There's a new ride at Disneyland!

...but I'll get back to that...

I am in the City of Angels now, and Universal Studios has a couple of new rides: 'The Simpsons', which replaced the old 'Back to the Future' motion (jerky) master; and a short 'The Mummy' roller coaster which left me feeling disappointed. I highly recommend the Terminator 2 3D 'ride' though, and the Waterworld show which is much better than the movie.

Which brings me to Disneyland, they also have new rides:
a. Finding Nemo submarines, which are re-jigged submarine rides of old. You sail under and around the Great Barrier reef following the story of Nemo. It's nice and simple, but is let down entirely by a line that is at least an hour long. As far as I could tell, no one ever actually rides this attraction due to the line often being 3 hours long... which is a paradox, since if no one rides it how is the line formed?
b. Buzz Lightyears Astro Blasters. It's a light gun game essentially, but is competitive in that all riders have their own gun and score. Note me destroying Space Ranger 1 in the picture below...umm, yeah.

c. I also managed for the first time (in 3 visits) do the Matterhorn bobsleds, so I'll consider them new. It nearly didn't happen though...

Let me detour for a second to highlight one other thing of Disneyland - they have 2 parades, and at least one fireworks display DAILY. I timed the fireworks, and they ran for 18 minutes. The sheer cost and man hours to make that happen is phenomenal. Plus it beats nearly every fireworks display in New Zealand.

Back to the new rides again; we experienced a very unique ride while at Disneyland (while in the Matterhorn line). The Earthquake:
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?p=3034573

Pros of the earthquake ride
1. Everyone gets to ride at once
2. It's so good, it makes the breaking news in LA
3. After the ride, the queues for all other rides are empty
4. There's no height restriction

Cons of the earthquake ride
1. The park shuts all rides, and does an engineering inspection. Don't expect to be riding anything for 3 hours (minimum)
2. Related cafes may lose gas during this time, so you might be hungry too

Other than 'Acts of God' Disneyland is always a great place to visit, and has quite a unique atmosphere - something Universal Studios tries to replicate and fails - and this time made all the more special with the assistance of friends Rose and Karine who I met on my previous European trip 2 years ago. Disneyland is best experienced with at least one other person.

Hasta La Vista.

Another paradox of Disneyland: It is the 'Happiest Place on Earth', yet there are more than one and they can't all be the happiest.

I believe in bears. Faith in the unseen

Having just come to the end of a week long camping tour, I will highlight two things:

1. The Bears of Yosemite National Park (an analogy)
I did not see a bear in the park.
I met people who claimed to have seen a bear.
Experts described when and how a bear would arrive.
There were signs 'proving' the existence of bears, and even pictorial representations of bears.
Copious written material was evident on your relationship with a bear (If a bear stands at your door and knocks, get out of the house)
http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/scarebears.htm

Yet I did not see a bear.
Ergo: I do not believe in bears

2. Camping tours and sleeping (not an analogy)
USA is big, I mean really big. Also, it is large.
Why would this be a concern for a camping tour? sleep. don't expect any.
A typical day is spent driving for a number of hours (it's big remember), arriving at the campsite and setting up tents, followed by dinner (dark at this point); and topped off with a 5.30am start the next day to do it over again.
But what is that you say? what about when you remain in the same place the next day?

Good question: Our second day in Yosemite, the entire day is free to do whatever we like.

Wake up time = 4.15am. We were up so early, that I had completed a 6 hour hike before lunchtime.

As for Las Vegas; do not attempt to combine early mornings with Las Vegas. Vegas starts at sunset and doesn't stop until all your money is gone. One member of our tour finished his night at 9am, ready for breakfast and started the next day again.

Why?
It's hot, I mean really hot (you thought I would say big didn't you). So hot that in Arizona (the hottest, final night), in order to be cool overnight, you would have to sleep in the lake.

Why?
It is worth it. You'll see when I get the pictures.


PS: For those who were wondering how Alcatraz was - it is amazing. If you go to San Francisco you must do 'the Rock'.