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Day 14:    [ Lake Powell ]

With only to most needed things like a sleeping bag and food & drinks we went this morning by speedboat to an deserted place somewhere around Lake Powell. At this place we spent the whole day of swimming, water skiing and relaxing. In the evening we had a pleasant time with other groups around the camp fire. We stayed the night over at this place and we slept just on the beach without tents.

Day 15:    [ Lake Powell, Monument Valley ]

In the early morning there was a possibility to go for more water skiing. After breakfast we went for a  speedboat cruise to see some nice places of Lake Powell. Then we went back to our minibus and left Lake Powell to go to our next camp site in the Navajo Nation's Monument Valley Tribal Park.
One minor point of this camp site was that alcohol was not allowed. This because the camp site was located inside an Indian reserve. After setting up our tent's we went for a horse back drive through the dry country. The only thing which made my horse running was the sound of the whip of our Navajo tour guide.

Day 16:    [ Grand Canyon ]

This morning we go out of bed before sunrise to set up our camera's to make nice sunrise pictures. After breakfast we went to the next highlight of this journey, the Grand Canyon.

Entering the Grand Canyon NP we stopped a few times for taking pictures of this wonder of nature. After arrival at the camp site, the first thing we did was go for a helicopter flight above the Grand Canyon. This was a very nice experience because of the beautiful sights we saw, and also because it was my first time in a helicopter. For dinner we had a to big pizza and we concluded this day with a sunset at the Grand Canyon.

Day 17:    [ Grand Canyon ]

Again a very early start in the morning to begin with a serious hike. We have chosen for the 'Bright Angel Trail Head' hike. This hike brings you to the Plateau Point from where you have a panorama view on the Colorado river flowing through the canyon. The tricky part of this hike was that you first go down, the more easy part, and back you have to climb up while the temperature is rising. After a few hours we reached the point where we started the hike, tired but satisfied. The rest of the day we did some souvenir shopping and relaxation.

Day 18:    [ Las Vegas ]

This morning, stiff muscles as a result of the hike the day before, we left the Grand Canyon. The target destination of today was Las Vegas. First we had a look at the Hoover Dam and after a short brake we continued the journey to Las Vegas. We were told that Las Vegas was arisen by the workers who were building the Hoover Dam. After arrival in Las Vegas we went to our hotel with swimming pool. In the evening we went to the center of Las Vegas to admire all the neon signs.

Day 19:    [ Las Vegas ]

Today we had a whole day doing anything you like. We just did some sight seeing walking around Las Vegas. Because it was very warm outside we visited the many air-conditioned gamble places and shopping centers like Caesar's Palace. In the evening we went to Hotel Excalibur for a 5 dollar buffet. Eat as much as you like for only 5 dollars. We ended the evening in a disco.

Day 20:    [ San Diego ]

Leaving Las Vegas behind us we drove back to the west coast to San Diego. Along the way we saw some Joshua Tree's which are growing in the desert. Finally after a long drive we reached the camp site in San Diego.

Day 21:   [ San Diego, Tijuana ]

Today a part of the group went to Sea World, the other part to the Zoo and the rest to the beach. After lunch the whole group went by minibus to the border of the U.S.A. and Mexico. On foot we crossed the border to the town Tijuana. Here we did some souvenir shopping, looking around and drinking Margarita's. Half drunk we went back to the wealthy U.S.A. Crossing the border back was not that simple as vice versa but we were allowed to enter. Back in San Diego we had dinner on the beach at the camp site, where I ate shark steak for the first time in my life.

Day 22:   [ Los Angeles ]

Back in Los Angeles we visited Disneyland. Today it was the last day of our holiday so we made the best of it. In the afternoon we went to same hotel were we started the trip and unloaded the minibus for the last time. The evening we had our farewell party, also in the same bar were we started the trip. In this bar the holiday came to an end. It was an exciting holiday with a lot of natural beauty and nice towns like San Francisco and Las Vegas.

Day 23 & 24:   [ Flight from San Francisco to Amsterdam ]

With a head filled with good memories I flew back to the Netherlands.