USA Recruitment Trip 2012

Welcome to our USA 2012 Plane, Road, Train, Road, Plane trip, June 2012.
This trip is all about my daughter Bec, and her journey to select from the Universities that are offering her scholarships to dive for their teams from fall 2012. Read more

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Trip start
June 1, 2012
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Day 1
Friday, June 1, 2012 at 12:15 PM
🌧 20 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Cheering for the Trip
June 1, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 20 °C
My Princess and I just having a great giggle over the upcoming trip, just 2 more days and we're on the plane to LA.

The trip is basically a recruitment trip for Bec to check out some universities over their (Colleges) that are offering her full ride scholarships to dive for them and do her bachelors studies.

We will commence with UCLA in Los Angeles, then drive to Flagstaff for the Northern Arizona Campus (NAU), off to Los Angeles and take the AMTRAK across the country to Chicago and then drive again to Youngstown State University (YSU) in Youngstown Ohio.Read more
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Day 2
Saturday, June 2, 2012 at 12:15 PM
⛅ 21 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
1 more day to go and then, up, and away
June 2, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C
A Car like this would be enough to excite anyone's dream centre. I reckon I know a couple of rev heads that would just squeal to get a hold of this baby.
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Day 3
Sunday, June 3, 2012 at 12:15 PM
🌧 19 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Nearly time to go...
June 3, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Countdown -8.5 hours

Seems a good chance to check out this off exploring app and try a few entries.
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Day 4
Monday, June 4, 2012 at 12:15 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Mascot, Sydney Airport
June 4, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Flight delayed due to fog. Departing 1h 20m late. From this picture we might determine that the girls are half smiling and half frowning I think, so close but still yet so far. Once we're on the plane it will feel like we are really headed to the States.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, June 4, 2012 at 6:15 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Santa Monica Pier in Los Angeles
June 4, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Finally after a long 13h 40m flight we landed in Los Angeles. Too tired to think straight we collected our car from Thrifty and started to just make our way around LA. Them Garmin GPS's that thrifty use have troublesome touch screens, so after fighting with that and realising my fingers were too large to use it, the navigator, (Sue) took control. Her nimble fingers had the GPS working overtime in moments. First stop was the vist to UCLA to meet with the diving coach there and inspect the facilities, and University.

This place is massive and although quite incredible was a bit daunting to us little Aussie people having never seen campuses so grand. A complete city in itself within the borders of Beverley Hills. After inspecting UCLA we headed off to do some sightseeing around LA.

Cruised around Bel Air, Rodeo Drive, Wiltshire Blvd, etc, etc, etc. you know doing the tourist thing. Finally as we arrived at Santa Monica Pier someone realised we hadn't taken any photos. So we had pure scientific proof that sleep deprivation can do strange things.Read more
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Day 4
Monday, June 4, 2012 at 9:15 PM
🌙 16 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Ferris Wheel on Santa Monica Pier
June 4, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌙 16 °C
We had a great day exploring San Francisco and ended the evening with a trip to Santa Monica Pier. The Ferris Wheel at Santa Monica Pier just kept changing colours and patterns the whole time. The pier was actually freezing with the wind howling off the Pacific Ocean at 9:00pm. Time to head off to the hotel and bed for a good night's sleep. Tomorrow was the beginning of our journey across the USA. Night Night.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 10:15 AM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Venice Beach, Los Angeles, California
June 5, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
Nowhere but LA, specifically the famous Venice Beach, CA. would one find a $40 medical certificate for permission to smoke marijuana on medical grounds.
A little bit disappointing after what you see in the movies, but once the crowds arrived it looked pretty good.
This is also where we got our Simple Sim phone cards at a pretty good deal. Now we are connected to the world via the USA.

Check out all Bec' s photos in the Venice Beach album.Read more
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Day 5
Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at 12:15 PM
☀️ 16 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Oatman, Mohave Arizona
June 5, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C
We headed off from LA towards Flagstaff and as we had a little spare time we decided to try and follow, as much as possible, the old Route 66. Unfortunately California has done very little to maintain the historical integrity of Route 66, but once across the state lines into Arizona, it was a different story.

Arizona have obviously spent a lot more money towards keeping the history intact as it is still, for some, a great tourist journey. We decided to take the old route 66 in as many sections as possible, and boy are we glad we did. The scenery was absolutely amazing, and then we came around a bend by an old gold mine and came across Oatman. High up in the hills we came across this little town and what an incredible little town. Oatman is just as it was 150 years ago. Timber sidewalks, western shop fronts etc. Even all the old donkeys from the Gold Rush days are still around, or their descendants at least, and have made the town their home.

It just blew our minds when we saw it, not to mention the mule that blocked the road out of town and wanted to meet us by sticking his head in the car window. Check all the picks in the Route 66 album.Read more
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Day 6
Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 1:15 PM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Flagstaff, Arizona
June 6, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
After a good nights sleep at the Northern Arizona Campus hotel we headed in to meet with the coach and our guides for the look around NAU campus. Again a beautiful campus, a lot smaller than UCLA, but none the less, still grand compared to many Australian Universities. Great facilities and beautiful scenery.

After the tour we left Bec to head off for her two day visit with the girls at NAU and Sue and I headed off on our own for some sightseeing around Flagstaff.

Sue just couldn't help herself, dragged me kicking and screaming into the first saloon she found in Flagstaff, Northern Arizona.

The place serves the same pizzas the cowboys ate back in the 1850's ha, ha.Read more
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Day 7
Thursday, June 7, 2012 at 8:15 AM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
NAU Recruitment Tour
June 7, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
Well another day in Flagstaff. Heading off to Brekky at Maceys with the coaches and the further tours around the university. They really did take care of us especially well, and very keen to have Bec join their squad, as they had already placed her name up on the boards for next seasons schedule and roster.

Everyone over here takes their College life very seriously, such a shame we don't have the population in Australia to repeat the same process for student athletes.

Then off to the Grand CanyonRead more
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Day 8
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 10:15 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Seligman, Arizon
June 8, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
Continuing along route 66. Americans have a real romantic connection to the 50's and Route 66. The townships have been kept just the way they were back in the 50's and 60's when it was the main route from East to West.

When you're here and actually experience it you get a real sensation of nostalgia, you almost want to be there in that time. Such a shame though that some states take it very seriously to maintain their heritage, and yet others have let it almost disappear altogether.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 2:15 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Heading to Las Vegas
June 8, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
Leaving Route 66 and heading towards Las Vegas we pass through the location of the Hoover Dam. This thing is awesome. How they built this in the 1930's is just amazing. Has to be seen to comprehend its enormity.Read more
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Day 8
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 3:15 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Starbucks, Boulder City, Nevada
June 8, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
A really hot day today, and after nearly getting blown off the Hoover dam bridge we figured it was time for a good old cuppa.
Tall Starbucks coffee in OZ - $7.00
Tall Starbucks coffee on USA - $3.25
Don't you just love Oz, but must say at least in Oz they know how to make a good cuppa, not here. This was the most washed out soapy tasting coffee I have ever experienced, couldn't even drink it, pretty revolting.Read more
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Day 9
Saturday, June 9, 2012 at 8:15 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Las Vegas, Nevada
June 9, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
From Hoover Dam we headed into Vegas to check out some of the sights. We decided to only spend a few hours having a look around as we were continuing on to San Francisco for a 2 day stay before joining our train for the trip over the Rockies.

The Vegas strip is certainly something to behold, so we stayed longer than planned to see it at night with the strip lit up like a Xmas tree, pretty spectacular.Read more
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Day 10
Sunday, June 10, 2012 at 8:15 PM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
San Francisco, California
June 10, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
It was a long drive through the night from Las Vegas to San Francisco and as I had done all the driving up to this point I was totally exhausted. Thanfully Sue was ok to drive on the wrong side and she drove the vast majority of the way through the night. I took over again once we came close to San Francisco and the traffic started to get heavier.

After checking in to our hotel we headed off into the heart of the city for breakfast at Lori's Diner in the heart of San Francisco. Good old fashioned 50's diner with all sorts of paraphernalia on the walls.

Today we'll do the topless bus thing, no that means no roof on the bus, not the other thing you dirty sods.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 10:15 AM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Emeryville, California
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
In Emeryville, the San Francisco AMTRAK station departure point. Getting ready for the train trip.
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 12:15 PM
🌧 16 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Truckee, California
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 16 °C
The most amazing train trip through the southern Rocky's. Gorgeous bush land through 1850's gold country. Still snow on the mountains this time of year.
Man we are so grateful that we took this train trip, only 6 hours into the trip and the landscapes have been amazing.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 1:15 PM
🌧 15 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
On The AMTRAK Zephyr
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
These trains are extremely spacious. Huge leg room and seats will swivel to allow panoramic viewing of the landscapes.
Fully reclining with leg supports etc. Wow this is certainly going to be an exciting trip.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 3:15 PM
🌧 15 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Reno, Nevada
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 15 °C
Reno Nevada, obviously not a patch on Vegas but a lot of smaller casinos. Real warm and dry image still thousands of feet up above sea level.
I always imagined that the desert areas were at low altitude.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 4:15 PM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Nevada
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
The most amazing thing is realizing that so much of the US is so high above sea level.

Once you leave the coastal plains you climb up over the mountains to about 6,500 ft. Down the other side onto Nevada plateau, only to realize nearly all of Nevada is about 4,300 ft above sea level.

You sit in the train watching the wild west go by only to discover how high it is. Just amazing.Read more
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Day 11
Monday, June 11, 2012 at 6:15 PM
🌧 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Winnemuca, Nevada
June 11, 2012 in Australia ⋅ 🌧 14 °C
A beautiful sunset over the mountains in the Nevada Desert. It appears our first drama has happened.

The train has come to a standstill here at Winnemucca, Nevada, apparently due to a signal problem on the lines which stops us moving on until the signal problem is fixed.

Announcent is that a repair crew is on the way as we speak but we're stuck until it gets fixed, who knows how long.

The problem this causes is that our scheduled arrival in Chicago was meant to be 14:40 on Wednesday. We were to collect the car there and head to Youngstown by 22:00 ready for our official visit on Thursday. 1 hour behind schedule now means any further delays and the car rental company may be closed before we get there, no car, no arrival in Youngstown. OOPS, that will pose a serious problem to our schedule.Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 4:34 AM
⛅ 14 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Salt Lake City, Utah
June 12, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 14 °C
Arrived 04:30 Salt Lake City, still an hour and a half behind schedule, and still 4,500 ft above sea level, all considered a pretty good night aboard the California Zephyr. The train runs so incredibly smooth you don't realise your even moving.

The landscapes have been just unbelievable, have the locals on board tell us the best is yet to come, so we are looking forward to the section through to Denver, Colorado.Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 9:15 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Glenwood Springs, Colorado
June 12, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We basically followed the mighty Colorado River all the way back to its origins up in the peaks of the Rockies.
The train track generally followed the river most of the way due to the elevations required for safe train travel.
After seeing the river that gouged out the Grand Canyon suddenly being a raging torrent through the Rockies but on a much smaller scale, you realise the enormity of mother nature, and the wonders of creation.Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 12:34 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Grand Junction, Colorado
June 12, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
The changing landscapes are incredible to see. From one place to the next the landscape varies with different types of mountains.
You see so much of this stuff in the movies, but when you see it first hand it still is quite awesome.Read more
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Day 12
Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at 1:15 PM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 2 m
Australia Brisbane -27.4679, 153.032527°28’4” S 153°1’57” E
Arvada, Colorado
June 12, 2012 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
Coming through Arvada just before Denver, Colorado. The trip through the Rockies was incredible, a trip I highly recommend that anyone take in their lifetime. I'm glad we did.
We hear all about these sorts of locations but never really understand the beauty until you've been there and experienced it first hand. Throughout the Rockies section of the trip we had commentary from one of the original AMTRAK engine drivers that has now dedicated himself to passing on the tales of the railway takes, and disasters.
Well worth the trip.Read more
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