American Holiday 2007

[ranunculus]

Just a few more to bring the thread to it's penultimate stage.....

[ranunculus]

...only Bodie to visit on the final posting which will be sometime this week....

[Maggi Young]

Nice bear.... will we get to see the accompanying shot of Sue doing two hundred miles an hour in the opposite direction?

[ranunculus]

I tried Maggi but I just wasn't quick enough with the panning of the camera!   

Actually she was reassured by the fact that at least six other cars had stopped to see what was going on and a plethora of cameras (and quite large female torsos) were pointing through the trees....even a VERY irate bear wouldn't have got his claws on ALL of us (and this was a very placid, obviously well-fed, creature with a penchant for strolling and slumbering)....and, no, we were not taking these things lightly, we DID stay at a very respectful distance and tried not to disturb the tranquility of the situation (though others on the scene were a little less restrained we must admit).

[fermi de Sousa]

Yes, Cliff,
even if you can't outrun a bear you should be able to outrun another tourist!
cheers
fermi

[ranunculus]

Depends how many legs they have Fermi....   

A few also-rans from the Big Sur phase now.... we WILL get to Bodie and the end of the trail this week..

[ranunculus]

...And just a couple more from the also-rans of Big Sur...

[annew]

Quite nice over there isn't it? 

[Lesley Cox]

How right you are Anne, or, as my brother once said (he was very young at the time, and trying to emulate our trans-Pacific cousins - "You slobbered a bibful baby." (My mother was very )

[ranunculus]

What a picture you bring to mind Lesley.....

I am babysitting for my ten month old grandson today...I'll bear your comments in mind...

Spotted a few more from Monterey that might just fit the bill....hope you aren't all out with the USA?

 

[Maggi Young]

What that first Monterey shot needs is a pirate ship hoving into view, not a yacht on the horizon. Just says "pirates" to me! And no, I haven't droolled over sorry, that should be "seen" Johnny Depp and Orlando Bloom in the 'Pirates of the Caribbean' movies!

Hope the young Brochure ( that is the correct term for a small Book-er, isn't it?) is having a good day with his Grandad!
 

[Maggi Young]

Is the pink plant that is "locally plentiful" a type of thyme? Surely not?

[ranunculus]

I can visualize the Jolly Roger rounding the cape but unfortunately this is the Pacific and the chances are that it would be a luxury yacht or as below....


The mass of pink was created by enormous banks of huge flowered mesembryanthemums....oh that we could grow them like that in continually wet Whitworth...

[ranunculus]

By the way Maggi.....the feminine form for a young Book..er would have to Pam..phlet and a young male would more correctly be called Booklet. When they reach eighteen they legally become Manuscripts or Manuals if they drop out of University....

Doctor, please pass the tablets....

[ranunculus]

Right, Ladies and Gentlemen,
Bodie as promised...a true ghost town (not a set built for a western), which once boasted as many as 10,000 residents (only 5% of the original buildings are still standing)...a truly lawless outpost in the middle of nowhere....Sue and I felt quite at home really!
We will finish this epic trip (eight pages is QUITE enough), as we started, with a picture of a feathered friend in front of a Pacific Ocean backdrop. 
A truly memorable holiday of 21 days, 2900 miles driving, nine hotels, motels or B & B's (at Zion, Lone Pine, Bishop, Lee Vining, Oakhurst, Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Lake Arrowhead and Las Vegas) with only one night spent in slightly less than totally satisfactory accommodation. We ate wonderfully and cheaply, fuel costs were hugely inviting, we never felt threatened in any way, shape or form (except, perhaps, by the critters in our imaginations) and we were welcomed, looked after and tended with nothing but courtesy, friendliness and care.  All in all a magical adventure (that truly didn't break the bank) and one that, should you be tempted to follow, we would highly recommend. Hope you have enjoyed the pictures!