Yosemite offers breathtaking views, and felt well deserved following a treacherous drive through sheet ice and snow to what can only be described as the best place we've stayed so far- Apple Tree Inn. We had a wood cabing in the foot of the Park with the biggest bed I've ever slept in with a bathroom larger than 1 1/2 the one at home. The free breakfast lent itself to be a free lunch too due to a quick environmental relocation of some bagels! The park's valley could be seen on the drive down and was set against a lush blue [View Full Entry]

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Having people to put you up around the world is great! thanks to some fantastic contacts we managed to stay in South Lake Tahoe for an extended weekend to try our hand at snowboarding. Michael and Evan put us up and managed to get us the worlds best lesson, lift pass and hire package deal ever- thanks guys. It even included a complimentary ride on the back of a snowski down the mountain with ski patrol to A&E after anne fell badly at the beginning of day two fracturing her tail bone. She now has to sit on her inflatable 'donut' [View Full Entry]

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So this is the first installment from our travels! It is Day 3 and we've just arrived in Livermore, where I used to live as a kid. We spent the last three days in San Francisco, which was amazing. It's a fantastic city by day (and probably by night but our hostel was in a pretty dodgy area and we had severe jetlag!), and the weather has been beautiful. Sun, sun and a light breeze- rather nicer than the English winter! Walked for miles, covering lots of the city, including the main tourist sites. And of course we rode a cable [View Full Entry]

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<<Check out the video. Today I woke up feeling refreshed after actually sleeping well last night! We went out first thing to find the house where I used to live- we drove straight past it at first as I remembered it being bigger. It was weird to see the house again, and the school where I attended kindergarten. I couldn't find the pre-school I went to though, which was disappointing. The centre of Livermore has changed lots, so I had no chance of recognising anything there! At around midday we headed for Richmond, and to Larry's boat, and from there headed [View Full Entry]

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Well this is almost it. Leaving in less than a week. This morning even mum (who must want to get rid of me by now!) was saying that I was going to be gone a long time, and that she would miss me. Sorting all the last bits and pieces, and trying to decide if I really will be able to cram the enormous pile of items on my bedroom floor into my rucksack (which by the way I'm sure has shrunk- the rucksack, not the pile although I wish that would!). Now wishing I had ordered everything further ahead as [View Full Entry]

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Current Google map of our flight plan. Ill try and get the itinerary online too for people to keep up to date with out flights. http://www.travelblog.org/gmaps/map_2sO.html [View Full Entry]

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Waiting to hear if possible to go to Fiji Recent military action has led the foreign office to suggest all but essential travel to the area is avoided! Waiting back from travel operator as to our travel arrangments and availability to travel. alex [View Full Entry]

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Tickets purchased, depart 20th January- 7weeks 5days, but who's counting!!! [View Full Entry]

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