As I type this I'm sitting in the bar of Mammoth Mountain hotel surrounded by posh people wearing black ties and dinner dresses, while I'm sporting black jeans and a Lemon Jelly T-shirt. A nice bright red.

Bryce canyon was beautiful, one of the highlights of the trip so far. The natural beauty of the late afternoon light through the rocks was breathtaking and if you ever get the chance to go snap it up. The Grand canyon was big, but in this case big does not mean beautiful - perhaps I would have a different opinion if I had been able to visit the floor of the Grand canyon, but as it is Bryce canyon wins hands down.

If you don't believe me, go and do a Flickr search for Bryce canyon.

Las Vegas was neither as exciting, nor as seedy as I expected it to be. It reminded me more of a sunny and dry Blackpool rather than the 'Sin City' it promises to be.

In my wallet I have the proof of the only money I've ever won gambling - 25 cents on a $1 stake. I've decided not to cash it in, but to frame it and count myself ahead of the game for the rest of my life.

What was astounding was the Cirque du Soleil show 'Ká'; I was bowled over from the moment that I walked into the theatre fascinated by the steampunk style gangways all the way to the explosive finalé. If you ever have a chance to see this show it is well worth spending money on the best seats in the house.

And now I find myself relaxing after a 12 hour drive on the coach listening to the tour guide wax lyrical on the strata of the rocks in the areas we were driving through (although it would be truer to say that I was avoiding listening to him by the blessed release of my iPod).

Tomorrow - Pismo beach. And yet another chance to get out of bed at six am...