So Australia was finished and now one more huge country to conquer.
Getting to Los Angeles required 2 flights, via Hawaii. I actually stepped foot on the ground so can officially say I have been there!

Taking off from Honolulu airport.

In LA I had a warmshowers host for 3 nights to get myself and the bike prepared. In this time I managed to see and do a few things.

Walking around the skyscrapers downtown …

Santa monica beach cycle path

The tiny Hollywood sign!

“Muscle beach”.. Arnold nowhere to be seen..

Closed roads cycling event for one afternoon.

Cycling out of Los Angeles was a nightmare, grid system traffic lights had me stopping every 400 metres for nearly 40miles. It took an entire day to get out. Eventually after another day of riding I reached the city of Palm Springs.

A very wealthy and modern city rapidly growing to suit the modern generation. Much too plastic for my liking but a pleasant stop nonetheless!

Next I cycled across some desert towards a stall town called Blythe, the border town of California/Arizona.

Some proper sand dune desert riding!

I stopped at another warmshowers host and stayed for 3 nights.
To get through the desert quickly and safely I had to cycle 100 and 95 mile days. This was a real challenge and I had very sore thighs afterwards.

Rest was needed.

The host owned a fish and bait store, I camped in their back garden.

Their fishing pond..

and cat!!!?! Biggest I’ve ever seen…

Then it was time to head north towards the City of Flagstaff. On the way I cruised past the 13,000mile mark and visited a couple of old Route 66 towns.

Upon arrival in Flagstaff I visited the Lowell Observatory. A fascinating place where they first discovered Pluto.

The next morning I went north out of Arizona and into Utah. Wild camping along the way to Monument Valley.

El capitan (or Agathla peak), the south entrance to the valley.

The Utah boreder is in the centre of the valley. There is also a beautiful campsite here.

The campsite lookout!

It was then time to cycle out and past the infamous mile 13 marker. The view made famous by many a western film and the movie Forrest Gump. To be cycling through here was surreal, it was just a magnificent ride. Breathtaking scenery at every turn.

My favourite shot is below….

The spot was full of many others tourists and cars. Fortunately I managed to halt traffic and pedestrians to get this image.

I will be honest if I were to fly home tomorrow I would be more than happy. I’ve now ticked off everything on my wish list for this entire trip.

However It would be great to reach New York city and I still have strength left to make it on time.

I’m now in the city of Cortez, south west Colorado, approahing the Rocky mountains. I have 2000 miles left to cycle in 6 weeks.

No time to waste! Let’s have it!!!