BY MOTORHOME THROUGH THE AMERICAN WEST

The Log of a 5,000 mile Journey

Part One: September 2005

Margaret and Barry Williamson

The log can be read in conjunction with our: Travel Notes USA.

A full sequence of photographs of the journey can be seen at: Photos of USA.

This daily log gives an account of a 51-day motorhome journey through the American West by hired motorhome, leaving Los Angeles on 15 September 2005. It is our fourth visit to this beautiful country.

During our summer holiday of 1992, we cycled 3,500 miles in 46 days from Vancouver in the west  to Niagara Falls and Toronto in the east, but mainly on the American side of  the border with Canada. This is the northernmost of the 3 classic cycling routes which cross the USA. With its wide broad-shouldered roads, light traffic away from the freeways, great distances, mountains, high plains, deserts, prairies, rivers, lakes and forests, friendly people, inexpensive motels on the old and now deserted US Highways and a culture that supports feeding, watering and sheltering travellers 24/7, America is ideal for both the cyclist and the motorhomer!

In February 2001 we returned to the USA, after crossing Australia by bicycle and riding 4,500 miles up and down the full length of New Zealand. On this occasion, we rode the southernmost route: 3,500 miles from Los Angeles to Key West via San Diego, the Mexican border, the Gulf coast and down the east coast of Florida through Miami and along the Keys.

In January 2003, after a New Year in Los Angeles, we paid a brief visit to friends Dick and Audrey Valentzas (first met motorhoming in Sicily) who live in San Rafael in Marin County, a few miles north of San Francisco. We cycled a little with Dick in the Marin County hills, where the mountain bike was born, and rode across the Golden Gate Bridge to explore the hills of San Francisco with their daughter, Paget Valentzas.   

The proposed route for this fourth visit to the USA will take us inland (east) from Los Angeles to explore Arizona and its well-catalogued attractions, heading north and east to Denver, returning west to meet the Pacific Ocean north of San Francisco. The coast road south will then take us back to Los Angeles, having used up most of our motorhome allowance of 6,000 miles.

We highly recommend the family firm from whom we have hired our 'RV' (Recreational Vehicle). Klaus and Gabi Hollerith run an excellent small business – Happy Travel Campers (campervan and motorhome rental and sales) - located very near Los Angeles International Airport (or LAX). They employ other German-speaking workers, who all have an excellent command of English and a very competent and friendly approach to their work. See their fleet and get a quote from www.camperusa.com.

We found them through a helpful agent, Michael Preller, who has other contacts throughout the US. Visit him at www.destinationusa.net.  

This log of what actually happened on our journey should be read in conjunction with Travel Notes USA,  which gives a lot of background information on travelling and motorhoming in this glorious country, as well as details of the motorhome we used.

The distance driven is given in miles, along with the cost in US $ of a powered site for 2 adults at the named Campground, RV Park or State Park, taking account of any available discount.. The hire company supplied a card giving 10% members' discount for KOA ( = Kampgrounds of America), saving us the $14 annual fee. We could have used an Australian 'Big 4' or New Zealand 'Top 10' membership card for reciprocal benefits. There are other group discount schemes, and some parks have a rate for 'Seniors', so always check.

Exchange rate at the time of travel is $1.75 to the pound sterling, the US $ having decreased in value since our last visit when it was $1.4.