New York City

http://www.centralparkhostel.com/

The central park hostel proved to be a winner with access close to the underground and also next to Central Park it self. We were able to book a 2 bed room for our stay with a bathroom right next door, almost like our own en- suite. The first night we arrived it was on the underground light rail to check out Times Square and in the excitement I forgot to take my camera, however it was a great moment to stand in the famous centre of the New York. Some of our highlights that were experienced while in New York was http://www.stjohndivine.org/ which was an absolutely amazing spectacle of architecture and full of religious wonders, well worth the visit. The late evening ferry ride to pass near the statue of Liberty to and from Stanton Island was a winner and the view of the city night lights on return was just great. One of my long life ambitions was to be fulfilled in NY when we walked across the famous Brooklyn bridge. It was a great moment to be able to hold onto one of the structural cables a feel the power of movement emulating from the bridge. Ä little like hugging a tree".

However the Empire State Building was a marvel and I really felt as though I had arrived in the great city and a special treat was to share the view with some high flying pigeons.

It was a sad moment to leave the city and time was the only reason we did so. It is difineately a place that one could return to over and over as there is so much to do and see that it would take a lifetime to even begin to appreciate the people and the place.

Niagara, New York

We left Chicago on the Amtrak rail system on an overnight trip for Buffalo in USA close to the Niagara falls and the Canadian Border. We had previously booked a car for pick up at the Buffalo airport and we caught a taxi as soon as the train arrived and picked up the car and set out to cross into Canada for the better view of the falls.
It was a pleasant day driving around the falls area and then exploring the fun park areas to finish the day with a long wait to cross back into the USA to spend the night at the hotel. The next morning we returned the car to the airpoort and caught a taxi back to the rail station to catch the train to New York.

On arrival in New York we traveled by light rail to find accommodation and planned on staying at a hostel in 103rd Street. We eventually found one that that had two beds in one room which suited our purpose. This hostel had ample ablution facilities and was centrally located near the underground rail system.

San Francisco and Chicago

23 November 2009

Left SFO am for Chicago via Phoenix the trip was to take all day and I arrived into the city of Chicago at 8:30 pm. On arrival I booked into the Courtyard Marriott and found somewhere to eat and then after studying how to get to Greyhound bus station to meet Greg the next morning grabbed some well needed sleep around 11:00 pm.

Up early the next morning and traveled to the bus Na to meet Greg at 05:45 and with the coach on time we were soon back into the hotel for some catch up sleep until around Noon. Later that day we set off on our own to explore the city of Chicago. During the next few days I saw Navy Pier, the home of the famous architect Howard Wright at Oak Park, Union rail station, a delightful presentation of Jazz, great meals at the Bar and Grills around our area, and commuting on the underground rail system, and the overhead rail as well as the road bus systems. There was so much to see and not enough time to do it. Really was an exciting destination at Chicago

San Francisco Re-Visited

From Salt Lake City (SLC) by SW Airlines we had a great view en route to San Francisco (SF) via Las Vegas with an excellent view of the Salt Lakes on taking of from SLC.
On arrival in SF I caught the Marin Rainbow coach via the Golden Gate bridge to Larkspur Landing where I was met on the bus by Brian and Hailey.
During the week I enjoyed family life with Lisa, Brian, Hailey, Heidi, the 3 cats, and Amber the fish.
The time was spent with local walks to view the autumn leaves, houses, forests, lakes, and hiking trails.
There was ferry rides to and from Larkspur Landing to SF and Angel Island. Lisa alos gave me a lovely tour of the Golden Gate Park, Presidio,

Salt Lake City with Suzanne and Russ

View from the guest room window







We arrived at Suzanne's and Russ's for the promised well cooked beef and veggies, and from the moment we arrived it was to become the most organized and homely welcome that any one could wish for. Both Greg and I have come away from Salt Lake City not only with a life long friendship of two lovely people but a more informed understanding of the Mormon way of life.

Saturday morning we were on the run early and into Temple Square
http://www.utah.com/mormon/temple_square.htm
for the tour of the buildings, with the first being the Conference Center with the collection of the most beautiful and famous religious paintings, amazing granite cladding and stonework, exquisite timber paneling and decorations and a collection of incredible sculptures.

The main conference theater was a spectacle in itself, with seating for more than 20,000 people and a wonderful organ keeping a watchful presence over the the the seating area.

Once up onto the roof area we were able to witness the garden and the starting point of the waterfall that cascades over the edge of the building. When we tried to access the building a snow storm descended upon us and set the scene for a white Xmas over the nativity scene adjacent to the area. We then adjoined for a lovely luncheon at the restaurant at the top floor of the Temple Square restaurant.

It was time for the organ recital in the Tabernacle and what a recital it was it was such an experience that it brought tears to my eyes. We were going to get a similar treat tomorrow with the Tabernacle Choir as an added bonus.

The rest of the afternoon on Saturday was spent at the Family History Library where I researched for information on my Great Grandmothers family with the aid of Suzanne a seasoned campaigner in the field of Genealogy. We then found a restaurant for an evening meal on the way home. Slept like a log after an eventful day.

Sunday began with a tempo much the same as the day before with a race to get to the Tabernacle for the radio broadcast of the Choir and then to be followed with the television broadcast. When this was done we were treated to a tour of the history museum and later the meeting hall. It was time for lunch on the move on the way to the church service that filled in the afternoon. Late in the afternoon we were treated to the drive up the canyon to see a favourite family picnic spot and a great fishing spot that Russ loves to use.
Monday morning we were treated to sewing a thread in Suzannes blanket. Greg then set out for Spearfish and Warren was kindly taken to the airport by Russ to fly to San Francisco to spend a week with his wifes cousins.
Warren would rejoin Greg in Chicago in a week.

Las Vegas to Salt Lake City Via Zion and Bryce Canyon

Friday 13th November

The purpose of this day was to arrive in Salt Lake City (SLC) for a pre-arranged meeting to stay with my new friends Suzanne and Russ whom I had met researching my family history. The journey was to be via the Zion national park and the Bryce Canyon and we were to arrive in time for a beef dinner.

Zion was a natural wonder with many and varied formations and to add to the interest there were mountain tunnels and a winding river to follow along the autumn setting.

As we approached Bryce Canyon it began snowing and it was to stay like this all the way to the main route into SLC. Bryce Canyon was marvelous and it had an important meaning for me as my grandson was named after this canyon by his father Martin because he had been impressed with it when he was at the canyon some years before he was married to my daughter Mellisa.

From Bryce we traveled along highway 63, 89, 29 and onto I15 and into SLC. We were tight for time as we had not allowed for the loss of 1 hour from Vegas to SLC and also the snow we had encountered. However we arrived at a reasonable time and Russ had cooked the beef to perfection as promised by Suzanne.

Vegas to Death Valley and return to Vegas

The Side trip to Death Valley took place on the Day before departing from Las Vegas. We started about mid morning and arived at the National Park around Noon. The day was perfect with a light cloud cover to ease the effects of the sun. Soon after entering the valley we stopped to take a Photo of a Coyote the first Warren had seen in the wild.



The roadway wound its way amongst the two ranges of hills and we were in the middle. The road was against the Eastern side of the lake and Eventually we arrived at the deepest part of the lake where the boardwalk was installed to allow visitors the lake bed. There were a great many tourists present and and we were amongst them with Wazza keen to record the event on the portable Garmin GPS and this showed minus 196 feet below sea level. After we left the boardwalk we encountered a track leading to a natural arch in the hills and it was a walk on foot for around two miles to view it. We decided to have a look in case we encountered friends in the future that asked in we saw it. Been there and done it. The journey back to Vegas was to take us until after dark to get back.

The next day was a lay day and we rested and prepared to leave Vegas for the next part of the trip to Salt Lake City.