The Cast:
Ralph at the California Coastline and…
Renxc3xa9 at the Rocky Mountain NP, Colorado
Saturday 02 April 2005:
Before we went to our plane, we had a chat at Schiphol Airport with Linda and Martijn from the Florida Forum. Linda and Martijn were going to the USA on the same date as we did. After the chat we went to our plane…O, yes thanks for all the SMS messages you two send to us during the vacation in the USA, we enjoyed it very much!
Our plane left from Amsterdam 11.55 in the morning. At 13.20 hours local time we had to make a stopover at Chicago Ohare airport to get our connecting flight at 14.55 hours to Denver.
Finally we made it to Denver at 16.55 hours local time.
After we took our suitcases we went through customs where they took two digital fingerprints and one photograph of each person who entered the USA.
After customs we went to Hertz to collect our rental car…
A four wheel drive, Ford Explorer. After we drove of, Ralph saw a big crack in the window. We decided to go back to Hertz and ask for a different car. Ralph got back with a free upgrade and chose for a Chevy Trailblazer EXT.
Chevy Trailblazer EXT, at Monument Valley
After we got a good rental car we went to find a motel in Denver. Because we were tired and it also was getting dark soon, we chose for a shady motel called ”Anchor Motel”. It was a poor motel, but it was for only one night, so what. At night we ate at an ”All you can eat Chinese” for a couple of dollars, good food the Chinese buffets.
Sunday 03 April 2005:
After breakfast at Mc Donald’s we drove from Denver to Cortez, the South-West of Colorado. This was a long drive of 475 miles or 764 km.
We drove across a few mountian passes with some spectacular views of the surrounding country.
In Cortez we arrange a motel, Days inn, for two nights.
At night we ate in Cortez at Pizza Hut.
Monday 04 April 2005:
After breakfast at Days inn, we went to Mesa Verde NP…..
At the entrance of Mesa Verde we bought a National Park Pass for 50 dollar. With this pass we could visit all National Park in the USA for one year.
On this picture you see Indian ruins from far away.
If you want to see the ruins from close by, you have to walk down. Visiting the cliff dwellings will involve…..strenuous hiking and climbing. If you have any health problems don’t attempt.
Mesa Verde is a nice National Park with spectacular views and if you like driving it’s a fun drive all the way up and down the mountain. It’s pity that we can’t show you all the photos, it’s just a selection…
In the afternoon we drove to the “Four Corners” point, it’s nothing much but always nice to take a picture.
Four Corners Monument Navajo Tribal Park is the only place in the USA where four states meet at a single point.
At night we ate at a Chinese in Cortez. This day we drove 48 miles or 77,25 km.
O, yes it’s a pity that our cellular phones don’t work in Cortez and around. Our provider, Vodaphone and KPN have no roaming agreement with the provider over here.
Tuesday 05 April 2005:
After breakfast at Days inn, we left from Cortez and drove to Flagstaff. During this ride we made a stop at Monument Valley. Monument Valley is not a National Park, so we had to pay an entrance of 5 dollars for each person.
Entrance Monument Valley (Arizona – Utah)
As you can see at the photo, there is an unpaved road (loop) of 17 miles where you can drive with your car. We had a four wheel drive car, which made the track easy to drive.
Monument Valley is spectacular to witness, don’t miss it!
After Monument Valley we drove to Flagstaff (Arizona) were we checked in at the Quality Inn for two nights. Today we drove 332 miles or 534 km.
Wednesday 06 April 2005:
After a good breakfast at Quality inn, we went to Grand Canyon NP. Before we entered the park we did go to the IMAX Theatre at “The National Geographic Visitor Centre” where the showed a nice movie about the Grand Canyon NP. After the movie we entered the Grand Canyon NP.
Entrance Grand Canyon NP
Jump?*!
A nice view of the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon NP is an enormous park, which you can also see with a helicopter or plane.
We decided not to do this because you already have an excellent view by foot in the park itself.
At night we ate in Flagstaff at an “all you can eat Chinese” for $ 6,95 p.p. Today we drove 197 miles or 317 km.
Thursday 07 April 2005:
After an early breakfast we left Flagstaff and went to Las Vegas (Nevada). During the drive we took a piece of ”route 66” and after that we took a visit at the “Grand Canyon Caves”, nothing much but nice to see. After the caves we drove on to the Hooverdam and took a tour, very nice, don’t miss it.
After the Hooverdam we drove on to Las Vegas where we found a Super 8 motel near the centre of the town. Although it was an expensive motel, the rooms (two singles) were fine. Note that Las Vegas is an expensive place to stay. Especially at weekend days prices of motel/hotels go extremely up. If you want to stay in a cheaper motel, try it further from the centre of the town. If you want to go to the centre of Las Vegas, just take your car and drive to the casino’s and park your car for free in any of the casino’s garage’s. Las Vegas is a must see place but after a few days we were glad to leave. We like the beauty of the National Parks more then the craziness of Las Vegas. For more info about Las Vegas, please go to Las Vegas Nevada.
Today we drove 280 miles or 451 km. At night we ate at Burger King, good junk food with a very good salad with shrimp.
Route 66
Hooverdam (the making of)
Las Vegas
Ralph the gambler
Cards
Friday 08 April 2005
Today we went for a wonderful breakfast to Bellagio, Welcome to the Buffet, 15 dollar p.p.
After breakfast we went to The Gun Store
to shoot with some M16′s. It was something I wanted to do for a long time. But the 25 rounds in the automatic M16 where quickly finished.
After the shooting I took Ralph, on his request, back to the motel.
I went on to the Stratosphere and to the biggest Harley Davidson store in the world. At night we had a very good dinner at Rio, Carnival World Buffet, 25 dollar p.p. After dinner we went to the casinos on the strip.
Today we drove 102 miles or 164 km.
Ralph vs. Bin Laden
Renxc3xa9 with M 16
Stratosphere view at “the strip”
Stratosphere attractions
Saturday 09 April 2005
Today we had breakfast at the Las Vegas Hilton and after that we had a look at the Star Trek Experience,
also in the Las Vegas Hilton. Because of the high entrance fee, 35,00 dollar p.p. (for a couple of movies), we decided not to do this. After the Star Trek Experience we went to the strip again and visited a car museum at Imperial Palace.
The car museum was great, but I also wanted to go to the Little White Chapel, where Bruce Willis and Demi Moore married each other, so we did go over there…
At night we ate again at Rio, Carnival World Buffet, what a super buffet!
Car Museum at Imperial Palace
Little White Chapel
Got Married at Little White Chapel
Sunday 10 April 2005:
Today we left Las Vegas and went, after breakfast at Mc Donald’s, to Death Valley (California).
It was not to hot in Death Valley, about 86 Fahrenheit or 30 degrees Celsius.
After Death Valley we drove to Barstow where we checked in at Days Inn motel, at night we ate at Denny’s.
Today we drove 348 miles or 560 km.
Entrance Death Valley
Death Valley
Devils Golf Course
Cactus at Death Valley
On the road again
Sunday 11 April 2005:
After breakfast at Days inn we left for Joshua Tree NP. It’s a nice park with many blooming cactus.
At night we checked in at Days inn, at a town called Banning, we ate at Sizzler.
Today we drove 309 miles or 497 km.
Entrance Joshua Tree NP
On the road again
Tree
Blooming cactus
Monday 12 April 2005:
After having breakfast at a fuel station, we went to Los Angeles. First we went to Newport Beach, a seaside resort, because this is the place where they shoot one of my favourite TV series, “The O.C.”
We went to the beach where a couple of American guys were surfing, nice to see. At the end of the pier we good see a bunch of dolphins swimming, they where to far away to make a good picture.
After Newport Beach we went to Hollywood, to the ”Walk of Fame”. You have to be there one time to see it all, for us it was a bit disappointing because we expected more of this place. I could see nothing about glitter and glamour on the boulevard. It’s just a walking street with many stars with names on it, it’s plain boring!
Close by “Walk of Fame” is Beverly Hills , this was the next place we went to. Beverly Hills is the famous place where many rich and famous people live. It’s a steep drive into the mountains, but we get to see some of the houses over there.
At night we checked in at the days inn at Camerillo, we ate at El Pollo Loco (Mexican fast food).
Today we drove 216 miles or 348 km.
Newport Beach
Surfing
Walk of fame
Bob Marley
Mulholland Drive – Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills
Tuesday 13 April 2005
After breakfast at Day’s inn we drove to San Francisco. Along the way we saw a typical American cemetery, so we decided to have a look.
We were following the US1, the coastal highway. It’s a very nice scenic route.
At night we checked in at Day’s inn motel at Pinole (North-West of San Fransisco), which we already booked earlier with our cellphone.
We ate at Sizzler again, very good food.
Today we drove 424 miles or 682 km.
Cemetery at Guadalupe
US1 Coastal Highway
Scenic route US1
Wednesday 14 April 2005
After breakfast at Day’s inn we went to San Francisco, Alcatraz. At pier 39 you can buy tickets for alcatraz where you can also see the sea lions which are relaxing overthere.
Of course you also have to take the famous cable cars of San Francisco, so we did.
After the cable cars we drove back across the Golden Gate bridge to our motel.
At night we ate at Sizzler and after diner we did the laundry.
Today we drove 62 miles or 100 km.
Sea Lions at pier 39
Entrance Alcatraz
Alcatraz
Alcatraz vs. Golden Gate Bridge
Cable Cars
Thursday 15 April 2005
After breakfast at Day’s inn we went to Sonora where we checked in at Day’s inn motel.
Today we have a day off, so we walk around at Sonora and went to Walmart to buy some things for back home. At night we ate at a (poor) local Chinese restaurant.
Today we drove 137 miles or 220 km.
Red Church, Sonora
Chat with the local limo driver
Friday 16 April 2005
Today we drove from Sonora to Yosemite NP.. We had breakfast at a fuel station. The drive to Yosemite NP was very nice. At Yosemite NP it was very crowded so that you could not move quickly with your car. On our way back to Sonora we had to make an emergency stop in because of deer passing the road.
At night we ate at Denny’s.
Today we drove 160 miles or 257,5 km.
Entrance Yosemite
Yosemite view
Waterfall at Yosemite
Yosemite road
Saturday 17 April 2005
Today we left Sonora, we had breakfast at a fuel station where the barbecue was already running.
We had a route to Tonopah via Monolake. Unfortunately the passage was closed. Tonopah was not an option anymore, and that is why we decided to drive to Ely.
At our way to Ely we make a stop at Lake Tahoe. At night we arrive at Ely where we check in at a Motel 6. Ely is in the middle of nowhere in the desert of Nevada. At night we ate at a local restaurant which was one of the worst food we had during our vacation.
Today we drove 485 miles or 781 km.
Lake Tahoe
Stop at Lake Tahoe
Sunday 18 April 2005
After breakfast and a nice chat with a gold digger at a fuel station in Ely, we left Ely and drove to Moab. It’s a long straight way through the desert. At the I 70 we stopped at a view point, it’s an amazing view. At night we arrive at Moab, where we checked out a view motels and decided to take JR’s Desert Inn. It’s one of the best rooms we had during this vacation. At night we ate at pizza hut.
Today we drove 384 miles or 618 km.
San Rafael Swell
Stop at “San Rafael Swell”
JR’s desert inn
Monday 19 April 2005
After Breakfast at Mc Donald we went to Arches National Park. Arches NP is a very nice park where you can make nice walks. Especially the walk to ‘Delicate Arch’ is worth while the steep walk.
At night we ate at one of our favourite restaurants, Denny’s.
Entrance Arches
Arches view-point
Lizard
Arch
Delicate Arch
Today we drove 84 miles or 135 km.
Tuesday 20 April 2005
After breakfast at a fuel station we drove from Moab to Denver. At night, in Denver we check in at Motel6, near Denver Airport. Because I heard to much about Taco Bell, we decided at night to eat at Taco Bells. It was the worst food we had during our vacation!
For us, no Taco Bells anymore, never again! Because I didn’t eat much, we went to Denny’s to eat something proper. At Denny’s Ralph ordered some chicken strips which were to salt, to spicy, it tasted horrible! We asked the waitress if the chicken strips were always as salt and spicy, she said that it was normal. According the waitress we had to order the chicken wings in stead of the chicken strips.
Chicken wings are not salt and spicy, normal. We still can’t understand that anybody can eat this kind of food! Anyway, I ordered a club sandwich, which was all right.
Today we drove 367 miles or 591 km.
Hail in Denver
Wednesday 21 April 2005
After breakfast we drove to the mountain village
‘Nederland’. It’s funny to visit Nederland because we come from Nederland (Europe) ourselves. After buying some posters and t-shirts at the visitors centre of Nederland we continued our way to Rocky Mountain National Park.
At Rocky Mountain National Park we could not take a pass because of the snow, the pass was closed for all traffic. At the moment we were at the park it was also snowing a little bit. At night we ate at a local Denver steakhouse.
Today we drove 248 miles or 399 km.
Nederland
Town Hall Nederland
Entrance Rocky Mountain NP
View Rocky Mountain NP
Hiking spot
Deer
Road closed
Thursday 22 April 2005
Today we stayed in Denver. Our first stop was at a breakfast shop, Einstein Bros . After a very good breakfast we went to a couple of shopping malls to hang out. After the malls we made a stop at the Denver Bronco’s football stadium. At night we ate Thai food, at Swing Thai . Swing Thai lies next to Einstein Bros where we had breakfast this morning. It’s a pity that we had to go the next day, otherwise we had eaten again at Swing Thai, very good food!
Today we drove 65 miles or 105 km.
Denver Broncos Stadium
Friday 23 April 2005
Today we went back home. First we return our rental car at Hertz. After that we went with a shuttle bus from Hertz to Denver Airport, to the departure terminal. After we checked in our bags, we had breakfast at a breakfast cafe at the airport. At 10.25 our plane was scheduled to leave Denver Airport, but unfortunately the plane had a aileron-lock problem. So we had a delay of 90 minutes. After the problem was fixed we left Denver Airport and went to Washington Dulles, DC to make a step over to Amsterdam.
At Washington Dulles we had to wait a couple of hours before our plane left to Amsterdam.
Finally we touched the ground in Amsterdam at 08.30 hours local (Dutch) time.
Denver Airport
American Flag
Colorado State Flag
United, our plane
Facts:
The total distance we drove in this vacation was: 4963 miles or 7987 km.
We spent an average of 79 dollar per motel/hotel room, per night in this vacation.
Last but not least:
We enjoyed our South-West-USA trip very much. We can recommend everybody to visit the South- West of USA especially if you like the beauty of nature. Then you are at the right place in the USA.
That’s all folks,
we hope you enjoyed our log,
if you want to make a comment or you want to ask a question, please send an e-mail by clicking the e-mail logo,
Greetings to all of you,
Ralph & Renxc3xa9
