Day 28 (12 September 2015)

This large statue is located in a park next to USS Midway, San Diego, California,

Not far from the USS Midway - the cafe where they did a scene from the film "Top Gun". Tom Cruise serenading his leading lady in the bar.

View of busy San Diego from the long Coronado Bridge.

Hotel Del Coronado - once the largest hotel in the world. On Coronado Island, San Diego, California. 

Apparently, according to our guide these are Navy SEALS in training near their Navy Base on Coronado Island, San Diego, California.

Crossing the Coronado Bridge back to San Diego Downtown - one of the many USN vessel in port.

Inside Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

Inside the Botanical Gardens, Balboa Park, San Diego - beautiful orchids.

The Botanical Garden building inside Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

A closer view of the Botanical Garden building inside Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

The Globe Theatre inside Balboa Park, San Diego. A replica of the real London theatre.

One of the many fine architecture buildings inside Balboa Park, San Diego, California.

The Veteran's Memorial Cross on Mount Soledad, San Diego - many photos of past US servicemen are displayed around the location.

One of the servicemen who served in WWII on the Mount Soledad Memorial Cross, San Diego - Glenn Miller!!!!

On top of Mount Soledad, - The Veterans Memorial Cross, San Diego, California.

At La Jolla - the beach side coast north of San Diego, California.

Smelly seals at La Jolla north of San Diego, California.

Parade time at Old Town, San Diego, California.

Apparently the most haunted house in the US - The Whaley House in Old Town, San Diego, California.

Stern end of the USS Midway - now a museum in San Diego harbour.

One of the many ejection seats used during the cold war located in the ship's hanger deck USS Midway, San Diego.

A F14 Tomcat on the flight deck, USS Midway, San Diego.

A Navy Phantom aircraft on the USS Midway flight deck.

Check out the heavy HE stuff on the USS Midway, San Diego.

The USS Midway's island - this aircraft carrier was once the largest vessel afloat between 1946 to 1955.

View of Coronado Bridge from the flight deck on USS Midway, San Diego.

Looking towards the bow of the USS Midway in San Diego, California.

Surprise surprise!!! An old cold war USSR submarine on display in San Diego harbour.

We were collected from our hotel at 0830 this morning and our guide was Frank. He was great in taking us around San Diego showing all the sites that we didn't know. Throughout the morning he gave us time in Balboa Park and drove us around the rich people's homes on Coranado Island, Continued on to the National Veteran's Memorial on Mount Soledad where thousands of photos of past servicemen are on display - including Dwight Eisenhower, George Patton, James Stewart and Glenn Miller. He then drove us to Mission Beach and the Old San Diego Town (the first settlement of San Diego many centuries ago). After returning us to Downtown San Diego we had tickets to tour the post WWII USS Midway. It is now a museum in San Diego harbour and has Korean,Vietnam aircraft on display. All of us had a go at a WWII "Corsair" simulator to satisfy our ambition to become a pilot. No enemy planes were destroyed but many barrel rolls were felt. We had dinner in Anthony's Seafood Grotto on the harbour and after a long day of touring returned to our accommodation for a good rest. Tomorrow we drive the short distance to Los Angeles - our starting city four weeks ago. Being a Sunday tomorrow we expect the traffic will be congested. We will take the coast road and once in LA we need to collect our keys to our Hollywood Apartment mid-afternoon. So until then cheers.

Day 27 (11 September 2015)

One of many fine buildings in the Gaslight District, San Diego, California.

Alighting from the San Diego Downtown to San Ysidro tram trolley at the USA/Mexico border (San Ysidro). This rail service transform from tram travel into rail travel easily. Sydney's City Rail could learn much from San Diego's excellent transport system. 

Entering Tijuana, Mexico from San Ysidro, USA.

The main street in Tijuana, Mexico.

Many beggars and opportunists in Tijuana. This one paints his burro for a $5 USD fee to take a picture with his artificial zebra.

Well....there needs to be something Mexican (Aztec) in Tijuana. Anne with a main street monument.

We had lunch at this spot along the main street in Tijuana, Mexico. Very cheap meals and drinks.

For the segue team - a Mexican dress for sale in the tourist trap, Tijuana, Mexico.

Typical Tijuana shop with flag.

Market square in Tijuana, Mexico.

A backpacker's accommodation, Tijuana, Mexico.

Enjoying margaretta's in a Tijuana cantina, Mexico.

The beginning of a Friday afternoon vehicle bustle on the Mexican border (Tijuana). For pedestrians it is at least a 2 hours line up to pass through Mexico/USA immigration.

Another disappointment today. The company that was to give us our Tijuana City Tour from San Diego couldn't gain the ten minimum passengers to make this tour viable and therefore cancelled at the death nell about 1130 am. This was not good business practice from the company as they had confirm this many months ago when we pre-paid the tour and did not tell us about this criteria. We will be reimburse however the stuffing around had caused us inconvenience of waiting until the last minute before this decision was made. Nevertheless, it was an ill wind that blows good. In response we decided to arrange our own crossing into Mexico ourselves and it was an easy journey by tram/trolley from San Diego to San Ysidro (a 40 minute trip), thence crossed the border without ado and took a taxi to Tijuana. We spent three hours in this Mexican tourist town and all things were so cheap - food, drinks, taxis and everything else we needed. It was about one fifth the cost of similar items in the US. No wonder it is a popular day trip over the border. We had lunch along the main street, drank margarettas and the tourist shops tried to sell us their products representative of Mexico. We returned to the border to a hot, humid pedestrian, minimum two hour line up to go through immigration....but some local told us for $6 USD they can bypass the line and get us through within 25 minutes. It was well spent as it actually took 30 minutes and away we went by the San Diego tram/trolley back to the city. Overall, Tijuana was a great experience...too touristy but cheap. We have another tour tomorrow a City Tour with a additional tour on board the WWII USS Midway. So cheers to all. 

Day 26 (10 September 2015)

This view was taken outside our accommodation in Furnace Creek, Death Valley. Around this oasis is harsh desert but the resort has managed to make this a perfect green location. The only issue is the 50 deg C heat in the middle of the day.

Near Panamint Springs, Death Valley - a coyote looking for food from road travellers.

Mud cracks near Panamint Springs, Death Valley, California.

One of the few old buildings remaining in Ballarat south of Death Valley, California. Yes it was named after our Victoria counterpart.

The Pinnacles near Trona California. This is where many films were shot for Star Trek, Lost In Space and Battlestar Galatica.

The Pinnacles near Trona California

6th Avenue San Diego - taken from our Holiday inn accommodation, California.

Taken along 6th Avenue, San Diego, California - an old Commonwealth Bank money box shaped building.

Death Valley is an inhospitable place. Hot, dry and surreal. Nevertheless many people visit this place for its beauty and experience the average 45 to 50 deg C heat that occurs on a daily basis. We are glad we experienced this but glad to go to San Diego 350 miles away. San Diego is hot but instead of 0% humidity is 100%. Our journey south passed through Ballarat and old silver mining town, now a ghost town. It was named after our good old Eureka town. Onwards we passed through Trona a borax mining town noted for the strange Pinnacles that are frequently used in science-fi movies. We travelled through the outskirts of LA and witnessed a lane on the I-250 expressway ending in a cul-de-sac. It was about 10 miles long and drivers that managed to go down this lane came to a sudden stop. No way they could exit out and basically needed to go back where they entered the lane. Even a state trooper vehicle was locked in. We believe that some road worker's head will roll once this mess is sorted out. Almost exiting out of Death Valley we came upon two coyotes scrounging for food along the road and not far distant we nearly ran over a rattlesnake. We are in San Diego for three days and tomorrow we have a tour into Tijuana, Mexico. Until then cheers.

Day 25 (09 September 2015)

Struggling up Golden Canyon, Death Valley - before the real heat starts, at 9 am.

In Golden Canyon, Death Valley - the multi-coloured rocks.

The Golden Canyon, Death Valley, California is a 3.5 klm return journey. We had to do this before 10 am when the temperature will go above 40 deg C.

They call this the Devil's Golf Course in Death Valley, California.

The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere in Death Valley, California.

The lowest point in the Western Hemisphere Badwater, Death Valley, California.

Our altimeter was set at nearly 10,000 feet above sea level. This is what it looks like at -282 feet.

At Badwater, Death Valley, California.

On the road through Artist's Palette, Death Valley, California.

Artist's Palette, Death Valley, California.

They call this the Devil's Corn Field, near Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley, California.

A yarn regarding the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, near Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley, California.

Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes, near Stovepipe Wells, Death Valley, California.

About the dry heat in Death Valley, California.

View from Mosaic Canyon, Death Valley, California.

The desert road near Father Crowley's Lookout, Death Valley, California.

We couldn’t believe it – it hit 50 deg C in Death Valley. We toured the surrounding valley and walked the Golden Canyon, drove around Artist’s Palette, saw Devil’s Golf Course and best of all….drove to Badwater. This scenic spot does have water – but salt water and 282 feet below sea level – the deepest depression in the western hemisphere. From Badwater we drive along the Death Valley to Stovepipe Wells had lunch in the heat of the day and after drive to Mosaic Canyon. The rangers do not recommend walking into canyons after 10 am even with water…so all we did was looked at the trailhead and gazed at the surrounding multi-coloured mountains. Continuing on we drove past Panamint Springs and onto the vantage point at Father Crowley’s lookout. Here the roads were gravel and our SUV Bertha did a great job on those dusty roads. Returned to Furnace Creek to a 121 deg F (50 deg C) afternoon and crept backed into our air-conned accommodation before dinner. The heat in Death Valley is so dry there is no humidity. The body does not sweat and feels like you stepped into an oven. It takes a special kind of person to work around here and the natural fauna and flora have adapted well – including the rattlesnakes. Tomorrow we head out of desert territory and will drive to San Diego, California. A coastal city guarantee to be cooler. Cheers.