We had been told we would be arriving at Arches for sunrise but it looks like I slept through it. The couple of people who were up said we didn't miss much. Again the campsite was in beautiful surroundings. We enjoyed breakfast, before a quick trip over the road to one of the trailheads at Arches National Park. Here we did the Devils Garden trail, which took us past arches. You would think after one or two arches you would feel you have seen enough but thankfully that wasn't the case! For our return we took the primitive loop which was [View Full Entry]

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I had been disappointed to hear we wouldn’t be camping at Zion but I needn't have been so. We were at Kotachrome national park, which was attractive with more red rock formations. After breakfast we went to Bryce where we opted for any easier hiking option of the Navajo look combined with the Queens garden Trail. My guide book told us which end to start to have the easier hike out. We hiked down in to the amphitheatre and walked among the rock formations (Hoodoos). We stopped under the shelter of a tree for lunch. Many of the other people on [View Full Entry]

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I know that I am back in the country now, but I thought I would still do this for those who don't know how it went, or haven't yet seen any photos. I'll start with the bus. I don't know what I expected, but it wasn't it. The bus didn’t really have normal seats, it had a few benches at the front, some tables in the middle and a great big platform at the back for lounging on! Immediately it felt much more comfortable for travelling then a normal bus as you could move and relax. We travelled for a few [View Full Entry]

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After Yosemite we got back in to SF early afternoon where I strolled around a few more photo spots and did some window shopping. The evening was spent with 2 people from my tour strolling around North beach and having a bite to eat. The view of the coast from the resturant was really good, but was beaten by the suset over the Golden Gate Bridge which followed. (That was then followed by a yummy ice cream!) On Thursday I took a Muir Woods and Sonoma trip. First stop was the Muir woods which have a large number of coastal redwoods. [View Full Entry]

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So bright and early on day 2 I was picked up by the Yosemite bug bus to head to Yosemite National Park. The journey was uneventful. The hostel I was to stay at for 2 nights was outside of the national park itself but still remote, and in nice surroundings. On the afternoon of our arrival we went for a walk around the hostel, to a small cave which it is suspected was an old gold mine. It was a dissapointment that we did not spend the afternoon in the np, but it was pleasant, and a warm up for my [View Full Entry]

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Hello All So for my first day in SF I had intended to go to Sausalito, however I promptly discovered that I could stop their after my wine tour. This left me with a decision what to do with my one full day in SF itself (or so I thought, I actually had 2 days!). Rather than trying the 'all you can cook' pancake breakfast offered by the hostel I went to an american style diner to think about it over a huge american breakfast. I decided that as it was four or five years since my last visit I would [View Full Entry]

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After 2 days of pretty much solid traveling, much of it in heavy rain, and an overnight stop in Comayagua we arrived in Utila. Its not a very attractive island, with only 2 small beaches, so I was very glad I am a diver. The only other good thing was the seafood of which I had plenty. A very nice lobster kebab and I tried Conch for the first time. Anyway as I mostly just went diving the photos say it all. The divemaster was great at photos but i can say that I took all but one of these, [View Full Entry]

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So the tour ended on Friday and most people went home. Just 4 of our group were carrying on to Mexico and the rest either went home or moved on on Saturday. It was a shame to say goodbye as they had ben a great group. So I ventured out on my own to Panajachel on Lake Atitilan. This is a very beautiful, and quite European looking lake. Unfortunately though Panajachel relies heavily on tourism so you cannot go anywhere without someone trying to get you on their boat or in their restaurant. Next thing you know it will be time [View Full Entry]

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The final stop on the tour was Antigua. Similar to Granada with the colonial style,but a little larger and little more swamped with tourists. On the first day we went to a womans project wherethey showed us how they make their textiles and otherthings like Tortillas. It was very educational and interesting, and the cost of our tour went towards educating children in the village. In the afternoon we went to Pacaya volcano. I keep forgetting that visiting volcanoes means walking up hill. So after a couple of steep hours upwards we hit the first viewpoint. Now I have seen lava [View Full Entry]

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After a few days diving and relaxing we traveled to Copan to see the Mayan Ruins. This for me was the most interesting part of the trip so far. They are not as grand as some others (I have been told) but the sculpture was really detailed. We then went to macaw mountain to see lots of birds. Again I think the photos will say it all. Unfortunately I need to go pack so these will have to wait! [View Full Entry]

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