Another early start - this time to leave Vegas and head north for different kinds of adventures. We met the others and set out along the strip towards the highway. Vegas really is just a giant oversized themepark. Mind you, the planes fly in really low over the road, which is pretty exciting!

We headed to Death Valley - Dad was beside himself with excitement, and Hannah just wanted to see if it really is as hot as Grumpy had promised. We hit a small town (the most depressing place on the planet according to Hannah) and filled up with gas and vital supplies. Hannah took over the driving of their car, while we maintained the status quo in ours - me driving (with no feet and just half a hand) and Grumpy navigating.

It wasn't long before we reached the start of the Death Valley State Park. Having paid the fee, we drove timidly in, stopping at Zabriskie Point (Dad was almost jumping around with excitement). The temperature agreed with Hannah, who declared instantly that she would like to live there. We gasped in awe at the amazing scenery, before jumping back into the air-con armchairs and heading further into the park.

We visited the Visitors' Centre and mooched around various pictures and exhibits that related to this barren and life-threatening place. It was a mere 38ish degrees c, yet the Visitors' Centre did not sell any kind of ice lolly, which I thought was rather odd (I suggested it in their visitors' book though!). The guy who promised me his Aston Martin convertible on the way in had mysteriously disapppeared when we came back out, blinking in the blinding sun.

Yet more miles driven, we stopped for lunch. While in the queue an American guy turned to Grumpy and I and told us that God had taken 40 million years to build this place (or something - I pretty much switch off at comments like that. I have to admit to biting my tongue and not asking which God he was actually referring to).

Mum took over the driving as we headed to the Mosaic Canyon. Unfortunately for mum, she got to do about 20 yards on tarmac before we went off road on a gravel path 2 miles up into the hills. We girlies stayed in the car whilst G and dad headed into the canyon. Apparently the photos are incredible, but I haven't seen them yet.

Hannah took over the driving again and it was on and out of the park for a fairly long drive to our next stop. Not that it was any old drive - it had to be seen to be believed. Reaching heights of 9000 feet above sea level the road twists and turns up and over the mountains as well as around them. The views are like nothing on earth - even mum was awestruck. Once out of the park we were onto normal highway, and the twists and turns disappeared as we made steady progress.

G and I were staying in Bishop - a small mountain town on the way to Yosemite. The highway runs through it. Our hotel was built on Bishop Creek (it actually ran through it). The others carried on for another 45 mins to Mammoth Lakes.

We dumped our bags and headed out to a highly recommended restaurant, aptly named Whiskey Creek. This restaurant is a gem. Weary urchins that we were, they were friendly and courteous, and didn't even mind when I decided to ignore their menu and ask for a Clairy special instead. (It isn't always easy being veggie, especially when you can't eat tomatoes. I have been known to order "the chicken pasta without chicken" before now. At least the components of the Clairy special (tuna steak, mashed potatoes and green beans) were evident on the menu, all be it with sesame seeds and wasabi and soy.) G just had yet another burger. That was 2 in one day.

The food was heavenly. If I'm ever in a position to choose my last meal, that will definitely be it. For the first time on this trip I cleared my plate. I wasn't quite expecting the creme brulee to be so enormous - it was about a pint of creamy vanilla bean custard with a crispy sugar crust. Yummy. I enlisted G's help but even a team effort couldn't finish the pudding.

We had another early start so it was back to the hotel to repack suitcases and hit the sack. Absolutely shattered I slept solidly until the noisy yanks in the room next to us decided to sing the praises of their tour company. Fair enough, but who needs to know that at 5.45 in the morning???!!!! Grrrrrrrr!!!! As if all these early starts weren't bad enough!!!