Well, now that my Mum's Estate has been finalised and all disseminations done, I have decided that I can afford a wee holiday. I dearly wanted SWMBO to accompany me on this holiday but she is adamant that she does not want to go overseas, and in fact it was her suggestion that I take this trip.

OK, so, where to go? The one place that I have always wanted to visit is the US. I have these mental pics and ideas of what the US is like courtesy of movies and TV shows from the 60s and 70s, but I want to experience it first hand. Sooo, I am planning a three to four week trip end of September - early October 2018.

I have a shedload of planning to do (I've never had to plan an overseas trip before), and I have to work out what I can and can't afford to do whilst over there. A couple of things are set in stone, well people to visit, but it's mainly getting around and how to actually do it that is causing me a few headaches. I have thought about flying or using bus and train, or a combination of all three to get around, but I am surprised at how difficult I am finding it to work out the best method of travel for a combination of sightseeing and time management.

I plan on flying into LA and from there grab a domestic flight to Sacramento where I'll be picked up by a past member of The Nut, rdnktink, who stayed with us here in Aussie a couple of years ago. She will then take me their place near Redding where I will spend a few days. From there I have thought about visiting Las Vegas for a day or so (just to say I've been there), maybe the Southern Rim of the Grand Canyon then possibly off to Phoenix as a stepping off point to visit our mate Stovey in Pine AZ, although this is up in the air depending on time and money as well as the availability of public transport (bus or train). I thought that somewhere in Texas would be interesting, and as I will be passing through that area on my way to Arkansas to visit an old friend I think that will be good. From there I will be droppping in to see Bushy in Missouri for a wee visit, although I am seriously considering a stop off near Tulsa Oklahoma for a day or so on the way. After catching up with Bushy it is off to Long Island in NY to visit with another old mate who I've known for many years. The only other thing I am looking at including in the plan is a stopover in Hawaii for a couple of days to visit the USS Arizona Museum. Again, the overriding factor in all of this is time and money. I think I need to make some phone calls and also see a Travel Agent.

I'll probably miss you by a couple of weeks, as I'll be in NM, GA/AL at the end of October & into November.
Check with buying your tickets direct from the airlines, as this can be a fair bit cheaper.

Sounds like a great trip !

gelandangan wrote:

Sounds like a great trip !

Yes mate, and I’m really looking forward to it as well.

Pearl harbour.
The USS Bowfin (sub) is tied up near the USS Arizona land side memorial entrance, worth a look.
USS Missouri is now tied up on battle ship row near Ford Island near the Arizona memorial,
Also worth a look.
Barbers Point NAS is now an aviation museum. Ditto.
Actually you could spend weeks doing Hawaii.
On the mainland see if you can see Yosmite national park, Yellowstone np, Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore.
Hoover dam near Las Vagas is impressive.
Piccies Vince, piccies.
Or it never happened...............

dhc4ever wrote:

Pearl harbour. The USS Bowfin (sub) is tied up near the USS Arizona land side memorial entrance, worth a look. USS Missouri is now tied up on battle ship row near Ford Island near the Arizona memorial, Also worth a look. Barbers Point NAS is now an aviation museum. Ditto. Actually you could spend weeks doing Hawaii. On the mainland see if you can see Yosmite national park, Yellowstone np, Grand Canyon and Mount Rushmore. Hoover dam near Las Vagas is impressive. Piccies Vince, piccies. Or it never happened...............

THAT would be a pretty aggressive agenda...

Have a great time of it Vince
Just remember if you are driving anywhere its miles you are planning not kilometres
A 600 mile trip takes longer then 6 hours

I can see Vince on a big arse Harley hooning dowh a highway without a care in the world...including getting it back to its owner LOL...
If I was a betting man I would lay good money on a few of you nuts being able to sort the V-Man out with some wheels to get around on and Im sure there is room in the back shed to swing a hammock for him to lay his head on.
enjoy your trip mate.

It’s funny you should say that Elvis...the thought of tooling down Route 66 on a Harley has actually crossed my mind.

As for visiting Nuts, that is priority on my trip...within the bounds of time and Oscar Scholars (dollars).

Get your motor runnin'
Head out on the highway
Looking for adventure
In whatever comes our way ...

Boooorn to be wiiiiiiild !!

gelandangan wrote:

Get your motor runnin' Head out on the highway Looking for adventure In whatever comes our way ... Boooorn to be wiiiiiiild !!

A bit of Steppenwolf in most of us I reckon mate, although it’s been a few years since I rode a Harley.

Well, you know if you get to the southeast US let me know. I'd take vacation for that!

Vince wrote:

It’s funny you should say that Elvis...the thought of tooling down Route 66 on a Harley has actually crossed my mind. As for visiting Nuts, that is priority on my trip...within the bounds of time and Oscar Scholars (dollars).

One like this?

Oops....sorry about the picture size...I tried to resize it, must not have worked

geeze you guys sure got the idea I had..... watching Billy Connolly riding around on one made me think of the V Man....