LAX

With a quick trip around the gift stores for a few last souvenirs we packed up the car for our last time and left Angelina Jolie’s car park. Our last ride in the faithful Camry today took us to the hotel by LAX. While Fraser took the car for its last ride to the car dealer Sarah and Aaron began the last pack of the luggage into the bags.
With a view of the LAX sign for our room it is now sinking in that this is the end and home is just a non stop flight away. So a quick look back over our road trip reveals:
3 People – Fraser, Sarah and Aaron
1 Toyota Camry
11,060 Kilometers by car
20 USA states
2 Canadian Provinces
8 National Parks
1 Helicopter Ride
34 Days
33 Nights
2 Ferry Rides
4 time zones
2 was the lowest room number
0 Flat tires
17 Fuel stops
5 Suitcases squeezed in the boot
1 Bag on the backseat (plus food and water bags)
4 Cameras
817 Liters of petrol put in the car (some still in the tank)
19 Hotels/Motels/Houses
2 Oceans
7 crossings of the Continental Divide
6 Parks
38 degrees Celsius, top temperature (Could be higher)
85 meters below sea level, lowest elevation
4 hours gained
3 Great Lakes
24017 Highest room number
139 Kilograms of check-in luggage
23rd September 2009 lost while flying home
Now it is just Tuesday the 22nd September to go when we fly out to Auckland New Zealand with Air New Zealand.
Thanks for following our trip as we have thoroughly enjoyed our road trip and only wish we had more time (and money) to complete the rest of the USA.
We have seen and done so much, but there is still more to do so keep checking back here for future adventures.

Universal Studios

Entering Hollywood Boulevard we got to see some filming down the main street, though no big action and no actors, but filming all the same. Taking the subway to Universal Studio we go there before opening and made our way onto the first Studio tour of the day. Passing the huge bland sound buildings used for all the TV and movie sound stages we then headed to the out door scenes were more was to be seen.
Passed through the Desperate House Wives street, jaws set, and other building frontages used in a lot Universal movies. The tour included a number of effects including an earthquake in the subway were pyrotechnics and water made for a good show.
The theme park area includes various rides and shows which we competed through out the day. This included the Water World show which was based on the movie with the audience getting wet before and during the show. With more pyrotechnics and a stunning plane landing it was a great show. Other shows of the day were animal actors, Blues Brothers singing, demonstration of special effects – green screens etc. A pyrotechnic display in Backdraft certainly heated the place up.
The rides included the 4D movie Terminator, The Simpsons simulator roller coaster, The Mummy roller coaster that goes both forward and backwards and Jurassic Park water ride which gets you wetter than the other rides.
After a full on day at the park we explored the Universal City Walk then took the subway back to the hotel.

Hollywood to Venice Beach

Out onto the Hollywood Boulevard we wandered up and down the street looking at the stars names that make up the Hollywood walk of Fame. Some well know like Michael Jackson, Kermit the Frog, Brittney Spears to some we no idea of (Sorry can’t name any here as I don’t know who they were in order to remember them).
With many of the places still shut we got a pass for the Hop-on-hope-off Starline tours. Atop the open top double-decker red buss we had a prerecorded commentary of the highlights around Hollywood from famous restaurants, movie locations to celebrity hangouts.
We drove down Rodeo Drive to see the top stores some of which require reservations to enter.
Changing busses we headed to the coastal area of Santa Monica. With the city built up to the wide sandy beach it is a very popular area. Walking down the designated pedestrian path, as apposed to the two way bike path, we saw the variety of people that gather here. Surfies, hippies, homeless, Rastafarians, bathers and us tourists make up this facilitating beach atmospheres. With the beach continuing into the smog we go as far as Venice Beach. This beach side is packed full of stalls selling various gifts. Other things on offer included physic readings, medical marijuana, botox, tattoos and various food and gift stores.
Passing back through this area we saw the two headed turtle and more buckers. We put our feet into the Pacific Ocean (The other side from home in NZ) and then went up onto the Santa Monica Pier. Having been to various theme parks across the country we didn’t bother with this smaller one. We did however see the car show of mainly Shelby Cobras all in mint condition.
Hopping back on the bus we got a further commentary of the sights we past before Mexican food for lunch then a wait for the next bus in the heat of the Californian sun. Back onto the open top bus we clipped the overhanging trees that line the streets and got more prerecorded commentary on the places like the Farmers Market, CBS, Paramount Studios and Pink’s Hot Dogs. Unfortunately the one of the busses had a rather noisy muffler so the commentary was not always heard. Still a great day was had the beach and across the city areas of Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Santa Monica and Venice Beach.
Back at the hotel we realized more sunscreen was required through out the day as we are now a little redder.

San Diego

Reaching our or most southern destination of San Diego we spent the morning exploring the World Famous San Diego Zoo. Although it had a wide variety of animals it was hardly worthy of the world famous title. Aaron finally got to see the Grizzly Bear he had been waiting for, even if though play peak-a-boo from their cave. From elephants, vultures, polar bears, hippos, gazelles, snakes… flamingos, sloth bears…koalas etc and a variety of plants we saw just about everything there was.
Moving on to Sea World we saw the Orca show including the one named Shamu. With the back flips, jumps, splashing the crowd and pushing the trainers around the seven orcas put a great display.
Following lunch we work our way through the aquariums, tanks etc of various fish, sharks, eels from around the world. We touched the sting rays and then went to see the seal show. As the crowd gathered, a ‘cleaner’ named Biff put on a very hilarious show at times picking on the incoming crowd. The seal show included a tamed otter and two seals. The show was comedy taking the mickey out of TV shows while show casing the talents of the seals and otter.
Continuing around the park we went on the motion simulator ride thought the Arctic then went and saw the polar bears, walrus, belugas and manatees from above and below the water. In the chilly penguin enclosure we saw the various species, including the larger emperor penguins. Although they don’t fly they do ‘fly’ through the water with grace.
Seeing the pod of dolphins been fed by the numerous handlers while couples were separated for training enabled an impromptu show of the dolphins performing back flips etc.
A look again at the orca this time from below and up close really highlighted their huge size. Leaving San Diego heading north this time on the I5 began more like a 12 lane parking lot then slowly go moving the further from the city we got. Past the military areas of the Navy and Marine Corps (with the hovercraft and amphibious tanks) we reached the motel to pick up our bags and head further north in Hollywood.
After checking into the motel right behind the Kodak Theater we went for tea and then out onto Hollywood Boulevard into the crowds to get a taste of what Saturday would be all about.

Disneyland

After purchasing our City Passes which is entry to a number of LA and San Diego attractions we began by entering Disney Adventure.
We began the day with a fly over California on the big screen followed by a refreshing water ride where we all walked away wet. Continuing counter clockwise around the park we rode the roller coasters and the Mickey’s Fun wheel. A Ferris wheel where the capsule swings in a giant oval as the wheel turns making a novel change to just a giant circular ride. Been the big kids we are we ventured into the youngsters area for a gentle caterpillar ride past giant fruit and vegetables. More thrilling was the elevator ride in the Tower of Terror where you are trust up and dropped down various times. We caught up with Kermit the Frog and friends in a 4D movie. After seeing all the attractions and riding the rides including the Monsters Inc ride we left the park for a late lunch.
Disneyland was our next venture were we made the most of the Fast Passes by booking our rides for a later return. After a quick glimpse at the Main Street we hit the fast pace Indiana Jones roller coaster ride then returned to Disney Adventure to see the parade.
The parade included numerous characters and floats which was well worth returning to the park to see.
Back at Disneyland we skipped the lines to get to Splash Mountain were we again got a refreshing cool down. After a few more rides including the Mad Tea Party (spinning tea cups) and photos taken of the park, characters and rides we stopped to see the main Parade.
With all the Mickey Toontown characters from the good old days out dancing was a good way to end the night at the park but still had time to do the Sleeping Beauty Walk Castle walk through and a good look at the Disney Castle at nigh reflecting in the moat around it.
Thursday’s special of the City Pass gave us access to the park and hour before the main opening so after breakfast we returned to Disneyland minus some of the crowds. We headed to Tomorrow Land and had fun on the ride/arcade game shooting targets where Sarah scored the highest. From another 3D movie of Honey I Shrunk the Audience to driving carts at Autopia we did all the available. We went and saw the latest inventions by HP, Microsoft etc including Honda’s ASIMO robot. This human like robot can talk, walk, run, dance surf the net, kick a soccer ball and climb and descend stairs. It’s just amazing how far things have come, makes C3PO from the Star Wars (Another ride we did) seem highly plausible.
We descended the Matterhorn by ‘bobsled’ (Roller coaster), entered the singing world of “It’s a Small World” and then into Mickey’s Toontown.
We played another ride/arcade game at Roger Rabbits Car Toon Spin then ventured further into Toontown to meet Mickey Mouse and explore his house. We snuck into Minnie House via the back door while she guarded the main door (A long line to have a photo taken with her). Donald Ducks Boat, Goofy’s Playhouse etc made up a great little town within the Disneyland Park.
Venturing to Fantasy land we did all the rides which dated back to the parks opening so a little less sophisticated but included great characters from the well known cartoons/books etc from Peter Pan, Pinocchio to Snow White.
After meeting up to where we had got up to on Wednesday we did the attractions we had skipped. This included the Pirates Island, a humorous boat ride through the jungle and the Winnie the Pooh ride.
Leaving the park we walked up to Downtown Disney and in and out of various shops then returned to Mimi’s restaurant for tea.

San Francisco to LA

Heading down past Santa Cruz we hit the Pacific Ocean on highway 1 and followed it down to Santa Monica. This coastal road is cut into the side of the bank with a steep drop down to the sea. Although sunny the temperature was manageable and made for a nice dive south.
We stopped to admire the cliff faces, old bridges and the elephant seals and we got a glimpse of the Hearst Castle on the hill top.
When leaving the coast we hit highway 101, this multi lane highway had cast iron bells every few miles or so. They turned out to be Historic El camino Reals which is a marker of the old track that linked the Mission Stations when the area was been colonised.
Hitting LA we saw the effects of some of the fires that had chard the shrub covered hill sides. Heading closer the city the road widened to 4-6 lanes each way and then we hit the 5pm traffic. We slowly crawled across the city and got a quick glimpse of the HOLLYWOOD sign.
Arriving at Anaheim we checked into our hotel, across the road from Disneyland, and went out for tea. Minis Cafe across the road serves up good sized meals, including the half rack of ribs that filled the plate.
Then back to the hotel to sort out the itinerary for the following days.

Alcatraz

Catching the first ferry across to Alcatraz Island at 9am we watched the introduction video outlining The Rock's history from a military post, military prison, federal penitentiary, Indian occupation site to the National Park it is today.
Venturing up the concrete paths and through the gate with a canon aimed at you we made our way up to the prison. The audio tour lead us through the cell blocks, recreation area, wardens house (now in ruins like many of the outer buildings) and other areas of the island. Surprisingly it included an apartment building for the guards and their families. The children would ride a ferry to the main land for school each day and then return to the island for the fantastic view of the city sky line.
We saw the small openings that the men carved using spoons in order to escape. The small cells are stacked three high and each isle had its own nickname such as Broadway.
After over three hours exploring the island we headed up Telegraph Hill to see the Coit Tower. One of the higher spots in San Francisco this tower is visible from around the city and the tower top resembles a fire hose nozzle.
Returning to Fisherman’s Wharf for lunch. Then walked up the to the top of Lombard Street as the line for the cable car was to long. We walked down Lombard Street which is said to be the crooked Street in the world with about 10 switch backs.
Catching another cable car up Mason Street to the cable car museum was far easier than walking despite having wait in line listening to a bucker singing and strumming a guitar.
The cable car museum was very informative of the history and workings of the whole operation. The museum is also where all four cables for the different trams are turned from, running at 9.5 miles an hour.
Hangin on the outside of the cable car we made our way back to our motel for tea and yet another pack up of the bags ready for tomorrows drive south.