"""Oh shit! Open season on the L.A. freeway!"""

One of my favorite quotes from the masterpiece of LA Story.....

True to form its almost that bad on the highway here. I don't like LA but today we've been to few places we've not been to before and its actually not that bad, in parts. Some little places in West Hollywood and near Korea Town. We've not given LA a chance before so now we are open minded.

Mum is full of the cold I gave her an some American gave me. We've traveled for two years almost and not been ill unless you count my mystery repeating illness. I'm blaming the close proximity to hordes of people in Walmart and other delightful places. I do wish we were in Africa again sometimes....quite a bit actually.

We've found a lovely 5 liter boxed wine which is all of $13usd. So our drinking isn't suffering now we are in the States. Maybe Canada will stop it. We've been asked when we are going to Canada and its going to be next year. Its just too cold there in Winter to go to the north to complete this continent. What are we going to do until then? We are not sure where we will winter. Maybe Florida? I'd like to get to visit some friends in Canada though before next year so we might venture up a bit.  Phil might have decorated our room by the time we arrive....

Eating in the USA is a bit of an experience if you've not been here. We've repeatedly visited Denny's and although variable are really quite good and especially the 2 4 6 8 menu where you can get a proper meal for $8usd including a drink. We also enjoyed the $5usd foot long subway sandwich. Cut into three! However the Subway will go up to full price in a few days.

Did you know that Walmart here takes you old engine oil back. We did an oil change in their car park....

This weekend is the Land Rover meeting at Big Bear. Camping again. We miss camping. Hotels are crap.

I've finally replaced my Axe which was stolen by someone on the Ferry from Jordan to Egypt. I'm lookign forward to using it. The Axe given to us by Mustafa is dead. The head keeps coming off and I can't find a new shaft for it. The head is excellent and still has a good edge. We will donate it to someone if we can or its going in the trash. It served us well. Thanks Mustafa !

Been a while since I posted on here so there's a bit of a mash of photos.

Last night we had three black widows in camp....Julie got bed bug bites in the scum motel in Reno....Matilda is leaking from the gearbox (strangely) which we are blaming on the removal in El Salvador. Not sure what I can do as it seems to be coming from somewhere weird !

We've camped in a $35usd campsite which wasn't the best and stayed in a $20usd last night which was....although infested with Spiders and Roaches...

We couldn't get to Yosemite as the road was closed due to fire and then it opened the day after we went past. It had been closed for a month...

We handed out lots of cards to all the Americans who all think its "Awesome Maaaann!!" We remember Jenny from New York we met in Botswana every time we meet one.....she was like "Oh MY god" about a million times....I though she would explode...We did expect Jenny to contact us but the experience of Africa was probably too "Awesome" so she died of a heart attack...

Anyhow we gotta go. Its getting late and we have nowhere to stay...

Did we overheat....of course we did....

Some places we've been before. Massive mileage to get to them.

Matilda is yet again leaking. We overheated badly at one point because I was looking for a camping spot and not "driving" or paying attention to the car. First time in 2 years we have been in the "orange section" on the water temp. Luckily I got to it and got the temp down quickly. The head is OK.....I hope. A head problem here and its game over as I doubt there's anywhere that knows diesel let alone Land Rover.

I'm getting to the same point as one of our travelling friends. This is meant to be fun but car trouble really puts a damper on it. When they read this they will know its them I'm referring to. I hope all is well guys.

Julie hasn't done the accounts for ages as we just do not have time to stop and do it. We are running to a deadline that we haven't had in two years. Getting somewhere to spend 5 or 6 hours doing the blog/account/maintenance isn't happening. I'm behind on greasing and probably need to change to oil due to the overheat.

A truly wonderful film...

We even got Mum in the tent for one night. Raining in Grand Canyon and Las Vegas. That's a new one for me !!

The seal on the car has been re-done. Also a leaking pipe on the oil filter housing. Hopefully that's it. I was covered in oil yesterday. Really covered ! We shall see how it goes.

Won $11 on craps and got bored. Spent it on a Taxi.....

Obscure film title....watch it.

Another Hotel and another day. We are in Dallas after visiting Denny's for the second time. We also went to the "grassy knoll" for Mum to see the only major tourist attraction in Dallas. There are no doubt more but we had a long day. We've had a lot of blog comments recently so thank for those and we are also handing out loads of cards which is why we had another 250 printed. The car does attract a bit of attention.

We met some nice people every time we stopped and we even made time to decorate Matilda with an El Salvador flag....

Mother wanted pancakes as soon as she arrived....

Matilda was drying underwear....no doubt the local paper will publish these ones also. (for those that don't know they put my pants in the paper last Christmas!)