Jerry’s blog
ITINERARY
AMERICA 2011
KEEP TRACK OF JERRY - in left column
Each destination : links (in red) for more
Jerry writes on the ‘Jerry’s News’ page. Extracts placed in ‘Report’ pages.
Report for each city
LATEST NEWS placed here
and more
ITINERARY AMERICA 2011
October 20 - 21, 2011
NEW YORK REPORT click for more
October 22 - 23, 2011
WASHINGTON REPORT click for more
October 24 - 25, 2011
CHICAGO REPORT click for more
October 27 - 28, 2011
DENVER REPORT click for more
October 28, 2011
GRAND JUNCTION click for more
October 29, 2011
DURANGO click for more
October 30 - 31 to Nov 1 2011
FLAGSTAFF click for more
November 1 - 2, 2011
LOS ANGELES click for more
November 3 - 4 - 5, 2011
SAN FRANCISCO click for more
November 5, 2011
San Francisco - London - Dublin
November 6, 2011
Return to Dublin
then arranged on appropriate ‘Report Pages’
30th October 2010, Flagstaff, Arizona
Another beautiful day!
We left Durango and headed for the Navajo and Hopi lands. The trip was a long tiring one, but well worthwhile.
First we went to Four Corners, named because four states meet at one point. The states of Colorado, Arizona, Utah and New Mexico all have a common border at this point.
You can also buy some genuine Navajo jewellery and sand paintings from the Native American artists. Some superb turquoise at very reasonable prices.
We took lunch in Gouldings trading post and then spent some time in Monument Valley. What an awe inspiring place it is!
The Buttes are fantastic and it’s only when you see them up close you realise their importance. I’ve seen them in lots of films and John Ford spent a huge amount of time in the area, filming the John Wayne movies, Red River, The Searchers etc, but being here and seeing them close up is something else.
A long day, about 10 hours on the coach but well worth it! We’re off to see the Grand Canyon tomorrow and I hope to be able to do a little hiking there. Report to come!
Jerry (posted 6am, Oct 31 English time)
28th October 2010 Grand Junction, Colorado
Arrived into Grand Junction, after a 9 hour train journey through the most unbelievable countryside I’ve ever seen. We left a snow covered Denver and started to climb into the foothills of The Rockies.
It was a fantastic sight looking back to Denver as the train slowly climbed to 9,000 feet plus. We went through 29 tunnels culminating in The Moffat Tunnel which is 6 miles long, the longest tunnel I’ve ever been in.
After we crossed the continental divide and lost the snow, we descended to pick up the Colorado River and followed its course all the way to Glenwood Springs and Aspen the ski capital of the US. You’ll see from the pics accompanying this how spectacular the countryside is.
Eventually we arrived into Grand Junction which gets its name from the junction of the Colorado and Platte rivers. It’s a city of about 150,000 people and is very ‘spread out’ as it were.
Ate in the hotel, which was nice and there was some very nice ‘live’ music from two local musicians on guitar and vocals and ‘blues harp’.
An early night, for an early start for the coach journey to Durango, about which I’ll blog about tomorrow!
Jerry
27th October 2011
on the California Zephyr heading for Grand Junction
Well I’m back on the California Zephyr and this time heading through the Rockies for Grand Junction.
We spent a lovely afternoon in the city of Denver, including a visit to the State Capital and to the home of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, the woman who survived the Titanic disaster.
I was picked up from the hotel in the evening by one of the Celtic Connections people and brought to Eron Johnson’s Antique Warehouse, where they have a delightful set-up with a great wooden floor for dancing and a stage set up for the musicians.
Initially the dancers were a little thin on the ground but we managed to dance the Seit Doire Cholmcille with a full set. There was a fine crew of musicians, three fiddles, an accordion, bodhrán and bouzouki and guitar.
The guitarist Richard, was a fine singer and obliged us with a couple of songs, including the translation of English Bruach Na Carriage Báine.
The bouzouki player also sang Ellis Island the emigration song. I contributed a couple myself and when we finally wound the session up some of headed for a middle eastern restaurant for something to eat. A most enjoyable experience, with really nice people.
I’m really looking forward to this train trip, as it’s supposed to be really spectacular scenery including a 6 mile tunnel in The Rockie Mountains. We’ll talk about the impressions in the next Blog!
Jerry
27 October 2011
DENVER - COLERADO
Denver Snow Scene One 27th October 2011
Denver Snow Scene Two 27th October 2011
23rd October Evening (English time)
Apologies for a sudden halt to the proceedings. Last evening about 7.15pm (English time!) there was an almighty storm with lightening that caused a power failure. This lasted 18 hours ie until the following afternoon. I have put up the latest images and will try to catch up quickly.
There is a further hiccup - the ‘Jerry’s News Page’ is blank and I don't know why! I am in consultation to resolve this - and I have asked Jerry to send his blogs by email until we fix the problem.
Sam
extra
28th October 2010 Grand Junction, Colorado
Arrived into Grand Junction, after a 9 hour train journey through the most unbelievable countryside I’ve ever seen. We left a snow covered Denver and started to climb into the foothills of The Rockies.
It was a fantastic sight looking back to Denver as the train slowly climbed to 9,000 feet plus. We went through 29 tunnels culminating in The Moffat Tunnel which is 6 miles long, the longest tunnel I’ve ever been in.
After we crossed the continental divide and lost the snow, we descended to pick up the Colorado River and followed its course all the way to Glenwood Springs and Aspen the ski capital of the US. You’ll see from the pics accompanying this how spectacular the countryside is.
Eventually we arrived into Grand Junction which gets its name from the junction of the Colorado and Platte rivers. It’s a city of about 150,000 people and is very ‘spread out’ as it were.
Ate in the hotel, which was nice and there was some very nice ‘live’ music from two local musicians on guitar and vocals and ‘blues harp’.
An early night, for an early start for the coach journey to Durango, about which I’ll blog about tomorrow!
Jerry
Folk Leads Publications 2008