Our last post

Well, I am writing this on our last evening in the USA. It seems such a long time since we started this journey but the end is rapidly approaching.
We have had a wonderful holiday but we have missed the kids and the Mankelows. We often talked about things you would have liked and not liked(leaving at 8:00am, long car journeys etc).
The sights we have seen have been truly amazing and the pictures will help us relive the memories. We have been surprised at how pleasant the American people are, not just those who are after a tip. Even the Marshall was very pleasant.
Next year will have to be a sun ans sand holiday as I have used up all my Brownie points for this holiday. The good thing though is that Jan has promised to drive for the next 6 months and this blog is a permanent reminder of the fact.
Thanks for reading the blog and no doubt we will go through it all again with you when we show you the 1600 pictures (only kidding)
Beam me up Scotty.......

The Phoenican

Arrived at The Phoenician in Phoenix at about midday, checked in and straight down to one of the seven pools. It is a lovely hotel, on the outskirts of Phoenix. Rooms are big and comfortable (well air-conditioned), plenty of restaurants but most importantly, an ice cream parlour.
We had a meal in the Italian restaurant on Wednesday night which was really good. It was a late night for us, in bed by 10:00 pm!
On Thursday we went to the nearest mall, Jan didn't buy anything but I was able to get a new pair of Ray Bans to replace my broken ones.
Back to the hotel for yet another afternoon around the pool - Jan went in the pool more than me. The water was almost as hot as bathwater in the winter.
Beginning to sort stuff out for our journey home. Planning to leave around 3:00pm on Friday to return car and catch the plane home. Our 27th wedding anniversary will be spent on a 747.......
I mention this kids, just to remind you to get us an anniversary card.

The road to Phoenix

We took a leisurely drive to Phoenix, stopping at Red Rock State Park along the way. It is just outside Sedona, where we stayed, and the name of the park says it all. Similar to Slide Park, it has a creek running along the bottom (same one as at the bottom of our hotel) and people got there to swim and sunbathe. It is all very well laid out and not commercialised at all. The people in the picture were some Japanese kids who couldn't stop falling over as they tried to make their way to the other side of the creek.
Stopped for about an hour and then made our way to Phoenix.

Amara hotel

We arrived about 1:00am in Amara hotel in Sedona and fortunately our room was ready for us. Decided to be lazy and just chill around the pool. It is a lovely hotel, described as a boutique hotel, but it is very well laid out. Unusually we have been charged $20 to cover all tips we are likely to have to pay during our stay - not too bad I guess but you have to pay it every night you stay so could end up being a bit steep!
The same creek that we saw in Slide Park runs at the bottom of the hotel and is just outside our room. Saw a few ducks lazing along the edge earlier. The pool is a heated saltwater pool and very pleasant to jump in to get out of the sun. Even Jan went in a couple of times. Just before we left a couple of gays arrived. One of them never stopped talking for about 20 minutes about his trip to Pakistan and India and how it was a spiritual experience; God give me strength.
Jan's just having a bath in the Jacuzzi and then we will head off into town for dinner.

Grand Canyon to Sedona

We left the Grand Canyon reasonably early this morning, facing a 125 mile trip to Sedona.
As usual, I had a little detour planned. We drove through Oak Creek Canyon, a scenic drive. We stopped at Slide Park to have a look around. The park is mainly based around Oak Creek and it is a haven for safe swimming and diving. it is very picturesque and very natural; not commercialised at all. A part of the river is shaped like a waterslide - great fun for all the kids. It is also a bit of a sun trap. Both of us managed to get our feet wet. It was very cold but very refreshing.
We spent about an hour in the park and then made our way to Sedona.

2nd day at Grand Canyon

Had a torrid night last night - the air conditioning packed up! I complained at 2:00 am and they sent an engineer out to service it. Even Jan said it was hot so it must have been bad!
Because Obama was having a picnic at the Western end of the Grand Canyon yesterday, it was reopened today and so we decided to visit. Although it is truly spectacular, one view begins to look like another. It is not like Yosemite or Zion where the scenery changes around every corner. If we had more time, it would have been good to take a day mule trip to see the falls in the bottom of the canyon. Not sure if we would have like it though.
Our hotel is beautiful and the closest point is only 20feet from the edge of the canyon. You can just about make the hotel out on the top of the adjacent picture. If you click on the image you will be able to see it better It will soon be time for a few cocktails on the veranda. I am going off for a sunset tour soon to try and get some different pictures.......
Jan will wait in the hotel, keeping the barman happy until I get back.

From Lake Powell to Grand Canyon via Horseshoe Bend

We took another small detour today on the way to the Grand Canyon. We stopped off at Horseshoe Bend, a meander of the Colorado river on its way to the Grand Canyon. Took us a while to walk there but the view was stunning.
After that, we went on to the Grand Canyon, a 145 mile drive. Kept to the spped limits this time thanks to Jan.
The Grand Canyon is 277 miles long but we do not intend to see all of it - but it does feel like we have so far and we have another day tomorrow. Again, it is truely wonderful and different again from what we have seen so far.
We are staying in El Tovar hotel: its a bit posh. I will have to wear trousers tonight and not shorts!