Time flies

Hi again! Well we've been packing it in since I last posted, so it's been hard to find time to sketch let alone to write posts! So here is another sketch from San Fran on a typically foggy day (with collaged paper from the cool art store I found in SF):



from there we went to Las Vegas where we met up with my friend Dan and got to see the Cirque du Soleil Beatles show "Love" which was amazing, and an unexpected turn to the trip! No time for a sketch unfortunately.

From the city of lights and glitz and phony, we went to the other extreme of camping at the grand canyon. it was really cold and we weren't prepared for it, but it was fun anyway. The grand canyon is so incredible. I've been once before but it still blew me away. Here's a quick sketch from our hike around the southern rim:


we also hiked down into it the next day which was really cool.

Then it was on to New Mexico - I've been wanting to come to NM for years. I am still working on these sketches so I'll post those a bit later.

Then we went to Austin, Texas and stayed with some friends of my parents'. But, my parents surprised us by opening the door when we arrived! So that was another unexpected turn to the trip! we enjoyed lots of days and nights eating and drinking and finding great live music with them. It's been fantastic! Andy made some great music contacts and i did no sketches :-(

But now we're in New Orleans where we are staying for 3 weeks to see the jazz festival and for Andy to get his fill of New O music. I'll hopefully have a bit more time to complete sketches and do other posts from here. It's funny, New Orleans has always been our end destination of this road trip and we've been super excited to get here, but now it's almost a bit sad because it means our road trip is over. 4300 miles, 6 states... mountain passes, snow, desert, forests, rivers, lakes, cities, country towns, truck stops, and even a cop chase texas-style!... we've seen a lot of this amazing country. i want to keep going! I've been gone almost 6 weeks already and I can't believe it. Time is flying...

xx

*it should now work to click on thumbnails for a closer view

Goodbye Oregon, Hello California

well we had a great time with my parents on the Oregon coast celebrating their anniversary, but the next day it was rainy and grey, so we headed south to the sunny climes of california, landing in the brilliant San Francisco on Sunday. We both love it here. We pretend we live here. Well, as Andy said, we DO live here, for the next few nights anyway.

Unfortunately we've both gotten a bit sick, but not enough to keep us down. we've still been walking the city from the Wharf to Chinatown, the Marketplace to Coit tower, up and down Haight Street. Once we're better we'll get out at night a bit more. it's been beautiful and sunny but a bit chilly when the sun goes down. we want to get bikes and ride over the Golden Gate bridge!

this country is completely wired with wi-fi ("wiffy" as we call it) which has not really hit its peak in Australia yet. So we got an adapter and now we are wired too!! In fact I'm posting this from a cafe in the funky-artsy and unpretentious mission district. I really like it here. Visited Little Otsu where I bought my diary over the internet a few months ago, and totally fell in love with this art supply store to end all art supply stores called Flax. Not only did it have every art material you could ever dream of, but a small gallery, studio furniture, a framing centre, canvas stretching, and an entire room with the most beautiful printed paper. I could have spent hours there but I could see Andy's eyes slowly glazing over...

We've fallen in love with SF. It is very much like Melbourne, except x 10! It's going to be hard to leave, but new adventures and a long road beckon.

but for now here is a SF sketch (with collaged street map):

more soon, I'm sure!! xx