31st July - San Diego to Phoenix - 355 miles

We left Christopher and Jennifer's home in San Diego after a nice restful break and thanks to them both for allowing us to stay. The drive to Phoenix was unreal, the contrasting scenery was amazing. The first part through the mountains of Southern California of huge bolder type rock, then through sandy plains with sand dune hills, then into farming country as we approached the Arizona border. Alicia I have no idea how you live and survive in Yuma in the heat....I know I couldn't. The heat surely started to intensify through Arizona, when we arrived in Phoenix it was 109 F/ 41 C and the breeze, what breeze there was...was hot!!!! We checked into hotel and with air conditioning up to the max...lol we both had a nanna nap...lol. When we woke we both took off across to the air conditioned mall next door for some dinner and relief...lol.

1st August - Phoenix to Flagstaff - 144 miles

Set off again bright and early north to Flagstaff, driving through Arizona and seeing the huge cactus' again was cool. This was also new territory for Mama. We drove through Sedona, an amazingly beautiful city. The red rock was amazing and lots of trees which kinda kept it a lil cooler just beautiful. After leaving Sedona the drive was very pretty through the trees with a river winding it's way alongside.

2nd August  - Flagstaff to Grand Canyon and return

We were both really excited when we woke in anticipation of both seeing the Grand Canyon for the first time. The drive to the canyon was different yet again, the closer we got the more excited we became. We called into the Tourist Info Centre on the way to check out our options, we then decided to drive into the park and do our own tour from there. The entrance was $25 to get into the park and worth every cent !!!! Our first glimpse of the canyon was amazing I couldn't park the car quick enough to get to the edge.

The Grand Canyon was just superb in all it's splendor and each vantage point painted a different picture so to speak. Me being rather adventurous to say the least had to take every opportunity to get the best shots, in doing so I did scare Mama a few times... she was of the opinion that the paths and the barriers were there for a reason.... Lozzy thought different and several times I went beyond the 'safe' areas. Some places were rather challenging and I became a rock climber as well...lol

I was lucky enough to also capture the california condors, they are huge and to also just sit and watch them in flight was cool.

Mama finally musta figured... if I cant beat her I'll join her.. and she detoured off the path...lol. I was so proud she finally made it and I encouraged her to take the next step out onto a ledge.... although she was apprehensive she made it !!

I stopped at one vantage point and was taking pics, then looked back and here was Mama chatting up 3 bikers..lol.. I called out hey Mama didn't your mother teach you not to talk to strange men...lmao Well after that comment they just had to show me that they were not strange....lol. Mama still talks about her getting the guys and Lozzy getting the kiss, she wasn't impressed. lmao.

After leaving the Grand Canyon we stopped on way back to Flagstaff at the Little Colorado River canyon. The views there were cool as well.

3rd August - Flagstaff to Las Vegas - 252 miles 

On the way to Vegas we stopped at Hoover Dam and Lake Mead it was huge and darn hot so we didn't spend much time out of the car.

After arriving in Vegas and getting all settled in at our hotel the Riviera and cooling down somewhat..lol was time to hit the nightlife. We went to the Rio for dinner and watched the show, I was picked up by the Chippendales... Couldn't stop drooling after that...lmao We left there and back onto the Strip for more action. It was 2.30am before we knew it.

After a well deserved sleep in was gambling time...lol. Met up with Patti aka pahiscrazy during the afternoon, then out again for dinner, this time Circus Circus then off to the Hilton to catch up with Patti at work. We walked and walked the Strip, Casino hopping all way and trying our luck yet again...lol. We finally made it back to hotel at 3am...lol

Today we did the Strip in the daylight and checked out the casinos we missed the last 2 nights, and of course took in some shopping. The M&M store was cool all 4 stories filled with goodies and I didn't realize there was so many darn colors....lol Once again we walked and walked, I stopped and looked one store while Mama rested her feet...lol I came out and sure enough she was chatting up another guy....lol this time a security guy..lol

We went to the show here in the Riveria... Ice... very talented Russian Ice dancers and performers...was a fun night...I think the last 2 nights were catching up on us both and we had a relatively early night compared to the previous two. Our time in Vegas was full on and fun packed with heaps to do and see.

6/7th August - Las Vegas to Stockton - 490 miles

  Here's the link to YouTube for all the laughs !!!

  ~*~ YouTube Videos ~*~

If I'm close to you along the way please give me a yell either on msn or send me an email to loraway50@hotmail.com,

would love to meet you.