Keith's American Adventure

EAST TRENT CHURCHES
Besthorpe, Clifton, Collingham,
Girton, Harby, Holme, Langford, South Scarle, Thorney, Winthorpe

Time to see America

I had never been to the U.S.A. until this trip caught my eye. It would be taking in some of the sites on the West Coast. We landed in San Francisco on a September day to a view over Alcatraz Prison. A place I hoped we would be visiting whilst out here. For the day only!!

Our first tour was of the city looking at the many building shipped out from England in the Victorian style. Driving through China Town and its grand gates we drove over the Golden Gate Bridge.

We would be travelling a good few miles over the next two weeks mostly along the coast road. The weather was scorching but I was going to enjoy this. The views of the ocean were magnificent. We passed through Carmel, one time famous for it’s Mayor, Clint Eastwood. The houses were very plush, well Hollywood is close by. We saw the famous ghost or citric trees. So called because the sun had bleached the entire colour from them. On to LA and Hollywood. Here we found the houses of the famous and stopped to see the walk of fame. I tried John Wayne’s footprint for size, it fitted. For a guy of over 6’ he only had size 7 feet. I am surprised he did not fall over!! An important task was at hand. My brother Andrew is a mega Elton Jon fan. I had my orders from him to take a photo of his footprint. Deed done it was off to Universal Studios.

Photo by Kathy Martin. Click to see larger photo, then click back button <-- top left of screen to return.

From there we went to Palm beach and took a cable car to the mountain top 8,500ft above us. There was snow on the peaks but it was 90°c in the valley. Not as hot as our next destination the Arizona Desert, here we drove along the dry riverbed that was impassable in the rainy season. We saw but could not touch petrified trees; these had been turned to stone by the ice. In Arizona City there was a museum with Braille signing, welcome to the 20^th century. They told be when the sun sets on the red clay in the desert it appears to be on fire, I should have liked to have seen that.

Next stop the Grand Canyon, great!

In the Canyon we called at an Indian village where we met the locals. Some 14 tribes speaking 4 different languages, none of them mine. Walking along the ridge looking down the mile deep ravine in 100°c heat was not my idea of fun. However, the helicopter ride along the canyon was just awesome.

Full steam ahead to the Hoover Dam. Work started here in 1931 and they said they were still working on it when we were there. I was very interested in the dam. Eight generators operated the dam; five were working on our visit. We were told the water level can be as low as 5 ft, considering the dam is 8 storeys high, what can I say.

Was I ready for our next port of call? What do you think? Viva Las Vegas!! I risked a whole dollar on the machines and won 95cents and left. Did not want to chance my luck. We visited the Mars factory were the first mars bar was made and are still being produced there today. In complete contrast we then took in the Liberachy Museum. It was full of candelabras, a pink Rolls Royce, a London taxi cab, fine diamond studded suits with matching jewellery and amazing shoes. The hotel on sunset strip were incredible. One had lions in and then another had under water tanks with dolphins swimming in. Then we took a shuttle to a hotel called Treasure Island. A battle scene was recreated on the roof with gun fire the works. How crazy was that.

Back to earth. We called in at an old Gold Mining town called Calica from the gold rush boon. Although it is a ghost town they had recreated the effect by folks dressing up in the clothes of the day. We thought the Milky Bar kid had come to town.

On to greener climes and the Yosemite Canyon. A large nature reserve famous for the Joshua tree. You are not allowed to take anything from here; you face a hefty fine if you do, even if you remove dead wood. An open cart train took us through the canyon with a commentary, most interesting. Time up, it was back to San Fran and goodbye to our trusted driver. We had covered a good few miles with him and seen some of the most spectacular scenery in all my life.

I skipped Pine Wood studios; after all they had turned me down for 007, and did some last minute presi shopping.

It was not quite over. A trip in a stretch limo to Alcratraz prison was in order. A boat took us across the bay to a wonderful guided tour. I gather one inmate did not have a visitor for 17 years, that’s a long time.

Time for home. What a great trip, I hope you enjoy my memories. Till the next time.

Keith (Alan Wicker) Lauder signing out.

Now for a trip Into Deepest Africa . . .

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