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US West Coast
  • Mark Shelley
  • Mark Shelley

US West Coast

A 15-day adventure by Mark Read more
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  • Trip start
    May 23, 2024
  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    Hey Derek!The legend that is Latrice RoyaleFor Fearce Queens stand before me...

    RuPaul Live Las Vegas

    May 24, 2024 in the United States ⋅ 🌙 26 °C

    We had a RuTacular night at the Flamingo with the Queens. Asia O'Hara, Derek Barry (aka Britney), Latrice Royal, Jada Essense Hall, and Pangina.

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    New York New York T&T Wedding Day

    May 25, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 24 °C

    The most amazing wedding for Tommy and Terence. Getting married at the NYNY Coaster is so them! Once the ceremony finished, we all hopped onboard the coaster and screamed all the way around, ha!

    We went on to Tom Urbans in the hotel for the wedding breakfast and photos. Then, onto The Paris Hotel down the strip where we had excellent food and the perfect view of the Bellagio Fountains. Terence's speech was heartfelt and had us all shedding a tear. It was lovely to see two of our closest friends so happy together and dedicate the rest of their lives to each other.

    In the evening, we went to the NYNY Times bar for dualing pianos, which was complete madness and had the most amazing night singing and dancing along to some classic songs.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    Long shot of the stripThe view back to the hotel and the coasterThe Wedding Crowd

    BREWDOG BRUNCH

    May 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 30 °C

    The perfect antidote to the morning after the night before. I surprised myself by waking up and feeling human! It was nice to catch up with everyone and share funny stories and photos from the wedding. It added to the absolute joy of the whole experience.Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    1

    SHANIA TWAIN

    May 26, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 32 °C

    Going to see Shania at Planet Hollywood was another (non-wedding) highlight. I think sometimes you forget how many good songs an artist has. We had a great time, with Emma sporting her light up Shania cowboy hat 🤠Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    San Fran Arrival

    May 27, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    We have left Vegas behind, and we are starting the next leg of our journey in San Francisco. This time, Kelly's case made it!

    We are staying at the Kensington Park Hotel by Union Square, which has an Elks Lodge and The San Fransisco Playhouse in the same building. It's an amazing building inside.

    We have had dinner in the cheesecake Factory, the biggest salad I've ever seen (even bigger than one of Wertho's!), and are off out to explore the city.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    San Fran Day 2 Alcatraz Tour

    May 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Today, we went on a walking tour of the old Fisherman's Wharf and Alcatraz.

    The wharf is packed with restaurants and cafes selling the local delicacy, Dungeness Crab. This is one of the oldest surviving parts of the city as it wasn't touched by the fires after the 'Big One' in 1906. The area was also home to the old Del Monte canning factory, which has now been converted into apartments, hotels, and a restaurant.

    The wharf is where the prison train left from to take the prisoners to Alcatraz, the train car having been craned over to the waiting ship from the arch.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    Big Bus Tour

    May 28, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    The Big Bus Tour took us around the city and over the Golden Gate Bridge, which has some spectacular views. One fun fact (apparently) is that the bridge was supposed to be black, but when it turned up, it was already painted orangey red to stop it rusting. The engineer liked it, so they stuck with the colour. We passed the beautiful City Hall, which is modelled on the Capital Building, with its gold and lead dome.

    Before going on the bu, we had Crab Chowder in a sourdough loaf for lunch at Bourdin, one of the most famous bakeries in SF.

    We had our tea in the Stinking Rose, a restaurant that had garlic in everything. On the menu, they had a 40 garlic clove chicken and garlic martinis. Not for the faint hearted!    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    El Capitan

    Yosemite Valley Trip

    May 29, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    It was a bit of a last-minute decision, but I'm so glad we did this trip to Yosemite. Steven decided to have a coffee and bookshop day, and Kelly and I ventured out to Yosemite Valley National Park.

    It was a bit of a hike out to the park, taking a good few hours in the minibus, but we had our completely bonkers guide, Chati and her Banana Slug, Carl, to entertain us along the way. We teamed up with Tristen, who was from Adalade, who was travelling down the west coast for the day to explore the Valley. There is nothing quite like hiking with a 6'3" 31 year old to remind you how unfit you are, ha!

    When we arrived at the Park we were met by Ranger Karl, who Chati was flirting with outrageously (Kelly got his number for Chati and they had arranged a date by the time we left - excellent work KW!). The first stop was the Giant Sequoias. They really do live up to their name! Then, on to the swing bridge, then the falls, which are at two levels of the rockface.

    The final stop was El Capitan. I'm in awe of anyone who attempts to climb this granite rockface, especially freestyle with no equipment    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    RanchosBacon and maple stackLombard slopesLombard StLombard St slope. The photo doesn't do it justice!Coit TowerSassy looking dude on the murel inside Coit TowerBloomingdales, pride flags and trams. There is a Blackpol Tram too!First Gin Martini of the hols

    San Fran Day 4 Trolly & Explore Day

    May 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    Today, we took the cable cars (Torlly's) to explore the city. After a hearty breakfast at The Pinecrest Diner after our marathon walk yesterday!

    We started out by Union Square and went over to Lombard St. It nearly killed us walking up the street as it was practically vertical. Next was Coit Tower and climbed 234 steps to the top because the lift was off, Ste was the smart one and took himself off to Washington Square to read his book in the park! The views were amazing, after we recovered, ha.Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    Our Sophie - who knew!

    May 30, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We discovered that the legend that is Sophie Ellis Bextor was not only playing in the theatre in San Fran, around the corner, but was also staying in our hotel!

    The question is, who did the elevator pose best...? (As if there was any competition, lol!)Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    Hopefully, it's not what it says on the tin!Bean Hollow BeachSanta Cruz BroadwalkSanta CruzBanana Slugs!Santa Cruz BroadwalkSanta Cruz fairBanana SlugsTaco Bell Pacifico - Chati's wedding venueNot Narnia, but a TVSanta Cruz SealionsBean Hollow BeachTurn 12

    Costal Drive to Monterey via Santa Cruz

    May 31, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C

    We drove down the coast instead of going direct to Monterey today. The coat is stunning with loads of snall beaches along the way, stopping off at a few along the way. The view from Bean Hollow Beach is very calming, and we watched the waves for a bit.

    We stopped off further down the coast at Santa Cruz, which is a lively seaside town with a massive pier and beachfront fair. Inevitably, where there is a pier, there are sealions. You can hear them from a mile off.

    We got to The Monterey Hotel in the early evening, and the streets were already lit up. The hotel is like something out of Fantasy Island! We had our tea at Turn 12, which had a load of vintage Italian racing bikes.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    Monterey

    Jun 1–3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    Monterey is very chilled. We definitely did this in the right order! We went for a walk around the town and Old Fisherman's Wharf, where we stopped for dinner. The crab 🦀 cakes are a big deal around here, and every place has its own recipe.

    The two had a thriving fishing industry, and the main expexports were canned tuna, anchovies, and sardines. These buildings have now been changed into restaurants and shopping malls.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    Monterey Aquarium

    June 1, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C

    We all enjoyed the aquarium.

    The sea otters were huge, I really didn't expect them to be so big. We also watched them out in the bay hunting crabs and cracking them open on their belly.

    There was so much to see, including feeding time at the penguin and the ray enclosure. We could have stood and watched the jellyfish for hours. It was so relaxing watching them float around.

    I was also geeking out because I realised that it's where Star Trek IV The voyage home was filmed 🎥 😀
    AND we got to see Godzilla, ha!    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    17 Mile Drive to Carmel by the Sea

    Jun 2–4, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    It's a 13 min drive direct from Monterey to Carmel. So we decided to take the scenic route and do the 17 Mile Drive around the coast.

    We stopped off at a few locations, including Lovers Rock Point, which had a family of Squirels living at the rock. Also, Bird Rock Point, where the sealions have taken over one of the small islands. With the wind blowing inland, it smelled like the camel house. It absolutely honked. We also stopped off at Lone Cypress Point, and the views are amazing.Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    Carmel Mission Inn
    Ste's cinnamon pancakesBreakfast Burrito - food won!Only Murders in the BuildingSiFi section in the bookstoreStorm Trooper ArtCarmel MissionDum, dum dum du dum..

    Carmel by the Sea

    June 3, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C

    If Monterey is chilled, then Carmel is practically catatonic. The hotel is great and very 70s and has outdoor fire pits where we had some more bottles of Line 39 red 😀

    We had breakfast at the hotel (in the case of man vs. food, food won!) And then went to the beach and the Mission - which was closed...

    We also found a couple of bookshops to mooch around and had tea in Carmel Town.    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler
    Back to the Diner!
    SFPDAnother visit...

    San Fran - Last Day!

    June 5, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    The last day! I feel like we've been away forever, but we have crammed in so much. It's been the most amazing time exploring the West Coast with Ste and World Wide Woffitt. There are many highlights and good times that we have had.

    This journey has left us wanting to come back and see more...    Read more

  • Mark ShelleyUS West CoastTraveler

    Back home...

    June 6, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    From San Fansico, to Dublin, to London, to Manchester! It was an epic 24-hour journey! I feel like we have done the grand tour of Dublin and Heathrow Airport.

    A truly fantastic journey of joy and discovery. I've loved it.Read more

    Trip end
    June 6, 2024
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