A very long, hot and flat drive due west through dry farmlands and out past the city of Amarillo had us enter the State of New Mexico late in the afternoon. Here we hit the more mountainous area as the base of the Rockies where we meandered slowly through Pine forests and rolling hills through the sleepy village of Taos and on into Colorado State with a short stop in the town of Durango to buy Russ a hiking tent for our Grand Canyon visit and we were back on the road west towards the state of Utah.

     Canyon Lands was our first National Park stop and after driving through a large canyon we were down in the basin, passing a few lucky rock climbers whom looked like they were in heaven. The scenery was very dramatic, vivid red rock, high mesas and a barren 'Wild West' landscape. Described as one of America's wildest parks we were not disappointed. Driving to all the tourist spots, James and Russell decided to scramble around on some rocks , ultimately finding a rock they could jump from and to that would look "James Bondish". Needless to say, Russ slipped first and left some of his shin skin in the park permanently. We did however get some action shots of both "kids" in midair.

     There is also a technical 4WD track you can take in Canyon Lands and after James and Russ scoped out the scene, there was a unanimous vote that Lodzi would not make it up the first 45 metres. Good call!! So leaving Canyon Lands behind us we continued west and drove along the top of White Canyon and down into Glen Canyon. The scenery here is just breathtaking and you wonder how a single area can leave you speechless each corner you come around. Very barren and eroded this area looked like the Wild West as we imagine in the movies, IT STILL EXISTS!!

     Bryce Canyon was our next stop, the highest of the National Parks we were to visit at almost 9000ft above sea level, i.e. very cold. After setting up camp on the rim of the canyon, with our first bit of rain in almost a month, the sun eventually slipped through the late afternoon clouds as we walked to the rim for a peek at……you guessed it, the most unusual and unbelievable land forms you could imagine. The Canyon is filled with sand pedestals, locally called Hoodoos, of various shades of red/pink/brown/white and yellow. They all stand side by side like a regiment of foot soldiers. It was truly awe inspiring.

     We walked along and around the rim for almost 2 hours before trekking to sunset point with hundreds of like minded tourists to catch the much sought after sunset shots. Mmm, we arrived just a little too late but agreed the sunset shots could not have been better than some of the ones we already had. Kicked out of bed at 5am the next morning by an eager Russ and Kerry, we trekked now to sunrise point, along with hundreds of insignificant others! Arriving on time we were rewarded with numerous shots of the sun bringing the entire valley to life with warmth. Wow! At this point Russ decided to drag James on a sojourn down into the Canyon on a "short walk", no maps and no water. Well after trekking for 2 hours James turned back as Russ was hopelessly lost and left him to run across the rest of the canyon and all the way back to camp, a later 2.5 hours. Serves him right.

     We then drove the entire length of Bryce Canyon, stopping off for the numerous photo opportunities before continuing to our next canyon just 2 hours drive away. Zion National Park is a no less spectacular affair but slightly different geological structures. Driving into towering granite and sandstone canyons, one is overwhelmed by our insignificance. The forces that were needed to create these natural structures just confirm how short our life on earth is. As the canyon is very narrow, vehicle access is limited and public buses run the length and breadth of the canyon. After a few short treks to some of the more popular sights we departed Zion and stopped off for the night in an RV park in Kanab, midway between Zion and Grand Canyon. Here we went out for a local BBQ meal and relaxed while catching up on our e-mails as we had WIFI access.

     Leaving Utah behind we entered in Arizona home of the infamous Grand Canyon. Arriving at the North Rim just before lunch, we made our way to a view point overlooking the canyon and scoffed down our packed lunches. We had plotted our route of the GC as suggested by a National Geographic magazine article we had been given.

     First part, a 27 mile journey to Point Sublime along a 4WD track west on the northern rim. An interesting drive through forests gave Lodzi a good off road work out. The view points off the track into the Canyon were daunting to say the least. It felt like the Canyon could just suck you in at the blink of an eye. We all experienced the feeling the standing on the edge, staring out into the Canyon, it felt like you were being drawn in. Weird. We got in some cool photos including James and Russ doing a star jump on a pedestal overlooking the canyon.

     We then raced 35 miles east along the rim to Cape Royal, reputed to be the best spot for Sunset pictures. Arriving 5 minutes late for the perfect shots, we still got sweeping views of the Canyon sinking even lower into a dark abyss. As the day closed, with all the campsites in the park fully booked, we were heading for the park exit to wild camp just outside the entrance when a funny burning smell in the car drew our attention to the battery light on in the dash board. Mmm now we had seen this before in Brazil. Opening the bonnet proved our expectation, our main fan belt was kaput! With James' optimistic estimation of 45 mins to fix, the boys set to work…….well 3 hours later, one stripped bolt and we had a new fan belt neatly in place. Now too late to exit the park, we decided just to pull into a small car park in a valley within the park boundary. James and Russ had a freezing cold shower (about 5ºC) and we tried to get some sleep. Not a chance, too cold so we were up and packed by 6am to leave the North Rim and commence the 5 hour trip to the south rim (only 35 miles as the crow flies)

     At the South Rim, we had obtained a "Back Country "pass to trek down into the canyon, down to the Colorado River, and spend the night beside a small creek in an organised campsite. After stocking up on provisions and packing the necessary items we eventually started our trek down at 3pm in the afternoon avoiding the midday sun. Standing on that rim was a daunting prospect, 12.5miles straight down, dropping over 2000m in elevation. WHAT WERE WE THINKING!!

     Attacking the easier, but longer Bright Angel trail down it took us 4 hours and 36 min to get all the way down and to our campsite. What a bone jarring walk all the way down it was, one of the highlights was James taking a face plant and taking a nice chunk of skin off the palm of his hand. First blow to the GC much to Russ's amusement. Setting up camp immediately, eating and jumping into bed we were shattered and looked forward to a 5 hour sleep before rising at 4.40am to start the trek out on the South Kaibab trail. We needed to start this early due to the fact this trail will be in the blazing sun for the whole day from 8am, and although 2 miles shorter, there were no water points on this trail so all our water would have to be carried from the start.

     A mentally as well as physically challenging walk ensued and we were amazed that the three of us managed the walk out…. In exactly the same time of 4 hours and 36 min. But God Almighty were we knackered!!! A very welcome shower ensued before we hit the road again for the final leg of Russell's road trip, 240 miles to Las Vegas, otherwise known as SIN CITY!

     Eventually finding an RV park that would accept us, we made an early evening trip into Freemont, or old down town Las Vegas. This is a famous 4 block pedestrianised Mecca of fast food joints, souvenir shops, bars, live entertainment and a 12.5 million bulb ceiling light show run every hour and of course gambling. Sin City is the name and anything goes is the game! We were not disappointed but kept the evening short and literally died in our beds. As tents were not allowed at the RV site, Russ was upgraded to upstairs and 3 of us slept comfortably in the roof tent on Lodzi. This was the icing on the cake for our peering neighbours!!

     Our second day and we hit "The Strip" of Las Vegas Boulevard, this was the Vegas we were expecting, mountain size casinos and hotels, Caesars, MGM, Bellagio, New York, Venetian to mention just a few. Bars and restaurants galore. Neon lights advertising everything on every-ones menu drawing half the Western seaboards electricity quota no doubt. People from all walks of life dressed in all sorts of weird, wonderful, bizarre, normal, sexy and downright ugly apparel and accessories. Lorries driving up and down the strip with larger than life billboards of semi-naked women "who will come visit you" and more Limos per square yard than anywhere else in America.

     This is Sin City, but one thing almost every one is here for - Gambling!! Slot machines and one armed bandits by the thousand, every gambling card game under the sun, people throwing away inheritance funds both from and for the kids, retirement plans down the drain, it is addictive and we definitely saw more losers than winners!!

     We walked for over 4 hours up and down the strip, taking in only a fraction of what was on offer in the limited time Russ had left. After a final dinner with Russ, we went to one of Cirque du Soleils four permanent Las Vegas shows, Mystere, as our main event that evening. This was Kerry and James' 5th different production, but Russ's 1st. I think we can safely say he will be watching any others he can from now on. It was in their usual style, simply awesome. I will leave it at that. A final stop by Coyote Ugly on the way back to the RV site we were disappointed not to get in but, you can't do everything!

     Up at 6.30am the following morning we dropped Russ off at the airport as we bade him farewell and would miss his company we had grown accustomed to. He had been with us just a short 16 days but had covered 4800kms, 9 different US states, 3 different time zones and camped the entire time he was with us. Thanks for the laughs Bro, we miss ya loads!

     We had booked on a Time share presentation tour as there were free show tickets and a free dinner meal involved. After an interesting 2 hour "Hard Sell" by the Sales Rep our introduction into Time Share amounted to no purchase but we had our free tickets to see the original FOLIES BERGERE, the topless version! We spent the rest of the afternoon and evening catching a Bellagio's light and fountain show, a saucy Pirates show and Kerry losing 50 bucks on black jack, but winning a free ticket to see the white tiger magic show.

     Our final day in Las Vegas, we were now as good as local. After winning another free ticket to the Magic show where we were truly amazed with some of the illusions and loved the animals. James then tried his hand at black jack and managed to win back Kerry's 50 bucks and come out a further 15 dollars up. Beginners luck for sure! We then had our gourmet free buffet dinner where we had more food choice than we have had in the entire last year put together. To round off our day we watched our FREE Folies show which has been a Vegas classic for over 30 years.

     Well our time in Sin City came to an end and we departed with less money than we started but much the wiser for it. Unlike most of the other visitors our money was not wasted on gambling but entertainment. We would definitely come back here again.

     And here ends our first USA instalment. It is hard to believe we have managed to pack all this into month and a half that we have been here. The Americans have been the most interesting and friendly people we could have hoped to find. Apart from the relatively expensive prices here we both love it and look forward to the rest of our time here with renewed eagerness. Yep we are still not tired of travelling yet.

     We hope all is well out there and please keep the e-mails coming.