Beautiful drive along the coast. We stopped for a break along the coast road just south of Anaheim. The ocean was a bit cold but it didn't stop the kids taking a dip. We all got a bit sunburned on this 36C day!
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
Day 6 and 7 - Disneyland
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Day - 5 Disneyland!
The Watermans go hard! It would be quicker to list the attractions we didn't go on. In the past two hours, it’s currently 10:40pm, we did four major rides. Pirates of the Carribean, Indiana Jones, Thunder Mountain Railroad and finished up with Space Mountain. I have never been jostled and thrown around, apart from the I5, as much as today. My dogs are barking, my back is aching and I can’t really see straight! We started at 8:30 this morning and were part of the crowd that rushes in to the park at 9:00am.
We didn't really know what to do and before we knew it there was a 2hr line up for fast passes. Kind of defeats the object! We mozied on over to California Screaming and managed to get on in 15 minutes. Cool! Crazy ride with a full loop. Everyone had said we should go on the Cars ride and guess what? they have a singles line. I don’t need to ride with my family! So the Watermans found the fast pass to the fast pass. Go it alone!
We didn't really know what to do and before we knew it there was a 2hr line up for fast passes. Kind of defeats the object! We mozied on over to California Screaming and managed to get on in 15 minutes. Cool! Crazy ride with a full loop. Everyone had said we should go on the Cars ride and guess what? they have a singles line. I don’t need to ride with my family! So the Watermans found the fast pass to the fast pass. Go it alone!
We did the same on the goofy plane ride, kind of like the wild mouse, and Jems and I actually sat together. Two singles. Perfect! We rested back at the Days Inn between 2 and 5pm and then took the bus back to the Park! It was like two days in one. We have early start passes tomorrow but I’m not sure if any of us will make it.
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| A stroller parking lot |
Day 3 and 4 Back On The Road!
Day 3
We are really on the road again… finally! The Dodge service tech found dirt and water in the ABS terminals. The car computer doesn't like you ignoring the pesky lights and alarms and went through a process of shutting the van down. What is this the space shuttle? Oh well. Terminals cleaned, faults reset and our van is like new! Actually it is still new. We fled Eugene like we had just robbed the bank and burned down the I5 with a new vengeance.
We seem to gobbling up fuel pretty fast. We stopped for some gas and to make some sandwiches at a cool/weird little place called Cattle Creek. Great ice cream and shakes and a clean bathroom. We came through Grants Pass and could see Mount Shasta in the distance. An hour later e were still driving past Mount Shasta. How big is this mountain? We steamed down past Sacramento and Stockton and parked in a truck rest stop between some massive rigs at 10:00pm. We had gone hard but it was worth it. We covered some major miles today.
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| Mt Shasta, Oregon |
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| Are we there yet? |
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| Look at our little Trilly! |
Day 4
That was an interesting night. Trucks run their generators while they are parked for 120v power. I guess they must have little apartment in those big rigs. Full martini bar, blender and hot tub. Generators running, rigs pulling in and out all night and we had a broken but not too bad rest. 5:15am and we were up again and back on the road.
Signs for LA were dropping below 300 miles, but frustratingly not as fast as if they were kilometers. We could tell we were getting close to LA as the number of cars over $50K and the speed and aggression of drivers rose exponentially. We hit the Hollywood 101 exit and found ourselves on Sunset Boulevard. We drove up and down for about 1/2hr looking for the Hollywood sign and saw it only when we got back on the 101 South back over our shoulder.
We arrived at the Days Inn, Anaheim at around 2:30pm. Holy Hannah, praise the Lord! We have driven to Disneyland!
We went for dinner at an Italian theme restaurant and hit the hay at 10:00pm grateful for the lack of diesel generators running next to us.
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| Disney Drive, Annaheim |
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| The Days Inn, Annaheim |
Sunday, March 8, 2015
On the Road Again...
California Road Trip 2015
We booked a trip to Egypt, but that wasn't meant to be. With elections and escalating violence we decided to save Egypt for another year.
Our next plan was Mexico, The Grand Sirenis in Cancun. Again, not to be. Fully booked, not a single spot available.
Plan C - A 17 day road trip to Disneyland, San Diego, the Grand Canyon and Vegas.
Day 1 March 7th
We’re on the road again….as far as the border anyway. After a nice early start we spent an hour at the border waiting for the US Customs and Border Services to start their shift at 8:00am so they could search the van for more suspicious contraband. We declared that we had eggs at the border which apparently are not appreciated in the US of A. Well, we did the right thing, we told the truth and we were on our way by 8:15am.
We drove for about 4 more hours and then stopped for some lunch and to buy some…eggs. We do not like to travel without our eggs.
We arrived at the KOA in Albany, Oregon at about 4:30pm where Jenny prepared our traditional and delicious macaroni skillet dinner. We had a small camp fire and hit the hay ready for a 5:15am start.
Day 2
We’re on the road aga..WHAT! The ABS light, engine light and all sorts of previously hidden disco lights came on plus an annoying repetitive beeping that usually means that things are not good. We have experienced this problem before but when we took the van to the Dodge dealer all lights miraculously turned off and the dealer told us to go on our merry way.
Now, here we go again. Thanks to the miracle of internet Jenny found us a Dodge dealer in Eugene just 30 minutes drive away. Since the last problem ‘resolved itself’ I was hopeful that this would too but better get to a town before turning the van on and off again (recommendations from any qualified IT person). Did I mention that our new van only has 4,000km on it?
We pulled up outside the Dodge dealer at about 6:45am and had to wait till 10:00am before anyone showed up. Oh, and by the way the service department is not open Sundays (yes today is Sunday!) so we are spending the night in Eugene!
The bad news
- Our van is pooped
- It won't even turn on now. It is so sick the fob will not even open the doors. Maybe it's got the measles?
- We would kind of like to get on our way - TO DISNEYLAND!
The good news
- We made it to a town and to a Dodge dealer. Not stuck on the side of the road on the I5.
- There is a La Quinta hotel across from the dealer. Only $30 more than the KOA.
- There is a 20hr/day biker bar/restaurant literally 30m from where we parked that has a restaurant, cheap food, bloody marys and VERY CLEAN bathrooms.
- The Dodge service guys arrive at 7:30am tomorrow. Hopefully, it is an inexpensive (covered under warranty) fix and we can be on our way without further delay.
- By the way Eugene is beautiful, 20C and sunny.
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| Gilligan's Island on DVD - what could be better? |
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| Our Oasis - 'Coolers' all night bar and restaurant (NOT DISNEYLAND) |
Minors and hobos welcome!
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| Bundling our stuff and walking to La Quinta Hotel. |
Friday, July 11, 2014
Day 15 - Heathrow
It's 8:05am. We board at 9:20 and depart 10:05am.
What an adventure we had last night! We took the tube to South Kensington and had half an hour at the Natural History Museum before being advised that the museum was about to close. We had just enough time to see ' the Vault' with the Kho-in-Noor diamond. A massive diamond found in South Africa. We also saw the massive blue whale. It's impossible to describe and equally hard to photograph so just imagine a 100ft yacht suspended from the ceiling with a massive mouth and fins and you could be close.
We wandered up exhibition road to Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. I think we have now hit overload on amazing architecture, massive buildings and endless parks. Get us back to our mountains. We walked another 2km or so to High Street Kensington and found Sticky Fingers where we met up with the entire gang including Grandad. It was lovely seeing everyone again. It was a great meal of whole racks of pork ribs, whole charcoal broiled chickens and mash potatoes and beans. I think I will have to fast for a week when we get home! Hmm, can I smell bacon?
Ok, the adventure began when I asked Lisa about our bags. The ones we left at her house filled with marmalade, marmite and chocolate. Seriously, customs will think that we are resupplying a BritishFood Store. Lisa went white. Oh nooooooo. The bags were sitting in the spare room in Chalfont St Giles. Great. I suggested that maybe Rhys and Grandad could use Jemma and my travel cards to get home while Paul and the kids drop us at the hotel while we grab our bags and head gone with them. I don't think they heard my suggestion as next thing we know Jems and I are waiting for the number 10 bus to Kings Cross. Luckily one came within 5 mins and we were on a mission to get to the hotel, pack, check out and get our buts to Euston Square and on the Metropolitan Line. Jems was awesome! She experienced the Athens battlemarch ( long story), packed her gear in record time, my sergeant major would have been proud, and we battlemarched up to Euston. A Chesham train came along two minutes later. Perfect. This is one of four train destinations on the Met line and it went all the way to Chalfont St Giles without need to change. We left Sticky Fingers at 10:00pm. Caught the bus at 10:06, walked from Goodge Steet to the hotel at 10:30, packed and was out the hotel door at 11:00. It turned out we caught the LAST train to Chalfont St Giles. Did I mention that we only had to wait two minutes for it? That could have been a disaster as we don't have a phone with us. No need to dwell on possibilities. We caught the train and at 12:15am ( just 10hrs before our flight departure) we pulled in to the station to be met by Paul and Rhys. Apparently Lisa had sent them out to find us and we're not to return without us! Who forgot the bags? Just kidding. It wasn't your fault Lisa, you have a lot in your plate.
We went to bed at 1:00am after laughing about the crazy evening and were up again at 6:15 and whisked away in the Bentley to Heathrow Terminal 2 where I am currently sitting. 8:45am. The free wifi is about to run out.
Next communication will be from Canada! Fingers crossed!
What an adventure we had last night! We took the tube to South Kensington and had half an hour at the Natural History Museum before being advised that the museum was about to close. We had just enough time to see ' the Vault' with the Kho-in-Noor diamond. A massive diamond found in South Africa. We also saw the massive blue whale. It's impossible to describe and equally hard to photograph so just imagine a 100ft yacht suspended from the ceiling with a massive mouth and fins and you could be close.
We wandered up exhibition road to Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. I think we have now hit overload on amazing architecture, massive buildings and endless parks. Get us back to our mountains. We walked another 2km or so to High Street Kensington and found Sticky Fingers where we met up with the entire gang including Grandad. It was lovely seeing everyone again. It was a great meal of whole racks of pork ribs, whole charcoal broiled chickens and mash potatoes and beans. I think I will have to fast for a week when we get home! Hmm, can I smell bacon?
Ok, the adventure began when I asked Lisa about our bags. The ones we left at her house filled with marmalade, marmite and chocolate. Seriously, customs will think that we are resupplying a BritishFood Store. Lisa went white. Oh nooooooo. The bags were sitting in the spare room in Chalfont St Giles. Great. I suggested that maybe Rhys and Grandad could use Jemma and my travel cards to get home while Paul and the kids drop us at the hotel while we grab our bags and head gone with them. I don't think they heard my suggestion as next thing we know Jems and I are waiting for the number 10 bus to Kings Cross. Luckily one came within 5 mins and we were on a mission to get to the hotel, pack, check out and get our buts to Euston Square and on the Metropolitan Line. Jems was awesome! She experienced the Athens battlemarch ( long story), packed her gear in record time, my sergeant major would have been proud, and we battlemarched up to Euston. A Chesham train came along two minutes later. Perfect. This is one of four train destinations on the Met line and it went all the way to Chalfont St Giles without need to change. We left Sticky Fingers at 10:00pm. Caught the bus at 10:06, walked from Goodge Steet to the hotel at 10:30, packed and was out the hotel door at 11:00. It turned out we caught the LAST train to Chalfont St Giles. Did I mention that we only had to wait two minutes for it? That could have been a disaster as we don't have a phone with us. No need to dwell on possibilities. We caught the train and at 12:15am ( just 10hrs before our flight departure) we pulled in to the station to be met by Paul and Rhys. Apparently Lisa had sent them out to find us and we're not to return without us! Who forgot the bags? Just kidding. It wasn't your fault Lisa, you have a lot in your plate.
We went to bed at 1:00am after laughing about the crazy evening and were up again at 6:15 and whisked away in the Bentley to Heathrow Terminal 2 where I am currently sitting. 8:45am. The free wifi is about to run out.
Next communication will be from Canada! Fingers crossed!
Thursday, July 10, 2014
Day 14 - our last day in the UK
Our last full day in the UK. This has been a fabulous trip! For us it has been a good idea to break the trip up in to three parts. Three distinct experiences. Life in the country with Lisa and the boys, and of course Grandad. A few days in Ireland in the country and the bustling City of Galway with Paul and Sally. And finally, four days in London jam packed with iconic sights and so pending time with Chezza, Di and Nick. Our cases are full to bursting with souvenirs and presents.
Jemma gave me her list if 'must dos' for our last day in London. It's only three O clock and we have pretty much checked off the entire list.
1. Go to Baker Street. We took the circle line from Euston Square the two stops to Baker Street. We stepped outside to see the mile long queue foe Madame Tussards. Glad we are not doing that! Popped up Baker Street to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Check. Paid £12 for a metal sign that says Baker Street. I didn't know Jemma liked Baker Street that much!
2. Go see a large famous park. Regents Park, home to the Queen's Gardens and London Zoo occupy just a small part if this massive park in the heart of London.
3. Ride on a double decker bus. We literally just walked up to a bus stop and saw that the 253 would take us to Oxford Circus just as one was pulling up! Perfect. We got to ride in the front seats on the top deck for a great view. There was some kind of political protest going on so traffic was heavy and the police were out in force. Looks like some Brits would like a new government.
4. Exchange top in Top Shop. Cheryl bought Jemma a nice top that Jemma was not really very sure about. No problem. Top exchanged for a nice skirt and another top. Job Done. Next stop...
5. Covent Garden. We were here last week but Jems wanted to have another look and get another demo on how apply the nail polish stamps. We did that bad went to see the Maple Leaf pub which was now empty. We didn't stop for a Ping and considering we will be in Vancouver in about 30hrs no need to feel homesick. We were now a bit peckish and lo and behold we found ourselves in a pie shop. Jems had the chicken and mushroom and I had a steak and Guinness with mash potato and liquor. That's not an alcoholic drink but the name of a traditional, pea based gravy. Yummy. I think I have gained about 10 pounds.
6. China town. A short walk from Covent Garden, past the Queens Theatre where we saw Les Mis, up Shaftsbury Ave and left down Gerard Place. I'm like a London Taxi driver.
Unless we are missing something China a Town is a bit underwhelming. Maybe because we have such a large china town in Vancouver and Richmond.
7. Natural History Museum. We will do this later before we meet Lisa, Paul, Cheryl, Simon and the kids for dinner at Sticky a Fingers just around the corner from the museum.
Right now we are napping at the hotel getting recharged for our last evening in London and the UK.
Our flight leaves at 10:05am tomorrow so we have an early start. Luckily Russell Square is just around the corner and the Piccadilly Line runs all the way out to Heathrow so no changes. We will leave the hotel around 6:00am. Hurry up and wait the bane of travelling.
So that's it. I don't think we will have time to blog after the restaurant tonight. We have to try to fit 3 large jars of marmite, lime marmalade, black currant jam, five large bars of chocolate, four new pairs of shoes (including my new Doc Martins) and about a dozen new clothes into our already full suitcases.
I will post all the photos when we get to a computer, most likely, in Canada.
Thanks for reading. Love Bazza and Jems.
Jemma gave me her list if 'must dos' for our last day in London. It's only three O clock and we have pretty much checked off the entire list.
1. Go to Baker Street. We took the circle line from Euston Square the two stops to Baker Street. We stepped outside to see the mile long queue foe Madame Tussards. Glad we are not doing that! Popped up Baker Street to the Sherlock Holmes Museum. Check. Paid £12 for a metal sign that says Baker Street. I didn't know Jemma liked Baker Street that much!
3. Ride on a double decker bus. We literally just walked up to a bus stop and saw that the 253 would take us to Oxford Circus just as one was pulling up! Perfect. We got to ride in the front seats on the top deck for a great view. There was some kind of political protest going on so traffic was heavy and the police were out in force. Looks like some Brits would like a new government.
4. Exchange top in Top Shop. Cheryl bought Jemma a nice top that Jemma was not really very sure about. No problem. Top exchanged for a nice skirt and another top. Job Done. Next stop...
5. Covent Garden. We were here last week but Jems wanted to have another look and get another demo on how apply the nail polish stamps. We did that bad went to see the Maple Leaf pub which was now empty. We didn't stop for a Ping and considering we will be in Vancouver in about 30hrs no need to feel homesick. We were now a bit peckish and lo and behold we found ourselves in a pie shop. Jems had the chicken and mushroom and I had a steak and Guinness with mash potato and liquor. That's not an alcoholic drink but the name of a traditional, pea based gravy. Yummy. I think I have gained about 10 pounds.
6. China town. A short walk from Covent Garden, past the Queens Theatre where we saw Les Mis, up Shaftsbury Ave and left down Gerard Place. I'm like a London Taxi driver.
Unless we are missing something China a Town is a bit underwhelming. Maybe because we have such a large china town in Vancouver and Richmond.
7. Natural History Museum. We will do this later before we meet Lisa, Paul, Cheryl, Simon and the kids for dinner at Sticky a Fingers just around the corner from the museum.
Our flight leaves at 10:05am tomorrow so we have an early start. Luckily Russell Square is just around the corner and the Piccadilly Line runs all the way out to Heathrow so no changes. We will leave the hotel around 6:00am. Hurry up and wait the bane of travelling.
So that's it. I don't think we will have time to blog after the restaurant tonight. We have to try to fit 3 large jars of marmite, lime marmalade, black currant jam, five large bars of chocolate, four new pairs of shoes (including my new Doc Martins) and about a dozen new clothes into our already full suitcases.
I will post all the photos when we get to a computer, most likely, in Canada.
Thanks for reading. Love Bazza and Jems.
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