California

Hi

I seem to be always apologising about not updating the blog sooner, so again sorry, but we have had a hectic week or so.

Last time, we left Santa Fe to stop in Denver for 2 nights.

We stopped in Colorado Springs on the way to Denver to visit the garden of the Gods, some very impressive rock formations of red sandstone, once horizontal but now tilted vertical up into the air. We met a hiker whom we met in Southern Maine/ New Hampshire, called Smiley, and he gave us a tour, followed by dinner on him, thanks Smiley!! The garden of the Gods is overlooked by a large Mountain, with lots of aerials on top, with is hollow inside, and houses NORAD. This is the joint armed forces base featured in the film 'War games' and is probably where the button will be pressed to end the world as we know it, good to know.

The driving is taking its toll, and when we arrived in Denver we had to really force ourselves to head out and enjoy the pre Christmas festivities. Denver is one of the largest growing cities in the U.S. and also boasts the fittest population, with access to the Rocky Mountains so close by and all the outdoor sports that can be indulged, it makes sense.

I stopped by the Rockies Baseball stadium for a visit, then watched the Broncos on TV, who were playing just a stones throw away. We were very impressed by a very clean city, with good public transport, if not a little chilly. One would expect the 'mile high city' to be cold in December though.

Driving out of Denver took us through the Mountain range that had been to our West for hundreds of miles as we approached Denver. We stopped at a ski resort called Vail, and hitched a free ride to the top of the slopes on a cable car. This took us above 10,000ft, which is the highest i have ever been, and the snow covered mountains were breathtaking, or maybe that was the altitude sickness.

We drove out of Colorado, through snowy (!) Utah a little, stopped over in a place called Green River, then onward to Las Vegas Nevada, which did not have snow. This drive was long but we saw the landscape change so much it was worth it to do so quickly. From snowy desert to the dry dusty Nevada desert in one day, and driving into a basin with a large man-made money maker in the centre, looming out of nowhere, was surreal. Lets face it, it shouldn't be there. But, 2 days before Christmas, the place was as busy as ever, and more and more people arrived while we were there, so as they could spend Christmas there.

We stayed in the Luxor, a large glass pyramid, with hotel rooms for walls, and a huge open atrium housing a village below, with shops, restaurants and a casino - of course. Floyd joined us, another friend from the trail, who lives 3 hours drive away in Arizona. It was great to see him again and we hope it is not the last time on this trip, watch this space. We walked up the strip from the Luxor taking in the Excalibur (medieval themed castle), the MGM grand, Bellagio, Caesars Palace, and it was hard not to stay out of the casinos, literally. The paths and layout lead you into the casinos, then try to overload your senses and make you spend money. Nicole spent 25 cents, one some tokens (you never win money back, that's too easy), then we couldn't find a cashier to cash in our chips. They were kiddies chips from the child's casino, and we would have won a cuddly toy, and we did try, its amazing, the casinos even screw kids over!

Leaving Las Vegas (;0) was not hard, we couldn't spend Christmas there, it just wasn't right, so on Christmas eve we headed for San Francisco, and after the longest drive of the whole trip, we arrived late and collapsed to bed. We woke up and made our phonecalls home then headed to China town for dinner.

Oh no, Library closing in Inverness California, i'll tell you how we got here another time!

New Mexico

We are currently in Santa Fe, on the way to Colorado Springs.

Last time we blogged, we were driving from New Orleans to Austin Texas. On the way from New Orleans we drove through Charles Street, one of the more affluent areas, and then through the Ninth Ward, the area worst hit by Katrina. This was a very eery experience, as it was basically flattened, and still shows the signs of damage. Not many people have moved back, but there are signs of new growth. We also visited the unique graveyards (oh no, we're turning into Steve and Bev!), which appeared in the film 'EasyRider'. Driving through Louisiana took us through the swamps by the gulf of Mexico, and slowly as we drove through Texas, the Cactus then started to appear, as well as an Armadillo.

Austin Texas was a one night stop over (we are driving 5-8hr days), and unexpectedly beautiful, although i don't know what i had imagined. We had a dilemma though. Every direction we took out of the city led us into Texas! So drove through Texas some more, and all in all in took us 2 days to get across the State and up to New Mexico. Its almost like it is its own Republic here within the U.S.

We are gradually climbing higher and higher in altitude, without even realizing. I think we got up to 4000ft last night in Carlsbad. We then descended again dramatically into a cavern, at the Carlsbad Caverns National Park. They were breathtaking. I have never been in a cave so high, or deep underground, and never new anything like it existed.

We drove towards Santa Fe via Roswell, New Mexico, which is basically a shrine to UFOs and the paranormal, very strange, but it made me feel like Mulder from the X-files, so all good.

This trip is like picking up a copy of National Geographic. Such a wide diversity in the landscape. Santa Fe is at 7000ft, and that is where we stop for the night, before setting off to Colorado Springs and Denver on Saturday night. Santa Fe is very Spanish in style, and i can't wait to see the city in daylight. There's a little bit of snow on the ground, but the days are sunny and not too cold. Will get a bit chilly towards Denver maybe, but at least we have the correct gear with us to keep out the cold!

Rockies here we come!

Nic and G 'off' the AT

Sorry not to blog in so long, but we have had a hectic 4 or 5 days. Where do i start...

Last time i blogged, we had stayed in Johnson City with some new friends, Tim and Theresa (Thanks guys). We went along to the town Christmas parade, but unfortunately missed the police car getting smashed by a train (It parked on the railroad tracks to stop traffic. Then when the train came along, no-one could find the car keys. Train then hits car. Police shouldn't be allowed to carry guns here, seriously).

We get back on trail, one snowstorm has passed, another one comes along. We stay in Damascus one night while the storm tears the forest apart. When we start hiking again another cold snap comes along and temperatures drop to 15F, about -8C. It didn't get above 32F for 2 days. Its no fun hiking with frozen water bottles. There's ice on the trail and lots of fallen down trees blocking the way. We were slowed down to about one mile an hour, climbing over trees and getting around them. We got a hitch to gas station, then another hitch to Abingdon, a town off Interstate 81. That's when we got kidnapped, again...

So, the first time we got kidnapped, we were brought to Florida. Now, the same kidnappers (Tinkerbell and Phoenix), whom we called up to say hi to, asked us if we would like to go on a roadtrip with them, to San Francisco, via Atlanta (1), New Orleans (2), Austin Texas (3), New Mexico (4), Denver Colorado (5, which is really handy as i need to visit the Rockies for a very special friend!), Las Vegas (6, OH MY GOD), then California (7).

We are in New Orleans. It is like a different planet. This place is like nowhere else on earth. It just does not stop. Its alive. Its amazing, after all they've been through. We are staying on Royal street, near Bourbon street. Bourbon street is in the French Quarter, must be about 1km long full of bars with live music, and is famous for cocktails like the "Hand Grenade" and "Hurricane". Both of which i have now sampled, on different nights. I don't think they should be mixed. Trust me. We walked the short distance to the Mississippi River, its huge, with large oil tankers on it. We are so close to the Gulf of Mexico, and the climate feels so tropical at the moment, but nice to be warm again.

As the list says, we are off to Texas in Phoenixes car tomorrow, and i still can't believe we are actually doing this.

Who knows if we will get back on trail, but its certain we are heading West on what is becoming the most unpredictable Appalachian Trail Thruhike ever. We just couldn't refuse when asked to go on a roadtrip of this kind, how often does this happen?!.

Maybe i should rename the blog now...
G

PS
Thanks to Jeff in Abingdon for taking us into his home for the night before being picked up by Tink and Phoenix. He insisted we stay with him, and we couldn't refuse. Cheers mate.

TN to VA

We are Northbounders, and walking North in and out of Tennessee and North Carolina, towards Virginia.

Thanksgiving is already becoming a distant memory, and we are experiencing signs of Winter. Well, when i say signs, i mean we woke up in a shelter one morning and there was snow everywhere, its Winter. Not very deep snow, but when we walked to about 5500 and above 6000 feet, the trail was icy, and very interesting to walk (slide around) on. But i think we have seen the last of our 6000 feet climbs, and as we walk towards Virginia we will be at lower elevation, and slightly warmer hopefully!

Some new wildlife to report. We saw Whitetail Deer (possibly female Elk) on the trail a few times. Got very close and Nic got some good pictures (Nic is the holder of the camera on trail). We saw flying squirrel in a shelter (not flying), very cute, but pretty sure he was only there to try and get our food, which he didn't get, thankfully.

We met a nice group of Hikers going South when we got back on trail, who invited us to stay with them in Johnson City if we needed somewhere to warm up for a while. The U.S. is experiencing a particularly cold snap, so we are in Johnson City today, and are looking forward to 'First Friday' downtown tonight. There will be a Christmas parade followed by the turning on of the Christmas lights, art openings and live music. Sounds like our timing is perfect.

Hopefully the next time you hear from us we will be on our way to, or already in Virginia, and all the snow will have melted!

G