We are having a great time "people watching" in New York. Unfortunately we have more spare time than we thought due to the transport strike that was imposed the day we arrived from Denver.

We had to organise a limousine ride (from LaGardia to Manhattan) from Denver as a contingency plan and it worked well albeit cost us a small fortune ($US 114). As I write this news that the strike has officially ended has come through. Tomorrow will see us touring this city. No snow here yet but after having a week of solid snow in Colorado we are quite thankful really.

Wendy did a bit of Warehouse Shopping yesterday. We had to buy another suitcase to fit everything in. The food is great! except everything is quite pricy here in New York.

Well,

Wendy's wish for a white Christmas would be granted if we were staying here in Ouray Colorado. What a beautiful little town. we love it. The scenery is postcard perfect with snow covered peaks surrounding this old mining town. It started snowing at Durango furher south and hasn't stopped since we arrived. There are deer walking trough town and the locals say Bears are here raiding trash cans in the summer....Yikes!

The food is great and plenty of it. Cliff got a chance to go Sledding with the local kids yesterday at their Sled Hill in town and  had an absolute ball.

We have decided to stay here 2 days and drive straight on to Denver for just the one night before flying out to Chicago and New York.

The Telluride snow field is not far from here and that makes this a cheaper option for accoms to Aspen or Vail.

Regards,

The Asmussen Clan.

Monument Valley was truly amazing. Had to be the coldest place we have been to yet.

Really dry and really really cold. You can just imagine John Wayne stepping out from behind a rock. No tourists other than us and a smattering of Japanese and Aussie diehards.

Driving is definitely the way to go for us. Cliff is having a ball and really enjoyed the full day tour with our Navajo Native American guide who cooked a great B-B-Q lunch of hamburgers along with, I swear, the best campfire brewed coffee we have ever tasted.

If you have a geological slant then you would definitely find this place heaven. The rock is sandstone and hence the erosion effects. Mesa Verda further north is similar with more ancient Pueblo indian rock grain stores and dwellings.

We leave for Ouray (pronounced yu-ray) tomorrow and some snow country.

Breathing is hard here at 6,500ft elevation.

They sell beer at most gas stations????

Gary, Wendy and Cliff.

Seeing this from the air really reinforced how small and insignificant we all really are.

Mother nature at her best. Outside ground level temp -13 C.

Ain't life grand!

Cliff loved Excaliber! The show "Tournament of Kings" show was awesome. Mum and Dad loved the outlet shopping here. Daddy thought he had died and gone to heaven when he visited the Bass Pro Outdoors Store. Our luggage weight has already doubled!The Luxor was marvellous and you would need months to see even a part of what this city has to offer. Off  to Grand Canyon today and then Monument Valley. The cheesburgers here are really Yummmy!

I couldn't resist this one. This patrol car was parked on the Santa Moncia Pier and Cliff was being naughty just prior. Heavy police presence here today......normal.

Wendy and Cliff standing on Santa Monics Pier this Sat morning. The weather is 23 degrees C and fine although a little cloudy. LA is full on and in your face. Where do all these homeless people come from??? Cliff has eaten at almost every burger joint in LA but now gives the thumbs up to "In&Out" cheese-burgers....mmmmmmm. Since it's Winter, bicycles are allowed on the beachfront and you have to be really careful not to get run over.  Tomorrow off to Vegas and it will be a pleasant getting out of the hussle and bustle of LA...particularly the sleazy Hollywood environment we are currently staying in. Travelled today on the famous and historic Route 66 (which is Santa Monica Boulevade all the way down to Venice Beach Pier). Checked out Beverley Hills/Rodeo Drive etc on the way. More tomorrow.    

Hawaii is beautiful and the people are so friendly. Love it!

Drove around the island in a day and it cost only $10US for gas. Car was like a little jeep and cost $49US in totla for day. Had Shrimp Scampi (YUM) for lunch at Sunset Beach on the north shore and visited the site of some of the world highest recorded waves- Waimea Bay but the wind was blowing offshore and it was flat as a tack.

We really like the place and are having local seafood and going dancing tonight.

The weather is just like Brisbane but a little cooler and just as humid.

Tomorrow visiting Pearl Harbour...again as today we ended up there by accident but finally made it home.