Hello – I am adjusting fairly quickly back to my normal time zone (apart from going to bed too early and getting up before the sun)!
Winter is also a bit of a shock.
Anyway, here is an overview of my amazing time in the USA – specific stories will have to wait a bit – there are over two thousand photos to sort & post process and I figure I should prioritise the wedding photos for the young couple!
My friend Wendy and I hit it off really well – no problems being the best buddies that we were back in 3rd grade! Her family were equally welcoming.
We started off with a graduation:
I didn’t really realise the big event this was in the US. In Australia there is a certificate handed over and a formal dance, but nothing compared to the ceremony I got to go and see in Texas!
A few days later – there was a wedding!
The day went beautifully. There was a lot of happiness and love – and fun!
After the wedding was done and dusted, lots of family stayed on in Corpus Christi for a week – there were lots of dinners, gatherings and beach time
Driving miles down the beach to find the perfect picnic spot
Evening fell and a fire pit was dug and lit up. There followed music, singing and smores!
A couple of days after the family left, Wendy and I packed the car and started on our rather epic 4500km (2800 mile) road trip!
I loved watching the landscape fly by – and we were treated to some stunning sunsets
A quick stop in Roswell was all the tackarama I dreamed it to be! (yes and we now have some alien bumper stickers on our car!!)
A slight detour to the Painted Desert NP to see the petrified wood (Of which you saw a few images last post) was just stunning. We loved the landscape and its colours
And finally finally finally – the Grand Canyon itself. Nothing really prepares you for how magnificent it really is. And photos cannot capture the scale
We walked a lot of the rim trail on the first day and walked a short way down the Kaibab Trail
The second day we hiked the Bright Angel Trail – 20km (12 miles) & down a few thousand feet. We were out there for 12 hours!
It was a really fabulous hike – we loved leaving most of the rim tourists behind and really getting down into the environment
Back on the road again, we took a slight detour to go and see the Gila Cliff Dwellings in southwest New Mexico
Built in the late 1200’s by the Mogollon People. These are pretty incredible.
The workmanship in these dwellings is astounding – and long lasting!
A ranger was up at the site to manage tourists and was very interesting to listen to. Hard to believe that so much effort went into creating these living spaces when they were only used by the Mogollon People for 30 years!
Hope you enjoyed the little taste of my adventures in the US! Time for me to fall into bed again!
Hope everyone is doing well!
Cheers!
I’m so pleased you enjoyed your time in my country. The Grand Canyon is not my favorite ( can’t look down) but it is beautiful. I’ve been there.
I look forward to seeing the United States through your eyes
Thanks Linda! It really was a fantastic trip. And perhaps you can enjoy the Grand Canyon via photos instead of the real thing! It it a giddying experience standing on the rim looking down!
Hi Lisa, So glad that you had a good time in our beautiful country! The Southwest is awesome! As always, your photos are outstanding. B-T- W, you and your friend look like you could be sisters. 🙂
Thanks for sharing, Karen
Hi Karen! I was so lucky to see so much while I was there! I enjoyed the vast differences of the landscapes!
And lol – so many people commented about the sister possibility on my facebook page when we posted funny selfies of our travels!:)