Tears goodbye & hello!

Our last morning with our friend and tour leader Audrey. After a sad farewell breakfast and final photos in the bright Californian sun, we were introduced to our new tour leader Mark van Etten, who came highly recommended! Poor Mark had to allow us a generous amount of time to exchange goodbyes and write notes in diaries, before we eventually waved a teary goodbye to our favourite cheerleader and set off on the second half of our American adventure.

Big Sir!

Mark van Etten, our second tour leader, had big shoes to fill following Audrey's departure but at over 6ft, with sparkling blue eyes & blond locks (calm down girls, he's happily married!) he filled them generously, with good humour and considerable patience!!

On that first day, he took us on a long drive up the beautiful west coast where we stopped off for a spot of jade hunting, seal watching and Danish ice-cream tasting in the bizarre little Danish town of Solvang - a special request from our resident Wiking!

Having camped in many 'purpose built' sites, we were pleasantly surprised by our first night's camp in the heart of the Big Sur, surrounded by amazing redwoods and overlooking a clear bubbling stream.