Travellers Photo Gallery

Driver Bob, Brenda and Golda (our trusty bus) met us at LAX and we were soon on our way, Misssisippi here we come!

The Titan Missile Launch Site Museum near Tucson was most interesting. A chilling reminder of the Cold War era.

Antoinette, looks a tad concerned with her responsibility as Commander of the launch. Which button do I push?

David and Deidre ready to board Golda, Saguaro National Park on the outskirts of Tucson.

Margaret dwarfed by a huge Saguaro cactus on our walk in the national park.

The PIMA, aircraft and Space Museum, had a huge display of aircraft of all shapes and sizes. Fay beside the smallest. Looking like a bumble bee, this little fellow was was only 9ft long with a wingspan of just 6 and a half feet.

Our evening out at the Gaslight Theatre was just fabulous. A riot of fun. Margaret and Fay with the "Vampire"

Robyn, beside the grave of a most unfortunate resident of Tombstone's Boot Hill.

Tombstone, Beth and Neil at OK Coral, of Wyatt Earp fame.

The girls enjoying the "non sunset" at White Sands National Monument.

A lone yucca, clinging to life in the gypsum dunes of White Sands.

Mark and his new best friend,"Coyote". Still a pup, Coyote took a fancy to our trip mascot "Pukie", the Pukeko.

Frankie beginning the 1.2 mile hike into the Carlsbad Caverns, to reach a point 750ft below the surface.

The Big Room, is massive, the size of 14 football fields and the walking trail to view the formations took over an hour. We returned to the surface by elevator.

The evening Bat Flight, a photo we didn't take. The sight of almost 500,000 bats leaving the cave mouth is really something to remember.

Vivienne heading along the trail, McKittrick Canyon, Guadalupe National Park Texas.

Brenda, Denise and friends taking a break. at Pratt Cabin, McKittrick Canyon

Bowling night in Fort Stockton. Sandra was the victor ( with 144)

Boys will be boys..... playing cowboys and Indians at the Fort Stockton Historical Park.

Marianne admires the beautiful Fort Stockton church.

Christmas Stockings, Texas style

Champion trick roper, Kevin Fitzpatrick, put on a skillful performance for us at Rancho Cortez.

Shirley, all "tied up" by Kevin. Rancho Cortez, East Texas Hills.

Celia and friends, ready to ride.

Trail riding, viewed from between "Popcorns" ears.

Murray, joins local country singer Lee Harmon for a song.

San Antonio's famous landmark, the Alamo

Frankie and Brenda at the San Jose Mission, San Antonio.

While in San Antonio we stayed at the historic Menger Hotel, established in 1859.

The Johnson Space Centre, NASA. Laurie, stands beside the Saturn V Rocket, built for the cancelled Apollo 18 mission. It was MASSIVE!

Moon buggie, one of the many displays we enjoyed whle visiting NASA

A space capsule display

Having lunch in the shade of an old oak tree. Eunice (Louisiana)

Shirley and Norma, at the serving table

The French Quarter, the heart of New Orleans

One of New Orlean's many "characters", a jazz busker in Jackson Square.

Colourful Street signs of the French Quarter, New Orleans.

Celia chats with a local musician.

Our evening dinner jazz cruise on the steamboat "Natchez". Listening to the jazz band play as we cruised under the light of the full moon was just magical.

Frankie admires the neatly tended lawns on our walk around the shaded streets of the city's "Garden District".

Bob, takes the day off and joins us on the Charles St tram.

We explored the bayou swamplands by airboat. At the end of the trip our two vessels rafted up for a group photo.

The twists and turns of the bayou channels, the silver grey of the Spanish moss a dominate feature.

Our guides seemed to be on good terms with the local alligators.

Sandra holds a baby alligator. This small female was about 18 months old.

We visted Laura Plantation, an historic creole homestead on River Road. Our three "southern gentleman', Barrie, Trev and Mark in the mansion dinning room.

Frankie ready to enjoy her visit to "Gracelands", the Elvis Mansion, Memphis Tennessee.

Kevin, admires one of the many beautifully presented cars in the Elvis Personal Collection, Gracelands

Robyn, Bruce and Trevor, eating icecreams in a "60's" milk bar, Gracelands.

Mountain View, the"Folk Music Capital of the World", was a gorgeous little spot in the Ozarks (Arkansas). Musicans played in the Square all hours of the day and at night we attended a fabulous concert.

While in Mountain View we went kayaking and canoeng on the Buffalo River.

Jim, taking a break from paddling.

The Long-horned cattle were driven down the street right outside of our hotel in the Fort Worth Historic Stockyards.

Some of these cattle were huge beasts and their horns were most impressive.

At the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Fort Worth, there was an impressive display of "things western". Bruce, remembers his childhood shetland pony.

Big Tex, the talking, hand waving mascot of the Texas State Fair. This Fair is the largest state fair in the USA, and it was HUGE !

The mighty Texas Star ferris wheel towered above the fairgrounds.

Fantastic pumpkin carving was just one of the huge variety of art and crafts on display.

In the evening there was a float parade and light and sound show to finish off the day.

The "Cadillac Ranch", 10 cadillacs from 1949-1963, planted nose down on the Texas Plains near Amarillo. We all had a go at graffiti-ing them with spray cans, as visitors are encouraged to do.

Today's birthday girl, Beth, had her special day noted in orange paint.

Robyn, dwarfed by a massive cowboy boot, outside of the Big Texan restaurant, Amarillo

Mark, eyes up a real man-sized meal; a 72oz steak, with servings of salads, baked potato and fixings. We all shared the meal, after photos of course. Anyone who can eat one of these meals in an hour gets it free, if you fail you pay US$50.

Our birthday girl, Beth and Neil, rode home to their room in a stretched limo, the Grassroots paparazzi trying for a quick shot.

Deidre and David, celebrated their wedding anniversary at Storrie Lake, complete with a bouquet and "wedding cake"

Happy Birthday Kevin, wow the last three days have seen us enjoying three cakes and they were all yum.

Our very own “Spice” Girls,  in front of the drying  red hot peppers, Taos New Mexico

San Francisco de Asis Mission Church in Rancho de Taos, built of adobe in 1772, today it is considered to be the most photographed church in America.

The morning Massed Ascension at the Albuquerque Balloon Festival was an awesome sight,

Balloons  preparing for lift off .

As well as the traditional balloons there was  a huge variety of special shapes  including  a jack’n a box,  airplanes,a stork carrying a baby, a pepsi can,  even an accordion....

Many animal shapes were seen drifting across the sky – cows, zebras, kangaroos, birds, monkeys,  even three kissing bees

The US Mail Stage coach was a real favourite with the crowd.

We could get used to this life, coffee and donuts in the groups enclosure at Balloon Fest park.

Bison grazing at the road side on the way to Mt Sandia Skyway

We came across some amazing bronze statues in our travels, these ones depicted the arrival of the settlers in Albuquerque.

Kevin reads over the shoulder of this statue of a modern day Albuquerquen gentleman.

Denise and Murray checking out the ancient Petroglyphs, New Mexico.

Having lunch in a carpark stone garden, literally !

Bruce on the rim of Meteor Crater, the world’s best preserved Meteorite crater, 1 mile across,  and 550 feet deep

Petrified Forest National Park  (Arizona)  the  colour of the rock and sand formations was stunning.

Sandra and Frankie at the Tepee formations,   (Petrified Forest NP)

Deidre  and David, pose  for the photo  in front of  a huge petrified log

Just one of the thousands of pieces of beautifully coloured petrified wood that can be found scattered throughout the park

Crossing the river on the West Fork Canyon hike, Sedona (Arizona)

The gang that reach the end of the trail, West Fork Canyon

Vivienne  took a peek at the old stone cottage  near the trail head. (West Fork  Canyon)

As we left Sedona the weather cleared and we were treated to a quick view of Oak Creek Canyon’s famous red rock formations.

The USS Midway Aircraft Carrier museum was wonderful,  but being locked in the brig sent Bruce up the wall.

Listening  to the docents recount stories of life on the carrier was fascinating, they made the exhibits come alive.

Our  finale night was wonderful,  with  poems, stories, songs  and much humour.  Such talent, thanks everyone for a fabulous evening  of entertainment to celebrate our  journey.