Back to reality!

Our final morning was spent having breakfast in Denney's and then lazing around the pool. The weather was gorgeous and the pool heated so it was a really pleasant way to spend a few hours before going for our check-in.
We had a last 'dipped icecream' from McDonalds too...fab! Nigel reckons they are the best thing in America!
Our trip home, although very long, was uneventful and pretty straight forward. We arrived back in old Blighty rather tired and not altogether pleased to be home ..just yet! Fortunately the weather has been super so it wasn't such a shock to the system and it was lovely to see our boys and the family.
The jet lag took a few days to wear off which was a bit of a drag but we are at last getting back into the swing of home life. Poor Nigel had to go back to work this week which was really difficult, but the fun can't last forever I suppose!
People ask us what was the best bit and it is impossible to say. The Grand Canyon was certainly up near the top, but then there was the baseball game, rodeo, Tombstone and Tucson, our ride across the bandit ridden mountains, the Meteor crater, the beautiful beaches, the airboat ride, the wonderful scenery, the people we met.....as I say it was all wonderful!
How we will ever top this for a holiday I am not sure, it certainly was a trip of a lifetime and I am very proud of my hubby and all the effort he put into making so wonderful for me...Thank you!

Bikes returned!

A bit of a sad day as the bikes had to go back today! Breakfast at Dennys and then we made our way to Eagleriders. It was a little sad to say goodbye to our lovely bike, she has carried us right across the USA and been with us through all our adventures. Not once did she do anything wrong, she was a babe!
After handing the bike back we all met to go on a Hollywood tour. What can I say....it was PANTS! Four and a half hours of a whistlestop tour of 7 cities! Lunch was 40 mins but it took 30 of them to get served! We had 30 mins in Hollywood which was probably the best part of the tour....but you had to run lol.
Then it was home like wacky races along the Freeway. I have travelled the full width of the USA on the back of a motorbike and only twice have I thought I might die and still I have not been as scared as I was today! 15% gratuity....I think not Mr Eddie!
Back at the hotel and time to pack :(
Then off out for dinner with the gang.

Muscle Beach! (Venice)

After breakfast and contacting those at home that were available we left our bags at the final hotel and set off for Michael's Craft shop! Nigel needed to stop off at Home Depot on the way where we met a lovely chap who was asking about our trip. We gave him our blog details and then headed off to Michael's.
Nigel left me to 'get my fix' while he pottered with jobs on the bike! I was a bit disappointed that they had no Copics pens (sorry mum!) or Promarkers (those in crafting will know what I mean) but I still managed to spend $150 (about £90!) so not too bad!
Then it was off to the beach! We decided on Venice beach otherwise known as Muscle beach. oh my goodness what spectacles there were there! I think just about everyone was taking a drug of some kind! Whether it be Marijuana or steroids. The street entertainers were superb and it was very entertaining watching the druggies dancing! We spent a good few hours there and Nigel enjoyed acting out his Baywatch routine on the beach and watching the girls with active suspension! (Please feel free to ask him about it I am sure he will love to explain it to you!)
back at the hotel it was a quick shower and off for tea. We met Graeme, Sandra, Pat and Des for a few minutes and then left them to go and view LA from Mullholland Drive View point. Superb!
After having dinner at 10pm we went back to the hotel :)

30

 I hope it is me you are taking a photo of Nigel and NOT those two pretty little things in the background!!!!

The pacific Highway to Malibu and Long Beach!

What a glorious day! We headed off along the Pacific Highway to Malibu. Stopping off at a local bar for a coffee. We met a really 'canny' man called Jeffrey who was off to see his girlfriend who is from Newcastle! He kindly offered to take our photo and after chatting for a while and giving him our email we set off again.
Lunch was at Paradise Cove Beach Club right on the beach at Malibu. How fab is that! A couple of hours on the beach and we headed for Long Beach along the very edge of the water. The scenery was stunning and my poor video camera didn't get a moments peace! Unfortunately due to poor Internet connection we are struggling to download photos so these are a poor selection really.
The surfers made me miss my boys even more...Matthew would have loved the surf today!

 

Ventura

Today was so much better weather wise, thank goodness, so we set off for an amended ride to Ventura. Stopping off at San Barnadino for lunch after coming over some snow covered and VERY cold mountains! I am sure no one mentioned snow when this trip was planned!
As the day went on the weather and scenery improved dramatically and we arrived feeling a lot happier. We were booked into the 4* Crowne Plaza hotel on Ventura beach.
After a romantic walk along the beach, a play on the swings:) and a walk through the town we went back to our room to leisurely get ready for dinner.
Dinner was at Eric Ericksons a fab seafood restaurant right on the beach. Then it was back to our room for a Bud light, sweeties and a good book! What more could a girl want :))))

Barstow

We left Vegas amid sunshine and a slight breeze to head for Death Valley and then Bakersfield. As we got just a few miles from Vegas the weather took a dramatic turn and although sunny the wind was wild...we were literally flung around as it gusted from one side of us to the other! Nigel decided after listening to my screams to do  U-Turn and try a more southerly route. Unfortunately this meant him missing out on Death Valley :(
As we travelled on the weather just got wilder and wilder until my poor nerves would take no more! We pulled into a McDonalds to try and book a local hotel and according to the weather forecast we found out that there was a severe weather warning out for the area.
So hotel booked we stopped in Barstow and headed out for tea, hoping that tomorrow is a bit less wild!

Greame & Sandra

Wednesday

We headed for the Yosemite National Park and Mono lake what wonderful scenery, the snow capped mountains getting closer we had a 5 mile rollercoaster of dips and turns that was excellent the ride through the passes were breath taking we called into  a village called Lee Vining for provisions for a picnic we got homemade chilli and lasagne and  taco‘s they were very tasty we carried on over the mountains to Carson City  to book our last nights in California and a early night.

Thursday

Carson City -Lake Tahoe-San Francisco

SNOWING!!!!! So glad we weren’t on a bike we got up to snow setting off with trepidation I don’t like auto’s especially in the snow and lights flashing on the road side “chain area chains needed” we set off with a snow plough in front to lake Tahoe what a journey not to be repeated the views were to die for though!! When we got to the lake we were advised to wait for a hour so the road could be cleared and boy im glad we did we st off slowly but the road wasn’t as bad as the pass earlier.

On getting closer to San Francisco we decided we must drive over the GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE so we detoured round and it was defiantly worth it.