Barry and I arrived in Grenada after a whirlwind trip across America.
I started in Hawaii on November 17th, while Barry started in LA on November 19th.
Three days in Oahu and one on the big Island was enough for me, as I knew there would be more tropical islands to explore in the south pacific on the return journey home.
From Hawaii, I stopped in at San Francisco for two nights. This place is the New York of the west coast. Definitely a city to return to at some future date. I did all the tourist things including Alcatraz, bicycled over the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito, Lombard Street, Fishermans Wharf, Cable Car ride and ate Clam Chowder for lunch on both days.
Next stop was collecting Barry at Merced, about 120 miles south east towards Yosemite National Park.
What a sight Yosemite NP is!!. Great hiking and spectacular views.
We drove on to Las Vegas after two nights in Yosemite NP and stayed on "The Strip" for three nights. I have never seen such a concentration of extravagance. The Bellagio, Caesars Palace, The Mirage, The Luxor, were some of the highlights. The water fountain show in front of the Bellagio, the pirate show in front of the Twin Towers and the magical display of beautiful girls and "silver" musicians on the grounds of The Venetian, where also great. See photo of the two girls dressed in white with me.
A Grand Canyon helicopter flight and landing on the base of the canyon was one of the highlights. The budget took a hiding, but then, you only live once. A Cirque de Soleil show called "Love" at the Mirage, was the best "circus" type show I have ever seen. Performed to the music of the Beatles, the cast put on a brilliant show with acrobatic feats once considered impossible. The choreographer deserves to be knighted.
Then it was time to test my nerve on the rides at the Stratosphere. To be shot off the top of the spire from 0 to 45 miles per hour in 1 second, does get the heart pumping. Then to be spun around like a top hanging over the edge of the building at 1,149 feet above the ground and finally, be catapulted over the edge of the building 4 or 5 times from a stationary position was again death defying. Afterwards I decided the "base jump" off the top of the building was a little too expensive, otherwise I would have been "in like Flynn" (yeah, right).
I tried taking a couple of photos of others defying death, however I couldn't keep the camera still, as my nerves had yet to recover.
It was sad to see a number of buildings left in a state of incompletion, due to the economic situation America is in. One building was 80% complete and at least three others were waiting for things to improve.
From Vegas we travelled on to Houston to catch up with Jack and his beautiful wife Betty. Real Texas hospitality on arrival, being issued with a Magnum 44, a 10 gallon hat and instant accent change only found in the southern areas of the US of A. I can understand the Space Centre having signs stating "Leave your guns at the door" but the local yacht club???.
Jack's postal service worked well as did his chauffeur limousine service. Unfortunately Betty had to work, but we plan to catch up with her in Hamilton Island as Jack does part of the journey with me from New Caledonia to Mackay then Hammo.
Miami was our next stop. A bus ride around town to the main areas, cocktails by the water, beers by the beach (South Miami Beach) mixing with the locals for a short while then off to Key West where tourists flock for the US winter.
Key West was a great experience, especially the tour of the restaurants and off the beaten track bars that" Guy" took me to, then being kidnapped by this mother and daughter team on a "pedi-cycle" or rickshaw, only to be taken to more bars with dancing, drinking and de-bourchary included. Lucky for technology, I was able to be guided back to my accommodation by a trusty sole from Melbourne Australia using google maps and the mobile phone at 3am in the morning, Key West time.
From Key West we headed back to Miami for our flight to Grenada the following day. We found a picturesque restaurant crying out for our patronage along the way. It over looked a harbour, sold good sea food and topped off an enjoyable trip to the area. The long stretches of highway, island hopping down the "Key West Peninsula" was also interesting to see.
Finally, we were heading to Grenada on Dec 4th, via a stop-over in Trinidad. Don't the authorities like me or something. Twice I had to go through additional security searching. Then when I arrived in Grenada, I noticed the TSA in the States actually had done a search of my bag having emptied its contents. I hope they enjoyed the dirty undies. Not once did Barry go through the same thing.
Anyway Trinidad was only seen from the airport and we arrived in Grenada at 8pm Sunday night and spent the next three nights at La Sagesse resort. A hotel located one bay across from my boat. This really is a picturesque place to stay while having to deal with setting up the boat for the return trip to Australia.