The history of European settlement of California is different to the rest of the United States in that instead of pioneers moving westward in search of new land from the east coast, California was settled by Spanish missionaries from the south in search of new souls. Core to that fascinating movement over 200 years ago is the establishment of 21 missions throughout California by these Spanish priests. And Julie and … Continue reading →
How do you follow up six weeks traveling around Central Asia followed by three weeks exploring Mongolia? What could possibly complement that sort of massive adventure? Ah, well, we had a good idea and flew to California where our plan was to catch up with family, some who live there and some who are also coming to visit from Australia. For Julie and I that’s California dreamin’ come true. Our … Continue reading →
All good things must come to an end and Julie and I knew our northern summer in the western US was on it’s sunset days. But first we had time for more fun in the sun, great walks in the mountains and a very special birthday celebration. And of course it all happened at Tahoe. The highlight of our entire three month trip to the US was to celebrate my … Continue reading →
California is different to the rest of the United States, to the enjoyment of some and the consternation of others. The lifestyle, culture, weather, economy, diversity and politics make it stand out from the other 49 states. Silicon Valley, Hollywood, the Golden Gate, the beaches, the redwoods, California is different. If California was an independent country it would have the 5th largest economy in the world. It is also a … Continue reading →
We’ve said it before but one of the great attractions of travelling in the US is the national parks. On the top of that list for many people is Yosemite National Park in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Mountains not too far south of Lake Tahoe. Julie and I wanted to take in this magnificent place again and when I scored a three day pass online we were ready … Continue reading →
There’s nothing better than family and Julie and I are both lucky to be part of very large families – each of us the oldest of five children, now with many nieces and nephews. In fact, our three kids have an impressive 24 cousins spread out between the US and Australia. So of course while Julie and I were in the American neighbourhood we set aside a bucket-load of time … Continue reading →
Julie and I love the beaches and we spend as much time as possible with sand and surf. We also crave the mountains with their snowy tops, jagged peaks, stunning walks and amazing views. But we have always held a special place for the wide open spaces, the long flat prairies, the barren lifeless bush and the endless desert. The desert fascinates us and amazes us at every turn. And … Continue reading →
The setting was sparkling with it’s lush and colourful gardens, the adobe-style architecture of the historic lodge set as a background and a couple hundred well-appointed guests gathered under a cool blue sky. The beautiful bride and our nephew-turned-groom looked absolutely magnificent and we were surrounded by close family. The moment couldn’t have been more perfect. And in this grand way Julie and I started a three month trip where … Continue reading →
One thing we’ve learned from this three week lap around the Pacific Northwest is that there are endless little hidden gems – as well as some more famous spots – to visit in Oregon, Washington and Idaho. But as we closed the loop, including a fabulous week travelling with Kathy and John, we knew that all our roads lead back to California. But the US is a big place full … Continue reading →
No other region of the United States has a stronger reputation for beautiful mountain and coastal scenery, outstanding recreation activities and a general celebration of the great outdoors than the Pacific Northwest, or the PNW. And by the PNW we mean the progressive states of Oregon and Washington which cover everything between California and Canada. Julie and I wanted to do more exploring of the nooks and crannies in this … Continue reading →
Mt. Shasta rises from the flatlands of northern California like a protective mother looking after her brood far below. It is a perfect conically-shaped volcanic mountain, at 14,100 feet (4300 metres) one of the highest in continental United States, formed over hundreds of thousands of years and still considered active. Mt. Shasta is visible for 100 miles on a clear day, one of the most awesome stand-alone mountains imaginable. Mt. … Continue reading →
Pine trees have always held a special place in my mind. They remind me of some of my best memories growing up – hiking in the forests, camping in the mountains, skiing in the Sierra Nevada mountains, holidays at Lake Tahoe. Huge majestic pine trees everywhere. And Julie immediately saw the magic in them when she started to spend time in California with their tall handsome trunks, defining barks and … Continue reading →
One of my favourite travelling songs is the old Willie Nelson tune with the singalong chorus ‘On the road again, just can’t wait to get on the road again’. Julie and I could finally sing that song again after about an eight week hiatus from Tramp and our Follow the Sun adventure. During that time we had a beautiful little grand daughter (Abby rules!), we reunited with friends and family … Continue reading →
I used to say that the last three days of any holiday are the toughest because your mind starts thinking about getting home, what has to be done next, getting back to school or work, whatever the next chapter has in store. We’re certainly suffering a bit of that because we are looking forward to returning to Sydney before the grand arrival of our first grandchild (yeah!) but all the … Continue reading →
Julie and I love weddings. We love the celebration of a wedding but we also love the reunion of family and friends that every wedding represents. We have no problem travelling fair distances to attend a wedding – different state, different country, short haul, long haul, whatever it takes. And we usually try to tie in some sort of holiday or break with the wedding, whether it is in Bali, … Continue reading →
Most people don’t associate California with desert. Well, California is a huge place with many diverse features and in fact does deserts like few other places in the world, including one of the most famous, Death Valley. Our next destination, Joshua Tree National Park, sits conveniently near the famous desert oasis of Palm Springs and the start of our journey into the vast California desert.
Continue reading →I did my university in Los Angeles (fight on Trojans!), a great city to be in when you are young and without worry or responsibility. But that was a long time ago and this time around Julie and I were more interested in a completely different side of southern California. No long beaches, hot summer days and tall palms for us, we wanted to explore the preserved forests, national parks, … Continue reading →
