Picked up the hire car and set off on the drive to Reno. Enroute we visited the Lassen Volcanic Park, the scenery was fantastic and once again very different to anything we had so far seen, there was lots of snow about, mountain peaks and high altitudes. Eventually we got to Reno and found the Eldorado Casino for our 2 night 'holiday' – thanks to Groupon! (£20 for the 2 nights woo hoo!). It seemed like the height of luxury big plush bed, all the trimmings!! When I say I lost it all in the Eldorado Casino in Reno I actually mean about $7 over the 2 nights, but great fun down to the last few cents and then you win again etc kept us occupied for a good few hours I can tell you. There ... read more

Met a couple of bikers from Nottingham this morning who were staying at our motel. They were travelling around on a Triumph Boneville which they bought out in the states and keep over here and use each year for trips! It was great to talk to them, pity we met them just as they were leaving. Today we drove to Crater Lake National Park. A beautiful area and when we got our first look at the lake all I can say is STUNNING, STUNNING, STUNNING! I have never seen anything quite like it, the water was the bluest blue, surrounded by trees, mountains in the background – a truly beautiful place. There was a small island in the lake, part of another volcano. We drove right around Crater Lake, which would have taken about 2 hours ... read more

OK so Bonnie is our sleeping car attendant and she seems very nice but she ain’t no Ainsley, so it’s going to be regulation smoke stops only (thank god I have my electronic friend), no loo in the room which I am quite pleased about and once again free water and soft drinks. The observation car is a bit of a cheat its about 5 cars away and everyone can use it – when we booked it was supposed to be just for the sleepers and we thought it was attached but hey ho you still get a great view from the compartment window. The train was running 2 hours late – not really sure why, something to do with having to give priority to the freight trains, this means it’s even longer to the stops ... read more

We had a lazy start to the day and Stacy was our tour guide to the sights and delights of Baltimore, what a lovely city, the harbour area was really pretty and we walked around and over to the old area with all its little cobbled streets and original houses etc. We heard the news from 1814 from the town crier!! And then potched around some of the quirky little shops before catching the water taxi back over to the harbour area. We then watched fudge being made (which involved lots of audience participation, singing and jokes) but didn’t get any as Howard was too tight to pay for it! We then managed to buy a sat nav for when we hire the car and we were all knackered so went back to Stacy’s for a ... read more

We arrived in Philadelphia yesterday late afternoon and found our way from the station via the subway to the hostel which was in the old quarter of the city. This was the one I was dreading as it was a shared dorm! The actual hostel was in an old building down a back alley but was a really nice and bright inside. They even provided ear plugs free of charge!! The night’s sleep was better than expected, but still awkward and I think Howard has now learnt his lesson and will not make that mistake again!! The thing that really struck me about Phili was how friendly and helpful everyone was, the guy at the subway gave us a map, told us how to use the system and which train we needed, every time we looked ... read more