As we approach the end of our first month away from NZ it is a good time to reflect perhaps. So far so good - the stress is still dripping slowly from us as we ply the American freeway system. All 10 lanes of it in most parts. We are adapting now to always driving on the 'wrong' side of the road and to the huge volume of traffic always on the roads.
Petrol/gas is about $3 US a gallon (they're still in the archaic imperial system here which is slightly irritating).
American's love their cars and 90% of the cars on the roads are late model. They also love their dogs and dogs are accepted in all hotels and motels at a small additional charge. There are a lot of 'Doggy Day Care Center's around and a host of dog stores selling all the latest fashion's for your pooch.
Food is disappointingly expensive and despite joining every supermarket's 'club' for 'member savings' we are very limited by what we can afford. Fresh fruit and vegetables are of a good quality but very expensive. Stone fruit is in season at the moment but average cost is about $10 NZ per kilo. There are some interesting products such as cheese in a spray can, peanut butter flavour ice cream, baby cauliflowers and cabbages that would fit in your palm and bison/buffalo mince none of which we have tried.
The children are doing their 18 kilos of correspondence school work with enthusiasm. I just hope they will get through it all before we get home...
We are all well and happy so long may it continue.
Off to Lake Tahoe tomorrow to celebrate 4 July fireworks on the lake.

Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco -

$5 US toll into the city and free out. A major suicide destination for many locals!

San Francisco skyline taken from the top of Coit Tower

Sausalito, San Francisco -

One of our favourite places twenty years ago and still today. This house boat community is just across the Golden Gate Bridge. There are several hundred in the area all accessed by long jetty's. There were several for sale when we visited, average cost around $850,000 USD plus monthly berthing fees of about $900 USD a month and that is for a 2 bedroom houseboat. Some are as large as a 5 bedroom home and two or three storey's high. The piers/jettys are lined with greenery as you walk along. Many house boats also have resident dogs and cats. The only down side we could envisage was carrying your groceries from the resident's carpark to your houseboat. Beau was sold and wants to live in one day........ (start saving now kiddo!).

Lombard Street, San Francisco -

Crookedest street in the world and yes we drove down it. Note the Asian bride and groom on the bottom left of the photo. The flowers are Hydrangeas.

'Bush Man' - San Francisco

This guy is a regular who hides behind his 'bush' and then jumps out scaring passers by for a tip. Sounds strange but it works and when we watched from across the street he had quite a large audience. A bit like being in on a 'Candid Camera' episode.

San Francisco - Fisherman's Wharf

Cooler than we've been used to at around 25 degrees but still swimming daily. Tim and I have been to this wonderful city several times but it is a city you never tire of. Full of character and soul, a city with a heart. Beau has been very impressed too especially by the vagrants and beggars around the place!

Swimming in Bass Lake, California.

The first time me or the kids had ever swum in a lake.

Standing in front of 'Half Dome' Mountain at Yosemite National Park, California.

Amazing scenery doesn't begin to describe the beauty within this National Park and we only saw a tiny portion of it. Totally awe-inspiring.

'General Sherman' the world's largest tree - Sequoia National Park, California -

On top of Moro Rock.

Believe me it was pretty high and quite scary. Tim abandoned the walk half way due to vertigo and even I found it difficult due to the height and scant railings BUT we made it and what a view!

Sequoia National Park, California

In the background is Moro Rock which we later climbed.

Remember to click on any photograph to enlarge it.

Jonty with a stormtrooper and Darth Vader on Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles.

Beverley Hills house nearing completion (yes it's new not old). One of my favourites.

Beverley Hills residence

Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles

Had two nights at Pasadena, Los Angeles which we used as a base to explore the Norton Simon Museum, Beverley Hills and all its wonderfully rich homes, Rodeo Drive where some shops require you to have an appointment to shop in and Mulholland Drive.
At night we drove to Hollywood and walked along the stars embedded in the sidewalk and visited Graumanns Chinese Theatre where many movie premiers are held. Outside the theatre we saw the foot and handprints of stars like Marilyn Monroe, Harrison Ford, Bing Crosby and more. The kids posed for photos with lookalike stars who you have to pay a tip to for the privilege.
Today we drove north to a small town called Tulare, north of Bakersfield. Tomorrow we are heading to Oakhurst to use as a base to explore Yosemite National Park. Still in the high 30 degrees here.

Kennedy in the sculpture garden at Norton Simon Museum, Pasadena, Los Angeles, California.

Works include art by Picasso, Rembrandt, Degas, Henry Moore, Van Gogh.

Liberace's home in Palm Springs. "Casa Liberace". Note the candelabra on the left hand side.

Glass sculpture at Palm Springs Art Museum. Each piece has been hand blown then assembled.

Sculpture Garden at Palm Springs Art Museum

Visited here today (after 4.00 p.m as free!). Very interesting and kids enjoyed too. Last few days here in Palm Desert before heading to L.A, Las Vegas and Death Valley.

Mid 40's here temperature wise. Drove past some of the stars homes here including Liberace, Elvis, Kenny Rogers and Sonny Bono.

Resort Pool

Our villa is the one in the foreground on the ground floor.

Marriott Desert Springs Timeshare Resort, Palm Desert, California, USA.

View over Palm Springs and Palm Desert.

Week two in Palm Desert. Went on a boat tour yesterday - the Marriott Hotel adjacent to us has a lake and free boat tours around the lobby! Still around 40 degrees here but went on the 'Palms to Pines' drive up through the San Jacinta mountain range where it was a cooler 25 degrees.

Joshua Tree National Park

View from our balcony in Palm Desert

Palm Desert, California, USA

Our first posting so feedback welcome! We arrived safely despite Beau vomiting at the departure gate in Auckland - an ominous start?!
Cleared customs easily at L.A then collected our hire car and drove south for 2 hours to the desert area. We are staying at a lovely resort in Palm Desert alongside the better known Palm Springs where Sonny Bono was the mayor until he died a few years back after crashing into a tree whilst skiing...
Temperature's a warm 45 degrees here and we have a nice apartment overlooking a fabulous green oasis that is one of the many golf courses here. The area is also known for oldies, celebrities and gays!
Visited the nearby Joshua Tree National Park the other day, a 1 hour drive from here. $10 US admission and you can spend the day driving around the protected park and even camp overnight if you choose. The park ranger advised us of what wildlife may be visible including rattlesnakes, jack rabbits, kangaroo rats and road runner birds. I think the kids thought it was more a zoo than national park and were disappointed when loads of animals did not appear. Jonty in particular was disappointed that he didn't spy a rattlesnake. Oh well, I was pleased to hear however that the tarantulas weren't out and about until October.
Kennedy was interested in pointing out the 'capsicums' everywhere (cactus).
Jonty has made a friend at the resort called Dylan who is 8.
Mum and Dad still de-stressing and learning to adjust to driving on the right again - it's been a while.
I sign off now on this balmy day at 4.00 p.m while Tim is at the pool with the boys and I listen to the echoes of Kennedy snoring on our bed...