It's only 8 weeks tomorrow until we head for the good old United States. I'd say it's a bit warmer over there than it is here right now - we had snow twice in the last fortnight (unusual for Christchurch - we usually get 1 fall aech winter if we're lucky). I can't wait - I soooo need a holiday.

Where are you visiting in the USA? We're a nosy bunch here and love to hear the details
Start counting down those sleeps now

The west coast I think. I saw their name down for late August. At least they are not going to hurricaine alley.

Thanks MLT, as a newcomer I did not think to look at the "departure list" Steve does a wonderful job of keeping it up to date, Thank You Steve

scottie I was being nosy and thought I would look to see if I could find which trip they were on.

LA, San Francisco, Yosemite, Grand and Bryce Canyons, Vegas, Phoenix, San Diego etc. I'm really looking forward to it. I have already done LA, San Diego and San Francisco as well as Boston, New York and Miami, but I'm really looking forward to seeing a little bit more away from the coasts. I love USA and Canada - you are such awesome people - so friendly. This is my second coach tour (I did Insight Europe in 1999). I have also done 2 cruises (Mexico and Caribbean), as well as Australia, Singapore, UK. I nannied for 1 year in Vancouver. Not bad for 33 years old. I find that Americans and Canadians are so interested in hearing about New Zealand and I travel to the US most years (a few hassles at customs with wait times etc. wouldn't put me off!!!)

Rainbow:

You will have an awesome time on the west coast in the states. I live on the east coast but absolutely love the west coast. San Francisco and San Diego are my favorites. Enjoy your trip. Let us know all about it after your return.

Sue Marino

Thanks, I will give you all a full rundown when we return. I loved the East Coast too. WE drove from Bostn to New York so saw a bit.

Just had a look at your tour, it looks fantastic.
We will be at the Grand Canyon on the Route 66 trip in October so please let me know what you think of it.
Sounds like you have done quite a bit of travelling in your life, think that is a wise thing to do when you are young and fancy free

I will definitely let you know Scottie. I have always wanted to go to the Grand Canyon and I can't believe it's getting so close.

Hve a wonderful trip Rainbow. As a fellow New Zealander we found the Grand Canyon just amazing. We are used to sitting at the bottom looking up at high mountains. To me it seemed to be just that in the reverse. We sat on the top looking down and out over such a wonderful colourful area. We also loved the very red rock area of Sedona.

Thanks - I can't wait. I'm heading up to Nelson in about 1/2 hour for the early childhood conference at the Rutherford. I've seen a lot of New Zealand but have only been to Nelson when I was 2 so can't remember it.

If you are talking snow by you, it is definetly much warmer where you are headed, although you will be covering a wide variety of temperatures. From the dessert to San Franscico the temperatures can vary 40 degrees.

Rainbow - What do you do in early childhood? I am the director of an early childhood center!

I am the Assistant Supervisor of an early childhood teacher (in charge of the over two year old area.

Shelley I would love to talk to you some more about your centre. I have just been a a conference and we had Professor Peter Moss from the Thomas Coram institute in London. He was saying that New Zealand is now considered to be in the top 3 countries in the world for standard of early childhood education - that's pretty awesome for a country of 4 million people. Anyway, I am very much looking forward to my Trafalgar Tour - I love your country.