National Parks, Canyons, Mount Rushmore & Little Big Horn (Sept/oct 2013) - part three "America is Closed"

Half way through our holiday the American Government decided to spit the dummy and went on strike shutting down the National Parks which is a bit of a disaster when you are doing a National Parks holiday. So suddenly off our Itinery was Messe Verde, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon and Lake Powell, there was a lot of disapointment among our group obviously.
Been totally selfish wasn't quite so bad because previous years I'd been to  Bryce Canyon, Zion, Grand Canyon and Lake Powell but they were places i wanted to go back.

But I believe in giving credit where its due and out tour manager Wendy B did a fantastic job all holiday under difficult circumstances and managed to sort some superb alternatives. I'll even go as far as to say I hope she is in charge of my next years holiday and that is high praise because I've had many good leaders on my trips with JY. Of course I would have to insist she leaves her "sounds of the desert" CD at home.
Also have to mention our driver Tim, great bloke always a smile and time to chat with everyone and in the circumstances did a lot more mileage than planned.

So on with the holiday and it was now State Parks not National Parks we are to visit and i was going to be impressed. Will add we all had agreed to stop at supermarkets (Walmarts) and eat on the go so we could shorten lunch breaks to allow for the extra mileage. Sylvia was now happy because she had finally worked out she needed to turn her camera on before taking photographs.

So the first port of call was Dead Horse Point which is basically a mini Grand Canyon, was great because we were allowed to walk along the rim. Stretching your legs was enjoyable after spending lots of time sat on a coach. It was a canyon that the cowboys once drove there horses and a sad story was that back in the day horses had been forgotten and all starved to death, hence the name.




It was Cortez for the next two nights, bit of a dead end town with not a lot of places to go. First night we ate in a restaurant and it was nothing special. 2nd night it was Dennys and the service was a joke, 8 of us ordered together and the meal came out bit by bit. Mine was last when most of the others had actually finished but better than that they gave me my bill before the food, lets just say i wasn't generous with my tip.

Next we drove along the San Juan Skyway stopping on route and the "True Grit Cafe", wish we had longer there to be honest. The Skyway is basically a very scenic mountain road and Tim had to show all his driving skills.





We had lunch in Silverton at a Grumpys saloon with a piano player which was nice and then on to Durango. A train runs between these two towns which would have been a nice thing to do. Reckon JY should add it to the planned tour.


Next up was a trip to Monument Valley, via the Four Corners where it was possible to those more agile among us to have a limb in four different states at the same time.

Monument valley was a place we all wanted to see and June was so determined to get the front seat on the bus it was stronglet rumoured she slept there. However was a little embarrasing when she decided to dress as a barcode in her Newcastle shirt for photographs.
Of course Wendy B had informed us it was going to be in the high 80's, well apparently it was the day either side of our visit but it was bloody freezing for us, even the local Indians where laughing at me in shorts and fleece.

The following day with Lake Powell closed it was a good opportunity to visit the Antelope canyon, it was interesting to walk through. Our local Indian guide seemed to take a shine to Wendy and offered us two blankets and a Pony for her. This seemed like a good deal until somebody mentioned they doubted Delta would allow the Pony on the flight home.

Overnight was in Page and few of us organised a mini-bus to take us to a live music venue up the hill, as it arrived others tried to hijack it but Steve managed to fight them all off. Was good fun and once again we couldn't get Roy off the dance floor.


The following day it was on to Vegas where we would spend two nights instead of one with Bryce Canyon Closed.

On route to Vegas we stopped at Little Hollywood (Kanab)

First night in Vegas we did the City tour which took us to a few hotels including the Venetian and the fountains at the Bellagio.
Then it was Freemont street which is in my opinion always good fun and the roof show is amazing.

On our day we drove out to the Wet tip and the Grand Canyon, was supposed to do the south tip but in my opinion the area we went to is superior and much more fun. Our coach did have to do the last 13 miles along a dirt track to get there so well done again to Tim.

We then transferred to buses that took us to three stops, first a cowboy town with mock gunfights and stuff going on (great fun). That was followed by the glass walkway followed by another excellent view point. Not sure security liked me as you can see (we was only joking honest).
Not sure security liked me as you can see (was only messing I think)




On our last night following a photo shoot at the top of the stratesphere a few of us took a taxi back to Freemont street on arrival Steve took the lead and set off at a fair rate of knots, we followed best we could thinking we were going to a good pub or restaurant only to arrive at a toy shop.
We did find somewhere nice to eat and had a lovely last supper. Then it was back to the Stratesphere at around midnight for cocktails followed by a little flutter.


Sadly it was up early the following morning for the long journey home, it was sad to say our goodbyes because made some very nice friends. I'm sure some of us will meet again given the chance and we've exchanged a few emails since our return.

Despite all the happend it was a fantastic holiday, very tiring but if you like touring holidays I certainly can recomend this trip.