Beijing, China (7,462 miles)

Chinese customs was a breeze. All that work at the Chinese Embassy in London paid off. We hopped a cab to the Hilton to drop our stuff. It was early, so we decided to head to Tiananmen Square. The subway system in Beijing is very easy to use. Although it early on a Saturday, the subway was already crowded. At Tiananmen Square we discover why -- every Chinese national is there. Apparently this is a big travel season.
They are were in groups and identified by their matching hats. (usually baseball hats -- but some got more creative. We especially liked this group with their stylish plaid.) Each group is led by a flag waving tour guide. They were proudly grouping for photos. The atmosphere was party like. We were taking it all in when we are approached by a Chinese gentleman giving the international sign for “Please take my picture in front of this historic landmark” We move to let him pose for his shot and he gets all flustered waving us back into the photo. Confused we step closer to him and he organizes us around him and his friend snapped the shot. Suddenly, we are part of their tour. We didn't think to get our picture with him.

China Air... not as bad as it sounds.

It was simple. We ate chicken and rice for both meals. No fancy personal entertainment systems. -- There was one large screen with a kung fu movie playing for what seemed like the entire 12 hour flight. The seats were slightly bigger than a coach seat on a BA or Virgin flight. We were able to sleep a lot overnight when they turned the lights out. We flew over the international dateline. We left LA Friday at 1:40 am We arrived 12 hours later in Beijing on Saturday at 5:30 am. That will take some adjustment.

Encinitas, CA (1,001 miles)

We met up with our good friend, Bill Ivers, in at D Street Grill and Pub. Ate some fantastic food and had wonderful conversation. It was great hanging out with a friend while we are on the road. We understand why Bill picked Encinitas to live. The town is beautiful and we have not met a nicer group of people in a long time.

One last shot at all of our paperwork, our final travel shots and we headed to LAX for our 1:40am flight. Everyone in the world seems to know what we just learned. LAX is a junk airport. Avoid it if given the chance. The guard at the security check said he felt sorry for people that flew out of LAX.

We agree with him.

U.S leg over (1,182 miles)

California is a bit of a blur.

It is a sprint to the finish of the U.S. leg. We have a first aid kit to build, mosquito net to buy and assorted other knick knacks to find. It will be a rush to the airport Friday morning.

Las Vegas Baby (629.4 miles)

Vegas always seems like a good idea....and then you get there. Lights, traffic, noise, noise, noise. After the calm of the Grand Canyon, Vegas was a bit of a shock. It didn't help that our first few nights at the tables were a bust. Darn you lady luck! After far too many hours trying to find a suitable hotel on the strip during convention season we finally settled in and got to business: craps, burlesque shows, steak and MORE CRAPS. We didn't lose our shirts, but we aren't going 5- star for the whole trip either. This is the only photo we took in Vegas. There is evidently no time to take photos in Vegas.

Hoover Dam (roughly 600 miles)

Hoover Dam is wicked. That is the whole truth. The tour is pricey. The traffic is horrendous. There are almost no concessions and the water fountains were out of order. Go. Pray you go on an off day, but even if it is the height of tourist season it would be worth it.

A few words about Southern Utah (446 miles)

Neither one of us know much about Utah...until now. We were flying along the highway, about 30 miles from the park and come upon a guy in an orange hunting jacket. He is about 150 feet from the shoulder of the road pointing his sighted rifle straight up the road. (at us!) Concerned about this we mention the wacked out hunter to the ranger at the park entrance.

“Where you from? You know anything about southern Utah?” he asks.

We do now. Thanks for playing.

Wild Tame Buffalo at Zion Mountain Lodge (444.6 miles)

Parts of the canyon feel like the national park services answer to Disney.

Zion National Park

There is a beautiful drive through Zion National Park. Wish we had time to stop and hike a bit, but we are a bit pressed for time and a bit parked out.

More Crazy Arizona Landscape

It looks like Mars, or the moon. Lots of dirt, weird little plants and rocks.... everywhere.

Rock and earthen houses built into the landscape.


Chris keeps an eye on this one...

Grand Canyon, North Rim (332.1 miles)

Just about in the middle of nowhere sits Jacob Lake Inn. If you ever find yourself in the middle of nowhere I highly recommend the lemon zucchini cookies. They have two types of milk shakes: Regular & Extra Thick. The regular is very think (and yummy!). They are hard to beat. Skip the dining room. The food was ok, but this is not the place for cloth napkins. We heard the other Inn on the North Rim (Kaibab Lodge) has better food. We will check it out next time.

The north rim of the canyon has considerably more tree and plants. The ground is still powder fine, but the views are completely different.

The pine trees give the north side more of a forest feel.

Both sides of the canyon are absolutely packed with wildlife. Heaps of deer, rabbits, elk (not moose Ranger Pat confirmed), the biggest ravens in the world, crazy squirrels and semi-retarded tourists that would hop out of their moving car if it meant they could snap a photo of an elk 300 yards away with the Canon Elph. Professional nature photogs beware...you have stiff competition in the crazies that visit the Grand Canyon.

The deer make for fairly treacherous driving day and night. They stand perilously close to the road. Never has the phrase “Deer in headlights” made more sense to me.

Cameron, AZ sucks (176.4 miles)

Don't bother with the “Largest Trading Post in Arizona”. It's full of crap. However, the huevos rancheros were the real deal and we have not come across something so tasty since.