Monday 6th December 2010:

Listening to the Colorado River rapids all night was relaxing in its own way. The weather is now a little overcast and with a sprinkle of rain we ascend out of the river gorge.

Crossed over the new Hoover Dam Bridge and into Nevada. Quite another feat of engineering.

In Las Vegas we caught up with our other Australian travelling companions, Bill and Gay so now the group is all back together and for what started as 2 days stretched into 4 all too easily.

Camp 25: Circus Circus Hotel Camp

N36* 08.259 W115* 10.079

Distance Today: 279 Kms

Total Distance: 7744 Kms

Friday 10th December 2010:

This evening we are in the Mojave Desert with the hope to see some big horn sheep, a Coyote or two and even a rattle snake would be good. (...Not the snake says Lyn)

With permission of the ranger our remote camp was behind the hole in the wall camp ground, enjoying a long and warm open camp fire well into the evening.

Camp 26: Mojave Desert Camp

N35* 02.946 W115* 26.102

Distance Today: 210 Kms

Total Distance: 7954 Kms

Saturday 11th December 2010:

In the Joshua Tree National Park, crossed over steep mountain trails from Mitchell Caverns to the Kelso Dunes,

and then lunched at the abandoned iron ore mines.

Today must have been a play day for a Hummer Club (?) with many of them tackling the trails.

In the distance the singing Kelso Sand Dunes.

Camp tonight at Boulder Rock camp grounds just as the sun set over those majestic boulders and exotic desert plants.

Camp 27: Boulder Rock Camp

N33* 59.463 W116* 03.686

Distance Today: 226 Kms

Total Distance: 8181 Kms

Sunday 12th December 2010:

The morning exercise was two walks to Barker Dam

and more interestingly an old gold ore crushing plant that operated from 1935 to the late 60’s.

Around which were numerous old car wrecks that had survived in the dry climate.

At Key Views is a lookout that spans the San Andreas Fault line. Love this geological stuff: the mountains in the middle of the picture move north 2 inches per year or 100miles/million years.

It is here we say our goodbyes to John and Liz who will be heading to Canada to spend Christmas with John’s daughter after storing the vehicle. 

For us there is one final dotted trail that exited the park to the south – Dobbins Road.

A great track following a stony river bed for 12miles as it twists itself through vertical walls down some 1,000meters.  This is a great finale for the month we had in the lower States.

It is now on to San Diego and an RV park for a moth balling process and general clean up so we can store the two trucks until our return in late February/early March for more touring.

Camp 28:  Clean up Camp San Diego

N32* 51.797 W117* 00.503

Distance Today: 353 Kms

Total Distance: 8534 Kms

Loved the USA. Very easy touring and everybody is so incredible friendly.

The country is impeccably clean and a credit to the nation.

Our biggest surprise is the politeness of all. From a street kid riding his skate board down the street calling out “Excuse me” and then “Thank you”, then people on the walking trails stopping to chat and welcome us to their country, and the notes on the windscreen offering coffee or a place to stay should we ever pass through their town.

We look forward in anticipation to our return and our northern sojourns.

To Continue Our Travels in the USA: Click Here