travel report - USA/Canada

- New York / Manhattan
- USA-east
- Canada-east
- Canada-centre
- Canada-west
- Oregon
- California
- Nevada / Utah / Colorado
- Arizona / California II

New York / Manhattan - our waiting room

Our home at the upper west side (103rd street) is about half an hour subway ride away from the time square. There we found the big apple we expected, with all the huge and blinking adds and all the busy live of a 8million city - really cool !! Due to we went to all our points of interest through the underground, the 7-day sub way ticket was the best investment for us. Like everywhere, the way is what we are here for, and the final target was the central park at the most of the days. There is where the kids had their fun and we some time to relax.
Finally: real subway feeling, save feeling and better to navigate as expected. 

USA/ east -on tour THE BEGINNING

Due to the take over of our Landy was MORE or less a big job, we needed the part of the east coast for acclimatisation. At the beginning our Landy had to fight at the huge highways from New York - but this is not the area he is build for. So we were looking around for some trails and we found them. Now we know for what the low ratio and differential lock is good for- by the way the low bike rack was not so satisfied about that. At that part of the big and free land we got to know that Dollars are really important to feel free here. We really enjoyed Vermont- the last part of the US before we cross the Canadian border, but there was really no need for the daily thunderstorm.  

Canada/ east

Through the impressing cities of Montreal and Toronto we are heading to the west. Sure we didn´t miss the Niagara Falls- for sure these were impressing but a bit too touristy (for our feeling).It is time to live the Canada we expected !!- where are the lonely lakes and forests ?? Here they are - after we got rid of the subverbs of the big cities. The amount of the  lovely and lonely lakes is really impressing.  Hiding after each curve another impressing lookout to a lake is waiting for us. One forest after the other in between. The biggest sweet water lake of the world (for all of you who do not know, it is the lake Superior = about 200 to 600k´s) did the rest to impress us completely from this area. (Exceptions are: no drinking water- if there it is chlored, the fun to make rules  for everything and the diesel price at a level close to Europe.) It is not easy to get access to these lovely lakes but there is a nice spot at the so called Provincial Parks for us always, if not we just pick a freecamp. Slowly it becomes easier to get in touch with the people and our Landy steels the show beside all the huge motorhomes. Our kids are doing great by all we are doing and it seems there was no other live for them before we got "on the road"- but we think (very) often about you guys at home. 

Canada/ centre - the Prairie

According to the stories of the locals we expected the big and endless nothing. So we expected the worst when heading west out of Winnipeg- all our tanks (diesel and food) are full. Now we got presented the Canadian meaning of endless and .... it was great !! Endless farmland in the different shades of gold/ yellow colours, sunflowers till to the horizon,....and prairie only, we are passing through. But busy live nearly everywhere we go to (through). So not just the "farmer" Luke had his fun.  For 50k´s we did not get bothered by a curve often - relaxed we are heading towards the Rockies with 80k´s/hour.

Canada/ west - the Rockies

Out of nothing the Rockies are growing in front of us. Not easy to impress a mountain guy like us with mountains. So we turn from the busy tourist routes which go through all the Nationalpark(slots) and get impressed by the Rockies on Landy´s tracks. We are impressed of the amount of untouched nature - no people at whole valleys. We wish to have back these clear water of the creeks, rivers and lakes, later at our trip. Last but not least, the great weather did the rest to made the Rockies to a great adventure for us.

Oregon

We had no expectations when entering Oregon, the state above California. But this part of our trip was one of the most impressing for us till now. Switching between the misty coast and volcanic inland we are moving to the south. Unknown amazing coast scenery are compensating the low temperatures in the night (6°C in the morning). So we are heading to the east (+20km = +20°C), where we find clear rivers and untouched forests unexpeced. No doubt, the highlight was crater lake, the very clear lake surrounded by the volcano crater. The weather was great, no rain drop the whole time and even clouds were very rare. As friendly as the weather the people has been to us - Oregon we see us again !!

California

Redwood;120m/2000years -- misty coast; look to Oregon but a bit warmer -- sealion -- dolphin -- friendly people -- San Francisco; great flair/ impressing bridge/ extreme hills -- surfer -- sharp curves; a lot of -- surfer; all age and class  -- Sequoia; 100m/3200years -- altitude; +4419m (Mt. Whitney) / -85m (death valley) -- blue sky ; it never rains in California -- fruit; Orange, lemon, onion, ... -- temperatures from Frrrrr to Zischhh -- death valley; nice landscape with Nationalpark taste
 

Nevada / Utah / Colorado

This pat of our journey was special for its opposites. After we left the shows of the gambler city Vegas behind us we entered the gorges landscape of the canyons. At the Bryce Canyon we still tried to catch the impressing landscape for the photo. But away from the tourist drives we were lucky to explore the indescribable landscape on backroutes, it is impossible to explain this in words or even catch into a picture. The whole time we are driving at an elevation between 1500 und 3000(!!) meter, so the temperatures are coming close to freezing point. And it happened what had to happen- the first rain after months is solid --> snow !! 

Arizona / California II

Here we get the temperatures we wished to have before. 40°C in the shade (if present) and even more made us happy when heading through the dessert from Arizona.  So we are moving from one recreation area to the other to spend the afternoon at the dam. We handle the Grand Canyon Nationalpark like a real Tourist has to do, as a drive thru Nationalpark. To get impressed by, it is just too big. After we passed the big city Phoenix on the 5 to 7 lane freeway we are slowly entering L.A. Sure it is not allowed to miss a look around at Palm Springs, but Arnie is not at home. But now we know where all the dollars are at home. Our time at L.A. was dominated by interesting people and the thinking about our departure. There is still (again) a hotel to be found for the Fijies and the shipment of Landy to Melbourne had to be fixed too. However, all together the last days at the states were an unforgettable adventure we will think back for years. And ..it never rains in Southern California....