California Trip

Some of you may know that I am involved in an online world. I enjoy it immensely and over the years have met so many different people from all over the world. There are two people I have met online who have become very close friends and in September I decided it was time to meet them in person. So I hopped on a plane to Los Angeles and went on a roadtrip with one of my friends and his Jeep.

I thought I would share with you a few of my holiday snaps.

We had the best time….first stop was Death Valley. It was stunningly beautiful and hot!

 

Then we headed north to Mono Lake and the old gold mining ghost town of Bodie. That is a place well worth seeing and slightly unnerving.

Heading west, we of course visited San Francisco. I loved that city and could have easily spent a lot more time exploring. I think it is one of the few cities in the world I feel I could live in.

  

Then we headed south and roadtripped through Monterey and Big Sur. This was a spectacular stretch of coastline and cliffs on one side, and amazing trees and hills on the other with an abundance of wildlife including snakes!

   

 

 

I had some time to myself in LA to explore and it was great fun…walking along the Venice Beach boardwalk, checking out Hollywood and Rodeo Drive. I then met my other online friend and we had a great couple of days checking out more sights.

     

The Jeep and friend returned at the end of the week and I was spoilt with a trip to Disneyland for my birthday!! We had so much fun, I don’t think I stopped smiling and laughing all day (and it was a long day… 13 hours!!!!)

   

I have so many memories of my trip away, all of them good and some of them absolutely wonderful. The beauty of the country took my surprise, the scenery was amazing. Americans have to be some of the friendliest people I have met and always so helpful when confronted with a lost kiwi.

I loved California and would go back any day! There is so much to see.

Thank you to my friends for showing me such a wonderful time, and especially to my jeep owning road trip buddy for all his driving, scrabble and company.