Uncategorized – Page 3 – Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond

Sedona Arizona

3 August 2018

I drove on the 89A from Flagstaff to Sedona. This drive is through beautiful mountains with lots of switchbacks as the road runs from an elevation of 8000 feet down to 4000 feet.

This drive is one of the top 10 scenic drives of the USA and it again gave me the Wow factor.

Sedona is a town with very wealthy retired people but is a very popular tourist spot. TheCoconino National Foresthas mouintains, buttes,green trees including firs and willows, red rock, streams for fishing and many camping grounds which were mostly full. With all these people the town did not feel touristy.

I had a personal tour guide who drove me to some of the must see spots.

Courthouse Butte

This house is just below the Chapel of the Holy Cross and is owned by a Romanian doctor. I found this blog which has a little of the history of the house.

The last walk I coped with in the 38C/100F heat was to the top of Airport Mesa.

Enjoyed one of the best caesar salads in this country at the The Tavern Grille Cottonwood.

I am staying at a lovely inexpensive hotel with this amazing view from the pool and from every room. The View Motel Cottonwood

I discovered live rock music was on in a dive bar called Kactus Kate’s Saloon. Looking up Google for the above link, I realised I had been talking to the bar’s namesake and owner, Katherine Woods. It is a very laid back bar with good music and a pool table with friendly locals.

Driving back from Kactus Kate’s Saloon, I heeded my cousin Adrian’s words “if you see a skunk, don’t hit it with your car, don’t chase it on foot. Go in the opposite direction because you can’t get the stench out of your car or clothes”. When one scampered in front of my car I was so tempted to get out to try and get a photo but reluctantly decided not to. I have seen a skunk now but still NO BEAR!!

Grand Canyon South Rim

2 August 2018

The Grand Canyon is huge!! I drove the 1.5 hours from Flagstaff while the weather was ok. I missed out on the Canyon at the start of my trip because it started snowing. The weather today was 27c (87F) with a breeze. The Canyon is HUGE. While there I was analysing and comparing the Canyon to every other magnificent landscape I have seen across the last 5 months. Looking over the photos I shouldn’t compare anything but appreciate the beauty of the changing colours and depths of this Wonder of the World. The Canyon is over 1 million acres!! There is nothing to compare it to.

However I had a sense of disappointment. I have experienced so much on this journey that just being BIG isn’t enough. I will get some back lash over this but I didn’t get the buzz I got from Ohiopyle or The Arches or Shoshone Falls or the Mississippi River. Have I seen too much beauty? Is this the infamous Australian “tall poppy syndrome” at work?

Don’t get me wrong, it is still beautiful.

I commend the transport system the park has in place. It is so well organised and easy to get around. I parked in the free parking area in Tusayan near the Imax. The purple bus whizzes you past all the cars lined up to enter the park. Then there are various shuttles which take you to different parts of the Canyon. The shuttles run every 15 minutes, pick up and drop off at spots along each route. It is easy, efficient and free after paying the park entry fee. I had purchased the America Beautiful Annual Park Pass $USD80 which has been well worth the purchase. Grand Canyon entry fee was $35 and I have used the pass in several parks around the USA and it has more than paid for itself. I do not recommend taking your car into the park as it is very difficult to park and I went on a day which did not seem too busy in high season.

On the way to the Grand Canyon I stopped off at Bedrock, the home of the Flintstones for a giggle.

Leaving the Grand Canyon I saw my first elk. I joined the crazy people who stop in the middle of the road to take a photo.

This family from Indiana were lovely company. Miles, Pearson, Deena, Evan and (you see I didn’t remember you all)

Colorado Utah Arizona

1 August 2018

As I have completed my goal of visiting every USA state, the remaining 14 days of my trip I will make my way across to San Diego to return my car rental. Today I crossed 3 borders having started in Cortez Colorado. Can you believe I was unable to find a fridge magnet for my last State!! I will hate if I have to buy one online but it may be my only opportunity to acquire one now.

At one of the parking lots there were several of these signs. Wonder what age you have to be to park there.

Hovenweep National Monument Utah

First thing this morning I drove from Cortez Colorado to Hovenweep in the Canyons of the Ancient National Monument.

Driving to this site I was on a road going through miles of flat green farm land. As far as the eye could see. Then all of a sudden the earth falls away and huge canyons appear out of nowhere.

This site includes six prehistoric villages where many ancient towers were built on canyon rims.

I stopped for horses, sheep and prairie dogs crossing.

Red Mesa Arizona

The landscape changed several times from pink, to maroon, to green, to brown, to sandy, with structures out in the middle of nowhere.

Late afternoon, for the first time, I received a text weather warning.

Flash Flood Warning this area til 7:15 PM MST. Avoid flood areas. -NWS

This was a little concerning as if you Google the area there isn’t anywhere to go till you get to Flagstaff. All good though. I arrived safely.

50 States

31 July 2018

I’ve done It!! I got all teary as I crossed over into Colorado achieving my goal of visiting all 50 states of the USA.

So far I have seen huge canyons. This photo is very smoky as there are fires in Yosemite and Colorado.

Telluride must be spectacular in winter.

Rico an old silver town.

Naturita

Nucla

Dinner at Blondie’s Trophy Room in Cortez.

Arches National Park Moab Utah

30 July 2018

The scenery across 5 hours and 2 States changed from white salt to flat desert, to rocky desert, to the spectacular sight of the Arches National Park.

On the way stopped at this cute town, Helper.

The drive from Wendover was over 5 hours but I was rewarded with this site of natural red rock sculptures.

Balanced Rock.

Park Avenue

Delicate Arch

Devil’s Garden

Courthouse Towers

I have yet to visit the Grand Canyon. Will it be as great as everyone says? I am not convinced as all the places I have seen so far are spectacular and it has a lot to live up to.

Wendover and Salt Lake Flats Utah

29 July 2018

A 6 hour drive from Boise took me to Wendover, next to the Salt Lake Flats on the Nevada Utah border. How cute is Wendover Will. Do you think there is a cheeky play on words here?

The salt on the Flats is so compacted it looks like ice. All the white gives it an ethereal feel.

You can drive on the Salt Flats but I did not want to risk it with my Toyota. If it was a 4wheel drive I would have.

There have been many movies filmed here including:

The World’s Fastest Indian
Independence Day
Need For Speed
Con Air
Pirates of the Caribbean

It is the site for land speed racing of all types of vehicles.

This quirky sculpture on the edge of the Salt Flats is The Tree of Utah, also known as the Tree of Life.

Boise Liquid Laughs

28 July 2018

What another fun night of comedy at Liquid Laughs Comedy Club.

Shawn Pelofsky again worked the room with her magic comedy.

Looks like Minerva Jayne and I had a bit of a competition with red.

Thank you Minerva Jayne for your wonderful hospitality and introducing me to Shawn Pelofsky and your friends.

Boise Idaho

27 July 2018

Today I drove through Washington, Oregon and Idaho to stop in Boise on the way to Colorado (which will be my 50th USA State).

When last in Boise a month ago, Minerva Jayne, Idaho’s Queen of drag, invited me to a comedy show at Liquid Laughs Comedy Club starring Shawn Pelofsky. Shawn had the place in stitches. My face hurt from laughing so much. She is so clever at working the room. I enjoyed the show so much I plan on going again tomorrow night.

Boise has a really good vibe and lovely warm weather this time of year. The capital of Idaho also boasts the largest Basque community in the USA where I found some excellent paella in the Basque Block. This plaza area overflows with people till the early hours of the morning.

“The Balcony” is the gay nightclub of Idaho which attracts a diverse clientele and I enjoyed a dance after Shawn’s show.

Washington (WA)

26 July 2018

I stayed in Mount Vernon WA overnight. Here is another bridge near Edgewater Park over the Skagit River.

Again my timing is out and I will miss the Burlington Quiddichweekend on 28 July!! A Harry Potter celebration.

The countryside changed 4 times in 5 hours from Mount Vernon to Kennewick WA. From beautiful mountain fir forests.

To Snoqualmie Pass, the Wanapum Lake and the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River.

Semiarid bluffs

Wheat fields and then this spectacular part of the world. Palouse Falls.

There were warnings to not get close to the edge as 4 people died here recently.

I was vigilant after seeing this sign.

Goodbye Canada

25 July 2018

It was difficult to leave Cousin Josie and her husband Jimmy (Ignacio). They live in such a serene area with cougars and bears in the backyard and these cute humming birds on their front porch.

I drove to Victoria British Columbia (BC) to take the ferry across to Port Angeles in Washington State but missed it. I would have liked to stay in Victoria a few days as it looked beautiful but I am now on a tight schedule to get to Colorado, my last State.

Next ferry was from Sidney BC and I had 2 hours to drive 30 minutes distance. Again I would have liked to look around Sidney as it is also a beautiful place.

The ferry is a 2.5 hour trip and I was hoping to see whales but not this trip. But got this beautiful sunset.

Arrived in Anacortes Washington at 9:00pm. These homes have a lovely view.