I'm sure you will agree we have reached the point of deserving some well deserved relaxation. All that exploring, drinking and eating is hard work you know!
So we took some time in Austin to take it easy. We stared with a visit to Hamilton Pool. A Naturally made pool set in a cave, if the water level is high a waterfall falls over the top into the pool. Some of you may recognise the name as it is where Stevie proposed....
As the water is cold even in the summer months we did not plan on doing any swimming this time.....
There was a good thunderstorm a few nights before - it woke us up when it was so close to the house it sounded like we had been hit! At least that meant a good rainfall provided enough water for it to flow over the edge.
We tried to work off some of the bad, bad food we have been consuming whilst on the go by playing some Kennect on the Xbox...
The aim of the game is to catch bubbles by jumping.... A lot!
Stevie thought scaring the bubbles would be more effective....
Relaxation for Stevie ALWAYS includes some kind of sports so we went to watch the Harlem Globetrotters. Their tricks were very impressive.
Awesome dunks...
One handed dunk off an ally-oop
In the event of one of the team 'accidentally' tripping we had come prepared....
And we ordered some food that did not come with fries! Chloe's favourite.... Mmmm......
Pampered and rejuvenated, Dallas and Fortworth here we come!
We stopped by Hoover Dam on the way. It really is the only attractive place around these parts!
We stayed in the stratosphere. It has the tallest observation deck in the US and a 360 degree view of Vegas. Your ears pop going up in the lift!
We walked up and down the strip to see the other big casinos and hotels. They all were very impressive and surreal in different ways.
We celebrated Stevie's birthday conveniently in Vegas!
We started by forcing him on a ride at the top of the stratosphere.
It truly looked terrifying as it sees awed over the edge of the building. If you wanna watch him follow this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afem8ODkcBo&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Mmmm oyster shots.....
Watch Stevie's face as the oyster goes down!
Believe it or not this photo was taken at nighttime - it really is hard to tell the time of day in Vegas sometimes! Unfortunately for Stevie these were not real girls...
But the ones in this topless show were! Stevie thought Christmas had come early. Nakedness aside they were truly amazing dancers/acrobats. At one point they collected people from the audience to dance around - me and Stevie have never studied the floor harder and prayed to be walked past more!
Spot the ever so slightly overdressed one...
Stevie's hilarious choice of food at the stratosphere buffet.
We went to the Freemont street experience where the ceiling is 5 football field long of LED lights, quite impressive!
We did a little gambling and Stevie looks like he is enjoying himself far more than the zombified people you normally see on the slots.
We managed to see a fountain show at the Bellagio. At one point they made the water look like ballerinas stretching to warm up - it was amazing!
The bright lights of Vegas
We went to see a variety show at planet Hollywood. Here we watched a juggler play the keyboard with balls, it's better than your imagining....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnu85IxNeVE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
View of the strip from the top of the stratosphere, one I won't forget.
The lady from our hotel said Mesa Verde would still be open and the roads in the town were clear so we thought we'd give it a go until.....
And then....
...don't worry it wasn't ours, but it was enough to persuade us to turn back!
So we made an early start to Grand Canyon, as soon as we were out of Colorado.....
We made a stop off at Four Corners where New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona meet
After not even two weeks of traveling Chloe was so keen to get away from me she moved two states away and was very happy about it...
From the snowy morning to sand drift on the roads.....
...we even saw real life tumble weed roll past us...Chloe jokes are THAT bad!
Almost at the Grand Canyon and climbed back up to 7200 ft.... We were sure we'd seen enough snow
The Canyon road was intense, we saw another two wrecked cars. We made it safe and sound though to our lodge and went for a well deserved beer, chips and dip
