Day Six

Today was a good day. In fact, today was an excellent day. This was despite waking up at 5am and not being able to get back to sleep. It was our first day without travelling, so we could actually do some stuff.

As we are in a motel we had to head out for breakfast. Went here. https://www.oldtowncafejoseph.com/

It was very busy. We were lucky to arrive when we did as most people after us had to go away and come back later. Even then we had a long wait for food. Ann had granola, yoghurt and banana. I had two pancakes. Thought that would be manageable. When they arrived they were the size of my head. I struggled to get anywhere with them. Ann thought it would be funny to photograph me when I reached halfway.

The photo doesn't do it justice

I ended up giving in with a quarter of the plate to go. Just ridiculous. Whilst in there I saw a man with the most American face possible. Take every American man you have ever seen and merge their faces and you would get this bloke.

We then headed just up the road to Wallowa Lake. We had three things we wanted to do, but we only had time for two, so we had a choice to make.

We decided to bin off going up the mountain on the tramway and do the other two. First we went to the marina and hired a boat. Took it for a spin on the lake.

It started off ok, but got very hot very quickly. We melted a lot. I managed to get my feet in the water whilst still driving the boat, which at least cooled one part down. The lake and views were amazing. It did remind us of Dante's Peak again, the bit near the end where they cross the acidic lake in a boat that looks very similar to ours.

Non acidic lake

Once we got back to dry land we grabbed a drink and headed to our second activity, the Lake Wallowa Mini Golf Open Championship. The course was littered with wild animals watching on. I took a one shot lead on the first, but the pressure of the animals got to me as I took a 7 on the second hole. This gave Ann a four shot lead after just two holes. Going into the back nine she still had a substantial lead but gradually it started to slip.

Eventually, after seventeen nail biting holes, Ann took a 2 shot lead into the final hole. At this point even the assembled bears, mountain lions and goats could not have foreseen the controversy that was about to happen.

The final hole was a typical one where the ball disappears back to the hut when completed. Now picture the hole. A fairly flat start leading to a small ridge and beyond that three concentric circles of plastic on a slope, the middle one being the hole and the others having a gap near the bottom so the ball would return to the golfer if they missed.

Ann was up first. She hit the ball, it jumped over the ridge, missed all three circles and rolled back down the slope. However, the ball did not return back to her as we had thought would happen. It disappeared off and a recorded voice shouted dismay at her as she had missed the hole. I went to investigate and sure enough there was no way for the ball to come out after your first shot. So what did this mean? How many shots did that equal? It definitely wasn't one.

I stepped up. Gave the ball a whack, it leapt up the ridge, hit the back of the outer circle and the bounced back straight into the hole.

We looked at each other blankly. What did this mean? What were the final scores? Ann said she was happy to call it quits. Of course she was! By my calculations as she had missed all three circles that equated to a four and with me getting a hole in one, I would win by one stroke. I did, however, know better than to mention this, so an honourable draw was agreed upon.

We headed back to the motel for lunch, having more of the stuff we bought last night. Then we got ready for our next activity and headed out to here:

http://jbrailriders.com/

We arrived early to check in. The young guy who did so noticed we were from the UK. He said 'Whereabouts is that? I'm not good with geography, is it near Canada?'  Oh dear.

We waited a while, making sure we were sunscreened up and then we got put in our vehicle.

Railroad device

Basically this activity involved sitting in the contraption and pedalling along the old Joseph branch line. Six miles there and six miles back. It was 90 degrees. Going to be a hot one. Luckily we got put at the back of the group which meant we could go at our own speed. We also got told that the journey out was downhill and the return leg was uphill. Great!

Despite the fact we didn't pedal much on the first leg, by the time we reached halfway we were boiling hot as there was limited shade. The cars got turned around and this time we ended up third which meant we were going to have to keep a decent pace so the people behind wouldn't be annoyed at us. We took a lot of water with us and boy did we need it. It was bloody hard work pedalling six miles up hill in that heat.

We actually made very good time and were very consistent in our speed. We arrived back at the start a good ten minutes before the people behind us.

It was a fun thing to do, although we were a little disappointed with the journey itself. The scenery wasn't really spectacular (There is another route the company run further down the line which runs along the river and canyon) and we didn't see any wildlife either which is another of the selling points. We did see an osprey nest which was up a pole near the start.

Rather messy nest

We headed back quickly to the motel to die and have cold showers.

We couldn't be bothered with much after that. We got some more food from the shop and then collapsed in the room to eat it.

Ann is now asleep as ever. I wish I was.

Back to travelling tomorrow.

States visited - 5

Osprey watch - high

Day Five

Yesterday I forgot to mention the actual highlight of the day. As we were driving in the afternoon we saw a couple of dust devils in the fields. Ann tried to video them. Then suddenly there was one on the road. Lots of hay swirling around and we drove through the middle of it. The car bumped a little. Luckily Ann had stopped videoing at that point!

Today we decided to have a break from early morning swimming. Ann said the place we were heading to had an outdoor pool, so we thought we would swim after the journey.

Breakfast was not as great as previous ones. Choice was a little small.

We headed off at around 10am and hit I-84 heading north west. Took no chances today, didn't let Ann drive which meant she couldn't stop and make me take over. Cut out the middle man as it were.

We drove and drove. Stereo was playing up again which meant it was quite quiet for long stints. We did race an aeroplane taking off.

Chocks away

Eventually we hit a new state, Oregon. This is one of the few we have not been too. Takes us up to 44 and 45 states respectively. Ann still has Washington state in her favour but that will change in a couple of days. It also means we have changed time zone, so now 8 hours behind the UK.

We stopped for gas and food in Ontario and then headed a few miles further north to eat lunch next to Snake River. Went live on Facebook for the first time ever. Life will never be the same again.

Carried on further north west until we reached La Grande. Turned off the interstate and headed north on the Hells Canyon Scenic Byway. The scenery was spectacular.

Eventually arrived in Joseph, Or. Checked in here http://www.indianlodgemotel.com/

It was built by the actor Walter Brennan. He played Stumpy in Rio Bravo.

There is no pool so we can't have an afternoon swim. Or a morning one.

Went for a stroll through the town. It is very nice, very picturesque. Looks a lot like Dante's Peak, with the mountains overlooking it.

She's gonna blow, Harry!

As it is Sunday night most of the town is shut. Only one place was open for food and it was heaving. We went to a food shop instead and bought some things and went back to the motel for tea. It was great.

We then headed out to Mad Mary's Soda Shop http://www.madmarys.com/ for desert. It sells ice cream. We bought some. Ann had a paltry one scoop in a tub. I decided to battle two scoops and a waffle cone.

Old style ice cream parlour

Worried by the challenge ahead

I won the battle eventually despite the cone collapsing and having to transfer it all to a bowl instead.

Now back in the room. Have put on Dante's Peak on the iPad.

Looking forward to tomorrow as we don't have drive anywhere. Our first day of proper activities which should be awesome. Will make the blog more interesting for a start.

States visited - 5

Ice Creams defeated - 2 scoops

Day Four

Woke up at 5am. Couldn't get back to sleep. Hit the pool just after seven. It was bigger today but almost as cold.

Breakfast was good, plenty of choice and there was a tub of chocolate chips you could pour onto anything you had. Felt obliged to try them. Ann had cereal and again she didn't like it. Still too sweet. She should have poured chocolate chips over it.

As it was still early, Ann had the chance to FaceTime the UK for about two hours before we set off.

Eventually we did and we carried on west on I-80 moving into Utah, switching onto I-84 and beginning to head north. Ann had another funny turn and gave up driving again. I think it is a ruse she has come up with to not drive.

We stopped for lunch near Tremonton. Bought a Subway and then stopped by Bear River to eat. Managed to FaceTime Paul from the banks. It is amazing to think how technology enables you to be in the middle of nowhere and speak face to face with another country. How the world has changed.

We gassed up and then got back on I-84 heading north up into Idaho. Made good time and reached the hotel in Jerome around 5pm. Not bad for 356 miles, the equivalent of driving from Plymouth to the Lake District but nowhere near the stress of it.

When we went into the hotel there was no one about. Literally no one. Wandered around for a while trying to check in. Eventually someone turned up and told us our room wasn't ready. So they gave us another one.

Headed here for dinner.  http://www.depotgrilltwinfalls.com/

Grilliant

It was fab. A proper diner. The far end of town away from all the run of the mill places. Got asked where we were from and why we were here.

On the way back to the hotel we stopped off to have a look at Snake River which has carved a big gorge you have to cross. A chance to photograph some Geography. We have with us Donkey Ote, a member of the ICC Geography department, who has been photographed around the world. So we decided to photograph him with the gorge and meanders.



Gorge -ous



A couple walking back to their car stopped and told us 'You've just missed it. Someone has just jumped off the bridge'. Ann and I feared the worst before they added 'Oh, they were wearing parachutes'.

Bridge of Dies

Saw some other people jump of the bridge later on. Each to their own.

Now back in the hotel. More Harry Potter on. Cedric Diggery has just died. As it is still earlyish, Ann is awake.

States Visited – 4

Donkeys photographed – 1

People seen jumping off a bridge - 2

Day Three

Woke up at 6am. No recollection of any weird dreams. Hit the pool just after 7am. It was the coldest hotel pool ever. Smashed out a few lengths. Each length equated to about three metres. It was also the shortest hotel pool ever.

Hit breakfast and had waffles. Ann kept getting cereal and then throwing it away because it was too sweet. Not sure if she actually ate anything.

After we checked out, it was decided that Ann was going to drive. A nice couple of small roads and then a fairly clear interstate would be a good way to have her first go in the beast. Within 30 seconds we hit a snag, our side of the road was covered in debris forcing us to have to swerve into the opposite lane. As we passed it, I noticed it was a spillage of bags of pretzels littered everywhere!

I battled the stereo which seemed to have a mind of it's own. All I wanted to do was play stuff from the iPod, but the whole system kept freezing. This became a recurring theme all day, but we did get music at times.

After about half an hour, Ann decided she was bored of driving and said she felt funny, so we stopped to switch roles.

We made our way along the I-80 to Rawlins and then had a quick stop. Next we headed north as we noticed something of interest on the map. Took us an hour to get there.

 

Rocky

It is a large granite rock at the south-east end of the Granite Mountains. It is famous as it lies on what was the Oregon and California wagon trails from the mid nineteenth century. Travellers tried to reach it by Independence Day so that they could clear the rest of the mountains before winter, hence the name. As it was a well known spot on the long journey west, people started to carve or paint their names into/onto it. Supposedly there were roughly 5000 names in total although more than half a million people passed it.

Register of the desert

You can still see the names today, although the ones we saw were difficult to read or photograph. Did my best.

There is something there if you look closely

You are allowed to climb it but, due to the fact I had flip flops on and it was quite warm, we headed back to the car. Made our way back south to Rawlins.

Ate lunch at Penny's Diner. https://oaktreeinn.com/pennys-diner/ It was average. Filled up with gas and then headed back on the I-80 on our way west for another hundred miles or so. Speed limit was 75/80mph most of the way so we breezed along nicely. Even the miles of contraflow were 65 mph, so we hit Rock Springs just after 5pm.

Checked in to the Comfort Inn and Suites. Sat and watched Harry Potter for a while before heading out to Subway to grab some dinner to take back to the room. We have been in a lot of Subways over our four trips. This was not one of the best. Whilst in there, I pointed out to Ann the very bizarre sight of a six month old baby with pierced ears. Why?

Back to the room to eat and finish Harry Potter. Didn't lose the key.

Ann is now asleep. What's new?

States visited - 2

Granite Rocks seen - 1

Pretzel watch - high

Day Two

Slept well which is not surprising considering how long the previous day had been. Had a strange dream involving a big house and finding a long lost hidden floor which had been sealed up because of some murder a hundred years before. Very odd.

Got up just before 7am and hit the pool. Had a rejuvenating swim. Then Facetimed the UK before heading down for breakfast. It was run of the mill stuff. I had cereal and then pancakes. Had apple juice to drink or as it should be known 'a glass of water infused with one particle of apple flavoured juice'. Ann had a mouldy banana.

Headed off at 11am. Went to the Buffalo Herd Overlook at Genesee Park which was just down the road. Should technically be called Bison Herd Overlook. Didn't see any bison. Or buffalo. Think they were hiding. Did find out some bison related facts.

1. There were 50-60 million bison in the USA around the mid 1800s. By the late 1800s there were 500.
2. A bison can jump 6 feet in the air from a standing position

Also thought of the old joke about a white man being led by a Cheyenne guide. The guide puts his ear to the floor and says 'Buffalo come'.
The white man says 'How can you tell?"
"Ear sticky".

Whilst reading the bison information boards we noticed that Buffalo Bill's grave was nearby so we decided to stop by on our journey.

Headed up Lookout Mountain to the museum and grave. Watched a film about William F. Cody. Looked at some stuff. Saw a dead bison.

Not jumping six feet here

Saw other memorabilia from his life.

Annie Get Your Poster

There was a kids section where you could practise lassoing a baby steer but Ann wouldn't let me have a go. Went to see his grave.

Bill and wife

He decided to be buried on the mountain as it had the best view in the United States out across the plains. Sadly it now isn't  quite the same!

Good place to put an aerial

Sat and had a drink and finally realised we are on holiday. Saw this and Ann got excited and wanted to take a photo.

Holidays are coming

Went back to the car and watched the last 10 minutes of Everton's Europa League game. Then we set sail for Laramie, Wyoming. Made very slow progress around the outskirts of Denver and then north of Denver all the way up I-25 to Fort Collins. Once we hit Highway 287 it was clear all the way to Laramie. Hit a high point of 2462 metres which is 1.5 miles above sea level. Scenery was fab.

Arrived at the Fairfield Inn and Suites. Checked in and then headed out for dinner here.

https://www.jeffreysbistro.com/

I had a grilled cheese sandwich and Ann had something I have never seen before, a grilled hummus sandwich. Place was very nice and would happily recommend it.

Headed back to the hotel. Got back to the room but couldn't find the keycard. Searched myself and the car to no avail. Somehow managed to lose it, probably in Jeffrey's. To be fair, it is the first time I have ever lost one and seeing as I am always put in charge of the key and we have visited a million hotels that isn't a bad record. I did go swimming with one back on our first trip which didn't do it any good, but up to now had never lost one. Had to ask for a new one at reception. Man seemed unfazed by the request.

As ever Ann is now asleep.

States visited - 2

Bison watch - low

Dead bison watch - high

Keys lost - 1

Day One

Got up early and rushed around a lot making sure we had everything. Doubled checked most things. And doubled checked again. Taxi arrived bang on 7.30am. I say taxi, it was a Peugeot 206 with taxi written on the side. Squeezed our stuff and ourselves into it and headed for Totnes. Got there early. Sat and waited.

Train arrived eventually. Got on in First Class and went to our seats. There were others available that were better so we sat in them instead. Ann chatted to a Plymouthian couple who were heading to London for the first time. They were in their fifties. Enough said.

Made use of the free drinks trolley on the occasions the person running it didn't completely ignore us. Enter the carriage, serve the people on the other side of the aisle from us and then just bugger off. Always helpful.

Stole some sugar from the trolley when it was parked up unattended. Coincided with some sort of alarm going off loudly.

We got to Reading on time and broke the rules by taking the suitcases up the escalator despite the warnings that it was hazardous. Made our way straight on to the Railair coach.

Uneventful journey to Heathrow. Got off at Terminal 3 and checked our luggage.  Beat security despite Ann trying to smuggle an entire bottle of clear liquid airside.

Ate food and waited for the gate to be announced. It was. We went there. Sat and waited. Ann suddenly piped up with 'Isn't that Goldie Hawn?'  It was.

Got the Hawn

We got on the plane before Goldie. It appeared as though she had to be last on. Presumably so she didn't have to mix with the scum.

Made our way to our seats. Sat. Flew. Landed in Denver, Colorado. Not much to report except for the nice tea just before we touched down.

Cream

And that I only watched one film which is very unusual for a nine hour flight.  Spent most of the time battling this.

Cryptic

Didn't do too badly. Having got off we then had to queue for immigration. It was a new system to what we have been used to. We queued for what seemed like an age before we got to use a computer to do it ourselves. It printed a receipt which you then had to take downstairs and queue some more. Then you gave your receipt and passport to a bloke and then he made Ann do all the finger printing and photo taking (we had just done upstairs) again. Fab system.

Anyway, we were allowed in and then set about catching the bus to the car hire place. Didn't take long. We were greeted by an eleven year old boy who did our booking. Ann felt he looked crestfallen when we didn't take out the CDW. Presume he gets commission if he cons us. He took us to the car. He seemed unsure about how it worked.

We loaded our stuff, plugged in the sat nav, tried to work out how to drive it and then set off.

Unit

Travelled through the middle of Denver and reached our destination of the Holiday Inn Express in Golden.

Checked in, collected our post and headed to our room. Decided we couldn't be bothered to go and eat having had at least four meals in the day. Bought some Sun chips and drinks in the lobby and sat and ate in the room.

Ann watched some Harry Potter and is now asleep. This is a return to the norm of trips 1 and 2. Trip 3 must have been an anomaly when she was awake each night.

The thunderstorm raging outside may wake her but I doubt it. It is now 9.40pm here which is 4.40am to us. I am tired and will now attempt to sleep. Have to be ready for the big day tomorrow.....Everton playing in the Europa League!