First chapter almost closed.

It is now Friday afternoon and we have just said goodbye to Ruth, Harry and Luke who have gone to spend a couple of days with friends in LA before they continue their journey. It was lovely to have them with us for the last couple of days.
Since our bus disaster day on Tuesday we have spent most of the time just across the road at Disneyland and California Park. We have survived Splash Mountain; soared over California by 3D; been rescued by Indiana Jones; travelled the Rivers of America on board the sailing ship Columbia; bobsledded down the Matterhorn and  became drenched while shooting the rapids in the Grizzly River Run. All exciting and great fun. The down side for Brian is sore and blistered feet!
Disneyland is a delightful and family-oriented theme park. Being holiday time it is also packed with people from all over the world and in addition, being summer, it is very, very warm. But it's a place of much enjoyment and entertainment.
Tomorrow we pick up our hire car and start our journey eastward then the real fun begins!

 Beware! Driving in America

  Main Street, Disneyland

Once, Twice, Thrice!

Well, Its Tuesday evening in downtown Anaheim. Our Wild West Tour has begun in a memorable way.
First, our aircraft which was to fly us from Sydney to LA would not start. So after a 3 hour delay we boarded and headed East across the Pacific. Upon arrival in LAX the Immigration and Customs process took us over an hour and the company booked to take us to our hotel had no record of us. Eventually we made it to the Park Vue Inn which is located directly across the road from the main entrance into Disneyland.

Yesterday (Monday) despite tiredness we join the throngs packing into California Park and Disneyland. Waiting for rides meant waiting in line from 40 minutes to 120 minutes! However, everyone was in a happy mood, although we did not wait for the 120 minute ride. Luke enjoyed the ride down the Matterhorn, best of all. In the evening we went back and waited in line for another Matterhorn experience. After waiting for about 30 minutes we were advised that the ride had broken down and so it would take another 30 minutes to fix and another 45 minutes for us to get to the head of the line and thus, a ride. As it was now almost 9.30 and exhaustion was starting to kick-in, we called it quits and headed home for bed.

This morning we climbed aboard our Tour Bus for the trip to San Diego where we were to visit the world renowned Zoo. Other passengers were destined for other places of interest and were from a range of foreign countries. Just near Legoland, about 30 minutes from the Zoo, the Tour Bus broke down at an intersection. The family going to Legoland exited the Bus and walked the rest of the way. They must have known what was in store, for we actually remained in the broken down bus for the next three and a half hours. Little information was conveyed and no water or food supplied. The police came, and eventually a tow-truck and mechanics from the Company. The result was that we got mobile again but as it was now near 3pm we headed back to Anaheim where we all  received a full refund. While that was expected, it did not make up for the wasted day nor the disappointment of not seeing the Zoo.

Thus the Title of this Post: Three breakdowns already. First was Sydney, then the Matterhorn; then today's bus! Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds! But we are all well and smiling and enjoying our Wild West Tour, even if things have gone wrong Once, Twice and Thrice.

USA Trip 2013

Harper/Burnside Travels - USA 2013

June 23
Depart Melbourne for LAX via SYD: 11:20am

June 23
Arrive LAX 10:20am Shuttle to Park Vue Inn, Anaheim CA

June 24
Disneyland/California Park

June 25
Tour to San Diego Zoo, then back to Anaheim.

June 26-28
Disneyland/California Park

June 29
Pick up SUV drive to Las Vegas via Helendale on Route 66.
Book in at Paris Hotel

June 29-July 01
Las Vegas shopping & sightseeing

July 02
To Williams, Arizona via Oatman and Seligman on Route 66
Stay at Grand Motel

July 03
Visit South Rim of the Grand Canyon, then on to Monument Valley, Utah. Stay in Cabin at Goulding's Campground.

July 04
Sunrise tour of Monument Valley. Drive to Mesa Verde National Park Colorado and visit the Pueblo cliff dwellings. Drive to Gallup, New Mexico. Stay at the El Rancho Hotel.

July 05
To Albuquerque, New Mexico (again via Route 66) Stay with Cambodian Friend, Thearith Ung.

July 06
Drive to Taos, New Mexico via Santa Fe

July 07-08
Drive to Canon City, Colorado. Stay in Retro 'van at Starlite Classic Campsite.  Visit Royal George & environs.

July 09-10
Drive to Colorado Springs. Stay in lodge at Glen Eyrie Conference Centre (Navigators Headquarters). Sightseeing - Garden of the Gods and Manitou Springs. Dinner with Lin & LaVerne Roberts, their daughter Gwen & her husband Joe.

July 11
Drive to Hartville, Wyoming. Stay in cabin at Kindness Ranch

July 12-15
Drive to Lead, South Dakota (near Deadwood). Sightseeing -The Black Hills of Dakota, Mount Rushmore. Stay at Historic Town Hall Inn.

July 16
Drive to Cody, Wyoming. Stay at Cody Legacy Inn - The great-great-granddaughter of Buffalo Bill Cody is the owner together with her husband.

July 17-20
Drive to Paradise Valley, Montana (through Yellowstone NP). Stay in a cabin on private ranch. Spend time exploring Yellowstone, and relaxing at the ranch.

July 21-22
Drive to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Stay at Blackwell Hotel B&B

July 23-24
Drive to North Bend,Washington State,via Leavenworth (a Bavarian style village). Stay at Riversong Chalet. Explore waterfalls in region.

July 25-26
Poulsbo, Washington. (A Norwegian-style village across from Seattle). Stay with friends Bill and Ellen Lockard.

July 27
Drive to Sequim, Washington. Stay at Clark's Chambers B&B

July 28-30
Take Car Ferry from Port Angeles, WA to Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. Stay in private home. Explore Historic city of Victoria, Butchart Gardens, and take ferry to islands to see the Orca Whales.

July 31
Drive north to Nanaimo, BC. Stay at Golden Divot B&B

Aug 01-04
Take Car Ferry from Nanaimo BC to Vancouver BC, Canada, Stay in apartment in Central Vancouver. Visit with Brian McConaghy and family, and Ratanak Office. Picnic with family on Saturday at Stanley Park.

Aug 05-06
Drive south to Seattle, Washington. Stay in apartment in SW Seattle. Explore the city (maybe ride the Melbourne Tram!) Dinner with friends.

Aug 07-08
Leaving Seattle drive south, bypassing Portland Oregon, then south-west to Yachats, (pronounced Ya-hots). Stay in "Red Roof House" by the beach. Visit Sea Lion Caves. Search for agates, covered bridges, and explore tidal pools.

Aug 09
Drive south to Eureka, California. Stay at Bayview Motel. Redwood Forests.

Aug 10
Drive to Santa Rosa, California. Stay at Safari West Wildlife Preserve. Jeep tour at 4pm. Dinner with Mark & Linda Hewitt and family.

Aug 11-12
Drive south over Golden Gate Bridge to San Francisco, CA. Stay in apartment on 9th Avenue. Visit Fisherman's Wharf, Lombard Street, Alcatraz, Coit Tower, and ride a trolley car!

Aug 13-14
Drive west to Coulterville, CA. Stay at The Hotel Jeffery. Explore Yosemite National Park.

Aug 15
Drive south through King's Canyon and Sequoia National Parks.  Accommodation yet to be found!

Aug 1-19
Continue south to Los Angeles. Stay at apartment in West Hollywood, 1234 Nth Las Palmas Ave. Sightseeing and catching up with Andrew Semenchuk & his daughter Ruth.

Aug 20
Return SUV at LAX

Aug 20
Depart LAX for Melbourne 10:15pm

Aug 22
Arrive Melbourne 09:40am

(One week later Brian flies to Cambodia)