YUCAIPA

Leaving Las Vegas we headed for Los Angeles. This now seems like a lifetime ago but unfortunately wifi has not been in our favour since leaving hence the long delay in updating our blog……….but yes we are still alive and well.

Leaving Vegas on a very delayed flight and our bags also being one of the last to come off the conveyor belt it was with great delight, when we finally walked out into the arrivals hall, to be greeted by the two smiling faces of Gary and Donna holding a huge welcome sign aloft with our names on. That was so very special……..thankyou both.

Whipping us quickly out of LA (thank goodness) to their hometown of Yucaipa, 2hours away, we were able to spend a relaxing 7 days getting to know them, their surroundings, their way of life and were thoroughly spoiled.

Donna and Gary you are the most generous and funny hosts and we enjoyed every moment we spent with you. From the “smores” to the “start the car” hilarity. Our trips to the supermarket and Walmart where everything seemed so big and bright. To Kohls where the discount seemed unending on the top quality clothes we bought and our trip to Palm Springs which was nothing like we had imagined it to be. The delicious Mexican food and good wine. Everything was tops.

However nothing was more amazing than our trip up a huge mountainside in a circular, rotating gondala and into the Mount San Jacinto National Park. That was just awesome seeing Palm Springs spread out below us surrounded by never ending desert. The panoramic views unbelievable.

We watched, with Donna and Gary, the American population elect Donald Trump over Hilary Clinton through to the early hours of the morning………..probably the least said about that though the better although our hosts seemed happy enough.  They were, like most of the American population, totally fed up with the whole process. In the words of Donna … “we all just need to move on”.

Looking forward to more “start the car – start the car” events when you visit us in New Zealand where we can do some more wine tasting together - yes the glasses survived their trip - and you can savour our beautiful Sauvignon Blancs in Nelson.

Till we meet again and once again a big thankyou to you both.

Safely delivered back to L.A airport with our livers intact we head to Brisbane and back to family for a few weeks. We are so looking forward to celebrating our youngest grandchild’s 3^rd birthday and catching up with our offspring.