Drove to Coromandel yesterday in the mist and rain. Thought I had taken a wrong turn at one stage as I drove for miles and didn't see another car. The road was very steep and windy through the mountains and in parts no barriers scary!! Eventually saw some other cars which was reassuring. Arrived at Hot Beach springs where for two hours either side of low water you can build little baths with sand and hot water flows in from beneath the earth. Everyone is congregated together as it only happens in a space about thrifty feet wide. This is due to volcanic activity from years ago which has left very hot rocks the water seeps down is heated and then is drawn up again. Today went to Hahei where you find Cathedral Cove, it's about ... read more

Arrived in Auckalnd and spent a little time sorting out a new SIM card for my phone and a hire car. Stayed in Auckland overnight and decided to set off early in the morning. With my lovely little satnav to show me the way had was so on on my way to Rotorua which is about a three hour drive from Auckland. I just could not believe how quiet the roads were, it was very rural and a lot like the English countryside. Arrived in Rotorua and decided after a visit to the tourist information centre that I would visit the buried village of Te Wairoa. In 1886 a catastrophic eruption of nearby Mount Tarawera by destroyed a tourist village. Prior to the eruption people came from far and wide to bathe in the Pink and ... read more

Las Vegas is not necessarily a place I would have chosen to go however I think you should experience everything in life once, you never know you can be surprised. The day I went to Vegas didn't start too well, my last host Rane went on a date the night before I left she had a bit too much to drink and ended up with a hangover nothing much to worry about you might think!!! She kindly offered to drop me off at the bus stop which was great however she dropped me off at the wrong bus stop, which meant I missed my bus from LA. Fortunately I managed to catch the next bus and only had to pay a $15 fee. The journey to Las Vegas took just over six hours on a bus ... read more

Arrived back in LA shortly after a bond scare in the centre of the city, it was mayhem. The subway trains were all blocked up the the freeways blocked solid. On the bus from the station to Marina Del Rey I caught the airport bus which was the cheapest way of getting there, there was a woman across from me shouting at the driver because she was going to miss her flight, the journey which normally takes about half an hour took an hour. Arrived at my destination an hour late couldn't find the house so rang the host who came to meet me. The house is very small after the last place but it one block from the sea about twenty yards, lovely. Yesterday walked along the beach from Marina Del Rey, to Venice, which ... read more

Had a quiet day yesterday suffering from the after effects of a big walk from Market St to the Golden Gate Bridge the day before so watched surfers and slept on the beach. Today awoke ready for my visit to Alcatraz looked out of the window guess what, foggy still I guess it sets the scene for the visit. Caught the MUNI in to SF everyone was either plugged in to a phone or looking like a zombie standing or sitting with their eyes shut. The train was really crowded and all these people with their eyes closed was like something off a horror movie. Anyway arrived at the quay ready to catch the boat. Can't believe the difference in the weather from yesterday to today the temperature must have dropped about twent five degrees. So ... read more