, our excellent Motel. Dinner at Robins Restaurant was lovely.

The sun goes down on a great day

Where we stayed http://www.bluebirdinncambria.com/  Cambria

                                           .