Part 2 – Cross country USA, a moto trip.

We were in bluff, a small town in Utah, and near the Arizona state line. That morning we were due to move out when we stopped off at the local town museum, it had all sorts of small shacks setup like the people would have had in the old days, it was very new but cool to see. We met the museum runner a old lady and she explained the story of bluff and how the settlers tried to migrate south into Arizona and the issues they had crossing the gorges and canyons.

As we left bluff we entered into monument valley, the place where all the old western (Cowboy and Indian) movies were filled.

We headed off the main road and up a dirt track that zigzagged up a cliff wall, it seemed to clime forever and was a amazing view at the top.

We drove for a hour or so then reached our first canyon, we drove along the national park road that followed the edge of the canyon and stopped at a few places. There was several “natural bridges” and arches. The clouds in the distance started to rumble so we couldn’t stay long sadly.

As we left the national park we seemed to follow this canyon, crossing it on bridges and driving along its edge.

We took a turn off towards a place called “Bryce”, which had another canyon near it. It happened to be called “byrce canyon”. It was more we were driving on top if a ridge and looking over a cliff. The canyon was very orange dirt with natural arches and these columns that was left behind. Very pretty.

We left Bryce and drove for a few more hours until we arrived at a lake. It was the start of lake Powell, which would lead up to the grand canyon.

That afternoon we reached the next town we were stopping in, Page. It was in the Navaho (Native American) nation area. The next morning we were up early we were heading to a small canyon in Page, called antelope canyon.

This would be the first “tour” we had been on since arriving in America. Flemming had already seen it before, so it was just dad and myself. We entered the park and had to pay a parking fee, I always hate coins, even in Australia so I had a bag full. We were queued up in the line waiting and I started counting out the $6 to park, in quarters… when I got the $12 for the 2 bikes 100% in quarters they were almost spilling out of my hands. 
The guy in the ticket house was not impressed… he even counted the lot. Dad and I had a little giggle and my pocket was a million times lighter. ;)

We were loaded onto some large v8 pickup trucks with a bunch of other tourists and driven by our guide out to the canyon, it was to say the least a bumpy ride. The canyon was a cut in a wall, only 1-2 meters wide at the entrance and it cut thought the sand stone rock. What was special about this though was how the light cam in from the top and eliminated the inside of the canyon. The sand was like a fine dust and got everywhere. I was very worried about my camera it could easily destroy the lenses if it gets into the joints… The canyon was amazing and our guide was very good, showing all the good places for photos and telling loads of info about the natives (being a native herself).

We got some great photos of the sand stone, the light coming in from the top made it look almost golden at times. Definitely a place worth visiting.

Dad at Grand Canyon

Leaving Page our next stop would be the almighty grand canyon. It wasn’t long before we arrived, but boy was it busy… we had gone close to 2 weeks now with out hitting a major tourist place (other than Niagara falls). It was hard to grasp at the start just how big it was. 
We stopped at a few lookouts but did not stay long.

One of the lookouts had a tower, inside was a large number of native American artworks. Very nice to see and at the top was a good view. But it was very crowded and smelly as no fresh air getting in.

After spending a few hours at the canyon we moved on, it was nice to see but I found the smaller canyons (Bryce and page) must more pretty. However Grand canyon was impressive in its own right just how big it was.

The next day, we entered a road most people would know… route 66. We stopped in a small town for some lunch, all the shops had something funny, if it wasn’t number plates then it was cars or sighs or souvenirs. We spent a while just walking around the shops.

The next day route 66 merged into the main state hwy and disappeared, we were now on the road that would lead into Las Vagus!

It was HOT now, I was in the side car with the roof off and it was like having a hair dryer in my face all day, dad was driving and I don’t know how he could take it… it was super hot. We drove into Vagus and pulled into the first casino. “Circus Circus”, the rooms were only $30 a night so we took it and got out of the heat.

The casino had a indoor roller coaster and theme park for kids, live circus acts at night above the casino floor and loads of shops inside.

The night dad and I went out to dinner, we had a coupon for “All you can eat ribs”. We ate all we could eat till we were busting, they were soooo good.

After dinner I hit the town, I walked the “strip” and headed into a few casinos to have a look. I ended up having a few games of blackjack at MGM and doubling up my $100 so I pocketed the money and left while I was ahead.  The strip was alive at night with people dressed up in all sort of celebrity costumes. Each casino also had its own theme, there was pirates, romans, Disneyland, Egyptians, lots or things. I rounded out the night and walked back to the hotel at little over 3am.

The next day dad and I booked a hop on hop off bus tour which would take us up to the old vagus area on Fairmont st. It was cool we got to see all the old neon lights (during the day), and all the old casinos, the old mafia areas and loads of other things.

As we drove past the Vagus sky tower, someone was jumping out (like bungee). 
I turned to my dad and told him, I was going to do that today… no matter what, when the tour was on its way back, we hopped off at the tower. I booked my place on the jump and 10 min later did it.. sadly they forgot to tell my dad I was jumping and he wasn’t outside. 
But here’s a picture of the tower and me dressed up ready to go.

We also headed to the top of the tower hand had a go at a few rides, they lifted you over the edge of the tower and spun you around. A lot of fun. My $100 win from the night before gone ;) money well spent.

That afternoon we changed busses and headed down the other end of town, we got a tour of all the larger casinos and had a wonder around inside the pyramid, castle and creasers palace. Before heading back to the hotel as it was way to hot.

The following morning we headed out of vagus over death valley. We were up very very early… but that’s for part 3.

Stay tuned, part 3 and the final installment of my trip over USA. Death Valley, Yosemite, San Francisco, Hwy 101, and LA…

Till then, HAVE FUN.

Steffen

                     

On the road again – USA Road Trip - Part 1

Sorry this has been late (Very late), I had a few problems in USA and its put a sour note on me writing this blog but never the less. I have put this behind me and moved on. Here’s the highlights from my trip over USA, though some amazing countryside. I hope you enjoy my blog and I look forward to posting more trips in the coming weeks! - Steffen

I had just landed in Miami USA from Cancun Mexico, and had nothing but problems with security. First at the immigration desk they needed the names and numbers of where I was staying, I was due to meet my dad in Detroit who was going to pick up motorbikes from friends, so I didn’t have that info on hand. After a bit of digging in emails I found it, then at customs all my bags were screens and checked loads. I was expecting it as I came from Mexico but I was lucky to get picked out of the queue for everything. It took such a long time…

Finally I was in Detroit and met my Dad in the baggage collection area. It was a hour before Flemming (a family friend) would arrive and then we were off. We met up with one of Flemming’s friends who had a motorbike we could loan for a few weeks. It was a Honda Goldwings 1800 with a side car. 

The following day we were off on our little drive, the goal was Los Angeles in 4 weeks, via Niagara Falls, Colorado Rockies, Utah, Grand Canyon, Los Vegas and San Francisco. All while camping out at night.

After 2 days of driving we reached our first milestone. Niagara Falls! I was soo excited to see it, it was on one of the many lists of things and places I would like to visit in the world. We had come in over the Canadian side, which was much more beautiful than the American side.

The town Niagara itself was like a giant theme park, with wax museums,  rides and restaurants.

We went for a drive along the gorge wall for a few km’s and then turned around. I really just wanted to spend time at the waterfall walking and seeing if I could get some good pictures of this iconic landmark.  We eventually found a place to park and walked up and down the cliff edge. There was so much spray from the waterfall it was like it was raining. 
After a few hours walking around it became dark and the lights on the waterfall came on. It was magical. There was all colored lights on the waterfall making it look really special.  There was live music playing in the back ground and people walking up and down the cliff edge.

The next morning we packed up our tent site and moved on, over the Canadian/American border which took for ever… then on the road.

It would be another 5 days before we would reach the Rockies. A hell of a long drive, almost driving us all insane. The heat on the central planes was 35oC+ sometimes even over 40oC, It was nothing but corn, corn, farm, corn, farm… for 5 days. We did however have a reprieve from the heat, when we went into a outdoor hunting, camping, sports store. It was the first taste of the american craze with guns. 

One night we stopped in at a camp site near the Mississippi river (well a hours drive from it), and we could hear what I could only explain as jet boats screaming around a lake in the distance. 
Once we had finish pitching our tents we went investigating. It ended up being a race track for home made cars. The cars were going round and round on this tiny track some had such big motors they were literally sliding the entire way sending dirt and mud flying into the stands. It was fun to watch…

 A few days later we made it towards the rockies, oh my it was nice for a change of scenery. 
The mountains seemed to lift out of the earth from the middle of no where, we entered the rockies though a road that zigzagged in a small canyon. 
Then up and over a ridge. We only stayed one night in the rockies but in the morning we were greeted with deer eating the grass around the edge of our tents. It was very cool.

We drove through the rockies and up and over the mountains we were at a high altitude and the view was amazing.

As we moved down the rockies the state line of Utah passed us on the side of the road, the scenery changed again from mountain to desert almost instantly.

We were on our way to the arches national park and a camping ground just outside the park, we arrived just as night fell and pitched our tents.

The next day we were up early we wanted to be in the national park early before it got to hot. We headed up a cliff face with the bikes and into the park. First up with the hanging rock. A Large boulder perched on top of a column, I remember this rock from the movie Indiana jones (the holy grail). Good thing Dad was holding it up ;).

Next up we headed to the most famous arch in the park, it was a nice hike up the mountain to get to the view point, it was hot but nice to get off the bikes and walk. We stayed at the arch for ½ hour I was trying to get a nice shot without tourists in it but it seemed impossible. It was still a amazing view and very beautiful.

We headed to a number of other arches in the park, all nice walks to get to.  One was extremely long and thin arch. We also headed to the 3 windows arches, another place I remember from the old Indiana movies. Very cool! It was nice to get into the shade it was still early in the day but the sun was burring in the desert heat.

We left the national park and headed towards our next state (Arizona), on the way out of arches we stopped off at the hole in the rock. A old house made in a rock, someone had build 50 years ago.  It was impressive the work the man did to blow the rock away with dynamite and chiseled it all to have his house in a rock.

Outside they had art made from various items, like bolts and wrenches, cans and number plates. There was a jeep made from all strange metal items. It was very cool.

That night we stopped in a town called bluff. We will continue the story of my trip though USA in my next blog post. Stay tuned for Monument valley, Page, Vagus!, Death Valley, and onwards to LA…

Till next time, HAVE FUN

Steffen.