A Traveller's Notes: 2014

Thursday, 27 November 2014

Sunday, 26 October 2014

Last musings about the USA

It's time to go. We're checked in, and chilling out in the lounge. I don't really want to go home, but I know that we must.

People ask why I choose to go to the USA so often.

I do love the States. I like the people - in general they are very friendly, helpful and interested. The majority of people I've come across appear to speak at least two languages, which impresses me.

I love that we can drive from one side to the other, and that even the locals find that amazing.

I am grateful that there is always a fuel and convenience stop when you need it, and that it's clean.

I shall miss the toilets that flush themselves, and automatic taps and soap dispensers. Yes, we have them in Oz, must they're not commonplace, as they are here.

I love the shopping. The availability of great clothes and the affordability of them. I love that the sizes are slightly different, and that in America, I feel much smaller than I do at home.

There are so many national parks! They're everywhere. Diverse and well kept. I'm keen to revisit those I've been to and to see those I haven't. I need more time! This is definitely not our last visit.

We won't be hiring a car from Dollar again. Our go-to is still Alamo. Friendly, convenient, helpful with nice cars in good condition. The pick up office in LA is close to the airport and they're never busy.

Well, that's all. We're almost home and the sunrise is chasing us in. The flight was quite full, and coming home always takes longer than going.

I'm always grateful to get home again with out any terrible travel stories to note. Ther drive went without a hitch, the flights worked well, the hotels were great. Very happy.

Thanks for reading. Til next adventure.

Saturday, 25 October 2014

The OC

Our last hotel is the Hyatt at Newport Beach in Orange County, the OC, where we'd stay for two nights, but booked three, to account for the late departure back to Oz on Saturday night. Even if we managed to get a late checkout, it's still too early to go to the airport, so we've found that it is much more relaxing to stay in our room until we are ready to leave.

We had a quiet few days in LA, driving along the coast, looking at the houses and neighborhoods, the fabulous cars, enjoying the perfect weather. Shopping. Packing. Attempting to sleep in.

We visited the Portofino Inn, where the Cannonball Run finished. We stood in the carpark and felt pleased that we'd finished our own journey. 4,200 miles in the end, and 15 states.

We saw seals sunning themselves and 'chatting' to eachother on the walkways of the marina, and many amazing boats and yachts. We had a lovely breakfast watching the fish through the clear waters.

We shopped. We hadn't been to South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa for awhile, but it was close to our hotel and one of the best centers in LA. It has the biggest Nordstrom Rack we've seen, and all of our favourite shops.

We had a great dinner at 'Lark' at Fashion Island, Newport, and a fabulous breakfast at 'Nick's' at Laguna Beach.

I had never been as far south as Laguna before, but it was beautiful. Lovely beaches, walking trails, people out enjoying the weekend, huge houses, lovely old shops and restaurants. I really liked the area.

Real coffee!

The Last City

The drive into LA was met with mixed feelings. I was relieved to have made it to the other side of the (vast) country without incident, but immediately wanted to set off again.

It's been an amazing journey, and something I can highly recommend. So much variety in countryside and food and architecture. Great roads. Clean roadside rest stops. Food and fuel whenever you need it. Friendly people. Too easy.

Almost as soon as we left Palm Springs the smog of LA was discernible, but the world greened up a little in between the massive warehouses, distribution centers, and power stations.

Dom dropped me off at another outlet mall (yes, I know) and went to see the NHRA Hotrod Museum. It depicted the history of Hotrod and drag racing with lots of great cars on display.

We had a great run in to West Holywood to our hotel, the Andaz. This is despite 'carmageddon', as Dom calls it, on the outbound lanes.

I do love driving in LA. I really enjoy seeing the people and the buildings - it's an incredible mix of architecture, but mostly quite old, and a little worn and dirty. To me it's as though everyone has the attitude that if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

There are a lot of trees and flowers in LA. Everywhere. The city smells good.

Our hotel was quite outstanding. We were given a fabulous suite on the 10th floor, with a view down to Sunset Boulevard.

I'd always been curious to see the famed Chateau Marmont, which was just a block away. We walked up to the entrance and asked if we could go in for a drink. The valets said it was unlikely, but that we could go in and ask. I had to put away the camera as there was a 'no photo' policy.

The host was very welcoming and sat us in the old world glamour bar, where we toasted the end of the journey and 3,999 miles!

There were many beautiful, well dressed people walking through the hotel, but we didn't recognise anyone famous. The place certainly has an understated, sophisticated, air about it.

Desert Oasis

6am: I woke to see the first signs of morning as a pink glow on the mountain side.

There appeared to be people hiking up a trail with lights on their heads, which seemed like a good idea. It must be a spectacular view from the top and it is definitely a pleasant temperature for exercise right now.

I had googled 'best things to do in Palm Springs' and came up with the Aerial Tramway, a cable car ride to the mountain top. We'd seen no evidence of it or heard about it, but set off in search.

It was well hidden, sensitively camouflaged into the hillside and we'd never have known about it without google. It was $25 each to the top (and back) and we only had to wait about 10 minutes for a ride.

There are two rotating cars, at opposite ends of the line to eachother for energy conservation and balance, that can hold approximately 50 people each. The rotation means that everyone who wants to gets a turn at the view.

The tram ascends to 8,500 feet, and has an impressively steep trajectory. I really enjoyed the trip and the view. It was impossible to catch the perspective properly on camera, however.

At the mountain top station there is both a cafe and a restaurant, as well as the start of many walking trails. It does snow up here in winter, despite the low rainfall below. Breathing was a little labored at this altitude, and the air was very dry. It was 12 degrees at the top, versus 27 at the base. On a clear day, apparently you can see Las Vegas!

It was a highlight of the trip for me.

From there we drove to Desert Hills Premium Outlets, about 10 minutes down the I-10 towards LA. It was an excellent outlet mall, with the best coffee in the USA!

On the way we saw the biggest wind farm ever. These things are huge - perhaps 50-60 meters tall.

We enjoyed a swim and spa again this evening, enjoying the music and the desert evening.

Tuesday, 21 October 2014

Palm Springs, California

We had a nice night in Phoenix, where the storm finally caught up with us. We watched the lightning from the bar of the revolving restaurant in 24th floor of our hotel, which was pretty cool.

This morning we were on the road by 8.30am, grateful not to be mixing it with the bumper to bumper traffic inbound to the city.

We're off to California, our 15th and final state for this holiday.

The landscape is beautiful. Jagged, coloured mountains all around, with great open desert plains between the highway and the ranges, sparsely covered in low bushes.

The mountains look as though they were created yesterday. Sharp and folded at odd angles.

We've seen corn and cotton crops, saguaro cactus (the tall, armed type) and nuclear power stations. And a big, blue, cloudless sky.

It amazes me that people crossed this country on horses and in wagons. What faith and perseverance.

Joshua Tree National Park was on the way to Palm Springs, so we drove in to the visitor centre at Cottonwood Springs. It is very hot and dry here, and it's late autumn. I enjoyed seeing so many of the desert plants in flower, but saw no Joshua trees. The main part of the park is further north.

Driving down off the plain into the valley of Palm Springs I was amazed to see how high we'd been. There were craggy mountain peaks below us! The desert here is more grey and dusty in colour, with much less vegetation than we've seen over the past few days.

We were both surprised how big Palm Springs is, and that it is tucked in next to big desert mountains. It is a beautifully kept city - new buildings obviously style controlled to fit, gardens manicured with brilliant green lawns and bright flowers. Palm trees line every road. Very attractive.

Our hotel, Hyatt Palm Springs, was in the north of town, sitting right beside the mountains. It was lovely to go for a swim for the first time this trip, and stretch out our muscles after the long drive.