Linda as usual got us really organised and we got to the airport in time to return the car, check in our baggage ($100) and to go for breakfast – Eggs Benedict – yummy!
Sad to say goodbye but hopefully we will meet up in Sydney in March or in UK later in the year.
Just wiped on the journey to Phoenix. Couldn’t believe we had got everything done and that we were on the plane. Awful US Air flight attendant who was bored stupid and just reeled off information at twice the speed of sound. Lots of stuff not working on the plane – no hot water – no water in toilet etc. Didn’t fill us with confidence BUT the lovely message from John more than made up for that.
The views as we left were just fantastic, the deep canyons of the Gunnison and Colorado rivers, snow dusted mountains and the straight lonely roads that we had travelled in all sorts of weather. Seeing Utah from the air was also terrific. Incredible how big everything is … will miss the wide open spaces and there always seems to be a snow covered mountain in the distance!
The contrasting view coming into Phoenix was of a HUGE spread out city, with carefully constructed streetscapes that spread out in undulating waves before us. A long streak of a canal dissected the town – I wonder if this is the end of the mighty Colorado?
Strange to see the glistening swimming pools of suburbia once more. Wow 70 degrees out there – no more thermal underwear for a while!
At Phoenix we had to walk the usual 5 km but luckily we had plenty of time. What a sight we must have looked though as we had far too many bags… cameras….backpacks, roller bags, coats. Most of which we are going to leave at the hotel in Santa Monica.
The desk was pandemonium people milling about and flights overbooked. We suddenly realised that we had no idea of the name of our hotel. We had booked it so long ago on a special deal. The main attractions being that it was one block from the ocean, provided free storage of bags while we were in Peru and had a special deal, the $450 room only costing $100!! But what was its name? Would we have time to check the internet?
Yeehah! Free internet. Plugged in my lovely new Mac and connected straight away… found the email, checked messages – lovely one from Kathy. Texted Roger’s dad and emailed, Caleb, Kathy & Linda and then onto the plane.
Santa Monica here we come!
The question “Is it a life experience?” has launched us into some amazing cultural exchanges such as volunteering in Tanzania, floating in a canoe down the Amazon, snorkeling in Alaska and walking among the wonderful creatures on the Galapagos Islands.
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