South/Cental/North America #17 - Venezela > USA

Photos: USA
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1. Caracas
2. Denver
3. Monarch
4. Durango
5. Mesa Verde NP
6. Arches & Canyonlands NP
7. Bryce, Zion NP & Antelope Slot Canyon
8. Grand Canyon
9. Sequia & Kings Canyon NP
10. Yosemite & San Francisco
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Well I guess this could be the last of the emails to you all as I have finally ended the journey that I originally set out to achieve, it changed numerious times (just ask Lan Chile my airline) took untold twists but on the whole was one great adventure.

I hope that all is well where ever this may find you.

Grab a coffee and get comfortable. Well I left for el capital of Ven. and had no worries leaving almost straight away. I was sad to say goodbye to my adopted continent, but yes I vow to return somwday soon. I know that I am lucky to spend a year here but believe it or not there are still so many places to explore and now so many friends to visit..don't worry I will give you some warning before turning up.

So onto the USA, and in one year nothing stolen..until I arrived in Dallas airport and someone slashed open my bag and took my mobile and some other things that AA will replace...crazy no?

Met Mum and Dad at the airport, great to see them again after 1 year. Jumped in the rent a car and took off for a view of the very different and I have to say sterile Denver. Set off up into the rockies and onto Monarch, a small ski resort where I had a perfect days skiing.

Next up off on the Durango - Silverton steam train, something my father had been wanting to do for 20 years, he was like a kid in a candy store. Great ride up the narrow canyon, how they built these things I never know, still huge sections of snow and a lot of fun.

We then drove over to fasinating cliff dwellings of Mesa Verde and on to Arches NP where the camera got a good work out as sunset lit up strange the red rock formations. Very beautiful. Out to Canyonlands NP, great to see the canyons from above, especially Dead Horse creek lookout.

Drove through some great desert and canyon regions, past plenty of crazy American towns that everyone just seems to collect old cars and leave them in their yards and onto Bryce Canyon. Snow was falling and though we missed sunset it was nice to see the fresh snow fall on the "Hoodoos" or rock pillars that Bryce is famous for. I woke early the next day for sunrise that was spectacular, cold as it was (-10) but worth to see the light changing through the valley. Dad and I hiked down into the canyon for a nice walk amoungst the hoodoos and then joined Mum for the valley rim lookouts, most of which Mum could not see over as the snow was too thick.

Out to the amazingly huge Zion NP with the massive valley walls and crashing waterfalls. I draged Dad up the Angels Landing a walk that has you cross a 2m wide rock ledge with 400m drop on either side and then up a knife edge to a great view back down the valley. The old fella still can hike with the best of them.

Off next to Antelop slot canyon, an extremely tight canyon with light only filtering through around midday, absolutely beautiful. That afternoon we drove to Grand Canyon and enjoyed the views from the South Rim and a spectacular sunset. Work the next morning and dispite the numerous warning decided to hike the canyon in a day, an amazing walk down through the canyon, past the countless rock layer changes, spires of ancient rock and finally at the bottom the colarado river the water way that created it all. The hike out up a different trail was great, long but worth it, then off to watch the sun play its daily show on the rock formations.

Made our way over to Secquia NP and sat back and admired the huge 2500 year old trees, the largest living things on the planet. I went for a walk in the snow, got lost and fell over an embankment but a great day out. The trees are so huge and the largest grows up to the weight of a 20m tree per year.

We took off again to Yosemite, one of the best valleys in the world. a place that everyone should see in there life. Dad and I hiked up to the top of Yosemite Falls, I was looking to find a mountain lion Dad just trying to catch his breath as we ascented the 800 vertical metre cliff.

Off to San Francisco where I met up with my good friends Mark and Julia, I am staying at their place for the next three weeks. I have missed my good friends so much and count down the days when I can see them all again. Sad to say farewell to Mum and Dad again as they are off to Hong Kong to visit my brother Andrew.

So what now you all ask? I do not know, in fact I have no idea, so ask me about the past and not the future.

I hope that you have all enjoyed my little jaunt through South America and one day we will meet again. If any one is travelling through these places and wants some ideas feel free to ask. Hopefully hear or even better see you all soon...

Roland