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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
24 July 2018
I spent the day at my 79 year old cousin Josie’ s place on the edge of the woods of Vancouver Island. Her home has no backyard neighbours, in fact there is noone between her and the West coast of Vancouver Island.
With the largest population of cougars in the world I was hoping to see one on our walk through the woods. I will beat some of my funny friends to the headline if I was attacked “Aussie cougar attacked by Canadian cougar”.
On our first walk Josie’s husband Jimmy got so worried about us he came through the woods with a huge saw in hand. He used the excuse that he was clearing a path for us.
After lunch Josie filled me in on more family history regarding my cousin Harry Bertoia, sound art sculptor and modern furniture designer.
Josie and I went for a late afternoon walk in the woods and realised we had worried her husband Jimmy again as he broke out with the Reveille Military Wake Up Call on his trumpet to call us out of the woods!! If I was ever going to see a bear it wasn’t going to happen after that!!
How strong must a woodpecker beak be! These are woodpecker holes.
23 July 2018
Gettting off the NCL Jewel I was trying to work out the logistics of doing another cruise. It is depressing when a cruise ends however, I really can’t complain as I still have another 24 days of my USA Road trip to continue.
My cousin Elena met me in Vancouver after I did a free walking tour of the city.
The 2010 Winter Olympic cauldron.
Raindrop sculpture is not a popular piece of art.
Went to Queen Elizabeth Park. The Photo Session Sculpture.
The Dancing Waters Fountain was so inviting Elena and I couldn’t resist cooling off.
The BC Ferry between Vancouver Island and Vancouver is fascinating. It amazes me how many vehicles including big rigs line up to board the 2 hour trip.
21 July 2018
23C 80F!! This is my last day in Alaska!! What a breathtaking place!! So glad I did the 2 cruises northbound and southbound. I saw everything differently the second time. The weather was different and everything is so fresh crisp and clean the photos look photoshopped.
I took the local bus to the Totem Bite State Park which was the best way to enjoy this glorious weather, walking around this historical site.
One of the cruise families have been Geocache hunting and found this.
I returned to Ketchikan by local bus and was dropped off in the historical red light district of Creek Street.
Went to see if there were Salmon running but the video of the water was a beautiful consolation.
Can you see the golden eagle.
Over 50 Aussie female solo traveller USA road trip and beyond 