Nothing could contain my excitement for the 5.30 wake up for our big day at DCA. First thing on the schedule was California Screamin’ which we went on twice without waiting. Next it was Mickey's Gondola which I still managed to scream on. California Soarin’ has to be my complete favourite of all time. It really really made you think you were astral travelling over everything, the ocean, the hills etc. I’d say feel like in a helicopter also but a helicopter is noisy and this wasn’t. Even soarin’ over the orange orchards they pump an orange scent into the room. Then when you are over people skiing in the Sierra Nevada you can smell pine trees. You really think you are there including when you look down. We got advice on the best seats and ... read more

We couldn’t wake up early enough so weren’t on the road to Sequoia until about midday as we also got stuck in yet another gift store. I wanted to go the King’s Canyon as we missed out on that last time. The drive in there was very long, very steep, and very windy. Even Bobby started to feel woozy. It was a lovely drive, but a little disappointing after all the effort we went to. The drive into Yosemite was more spectacular than that, and we had wasted a lot of time and petrol getting there and back. As it was we only just made it to the General Sherman Tree by about 5.30pm after a quick visit to the visitors centre. We were too late for the Big Forest Drive, which is only reachable by ... read more

We left in time to make the gate opening the Ghost Town at 9am. It was probably better in the morning to take pictures anyway as most of the interesting buildings were facing east. It was a photographer’s delight. Not long after we got the park which was spread over a very large area, Bobby decided to go off exploring on his own. For at least an hour I had no idea if he was at the bottom of a disused mine shaft or kidnapped. Probably a disused mine shaft as he has an unusual obsession which this. I had a ball photographing everything, as it was a total photographer’s delight. The kids got a Junior California Ranger’s Badge for answering a few questions about the park. The visit however, was very much soured by the ... read more

We never did end up doing any gambling. Erika managed to do a bit until she got told off because the kids were with her. She gave us a gambling voucher to use but we simply ran out of time to use it. I was surprised to see that kids were allowed in gaming areas as long as you don’t gamble while they watch. We slept in which put us behind for the day’s activities, but we really really needed it. We stopped off at Walmart on once again got stuck in there just marvelling at all the stuff. Not only is it a variety store but a grocery store, with a MacDonalds inside the shops as well. We got more clothes and groceries, and before we knew over 2 hours had gone and we hadn’t ... read more

Erika’s kids wanted to see M&M factory but wasn’t one just a massive store with consumerism at its most disgusting. Basically there was nothing you couldn’t buy without M&Ms on it i.e. calculators. Rows and rows of different colour dispensers. The kids spend forever in there and all I wanted to do was go to the titanic/bodies exhibit and head up to Circus Circus and do the things I had picked out so we’d have time for shopping tomorrow. As it turned out her kids wanted to go to ride the roller coaster at New York New York, when Bobby wanting to go the one at Stratosphere which was a long way north of the strip. So as usual Brendan couldn’t say no and just head straight for the Luxor for the exhibitions. Our compromise was ... read more