Continuing road trip to Arizona

Whoever wrote "Arizona is a road tripper's dream because of its stunning landscape features" obviously hasn't been to New Zealand. Yes Arizona has its scenic showstoppers but there are hours of driving through desert scrub and Navajo reservations between the highlights.

We continued down the country towards Arizona and stopped for three days in Moab, Utah to experience two more National Parks, Arches Monuments and Canyonland. Both were amazing Arches for for its giant sweeping arcs of sandstone with a red desert backdrop. An all day hike would have seen the best of them, but we weren't quite prepared under 83 degrees of blistering sunshine.

Canyonland provided greater variety of tall jutting columns and spires, deep craters, crimson hues, and vast serpentine canyons looming high above the Colorado and Green Rivers. Apart from anything else it is an off-roader's playground.

Down the country we continued to Prescott, Arizona where Doug and Jerry-Lee live. They have nearly finished building their house, an 8 year project on a hectare of land. They live the American dream with five vehicles, two boats, motorbike, and a variety of other toys. Shopping appears to be a national pastime! When we thought we saw it all another toy was hidden in one of the garages!!

We are spending considerable time at the moment planning our onward trip. We pick up a rental car tomorrow and will head off on our own to Zion National Park and the Grand Canyon. In the meantime we have just spent a couple of days on Lake Powell. As soon as we arrived the slipway was dominated by large houseboats being removed from the lake for Winter maintenance.

One didn't quite make the trailer and got a very wet bum!

Lake Powell stretches for 185 miles and was formed by a hefty dam on the Colorado River. Its narrow channels twist in all directions, but what is most spectacular is its sapphire blue colour contrasting with stunning multi-hued cliff faces.

We meandered around on Doug's motorboat and even did a spot of fishing!

We haven't finished following the Colorado River yet and are fascinated by its journey. Here is the famous horseshoe bend, - if only it knew it could take a short cut!!!

In the heart of the Utah desert

We are stopping in a condo at Moab, Utah for a 3-day break to our road trip and a look at Arches Monuments. So far each day has provided a fresh buzz that has made the trip a fantastic experience. Our timing has been impeccable, not only with the weather, but also capturing wildlife and escaping setbacks. This herd of bison was a bonus.

Since our last blog we explored Yellowstone and its expansive network of geothermal hot springs, boiling mud pots and geysers. The Grand Prismatic Spring was like tons of coloured gemstone had been dropped on earth and become molten.

Some of the landforms were truly weird, whereas others were captivatingly beautiful. Old Faithful Geyser blew for us as if someone had pressed a button!!

On our last day at Yellowstone we explored a few of the canyons and valleys. Next day on the west side near our accommodation a 'controlled' forest fire blew out of control by a rogue wind. As we were driving out of the park we were surrounded by smoke and after we left it became too hazardous for driving so the authorities had to close the park and evacuate everyone. We heard it was closed for several days, but by this time we were tucked in the safety of the Teton Mountains!

I was spoilt rotten for my birthday with a bbq spareribs dinner, delightfully messy and dripping with smokey bourbon sauce. The crazy lot we are with later gave me a pink cowgirl 'g' as a souvenir from the ranchlands. The hilarity that followed remains censored. At least the item takes up limited space in our luggage!!

Many miles later we arrived at Longmont, Colorado to stay with Doug and Jerry-Lee's son Christopher and his family. Chris works for Google in Boulder so we had a rare privilege of been taken to breakfast and a tour of the facilities. Google certainly practise the 'enhanced workplace' policy. Unbelievable!! Their resident chefs provide breakfast and lunch,.....not just the average cereal and sandwiches, but a vast menu of tempting foods that would make a few signature restaurants look ordinary. The work stations have every office enhancement feature available, including yoga rooms, massage chairs, snack stations and imaginable meeting areas. One was a combi van decked out with lounge chairs. They have their own baristas and a bar where they can have a free beer or shot to revive a busy day!! To say they have a gymnasium would be rather ordinary,....they have a range of extreme activity centres, including a rock climbing wall. Above all offices could be made dog-friendly if the pooch needs to accompany its owner,.......and there are dog treat stations as well!!! Such is the competitive world of cyberspace employment!

Heading for Yellowstone

Made it to Seattle with no sleep 36 hours after leaving our house. We met Brett and family at a cafe in AKL airport before leaving. Brett's first comment was "are you having your last cup of decent coffee for two months"? Yep right,......now we are in the land of gross food portions and bad coffee. Everything else is pretty good, especially the hospitality..

We are travelling with our friends Doug and Jerry Lee, ex military medical division and so far have stopped off at their friends' houses (also ex military). Their houses are huge and each has a basement full of 'toys', including an arsenal of guns,......huntin' shootin' American style!! Even the car we are travelling in is armed.

First major stop was Gig Harbour, Seattle for our first taste of hospitality including salmon bake, barbecues, bonfires and best of all a trip around the waterway in their boat.

Even the resident dog made a fuss of us!

The popular discussion and debate is all around Clinton and Trump. We can only describe it as the American nightmare!

Right now we are in Bozeman, Montana after travelling 13 hours, approx 1200km across three states. Miles of grain before hitting the mountain passes. Even drove through a little town called Clinton, famous for its Testicle Festival. Yes,....you have to eat bull's balls,.......not Bill's balls????
We are chilling today before heading into Yellowstone tomorrow. Hope NZ has stopped shaking and you are all doing well. XX