18/05 USA

Rental Car

Day 10, 16.05.2018, Sequoia to Death Valley

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Today brought a complete change of scenery from lush vegetation to the complete opposite of deserts and naked rocks. But the excitement was nonetheless.

BIG Surprise finding a canyon where military fighter planes train low altitude maneuvering guided by a pensioner couple.

Still on the way to the real Death Valley.

Finally at the lowest spot of Death Valley, not for the faint hearted.

Coloured soil in warm afternoon light was a delight.

At Dante’s Peak for sun set.

Day 9, 15.05.2018, Yosemite to Sequoia National Park

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Next on the travel plan was the “Giant Trees National Park” called Sequoia. What can one say without repeating again and again? Tremendous trees, astonishment about nature, humble feelings in front of these giants.

It must be mentioned that all the National Parks were very well organized and maintained.

  • GENERAL GRANT TREE

At Moro Rock nearby, which was found by Andrea in her travel guide.

The steepness and views of that stairs was a big challenge for me to overcome. I thought “when my friend Perikles can do it, I must also be able to.” 🙂

Day 4, 10.05.18, Pismo Beach – San Francisco, 536 km

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After the only acceptable breakfast in all the 3 weeks we headed for the Big Sur which included the famous Microsoft Windows screen saver image of a picturesque bridge. Carmel by the Sea offered a charming setting and invited for a leisurely stroll. Famous movie star and producer Clint Eastwood was major of that place some time ago. In the afternoon we drove to Silicon Valley to visit friends from Stadt Haag. Manuel owns a software company for Cloud security Shield-X. We arrived then late in San Francisco where the steep downhill roads created quite some challenge with the headlights of oncoming cars blinding you tough.

The Big Sur

On the way to Carmel by the Sea we stopped at a monastery.

Carmel by the Sea

  • SHIELD X
  • HOTEL LA LUNA

Hotel La Luna was a bad choice. We were shy to spend some more money and had big regrets. A learning curve for next time!

Day 3, 09.06.2018, Los Angeles – Pismo Beach

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Route map 314 km

Summary of the day:
Leisurely drive all day, midday break in Goleta Beach Park near University of California in Santa Barbara with some beach walking. After checking in to Shore Cliff Hotel in Pismo Beach also good beaching time.

Hotel in Pismo Beach:
Shore Cliff Hotel: https://www.shorecliff.com/
Personal rating 5/5
The only hotel in 25 days with a superb breakfast buffet.

From the break and road.

  • Galeta Beach park

From the Hotel:

  • Shore Cliff Hotel

From the beach:

Day 2, 08.05.2018, Los Angeles

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Step 1:
With Hotel shuttle to the rental car company Thrifty:

Thrifty Car Rentals:
https://www.thrifty.com/loc/ll/US/CA/LOS-ANGELES-AP/5440-W-CENTURY-BLVD
Personal rating: 5/5

Booking confirmation:
https://www.rentalcars.com/

They said: Go out to the yard and select the one you like. Nobody accompanied us. So we choose the KIA (model TBA). First and second row seats like in business class. A comfortable and faithful companion all 3 weeks.

Route map: in LA:

Summary of the day:
Our expectations were rather low and we choose to drive to The Walk of Fame with all the stars on the pedestrian path. We also passed by at the Film Studios but did not enter. A stroll around Rodeo Drive concluded an early close of the day. We missed the sea side resorts, probably saved them for next time…

Walking by the famous.

Walking on the famous Walk of Fame.

Around Rodeo Drive

Day 1, 07.05.2018, Arrival Los Angeles

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A confirmed VISA application is essential of course.

Departure 06.05.2018 in Vienna

Upon arrival the legendary queuing was not too bad, we bought a pre-paid SIM card and called the hotel to send the shuttle service. This procedure was a bit tricky, we might have missed the correct pick up point at the first attempt.

Route Map 07.05.2018 Los Angeles:

Hotel Wingate by Windham near the Airport:

https://www.wyndhamhotels.com/wingate/inglewood-california
Personal rating: 5/5 (breakfast excluded)

*
The location of the hotel was very convenient since we arrived late afternoon and were tired from the long flight and the shuttle service was included. Just the surroundings we rather dull and we choose a Mexican restaurant nearby which deserves no comment at all. It was so bad that we could only laugh it away and hope, it would not be a bad omen for the trip.

It was not, not at all.
***

Mai 2018, USA West National Parks, Summary

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With two very good friends of us, Andrea and Perikles, Ingrid and I decided to join forces and explore the National Parks of the West of the USA together. We had another remarkable journey which exceeded all our expectations by far. What can you ask more?

Route map 6.062 km and detailed table of locations:

Without a valid VISA not entry to the States of course.

We left Austria on 07.05.2018 for 26 days and returned on 01.06.2018.
As a teaser I post ONE photo per day, which was a painful limitation.

Day 1, 07.05.2018, Vienna – Los Angeles

Day 2, 08.05.2018, Los Angeles

Day 3, 09.05.2018, Los Angeles – Pismo Beach

Day 4, 10.05.2018, Pismo Beach – Big Sur – San Francisco

Day 5, 11.05.2018, San Francisco

Day 6, 12.05.2018, San Francisco

Day 7, 13.05.2018, San Francisco – Yosemite National Park

Day 8, 14.05.2018, Yosemite National Park

Day 9, 15.05.2018, Yosemite NP – Sequoia National Park

Day 10, 16.05.2018, Sequoia NP – Death Valley

Day 11, 17.05.2018, Death Valley – Las Vegas

Day 12, 18.05.2018, Las Vegas

Day 13, 19.05.2018, Las Vegas – Grand Canyon

Day 14, 20.05.2018, Gand Canyon

Day 15, 21.05.2018, Grand Canyon

Day 16, 22.05.2018, Grand Canyon – Monument Valley – Page

Day 17, 23.05.2018, Page – Antelope Canyon

Day 18, 24.05.2018 Page – Zion NP – Bryce Canyon

Day 19, 25.05.2018, Bryce Canyon – Dead Horse Point – Moab

Day 20, 26.05.2018, Moab – Arches National Park

Day 21, 27.05.2018, Moab – Salt Lake City

Day 22, 28.05.2018, Salt Lake City – Yellow Stone National Park

Day 23, 29.05.2018, Yellow Stone NP


Day 24, 30.05.2018, Yellow Stone NP – Salt Lake City

Day 25, 31.05.2018, Salt Lake City – Paris