http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/StuartSmith/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from StuartSmith en-us Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:04:42 +0000 Thu, 31 Dec 2009 10:04:42 +0000 So the end of a spectacular unforgettable journey. The flight home to London was a time to reflect and to think about what the future holds. The plane arrived at London Heathrow just after 8am. We cleared customs with the usual degree of ease and collecting our bags before taking the taxi home. As with any foreign travel I was hit with a sense of relief Im back in a place I understand my countr http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/England/blog-90830.html Due to an administrative error on my behalf Ben and I were booked in on separate flights to New York. Benrsquos flight departing an hour before mine meant that he would arrive at JFK in time to meet the girls. My arrival into New York was in the evening and I had the most spectacular of views as we flew around Manhattan Island to make our approach into JFK airport. The lights of the city and the http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/New-York/Manhattan/blog-90843.html Unlike other National Parks we have been to Yellowstone is by far the most remote. Set predominantly in the Northwest corner of Wyoming with parts of the park crossing into both Idaho and Montana. The nearest major city was Salt Lake which was back in Utah some 350 miles away. However the seclusion and remoteness only added to the mystery and tranquillity of this place. Entering at the Southeast http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Yellowstone-National-Park/blog-84533.html We departed the motor coach deep in the heart of San Francisco at World Famous Fishermanrsquos Wharf. With no accommodation booked we headed to the pay phone on Pier 39 to make some calls. After calling 5 or 6 fully booked hostels we came across a hostel with some availability for all 4 nights. Following instructions we boarded a tram and headed into downtown. Immediately after leaving the water http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Francisco/blog-84531.html With very little sleep from the overnight greyhound journey we arrived in Boston at around 9am.We boarded the metro train and headed towards out hostel. lsquoJust a short tube journey from the city centrersquo it touted. Yes and a 30minute bus journey to the tube station which it failed to mention. We checked in and showered before we headed back into the city. Unlike where we were staying w http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Massachusetts/Boston/blog-84526.html The south road leading out of Yellowstone linked directly into the Grand Teton National Park. An American tourist at Old Faithfully told us ldquothe Grand Teton Mountains come straight out of the groundrdquo. Ben and I laughed at this ldquoof course where else do the mountains come fromrdquo When we got there however I understood exactly what he meant when he said it. Unlike most mounta http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Wyoming/Grand-Teton-National-Park/blog-81547.html The short journey by train to Philadelphia meant we arrived at about 3pm. We made our way to the HI Hostel near the centre of town and as we arrived the hostel was just opening. Inside it was very clean the common areas consisted of a TV lounge and a pool table. The hostel put a film on every night at 9pm this at first sounded like a good way to meet other travellers but we found out that peopl http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Pennsylvania/Philadelphia/blog-81684.html The first thing I noticed about Chicago was its sheer size it took 40 minutes on the train to get to downtown from the airport. The second thing I noticed was how friendly the people were everyone was eager to help and people showed a genuine interest in our trip what we had done and what we were doing. It was a real positive and happy atmosphere. The third thing I noticed was after I came up to http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Illinois/Chicago/blog-81555.html The second leg of the train journey took us from FraserWinter Park to Salt Lake City. Starting in the Rocky Mountains the scenery was instantly stunning the track weaved its way through canyons and between mountains throughout what has to be the most attractive State Colorado. After hours of glorious rugged snowcapped mountains we started to descend and once again follow the path of the river. http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/South-Dakota/blog-81548.html The California Zephyr is the 2422mile train line that connects Chicago and San Francisco it is the most picturesque rail journey in the States and is marked by contrast. Travelling out of the suburbs of Chicago it heads through the Great Plains and then winds its way into the Rocky Mountains in the heart of Colorado before finally heading out to the Pacific coast. The journey takes some 53 hours http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Colorado/Rocky-Mountains/blog-81545.html After a terrifying flight I was glad to be on he ground. The initial descent over DC was spectacular I was able to get a great view of the white house the capitol building and the Washington monument. DC had a good public transport system and we were able to easily navigate the underground system and find our hostel. Named the Hill Top Hostel it was about 20 minutes out from the centre. Despite http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/District-of-Columbia/Washington/blog-81517.html As we approached Las Vegas daylight was quickly fading the lights from the Vegas Strip illuminated the evening sky and we were able to identify some of the larger more unique hotels. We eventually located our own hotel just a short 5min walk from the MGM grand off the strip. Ben tired from the days hiking and travelling headed to bed but I decided that Vegas on a Saturday night could not be m http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Nevada/Las-Vegas/blog-57834.html The first thing to hit you after stepping off the plane is the intense humidity and the extreme heat coming from Boston the contrast was severe. From the plane we headed to the rental centre and as I drove last time this was Bens turn. Like last time we selected the cheapest range of cars compacteconomy. Now whether they simply had no cars available from that range or whether this was Miamirsq http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Florida/Miami-Beach/blog-68730.html We promptly arrived at Dallas or the lsquoBig Drsquo as it likes to be known. I know what yoursquore thinking the D stands for Dallas wellhellip your wrong it stands for Disappointment Dogshite and Debt The plane touched down at 2pm 5 hours before the Arena football game AFL between Dallas Desperados and New York was due to start. I previously had to reschedule this flight back i http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Dallas/blog-68740.html Houston is the 4th largest city in America and it showed unlike LA however it did have a convenient tram and bus network. We were staying in Houstonrsquos one and only hostel and it was the first genuine hostel we had been to. It was basically a converted house with your basic amenities. Guests were expected to assist with daily chores and the price was extremely cheap we were later told this http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Texas/Houston/blog-68741.html On the journey to Toronto we learnt more about Andrew an Australian traveller who was going to be staying in England for a year or so whilst interspersing trips to Europe. He was currently visiting friends in New York and Toronto for a few weeks and as what was becoming somewhat of a habit we discussed travelling the world and our mutual bewilderment and all things American.Upon arrival in Tor http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/Canada/Ontario/Toronto/blog-59661.html The 14hour journey to Niagara Falls from Philadelphia first stopped off at New York City. We were able to stretch our legs and get our first glimpse of the city that would eventually mark the conclusion of the trip. The long journey across New York state gave me and appreciation of the sheer size of American states practically countries in their own right it is an impressive tribute to the found http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/New-York/Niagara-Falls/blog-59801.html We arrived at the Grand Canyon at about 3pm and eager for a backcountry pass so that we could head down into the canyon and camp at the bottom we headed straight to the backcountry office without even seeing the canyon itself. When we got to the office we were informed that the last backcountry pass had gone only moments ago. Extremely disappointed we started to discuss with the ranger what other http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/Arizona/Grand-Canyon-National-Park/blog-57382.html We finally arrived in Joshua Tree National Park at about 10.30 in the evening the park rangers had gone home so we drove straight through into the park hellipwell we could always pay when we departed. We drove to a series of campsites before finding a site that was not full up. We pitched the tent and went to bed not knowing what sort of scenery was surrounding us.In the morning we found that http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Joshua-Tree-National-Park/blog-57360.html The journey to San Diego was relatively quick we stopped a few times along the way once for Ben who was still feeling unwell and once for fuel gas that was an experience in itself. The hostel at San Diego was very luxurious compared to the LA hostel we had stayed in previous and was set up in such a way as to encourage socialising. We checked in and in preparation for the overnight camping we http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/San-Diego/San-Ysidro/blog-57162.html