On the road again

Leaving Las Vegas: Tuesday 10th July- Wednesday 11th July

Just to put Las Vegas to bed once and for all. I did resist returning to the casinos that dayuntil later in the evening. The various sites, shopping malls and gift shops proved a sufficient distraction, and a more constructive way of utilising my money that day. On the Tuesday evening we went for a limo ride around the city, before hitting the tables for one last time. After losing around another $90, I decided to call it a day. Basically over two days I'd gambled and lost around 120 pounds sterling in less than a space of two hours, and was never 'up'more than around ten or twenty dollars at any one point. Vegas you may have won this first battlebut the war is not over yet. I will return one day... and lose some more money no doubt.

San Diego, California: Thursday 12th July- Friday 13th July

So after almost five weeks on the road as part of the Trek America part of my trip, and some 7,000miles later, we finally reached the West Coast and the Pacific Ocean. We only spent a day in San Diego, and I'm afraid I to say I didn't go to the world famous zoo, I did however spend a pleasantfew hours in Balboa Park, home of both the zoo and various museums and galaries, then headed offinto the city to spend some more money in the cool clothes shops there. Whilst Balboa Park had a predominantly Spanish feel to its architecture and design, our earlier expedition around the even more salubrious residential area of La Jolla rather bizarrely reminded me of Torquay in Devon. Although there was no Basil Fawlty to be seen. I really liked San Diego, and feel as has often been the case, that there was still alot more of the city to see when we unfortunately had to depart.

Los Angeles, California: Friday 13th July- Sunday 15th July

Even though my Trek America organised part of the trip is due to last 64 days, in LA we began what would be the second part of this journey. Three of our group left our party, with anothertwo joining us on the Sunday when the second part began proper. With a 'free' afternoon in LA separate from our itinerary I decided to go off and explore the areas of Santa Monica and VeniceBeach. I have to confess in general that California as a state, and in particular LA as a city, were places that I didn't think I would be a huge fan of. Images of bronze tanned demi- gods andgoddesses living the Hollywood lifestyle by the beach had filled my mind. However I am pleased to say that LA managed to win me over. The long bus ride through the urban sprawl of the city towards my destinations may have not been the most eye catching, but both Santa Monica and Venice Beach were vibrant and exciting places to visit. The latter even more so than South Beachin Miami in fact. My new found enthusiasm for the city may have in fact derived from another factor as well. Shops. Having not really bought much for myself on the trip apart from the bare essentials, it was nice to splash out and treat myself... again. With a certain former England captainalso newly arrived in LA that very same day, I couldn't but help assisting the LA Galaxy's marketing drive bypurchasing a Number 23 Beckham LA Galaxy football shirt. It was as if it was my patriotic duty.

The following day we checked out Hollywood Boulevard, took the obligatory photos near the hillsidewith the sign in the background, and then set off for a day of fun and frolics at Univeral Studios. Once you go to onetheme park it's hard not to get hooked you know.

Marina, California: Sunday 15th July- Monday 16th July

After we left LA we drove up the rather foggy and surprisingly colder West Coast towards our campsite by the dunes in Marina. The change in climate was quite a surprise, especially as temperatures just a few days before in Vegas had beenwell into the 100s Farenheit during the day, and were in the 40s Celcius even around 2am in the middle of the night!By the time we had arrived at the campsite, set up and had had dinner the thought of sitting on the cold beachin the virtualdark wasn't a huge attraction, and being the ever sociable soul that I am I decided to go to bed early that night.

Yosemite National Park, California: Monday 16th July- Wednesday 18th July

Yosemite (pronounced Yo- sem- mit- tee, as in the grizzled prospector Yosemite Sam) National Park is a huge National Park around the same size as some of the smaller states in the US, and we stayed near thereen route to San Francisco. Full of various wild, although surprisingly in reality tame, animals, it was necessary for us to pack up anything scented when we went to bed at night in order to prevent attracting theattention of bears. On the Tuesday morning we got up at 4am to begin the various day hikes peoplehad opted to take. I was less ambitious than some, but I still managed to cover quite a few milesin the park that day. Forget the managed thrills and spills of Universal Studios, I genuinely had myheart on my mouth a couple of times in the remote woodland between the trails when I heard the occasional rustle inthe trees or the break of twigs in the nearby undergrowth. Every time I passed a cave or turned a corner, I was certainthat I might run into a not so Gentle Ben. In the end I did see a bear, just as one of the park shuttles I had taken was making a stop, and forgetting my previous trepidation, myself and the other passengers enthusiasticallyleft the vehicle to capture some photos. Unfortunatley I was too slow off the mark, as the ratherdocile beast walked briskly past the other unconcerned picners and into the woods.

San Francisco, California: Wednesday 18th July- Friday 20th July

San Francisco is often cited as European visitors' favourite city in the US, and although I did enjoymy time there in some respects it perhaps never fully lived up to my expectations. We did some great activities there crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, did a cruise around the bay, and spent Thursday morning at the world famous former state penetentiary, Alcatraz. Whilst I did manage to see quite a bit of the city by walking around it; some of those steephills were worse than the climbs in Yosemite incidentally; I think my enjoyment of the city was somewhat hampered by the factthat I had my first migraine proper during my time in the States. Well that wasn't bad going, as Ihad managed to stay pretty fit and healthy for over six weeks away. Again I think San Francisco isprobably one of those cities that truly needs several days there to fully appreciate, not ultimately the day and a half we were restricted to. Anyway, refreshed from some evidently needed rest I write this on our bus, as make our way to our final destinationin California, Redwood National Park.