Well here we go, last instalment to this damn blog that has been my nemesis for this last month. Thinking of semi intelligent script on a daily basis is more than this pickled brain can cope with. Will I ever do another blog again? Prolly.......hick! What a night last night turned out to be, I have no idea what time I got to bed nor how I got to our room, Moth says it was entertaining....yeah right....who admitted to drinking the bar out of Baileys....one of the male persuasion to whom I am married to. Although I do need to be careful here as my memory is a tad fuzzy.....on the end bit anyway! We had a really nice farewell dinner with the sheep, our Tour Director had a very suspicious aura of relief about him that I suspect he was trying hard to hide, especially whilst he was chatting to our table of the usual Team Alamo members, this aura became even more apparent when he discovered none of us were doing another Trafalgar tour in the near future....& I thought he had a sense of humour! Well I reckon he took a shine to us cause he sat at our table last night, Brenda reckons it was only to make sure we weren't planning another tour anytime soon & if so to talk us out of it. Brenda was a Shire President for a few years so I reckon she's smart enough to know inspite of her fascination with plumbing topics! I'll miss you Brenda.....I'll miss you all but I won't tell anyone ;0) Following dinner we ended up in the bar....where else! I believe the bar was transformed into a dance floor when the guitarist started to play, I'm told he did requests, I'm told he did a few of mine, I'm told there was a bit of Men At Work & Peter Allen involved, I'm told a lot, I believe none of it! Must have been a real good night cause I woke feeling pretty damn average at 8am this morning & having just now had the hair of the dog I am still feeling pretty damn average but at least the shakes have stopped, only just! Getting too old for this crap! Seriously.... After eating an enormous omelette brekkie filled with chilli, mushrooms & crushed panadol....first big brekkie of the trip....booze aside I have eaten very little but sure I have gain weight....booze not aside! I did stick to low carb stuff but don't reckon it helped much, guess I'll know in about 20 hours. Anyway I digress, yet again....we, as in our little quiet group, headed out for the day firstly to Manhattan Beach on the beach trolley bus for a spot of people watching, as ya do. Of course Moth found one of the many ice creameries. The others hadn't been to Redondo Beach before so we decided to grab cabs & head on down....we as in Olwyn, Danny, Moth & I got ourselves a singing Mexican.....ever heard Elvis' All Shook Up in Spanish? Where else in the world would you get that.....OK maybe south of this here border....maybe! The singing Mexican with monkeys on Greyhounds....so he claims & I'm taking a guess that these are also south of this border. He managed to silence Moth.....a first! He was tipped handsomely for his efforts at both singing & silencing Moth! Did the full Redondo Pier walk around for our mates before heading to the famous Ruby's adjacent to the pier for lunch....always a great meal at this 1950's diner....as today is Friday here all the old classic cars started to roll into the carpark for their weekly show & tell gathering....poor Danny, he was in such agony as Olwyn had him off & on the road to San Fran before he could get the opportunity to hang out with these dudes a while. Danny is a classic car buff....his pain was evident....my money is on them not leaving on their flying Roo until next Saturday, I'm thinking Danny will be quietly changing their flight home & checking into the Crown across from Ruby's next Friday....they are driving to San Fran right now taking a week to do the round trip, I'm interested to hear where they end up staying along the way as its a trip we are doing with the Currey's in August, well one way anyway...then hitting the Sacramento pavement for Moth's 60th....geez mate leaving the 50's eh.....OK will leave that alone through fear of retribution.....good call Deb. So we said our goodbyes to all our friends as they are all on different flights going to different locations...Peter & Lyn went off to Honolulu for a week, Lester & Brenda heading to Sydney for a few days prior to heading home to West Aussie....and of course us heading to the sunny state. We have had a month of great diversity & we have had the time of our lives. Met some truly great like-minded people that could be a health hazard so kinda glad to be living in different states...we have a better chance of living longer as a result. But already planning another get-together. There is something very comforting seeing Qantas, the flying Roo burner pulling up in front of you. We are sitting in the Qantas Club lounge here at LAX airport & as I glance out in front of me through the ceiling to floor windows in comes our 747 Spirit of Australia....yeah we are going home! Hoo Roo The End xox

Well folks, we made it all the way....all 2733 Miles, not km's but miles from Chicago to where Santa Monica Boulevarde joins Santa Monica Beach also known as Will Rogers Highway or more importantly The Mother Road, Route 66! So who of you didn't think I'd make it? We stopped on Hollywood Boulevarde where I met Lucy :0) went on down Rodeo Drive & through Beverly Hills before our stop at the end of Route 66 where I called my baby Dan as today is his 24th birthday, a special call from the end of our journey. I was pleased to hear the house still stands & the pool isn't frog friendly. Although I did detect a note of 'you'll be home when.......' major clean up now scheduled prior to Sunday I reckon. For those of you that haven't done the full length of Route 66 I thoroughly recommend that you do but if a sheep truck doesn't appeal then drive it, personally I'd drive it with a couple of groups in cars but that's cause I don't really like sheep trucks. We have met some exceptional people, a wonderful couple Danny & Olwyn from Portland down on the Victorian Pennisular, Brenda & Lester from Esperance in West Aussie & Lyn & Peter from Bateau Bay, all like minded people that we hooked up with early & with their help we had the time of our lives....aptly being played on the boom box as I write. Met many other really great people....really great people. So we are now heading along the coast road to Marina Del Ray & Venice Beach & then on to our hotel for our last night, staying at Rennaisance Montura which is close by both LAX & Manhattan Beach. We have our farewell dinner this evening all decked out in our Route 66 trashy refinery....it's sure to be a late night....just another. I will need Bali to recover! We have a lil' pressie for our Tour Director.....I am sure pics will follow....think crystal ball, chill pills & a megaphone....Moth will be the master of ceremonies :0) Tomorrow we are going to head off for some retail therapy in the Manhattan Beach area as our red Roo tailed burner doesn't depart until after 11pm tomorrow night. Be back tomorrow with a finale Hoo Roo

Old Willy is blasting out over the sheep truck sound system for the last time as we say Hoo Roo to Vegas & hit the road again....chasing those white lines heading toward Santa Monica & the end of our Route 66 journey all the way, the entire way, from Chicago to LA along the highways, by-ways & most all The Mother Road....Historic Route 66. What a trip, such fun along the way taking in the sights & sounds of bygone days....well done Uncle Sam! Last night we were lucky enough to get ourselves some seriously good seats for Jersey Boys, they played the Paris where we were staying. We had a pre-show cocktail, I had a very nice Mai Tai which was made with true perfection...the Hawaiian way. Moth had a double Baileys....I was thinking it might have been a triple! The show was brilliant, certainly a very genuine tribute to Franki Valli. A very professional performance that you'd expect to see on Broadway & Vegas. These entertainers could well have been the real Four Seasons, they sounded & looked very much like them. Excellent show with all of their hits belted out with true gusto! Loved it! I am not a fan of Vegas, in fact I am very anti-gambling so the lure of Vegas is non-existent for me however as it was a overnight visit on this tour I had no choice but to stay, great opportunity to take in a show. The Paris Hotel was very impressive, a tad over done but none the less impressive.....the Paris you have when you dont have Paris....personally I'd rather have the real mccoy! Previously I have stayed in Caesar's Palace & the Flamingo, albeit many years ago, the Paris had great rooms, excellent bars & restaurants & a lively atmosphere, brekkie this morning was a huge lavish affair....MASSIVE! We are now heading towards our first stop today in the Mojave Desert city of Bastow in San Bernadino County of Califor-me. OMG....Moth just made a confession that he obviously feels rather bad about....yesterday when we were in Seligman, Arizona we were in an old store & there was a chronically bad smell that the poor owners dog got the blame for....so bad it was that we all needed to get the hell out....poor dog was given hell by the owner....it wasn't the dog so I just learnt! Poor bloody dog! Bet sales suffered for the rest of the day! On that note I'm gunna say Hoo Roo for now Be back later Hoo Roo

What an experience yesterday was...Grand Canyon completely rocked my very soul. Amazingly spiritual yet vastly unforgiving. You can not begin to gauge the true size of it or the Colorado River unless you see it for yourself. A land to truly inspire your spirit! It's one of earths most powerful landscapes, it really did overwhelm my senses. I spent the first 15 mins sobbing like a baby in complete awe at the beauty to which I was blessed to see before my very eyes. The story of this mighty wonder of creation tells of geologic processes played out over unimaginable time spans. We started our venture into the Grand Canyon by road from the southern rim, stopping first at Desert View watch tower, only 22% of tourists get to enter the canyon this way, most enter & exit via the northern rim, we were lucky to go right thru from the southern rim exiting today thru the northern rim. The Grand Canyon is 190 miles long as the Condor flies & within that is 277 miles of river. The canyon width varies from 10 to 14 miles. I liken it to looking into the geology of the earth with the earth surface being cut open a mile wide. The northern rim is 8000 feet high & it was this rim that we first flew over in the chopper exposing the Grand Canyon to us in all her glory from the air....this was my first point of pure serenity, it simply took my breath away, I was very conscious of actually holding my breath for what seemed like eternity. Today was all about our hour chopper trip which did not disappoint! Our pilot was extremely good & had us diving down deep below the rim & soaring high above, he had as sweeping sideways along various faces, we dove tailed back & forth sighting many animals within the canyon & I even saw my very first black bears in the wild. I cried when I saw them, they are such majestic creatures. The Colorado River is a milky blue colour & flows pretty damn fast, it really is much wider than it appears on TV, we fly down over where the Lil' Colorado River (which we had been following in the sheep truck for several days) meets the Colorado River proper. Amazing!!!!! I was a tad apprehensive about going up in a chopper with my vertigo issues but thoughts of my first flight with my son in control of the plane got me through....so Chris, yesterday's flight over the Grand Canyon was as much for you son as it was for me. All fear was replaced with a nervous excitement as the canyon opened up before me.....one of God's greatest creations. None of my words best describe such a wonder. Our accommodation was at Yavapai Lodge which is actually inside Grand Canyon National Park, quite a ways in from the village. Yavapai is an Ecolodge & very much blended in with nature. There were many Elk roaming freely about & I am sure bear too! I have a serious fascination with bears....love them! We decided to spend sunset at Bright Angel viewing area & I am so pleased we did, the changing of colours was brilliant...what an experience. Whilst we were experiencing sunset over the Grand Canyon we were lucky enough to sight several Condors....such graceful creatures. How wonderful is nature! We also got to see the Mules that are used for trekking down to the base of the canyon along the very narrow ledges of the Bright Angel trail. I did not know that a Mule is a crossbreed of a Jackass & a horse...seriously! So maybe that is where the saying a horses ass comes from...... Also I did not know that Bedrock City is a real place....truth, got the pic! I also did not know that it's LEGAL to wear a 6 shooter hand gun on your hip anywhere here in the state of Arizona, prolly other states too I reckon...me tinks I will keep my own counsel until we get the hell out of this state eh! All in all....smile can't be wiped off moi face! I am truly blessed & I will never forget my experience in the Grand Canyon nor indeed this entire trip! Be back later Hoo Roo

Good morning from Flagstaff, Arizona. All on the sheep truck now & heading towards the Grand Canyon where we have booked a 45 min chopper scenic tour around & down into the bottom of the canyon....today will be yet another hi-light day! We have been assured the extra $$$$$$$ is worth it, really looking forward to this afternoon. Well we did get into Winslow yesterday afternoon...took the pic & got the t.shirt....been there done that now.....woke up singing that song this morning.... Last nights dinner was another group affair but our Team Alamo of 8 managed to once again be the last table sitting...we realised with great pride we have indeed gained a rather covetted reputation...Ever got caught on a bridge for 3 hrs & needed to use......a plastic bag? Oh this one is for Tonie.....guess who found a real McCoy vanilla slice....the truth was revealed earlier this morning....seems whilst I was off bending plastic in Santa Fe hisself was not only doing an ice cream crawl but a bakery too. Just heard Oklahoma is on tornado alert right now....it's OK folks the only tornado near us is on this sheep truck! We have been ahead of all the crap weather, clear skies & sunshine all da way...we have been lucky. Although we are heading towards the Grand Canyon we will be stopping in Cameron at a Navajo reservation, these people's are they weavers of the native Americans, yesterdays pueblo peoples were the potters. Poor old Moth is suffering from a touch of altitude sickness, not doing too well at 7000 feet overnight. Struggling with breath this morning but it's OK insurance policy is up to date....seriously he is OK just a tad short of breath & I'm watching him with eagle eyes....truth is the extra weight he is carrying has made it worse, I think he may be realising this now.... Tonight we are having a great treat, we have a sleepover inside the Grand Canyon....bear country, hope I see one unlike the 3 I spied in Snowflower with the stiff heads. We have big party night planned....again...lovin it! Just another diversion for a minute....last night at the Raddisson we slept in a 'sleep number' bed for the first time ever...now I know our American friends love these things but ya know what...in my opinion...I wouldn't have one if you paid me....had thought of buying one, they are about $3000 at home, to send over to Bali for our house but not anymore....I'll keep the 4 poster! This truck is chuggalonging through some serious bear country now.....Yogi where are you? We are in the south western edge near Mt Humphries.....looking for Mr B Bear... Be back later with a full days review. Hoo Roo

Still heading towards Flagstaff we've made a stop at the Painted Desert in Arizona, yep we are definitely in the desert.....amazing colours appearing in the landscape, never have I seen anything like it, kinda like Alice Springs in many ways but without the big rock. The Painted Desert area truly is a natural wonder. I can't help wonder about the early explorers coming through this beautiful yet unforgiving countryside, most definitely moving stick country & they are in abundance....the ones that rattle! We talk about the 40 shades of green in Ireland well I am here to tell you that Arizona & particularly this area of the Painted Desert has the same quantity in reds & would you believe that Old Route 66 runs straight thru both the Painted Desert & Petrified Forest. The Petrified Forest is high, dry grassland was once a vast floodplain crossed by many streams. Crocodile-like reptiles, giant amphibians & small dinosaurs lived among a variety of ferns, cycads & other plants & animals known only as fossils today. The trees fell & swollen streams washed them into adjacent floodplain. A mix of silt, mud & volcanic ash buried the logs. This cut off oxygen & slowed the logs decay. Silica laden groundwater seeped through the logs & replaced the original wood tissues with silica deposits. Eventually the silica crystallised into quartz & the logs were preserved as petrified wood. They are extremely strike on souvenir hunters 'acquiring' said wood with road blocks checking cars, buses etc...pretty severe jail terms await souvenir hunters, pretty sure all sheep passed. This is Arizona where things go bump in the night....apparently all weird stuff happens in & around here, guess it depends on how many brews you've had! Seemingly many UFO sightings have occurred here. Be back later.....dododododododo Wheels on the bus go round & round...... Still waiting to be standing on the corner of Winslow Arizona.......are we there yet?.......soon! Hoo Roo

What a wonderful experience we just had on the native American Indian Pueblo of Acoma & also known, internationally, as Sky City. Pueblo simply means village. Acoma was steeped in history & rich in cultural traditions. This pueblo is built on top of a 360 foot mesa, or flat top mountain. Acoma is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the USA, dating back to the 1600's & was at one time decimated by the Spanish but later allowed to be rebuilt. The church's alter was rebuilt in 1806 & the original paint work remains today @ in good condition. This pueblo is home to many Indians & their simplistic life where time is of no importance reflects in their contentment, the children appeared very happy & the adults were happy to chat about their customs & lifestyle. They are a very proud people which shows in their artworks. Their homes are almost mayan in appearance with a mud rendered rounded facade. They continue to keep their traditional building methods in the new homes they continue to build at & around the base of the meza. The ongoing cost of maintaining original buildings is funded from profits from their many casinos. What was overwhelmingly evident was the deep sense of peace I felt whilst on top in the pueblo, I could have remained there for a few days. A truly memorable experience, I am taking away a gift from these people that can not be bought. We are now back on the sheep truck chasing those lil' white lines heading towards Winslow, Arizona.....standing on the corner of Winslow Arizona....taking it easy.....yep another head planted song but a good one being a huge Eagles fan. Be back later Hoo Roo