Having tested the Lizzybus on a 1:10 hill for about 15 miles and no ill effects we head off for the great unknown. Destination Yellowstone and Teton National Parks .Bush camping has become the order of the day , except in the Parks where a fee of $20 is the norm .Teton , with its towering peaks is awe inspiring but , I am sorry to say , “Old Faithful” , impressive as she/he may be didn’t .Too quite , one expected noise and ground shaking theatrics , but none occurred . Occasional Lizzybus would send the needle towards the red . Has the dreaded overheating returned ? Only time will tell .Onwards and upwards to Seattle and a couple of days with Brendan and Gill , a family looking to overland and looking for our input . Comfortable bed , good company and late nights quaffing beer bode well . Our visa time is running low so pressing on to the Canadian border is our priority .We have 6 month visas and have used 5 of them .Expending $290 we hope to get extensions , but despite a 2 week wait we have had no reply .Entry into Canada should “stop the clock” and give us more time in Alaska.

Having prevaricated for a whole week , we departed North on the Monday for Monument Valley , Colorado ,Yellowstone and up to the border with Canada .That was our plan , visa time is running down and we would like to spend time in Alaska

As usual , the Lizzybus was singing from a different hymn sheet .In-fact she was singing the same tune that we had when we left for Flagstaff .Overheating at exactly the spots as the first journey .Not wishing to return to Mesa , again , we press on .Progress is slow as every hill has the needle racing to the red and us , easing the power off until she cools .Despite this we get to see Monument Valley ( $20 to get in and very touristy) we save the money and visit instead “Valley of the Gods“ .A stunning gravel road through some awesome natural features .The name , to be honest says it all .Mechanic Dave decides the fault lies with the Viscous fan .To effect a repair , copious amounts of JB weld are used to lock the fan up .Good idea . Logical thinking all come to nought when the “hard as steel” weld is sheared as soon as the engine starts .Declining offers of rafting in Bluff ,we seek out Great Basin Rovers in Salt Lake City .Their considered opinion is a blocked rad , so biting the bullet we order a new rad and coupling , to be air freighted to them and book the local motel for 3 nights .Things are starting to get expensive .

If you don’t own a Land Rover you will not understand what a find Bills place was .

Ever helpful , yard full of old landies we set about replacing fan and coupling .Expert advice on hand , parts and consumables as necessary .We even met up with Brit Overlanders Bill and Rosemarie , also on the same mission , sort out overheating and some general maintenance . As always ( at least with Land Rover Owners ) hospitality knew no bounds and a great Salmon Dinner and family meal provided for all present .Cheers guys ( and Gals)

After five years on the road how things have changed from Africa .Internet everywhere .Land Rover forums scoured and the problem could be as simple as a blocked expansion hose pressurizing the system .On checking , hose from thermostat is blocked .It still could be a damaged head / gasket so we decide to change the simple things first .New water pump ( I have a new spare) replaces one that now appears , on inspection OK . Then we find Rovah Farm (http://www.rovahfarm.com/ ) and Trevor , ex pat Brit who can supply 300 TDi parts promptly and almost at UK prices .Heaven , so to cover all eventualities new head gasket , pipe and a few seals are ordered and delivered in 2 days .To check the coolant condition for a gasket failure Jerry at Hedrick Auto ( friend of John Condon ) ran the tester on the coolant and could find no combustion contamination . Having drained the system down , changed the anti freeze refused to accept payment for the fluids and an hours worth of his labour , great guy ( he tried to refuse a 6 pack of beer , but common sense took over )

So with all anticipated parts on board , expansion hose and cap replaced we hope we have cured the problem .Only a good set of hills will tell .Monument Valley and the Rockies , here we come ( well after Memorial day )

Its true , you can have too much of a good time .Returning from Death Valley and with the Overland Expo beckoning in Flagstaff , we decided to stay back in Mesa at my parents .The site is empty as everyone has returned home .Mom and dad are back in Blighty so we have the run of the place .Days consist of training in the gym , swimming and of course , eating healthily . Oils changed in the lizzybus and our presentation documents for the expo completed our journey will continue.

We are ENGLISH , and as such ,we take our history for granted .We where in the Ghost Town of Cerro Gordo , where a retired teacher (Robert) is attempting to preserve the buildings for everyone .On his own , short of funds and with very little time. He is a font of knowledge about the mining and history of the region .So , go out there , visit this magnificent monument to your past , stump up a few $ for a tour and help save this important feature .As they say “ when its gone , its gone “

If you didnt know , the town of Baker in California , has the worlds largers thermometer .It also has a few gas stations and an expensive crap motel.We have agreed to meet Chuck , his family and other members of the Northern Calfornia Land Rover Club here before we venture into the bad lands of Death Valley .Not really realising what we had let ourselves into , the adventure has just begun .

So , Lizzybus and her new friends ( Disco's 2 , 3 and 4 ) spent 7 days in the bush .Visiting Ghost towns , old mine workings , sand dunes , deserts and abandoned homeseads .we've indulged in rock crawling ( in the Lizzybus) and plenty of off road action .At times we had to decline in taking part as the route was too extreme and we have 8000 more miles to go .All in all , we learnt a lot about the capabilities of the vehicle .We even broke down and had to be towed cross country for 5 miles.It was a thourougly brilliant time and are so glad we took part .So to Chuck and family ( Linda , Tyler and Myla) , Michael and Rupert , thanks for a great time , we loved every minute

Ok , here’s a fact .We love America .We love the country and the people BUT we do dislike some very rude and impolite drivers .To the driver of the nice Acura .The Lizzybus is an old and venerable lady who has driven around the world .We don’t think your Acura could do the same .To berate us for driving at 50 mph is a bit rich , its safer and we get better gas mileage .The fact that the speed limit is 55mph is exactly that , the MAXIMUM speed not the speed you must travel at .we always , wherever possible allow vehicles to overtake .If you will insist on driving up our chuff , you will get the “brake test” , we are sure that the Lizzybus will walk away without a scratch .So for you and other impolite and rude drivers we give you this picture …...

We made good time to salt Lake , despite the cold and the altitude .Two nights in a cheap hotel and a free organ recital in the Tabernacle .No coming of the Lord for the Lizzybus crew , but the city was pleasant enough .Off across the Salt Lake , via Bonneville and its land speed records .Unfortunately nothing to see of the great British conquest here .Back in to the den of iniquity that is Nevada and another convoluted route to Lake Tahoe , gambling and skiing all wrapped up around a stunning Lake.

We have a short period of time to make Baker and our reason for being in California .We have been asked to accompany the North California Land Rover Club and its seven day venture around Death Valley .It is with trepidation that we have agreed to play in the desert with them. But until then we have the delights of San Francisco and PCH1 along the spectacular Pacific Coast

We had blitzed Florida , all theme parked out the time just marched on .Then its a case of packing up for Jenny and Richard and a flight home to Blighty for them , and a cold reminder of home . It was a great time despite the burglary , for us , the fact we had backed up to Columbia in pictures made the loss of all our Central American pictures a bit more bearable . We would have had the house to ourselves but , as the weather here is warmer we had company of two other Over Landers , both in right hand drive Land Rovers .A rare site in this part of the world , almost a Defender convention .Alas , even for us , the party had to stop .Parents in Arizona needed a visitation from the Lizzybus crew and we had 2500 miles to go and it was an ideal opportunity to spend a day at Safari Heritage , Orlando and free use of their facilities as we prepared our beast of burden for the long road ahead .Brakes , oil seals etc. are checked and changed in the dry of their large garage .Between them and Prestige European in Ft Lauderdale it laid bare the myth ( and fear) that we wouldn’t be able to get a Defender 300TDi repaired in the USA. Time to put the pedal to the metal and head for New Orleans and Mardi Gras .

As Border crossings go , Larado was quite easy .Everyone is fascinated by a Right hand drive Defender that has been around the world .We secure ( $12) our I 94 , a quick search and we are in .No paperwork to do on the car .TEXAS here we come .Within 15 minutes , we have handed out 20 business cards and secured an invite to stay at a Ranch ! This is true hospitality and a foretaste of what is going to happen on this leg of the journey .We do , however have to head across to Florida and see family , so to all those who have invited us , we will be returning shortly.