Day Three

Slept very well. Ann not so much. Apparently her phone kept ringing. Didn't hear it.

Had breakfast in the hotel. No one else there at all. The quietest breakfast room we've ever experienced. That was lucky as I managed to throw a plate of pancakes and syrup on the floor and there were no witnesses.

Headed out to the USS Lexington, a World War II era aircraft carrier. Parked in the car park for the aquarium as we had prepaid for it and would be going there later. Got surrounded by birds as soon as we parked. They seemed to think we had food. They didn't want any sun cream. Walked the short distance to the ship and proceeded up the long gangway.

We're going to need a bigger boat

The entrance led into the hanger deck where the planes used to be kept. From there you could visit different areas of the ship. We did the hanger deck first, followed by the gallery deck and then up on the flight deck.

Hanger deck

Combat Information Centre

Planes on flight deck

Another plane

The flight deck

The stern

There were some interesting talking dummies at points. They had faces projected onto them which then moved as the voices spoke. It was very clever but also quite creepy too.

When we made it onto the bridge, there were signs everywhere asking people not to touch any switches, etc, needless to say every person we saw up there was touching everything. Must be an American thing to presume it doesn't apply to you.

At one end on the flight deck you could walk out on part of the ship that stuck out from the bow. So we did. It was an odd feeling dangling over the water.

Plank

The non plank plank from the plank

We headed back down to the Mess Deck cafe for lunch before touring the lower decks. We then headed to the shop to get a magnet.

As we left and walked down the long gangway back, someone decided to drive a truck up it. Not quite sure why. Pretty sure it isn't designed for trucks. Then remembered, we're in America, you do what you want.

Next, we headed back to the Texas State Aquarium. Once we were in we headed straight to the Starbucks located inside. Got a drink and then walked out and watched the Dolphin show which was on.

Jump

Still not sure what to make of things like these. These dolphins were all born in a 'protective environment' so can't be released into the wild, but do they really need to parade for the cheering masses to raise awareness? Maybe they just enjoy arsing about.

During the show, we were told how to help protect species like these in the sea. Don't leave litter, help with beach cleaning programs, don't use plastic. Then they did a quiz where they got a kid up and he had to answer a question about how to help and he answered 'don't drop litter' and won a chance to be photographed with the dolphins. It therefore seemed slightly ironic that at the end of the show when the crowd had left that two people went around collecting the rubbish the crowd had left. Felt like the message hadn't really got across.

Next we had a look at the turtles, rays and the alligator.

Terry the turtle

Alan the alligator

Saw this sign by the alligator. Makes you despair about humanity when you need a sign like this.

Why would you????

We then went in the quite extensive shop to get a magnet before meeting up with Paul and Helen who had arrived. Wandered around Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico zones seeing all there is to see.

Flamingoes

Fish

Sh...sh...sh...shark

Shark above

Every now and again there was a loud beeping and someone shouted at us how long until the aquarium was closing. This occurred more and more as we approached 5pm.

We left and then headed over to where Paul and Helen are staying on Padre Island. We then drove our cars on the beach and played in the sea. Well some of us did. Highlight was Alana using her spade to throw water over Paul, which both she and I found particularly funny.

Padre Island

Cars

Sea

Once it started to get colder we packed up, said our goodbyes and we drove back to our hotel via Walmart to buy some food. Con Air is now on.

States visited - 2

Dolphin watch - high

Shark watch - high

Day Two

Set the alarm for 7.20am which wouldn't be too early if you hadn't gone to bed at 2.30am. Headed down for breakfast at 8am. Had a Texas shaped waffle. Ann had something.

Needed to sort the car issue out, so we checked out and Paul dropped Ann and I back at the airport just after 10am. Collected the car. Found out from the guy that only the desk shuts at 11.30pm and up on the collection floor they work until 1am each night, so we could have had the car the previous night as our check in had been done online.

Felt annoyed. We had planned to go to the Capitol Building in Austin, but due to everything the previous day we decided we didn't have time. Instead drove south. Stopped at Gruene for a short break. Had seen it on a George Clark TV show a couple of months ago, talking about the German based architecture in the town.. The Roffe-Knightley effect came in to play in one shop, where it went from nobody to so full you couldn't move in about three minutes.

A few things for the garden

Had a drink at the Gruene Coffee Haus. It felt nice to sit outside in the sun. Gruene is in the path of the eclipse and I imagine it will be absolutely rammed next Monday.

Next headed to San Antonio. Did a few laps of the city due to roadworks/building everywhere trying to find somewhere to park. Eventually managed it and then walked the short distance to the Alamo. Picked up our audio tour and set off. Wasn't much of a tour. Having listened to it all, I still have no more real knowledge other than it was lots against few and the few lost. Wandered around a bit and saw it. Bought a magnet.

Remember me?

Once hot and bored we went back to the car and drove south east. Saw this. Thought it would be bad manners not to photograph it.

Stopped for food at a Sonic Drive In. Ann wanted water so I ordered what I thought was water. Turns out it wasn't. She didn't want it.

Headed a couple of hours further south to Portland and the coast. Checked in and then nipped to Walmart to get something to eat in the room. Had a quick chat with the others who are in a hotel forty mins away from us and discussed meeting up tomorrow

As ever, Ann is asleep whilst I type this. I am very tired again.

States visited - 2

Day One

Got up at the stupid time of 4am. Got ready and we were packing the stuff into the taxi at 5.20am precisely. Unsurprisingly there wasn't much traffic on the way to Stowmarket station at that time of day.  Waited on the platform. Quite a few people turned up. Caught the 5.59am to Liverpool Street. 

For the first few minutes we were able to sit alone but then after a couple of stops the train was full of commuters and their bikes. Bloke sat next to me watched Love Island the entire way. Tried to think of better alternative titles for it. Best I could come up with was Prick Island. 

Arrived on time and made our way to the Elizabeth Line and waited for the next train to Terminal 5. It should have been Terminal 3 but yesterday BA helpfully cancelled our flight to Austin. Caught the train and arrived at Heathrow.  Went to the Club World baggage drop to see if we could alter the alternative flight plan we'd been given. Woman phoned ticketing but apparently the only way to get to Austin was to go to LA and then wait for a connecting flight. Hard to believe there wasn't a single alternative landing on the east coast rather than the west. Tried to lay it on thick by pointing out we would now be arriving at Austin over seven hours later than planned and with a two year old who would then have been travelling for a nearly a day. Apparently it could only be done if we didn't mind not being business class. Said no, we don't mix with the scum.

Dropped bags and went through fast track security. Can report there were no anomalies in the groin area. Ann had her bag searched as she was trying to take liquid explosive on the plane. Once the feds said Ann was clean she decided I should stand in the duty free shop whilst she went looking for things that smelt.

We then went up to the Club Lounge. It was fairly busy. Ann got me a cup of warm milk and then asked me to test it to see of it was hot chocolate. It wasn't, it was warm milk. We were going to meet Paul and Helen but there was no sign of them, so we then decided to go over to the quieter Gate B lounge which would mean we could then walk to the gate when needed.

Tried to eat/drink as much free stuff as possible. Still no sign of the others. Then it was time to head for the gate as boarding was about to start. Wandered over and waited. Paul and Helen turned up and boarding started almost instantaneously. Said hello to the child and also Alana.

Got on plane. It was being flown by the comedian Jon Richardson. Club World around us was a bit empty with a few spare seats. Spent most of flight with a two year old hiding under my seat or being led around the cabin by her. Did get to see some sights out the window.

Not very Greenland

La La Land

Eventually we landed and we made our way to immigration. Queue was long. Took an hour to reach the front. Took thirty seconds to get through. Eventually our bags turned up and then we had to go and dump them and go through security again. This time Paul and Helen had to drink all their liquid explosives to get them on the plane. Sat for an age and then eventually got to board the world's busiest flight. Due to the rescheduling we had to sit with the scum for this flight. Not quite the same luxury. Alana spent most of the flight sliding of her seat whilst trying to sleep. Flew into the dark.

Tuscon at Night

Landed at Austin. Got off fairly quickly and then had to wait another age for baggage. Then headed for car rental desk. Here we had an issue. I had a car booked but now it was gone midnight and the Enterprise desk shut at 11.30pm, we should have arrived at 4pm!! Luckily Paul had booked Hertz and their desk was open until 1am. Eventually we managed to get all of us and the luggage all in the car and set off.

Checked in to the Best Western Plus at Buda. Finally got to bed at 2.30am, local time, which was 8.30am UK time, so we had been awake for over 28 hours!

States Visited - 2

Day Twenty Four

Up at 7am. No luck finding the crickets last night. Loaded the car at 9am and then off to San Francisco. 

Headed west for about an hour and the stopped for fuel and toilet break just outside Selma. We then headed first north west and then west for a couple of hours to Gilroy. Scenery was great as ever, fields of fruit, hills, reservoirs.

Ann's phone kept ringing. It was a mobile number. Eventually she answered when it rang for the fourth time. It was the Stowmarket Taxi driver saying he was running late. Ann pointed out that we were still in California and that he was picking us up on Wednesday at 6.50pm not Tuesday.

Arrived at the diner we planned to stop at for lunch but unfortunately we hadn't checked its opening hours, so we arrived just as it was shutting. Carried on north whilst Ann searched for something and then we stopped at a Denny's. The first and only one of the trip. Had lunch and headed north again.

Arrived to return the car. Guy said it didn't have the right amount of fuel in, I said it did. I won. Waved goodbye to the car.

Got an Uber to the airport. 

Arrived and went to drop the baggage off. We have done this lots of times before but this time was special, we got to drop it at the Club World desk with its own special lane. When we originally planned the trip the first thing we did was work out the flights. We tried lots of combinations as to which way around the trip would be, Alaska first, California first, Hawaii first, and the days to fly. Eventually we realised that if we did it the way we eventually did, that Business Class out of San Francisco on a Tuesday night was probably as cheap as we could ever hope to find it.

The lady on the desk obviously thought we didn't look that kind of class because the first thing she did was surreptitiously check that we were Club World before allowing us to use the desk. Once we checked the luggage, the lady told us that she had marked us as priority. Went to security, there was a priority lane so went up it. Got through security quickly. No one questioned us! No discrepancies in the groin or buttock area.

Went to the BA lounge and was allowed in. It was very busy and we were unsure about how to act. Found a seat. Then everyone left as a flight was called. Got a choice of every seat. Sat on a couple out of the way. Passed the time using the free Wi-Fi and reading my book. Ann spent it wandering seeing what treats she could get. All the food and drink was free, so more things kept arriving like cheesecake and warm cookies.

Eventually it was time to go to the gate. Chaos there as there were so many people waiting stood all over the shop. Eventually we got to board in the second group. Took our Club World seats. Ann offered me the window seat saying that she had the window on the flight over. I think she just didn't want to face backwards. Played with everything and looked at all the White Company goods we got for free. Were giving orange juice before we took off.

Eventually took off about half an hour late. Had a three course dinner including a caramel mousse.

Ann watched a film and I settled down to read a bit. Then closed my eyes. When I opened them Ann was asleep as was the entire plane. Put my seat all the way to a bed and cracked out the blanket and pillow. Didn't really get to sleep much more but it was just nice to have so much room.

Breakfast was served so had orange juice and warm croissants. And then it was time to land. Got off quickly, through passport control in seconds. Then had to wait for hours for our cases. Ann's arrived first as ever.

Got the Heathrow Express to Paddington and then the Elizabeth line to Liverpool Street. Sat in a coffee shop for about an hour before boarding the 5.30pm to Stowmarket. It was very busy as it was rush hour but nearly everybody got off at Colchester. Spent the journey discussing our favourite bits of the trip and the fact it has gone so quickly. Arrived at Stowmarket to find the taxi waiting. Don't know if he had been there for 24 hours.

Got home. Made mash for dinner as we have on our return from every trip. This time we used some of our own potatoes. Tesco delivery arrived. Tried to watch TV but Ann kept falling asleep, hence she has now gone to bed as I type which is only fitting.

States visited - 4

Total states visited - 50

Day Twenty Three

Up at 6am and out the door by 7.15am. Made sure not to take any food with us. Drove the short distance to the entrance booth of Sequoia National Park. Man asked if we wanted a pass. Said no and gave him our National Park membership card. He seemed impressed. I don't think he thought tourists had memberships. He was so taken by it he forgot to ask for identification to prove I was the person named on the card.

With that we entered and then made the slow, winding, climbing drive up into the park. Got in early to avoid the traffic as we had done at Yosemite so it wasn't too bad. Let some idiot go past who was driving right up my chuff despite the fact I was driving on the speed limit in a National Park. The person in front then did the same. Had to laugh when later on he was only three cars ahead when we had to stop at roadworks.

Eventually made it to our first stop. Found a space easily as we were so early and then walked about half mile down to this.

General Sherman is the largest tree by volume of wood in the world. Despite the fact the top of it is dead it is still growing. Apparently it increases by the size of an average tree each year. It is 2200 years old. It was massive. To give you a sense of scale, I took a photo with a child in it for reference.

Chunky

We sat and marvelled for some time at its majestic hugeness. It is impossible to express just how big it is and the fact that sequoias don't taper as they go up just adds to that.

Once we had sat it the splendour of its presence for long enough we made the walk back up to the carpark. As we were 1.3miles above sea level we took it slowly and took the occasional rest. We then drove to the Lodgepole Visitor Centre. Here we had planned to go to the café. It turned out to be closed. Apparently visitor numbers are so low that it hasn't been open for a while and isn't likely to either. Instead we went to the shop and bought a magnet, obviously, and some drinks. I had an cornetto style ice cream too. Ann had something. We sat out in the shade and the temperature was very pleasant. We then went into the visitor centre where Ann upset a model bear.

Having read up all about the park and trees we headed up to Lost Grove. Pulled over and got out. It's an area with lots of sequoias either side of the road. Had a wander and took some photos of groups if big trees.

Bunch

Then this happened.

After the mule deer had gone we carried on looking at trees. Then the deer came back and started towards us. 

Other people started stopping to take pictures of it. There are signs everywhere saying don't feed or approach the wildlife, so what did people do? You can guess. Another deer then turned up and it too was encouraged to go towards people. The thing will be that the deer will keep wandering on that bit of road and then a speeding idiot will then mow it down. We got annoyed so decided to leave. Someone driving past then spotted the deer and pulled in across the front of us half in the road blocking our exit. Sat on the horn until that got out of the way. 

Turned around and slowly headed down to Wuksachi Lodge. The restaurant there was open so we got some lunch. Shared a pizza.

Next we headed down to the Giant Forest Museum. It was not really a museum at all, just a few facts about the forest. The main thing from today I have learnt is that as the National Park were so determined to preserve the forest they prevented forest fires as best they could, but after about a hundred years they've realised that this is bad and that the forest needs fires to regenerate. The lack of any fires stopped any new sequoia trees growing. It also meant that much larger destructive fires were more likely to happen. Mature trees can withstand the fires as their outer bark is two feet thick which protects the growing stuff inside. Also their branches are so high up they don't get caught in the flames.

Outside the museum is another one of the famous trees.

Sentinel

We left the museum and headed towards the Tunnel Log. This where a tree fell over the road and then a tunnel was cut for traffic to get through. There is a bypass if your vehicle is too tall. 

On the way up the car in front stopped. Then a hand came out of their window and motioned to us to look to our right. We looked. And then we saw it. After 13 years, 50 states and 11 National Parks we finally saw a real bear in the wild. Although we saw one from the train in Anchorage, the train was moving so fast we didn't actually get to experience the thrill. 

Immediately we rushed to get our phones out to capture this long awaited moment. Ann filmed this wonderful bit of footage.

I managed to capture a photo of a gorilla touching its toes.

We then put the devices away and watched. It was amazing to sit and watch it foraging away, ripping bark off the fallen trees. Eventually it wandered away and traffic was starting to build up. As we went to move I noticed a car in the opposite direction not even looking at the bear. They were looking to their right at a male deer with big antlers. I tried to capture it quickly but not with much luck.

Headed up to the tunnel log and drove through.

Turned around and drove back down the bypass and back out the way we had come. Saw this as we drove down.

Presumably it is the same bear that has wandered across the road, but may have been a different one. This time people in other cars got out and wandered across the road to take photos. Good plan.

We made one more stop at Moro Rock. This is a large granite rock which has 300+ concrete steps all the way to the top. We didn't climb it. Had a look at the views from the bottom. Then carried on driving back down towards the park exit.

Stopped at a few lookout points to take some pics and enjoy one final piece of American awesomeness.

Headed back to the cabin. Had dinner and then started to think about tomorrow. We have to pack up for the last time as we head for San Francisco Airport and a 7.25pm flight back to Blighty. 

The cricket is back. Think there actually are two in here somewhere having a chat. Buggered if I can actually find them!

States visited - 4

Bear watch - high

Deer watch - high

Day Twenty Two

Headed out to a place Ann found in the town to get breakfast at around 10.15am. Got there. There was a queue. They didn't seem to have much stuff that we wanted. Decided to go back and check out and find something on the way to our next destination. Checked out dead on 11am.

After around fifteen minutes we stopped at Nelda's Diner in Lake Isabella.

Had brunch. It was decent. Service was really good. It was really busy. As I said earlier in the trip, follow the locals. I had a milkshake made entirely from ice cream. I don't know if you've ever tried to drink ice cream through a straw but it is bloody hard work.

Left and headed towards Bakersfield. The drive through the Sierra Nevada range continued to be spectacular. Like yesterday we didn't realise it would be such a great drive. Stopped to see the Kern River as we drove alongside it. It is still flowing fairly fast.

Lovely interlocking spurs

Arrived at Bakersfield and stopped at a Walgreens to pick up a couple of things. Seemed a bit of a dodgy area. The restroom in the store is locked and you have to ask for it to be opened. 

Then headed north. We made a quick stop at McFarlane to see the high school. No other reason than we like the film 'McFarland, USA' which is based on a true story at the school. Unfortunately it was filmed elsewhere so we couldn't see any locations. 

Continued north to Visalia. Stopped at Walmart to pick up our last lot of food. We have two nights left in the US, both at a small cabin which is self catering. Its location will make it expensive to eat out, so we got enough for our breakfast and dinners. Receipt was checked on the door as we exited again just like it was in the last Walmart a few days ago. Must be a great job, highlighting receipts all day.

Then headed the small distance north east to Three Rivers and our cabin passing lots of fields of orange and lemon trees. Arrived here: Sierra Vista Casita.

Unloaded everything from the car, and I mean everything. We are in bear country again. The notes from the owner state there is an active bear in the area. I don't know if that means an active shooter bear (from the 2010 blog) or a bear that likes fitness. Bears have a good sense of smell and there is a long list of things not to leave in your car in case the bear tries to get into it, hence we just got everything out. 

Read the quote 'A fed bear is a dead bear'. Once the bear realises it can get food in human areas it starts to actively seek it out and then will become aggressive and will 'have to be shot'. We don't want to be responsible for dead bears.

Watched out the window for a while trying to see if a bear appeared doing star jumps, but nothing to report.

Ate dinner and watched a slightly bizarre film on Netflix. Now think there is a cricket in the cabin as it is chirping really loud. At least it isn't a bear doing squats.

One more early get up tomorrow to make the most of our location.

States visited - 4

Bear watch - low

Day Twenty One

The day started with a disaster, a predictable disaster, but one all the same. Watched Everton's first game of the season. Incidentally thirteen years ago almost to the day the blog from the first trip starts the same way! 

Had startled myself awake mid dream to watch the game. In the dream Dan Thomas had just arrived and done a handbrake turn in a clapped out Renault Espace. Very bizarre. Normally when he turns up on these trips it is his doppelgänger we see somewhere.

Eventually got ready and went for breakfast in the motel. It was the world's smallest breakfast room and quite busy. A family had helpfully put tables together in the middle which meant it was difficult to get to anything. Eventually managed to get something and sat in the extra seating area by ourselves.

Tidied the car and then packed up. Noticed a cricket on the curtains in the room. 

It was the second one I has seen in the last twelve hours. A black one attacked me last night just after I finished the blog.

We checked out and then headed just up the road to the Museum of Western Film History.  Lone Pine and the Alabama Hills have been used as a filming location in a lot of famous films, ranging from How the West was Won to Gladiator. We went in and paid the $5 donation they asked for. The lady on the desk said there was a fifteen minute short introductory film going to start in a couple of minutes in the small theatre. We looked at the first few things and then went and sat in the theatre. We were the only ones. We sat there for at least five minutes and nothing happened so we gave up and went back to carry on looking around. After about ten minutes an announcement said the film was going to start. We didn't bother.

At this point I will announce that Ann and I have different opinions about the museum. Ann said she thought it was great, really fascinating. I, on the other hand, do not concur with that view. Apart from one or two things which were ok, it seemed to be a museum of film posters. Also most of the exhibits were things like 'hat worn by an extra'.

A suit worn by Robert Downey Jnr in Iron Man 

Christoph Waltz's wagon from Django Unchained

Creature from Tremors

This 'might' have been used in a film

Only realised that Mount Whitney, the highest point in the lower forty eight states, was right behind us when seeing the magnets for it in the shop and Googling it. Nothing in the shop seemed to be related to films.  We left and drove south for about an hour. Listened to Sound of the Sixties with Tony Blackburn. Stopped and got fuel having used a lot yesterday. Picked up a Subway for lunch. Saw the most stereotypical American trailer park family. She was young and inappropriately dressed for her size, he had tattoos under his eyes and their small son had a blueish mullet. 

Drove about another fifteen minutes south and stopped in a scenic lookout to eat lunch. Had video call with Paul, Helen and Alana. Didn't get out the car as it was 96. 

Carried on west bound. Didn't realise the journey was going to be as spectacular as it turned out to be.

Eventually arrived at Kernville to stay the night. We only chose to stay here as we planned to go tubing on the river. Unfortunately the snow melt this year was massive causing flooding in the town Severe flooding in Kernville. The river is still fuller than it should be and tubing is not running this year.

Checked into the Piazza's Pine Cone Inn. Room is great except for the big glass patio door which means people can see in unless you have the curtains closed.

Went out for dinner at cherylsdiner. I am going to break tradition and tell you Ann had two eggs scrambled, hash browns and toast. There was not much egg. As in barely any.  Told her that she should said to them if I realised I was getting quails eggs I would have ordered more. I had a Sprite which didn't taste of Sprite. Ann tried it and agreed. Asked them to check that the syrup in the machine had not run out as that is what it tasted like. Waitress came back and told me it was fine and the Sprite tasted normal. She asked me if I was getting confused with 7Up. Told her I wasn't. She offered me lemonade instead. I got flat lemon which was overpoweringly lemony like Sheila's lemonade in Detectorists. Ann agreed with me. Ann had wanted to go there for breakfast in the morning too, but by this point she was Googling alternatives whilst we were still in there. Did notice this painting in the diner.

Can you guess who it is?

That's right its a picture of Calamity Jane! Pretty sure I saw that hat in the movie museum earlier, labelled as 'Big hat which someone once wore'.

Walked back to the motel. Ann wanted some decaf coffee so we went to go to reception to get some as they said we could go and take stuff if we wanted it. As we went to cut across past the pool, we were warned there was a skunk by the gate by the family running the place. Apparently it always turns up there. They said make lots of noise to scare it off like banging the gate. I didn't. There was no skunk.

Ann has just watched An Affair to Remember. No plans to get up early.

States visited - 4

Skunk watch - low