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Summer 2019 American Road Trip

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Great American Road Trip

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Seven diverse families journey across the U.S. and compete in a series of humorous challenges set against various American landmarks, such as the Grand Canyon, the Washington Monument and the Gateway Arch. The excursion includes visits to offbeat destinations, including what is allegedly the world's largest bottle of ketchup.

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Keith coote, jennifer coote, latest news see all, tonight's tv hot list: tuesday, july 7, 2009.

10 Things I Hate About You8 pm/ET ABC Family This new teen comedy is based on the 1999 film of the same name (which was already an adapted work, loosely based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew). Larry Miller is back as overprotective dad Walter Stratford, and he's surrounded by a new crop of kids, including Ethan Peck (grandson of Gregory Peck), who takes on the role of Patrick (played by Heath Ledger in the film). In the opener, Walter's two very different daughters — feminist Kat and social climber Bianca — begin life at a new high school.Read on for previews of Great American Road Trip, Warehouse 13, Saving Grace, That's Impossible and the Michael Jackson Memorial.

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Summer 2019

Preparing for the Long Trip - Summer 2019 Episode 0

The Sunshine State - Summer 2019 Episode 1

Driving to the West - Summer 2019 Episode 2

Houston, Texas - Summer 2019 Episode 3

An Afternoon in San Antonio - Summer 2019 Episode 4

Exploring Austin, Texas - Summer 2019 Episode 5

New Braunfels to San Antonio - Summer 2019 Episode 6

The Rest of San Antonio and the Rally - Summer 2019 Episode 7

Hiking to Mexico at Seminole Canyon State Park - Summer 2019 Episode 8

New Mexico: Caverns and UFOs - Summer 2019 Episode 9

Exploring Taos, New Mexico - Summer 2019 Episode 10

High in the Rockies - Summer 2019 Episode 11

Valley of the Gods, Utah - Summer 2019 Episode 12

Grand Canyon National Park: North Rim - Summer 2019 Episode 13

Revisiting Las Vegas - Summer 2019 Episode 14

Southern California: VidCon, Long Beach, Disneyland - Summer 2019 Episode 15

Day Trip to San Diego: The Wall, Old Town, and Cabrillo - Summer 2019 Episode 16

Sierra Nevada: Mt. Whitney, Alabama Hills and Manzanar - Summer 2019 Episode 17

Amazing Hikes near Bishop, California - Summer 2019 Episode 18

Yosemite National Park - Summer 2019 Episode 19

The Pitfalls of RV Life, Tuolumne Meadows and the Road to Lake Tahoe - Summer 2019 Episode 20

Drive Around Lake Tahoe and Nevada's Capitol - Summer 2019 Episode 21

California's North Coast - Summer 2019 Episode 22

California Redwoods - Summer 2019 Episode 23

The Oregon Coast - Summer 2019 Episode 24

Washington's Olympic Peninsula - Summer 2019 Episode 25

Day Trip to Victoria, BC - Summer 2019 Episode 26

Seattle, Washington - Summer 2019 Episode 27

Short trip to Vancouver - Summer 2019 Episode 28

Mount Saint Helens and the Columbia River Gorge - Summer 2019 Episode 29

Exploring Southern Idaho - Summer 2019 Episode 30

Grand Teton National Park - Summer 2019 Episode 31

Yellowstone National Park - Summer 2019 Episode 32

Driving to the East: Beartooth Highway, Devils Tower, Mount Rushmore and the Badlands Summer 2019 33

Nebraska - Summer 2019 Episode 34

Iowa: The Bridges of Madison County and the State Capitol - Summer 2019 Episode 35

Minneapolis / St Paul, and the Big Hurricane Detour - Summer 2019 Episode 36

Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Summer 2019 Episode 37

Michigan Part 1: The Upper Peninsula - Summer 2019 Episode 38.1

Michigan Part 2: Mackinac Island - Summer 2019 Episode 38.2

Michigan Part 3: The Lower Peninsula - Summer 2019 Episode 38.3

Ohio: Put-In-Bay and the Columbus Meetup - Summer 2019 Episode 39

Historic Pennsylvania and Virginia - Summer 2019 Episode 40.1

Appalachia: The Voyage Home Part 2 - Summer 2019 Episode 40.2

The Blue Ridge Parkway and Tallulah Gorge - Summer 2019 Episode 40.3

The Voyage Home Part 4: Back in Florida - Summer 2019 Episode 40.4

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Hi! I'm Robert Morales, aka Traveling Robert. Join us as we embark on new adventures every week, traveling from city to city, exploring popular destinations to hidden gems. In the process you will learn tips and tricks of safer RV'ing, solar energy options and much more. Thank you and see you on the road!

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Watch Summer 2019 American Road Trip

Traveling Robert, a popular YouTube travel vlogger, takes on a new adventure in his latest show, Summer 2019 American Road Trip. In this series, Robert Morales embarks on a cross-country journey across the United States, visiting some of the most iconic landmarks and hidden gems along the way. From the bustling cities to the serene countryside, this road trip offers a glimpse into the diversity and beauty of America.

Throughout the show, viewers get an intimate look at the experiences and challenges that come with traveling by road. From the exhilaration of driving at top speeds on the open highway to the annoyance of being stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic, Robert doesn't shy away from showing the highs and lows of life on the road. Along the way, he interacts with locals, fellow travelers, and explores the various cultures and lifestyles found throughout the country.

Robert's journey takes him through a myriad of states, including New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Utah, Nevada, California, and Arizona. Each stop on the itinerary is carefully curated to provide the ultimate American road trip experience. He documents his travels and adventures on his YouTube channel, which includes stunning footage, captivating storytelling, and insightful commentary about each location.

The show is filmed using high-quality cameras and equipment, providing a breathtaking visual experience for viewers. From the towering skyscrapers in New York City to the breathtaking landscapes of the West, Robert captures the beauty and essence of each destination. His vlogging style is easy-going and informative, making the show accessible to all types of audiences, from travel enthusiasts to armchair travelers.

Summer 2019 American Road Trip also features a variety of travel tips and tricks for those planning their own road trips. Robert shares his expertise on everything from packing essentials to finding the best gas stations and rest stops. He also provides valuable advice on how to make the most of a road trip, such as pacing yourself, staying safe, and keeping an open mind.

Overall, Summer 2019 American Road Trip from Traveling Robert is a must-watch show for anyone who loves travel, adventure, and discovering new places. Through Robert's eyes, viewers can experience the wonder of the American road trip and all the unforgettable moments that come with it. So buckle up, sit back, and enjoy the ride!

Summer 2019 American Road Trip is a series that is currently running and has 1 seasons (39 episodes). The series first aired on September 29, 2019.

• Cast Robert Morales
• Channel Traveling Robert
• Premiere Date September 29, 2019

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Guy's All-American Road Trip

Guy's all-american road trip episodes, kickin' off the food and fun.

The Fieris and a caravan of their family and friends, including Chef Antonia Lofaso, are takin' their RVs from South Dakota to Wyoming on an epic culinary journey filled with big adventure, culinary competitions and amazing local meals. On this leg of the trip, they enjoy indigenous feast, dive into real deal ramen and serve a mouthwatering barbecue lunch for the troops. Plus, there's competitive fly fishing, a trip to Mount Rushmore, a dude ranch hoedown and a next-level camp cook featuring grass fed buffalo.

Father's Day Feasts and Camp Side Competitions

The Fieri caravan continues their trek through the American West with next-level burgers and hot dogs at a polo match, a Father's Day steak dinner and homemade desserts at the campground, and a trip to a freeze-dried food factory that turns into an epic cooking battle. Plus, there's an archery contest and a visit with local craftsmen making bits, spurs and saddles.

Camp Cook-Offs and Chuckwagons

On their epic trek through the American West, Guy Fieri and his family sample Wyoming-style pizza and made-to-order chuckwagon steaks. Then, a trip to a next-level sausage factory becomes a campground cooking showdown. Plus, there's a trip to the Buffalo Bill Center of the West and a country-style buffet featuring all-you-can eat chicken and smoked beef brisket.

Food Trucks, Friends and Carnival Fun

On the final leg of their road trip through the America West, the Fieris check out food-truck pizza and ice cream, and a camp breakfast becomes a cooking battle to see who makes the best sweet and savory dishes. Plus, there's a survival contest and a campground carnival featuring Lebanese and Mediterranean food.

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'Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip' on Fox — everything you need to know

Gordon, Gino and Fred are back on the road again — and this time they're discovering North America

Following the huge success of his European adventures, Gordon Ramsay is back, and this time his mammoth new RV "Betty the Beast" will be hitting the highways to travel from Mexico to Texas for his most outrageous road trip yet.

It's Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip — and this is everything you need to know about the foodie show.

How to watch Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip

Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip is available in the U.S. on Fox, at 8 p.m. Eastern time starting Tuesday, Jan. 5.

After that you'll be able to watch it on Fox on demand.

The one-night special will see the tight-knit trio taking in the sights and culinary delights of Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Texas and Tijuana.

Fox is available on most every major streaming service in the United States. (With the exception of Sling TV, which only has Fox in select markets.)

Our recommendation is to check out FuboTV . In addition to local Fox networks, FuboTV has a competitive list of channels, as well as premium add-ons. And it's even better if you're a sports fan, with options for international events that you can't find anywhere else.

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FuboTV starts at $59.99 a month the most basic package of 95 channels, and you can build things up from there.

How to watch Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip from anywhere in the world

If you're not in your usual Fox viewing market and still want to watch Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip, a VPN might be just the thing that keeps the food juices flowing.

A VPN allows your network traffic to flow through a specific set of servers in a specific country. So if you want to watch Fox in the U.S., you can watch Fox in the U.S.

The only catch is you need to be able to trust your VPN provider, because all of your network traffic — encrypted and unencrypted alike — will be flowing through it. For that, we've long been fans of ExpressVPN .

ExpressVPN is one of the easiest and affordable ways to watch what you want from anywhere you want to watch it. Plus it'll help keep your network traffic away from any prying eyes on public networks.

And it's a great way to watch all the Gordon Ramsay you want —  from anywhere in the world.

Who stars in Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip?

No-nonsense Gordon is joined by fellow celebrity chefs Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix, both of whom are familiar faces on British TV.

Gino is a renowned (and hilarious) Italian celebrity chef, who rose to fame as a regular chef on daytime TV show This Morning in the UK and is also a panelist on Keith Lemon's show Celebrity Juice . 

As well as cooking up a storm on TV, Gino also has a hugely successful line of cookbooks in the UK.

Fred is a famous French Maitre d'hotel and has appeared on shows like Channel 4's First Dates and BBC Two's Million Pound Menu.

What happens in Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip?

Along the way the trio’s antics will include wallet-busting burgers, dune buggy racing, goat yoga, spear fishing, cowboy capers and wild wrestling — not to mention an array of interesting ingredients, including tequila in a salad! 

What could possibly go wrong?

As always there is plenty of hilarious banter, bickering and ego-bashing thrown in for good measure. 

With Gino and Fred both loyal to their European roots, will Gordon be able to convince the culinary experts that food in the US lives up to its reputation for being bigger and better than anywhere else in the world?

While the trio might try to outdo one another as they sample the local delicacies and fight to be crowned the next king of the kitchen, they all have one thing in common — a shared passion for good food.

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 

After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off . 

She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 

As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book. 

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Stream It Or Skip It: ‘Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip’ On Fox, A Special Where The Chef And Two Worldly Buddies Explore American Cuisine

Where to stream:.

• Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip
• gordon ramsay

Lisa Vanderpump Says Working With Gordon Ramsay On 'Food Stars' Involved "Handling Him” And "Getting Him To Settle Down And Shut The F*** Up Sometimes"

Gordon ramsay has nsfw reaction to andy cohen suggesting he "hook up" with lisa vanderpump: "i've never f***ed a 60-year-old", whoopi goldberg shuts down rumors she was on the epstein list on 'the view': "i have nothing to hide", 'no taste like home with antoni porowski' will see the 'queer eye' star serving food history on nat geo.

Gordon Ramsay ‘s American Road Trip is actually an edited version of the 2nd season of  Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip , a series that aired on ITV in Britain and is on the UK version of BritBox. That’s important to note, because it means this wasn’t just a random road trip for Ramsay and his buddies Gino D’Acampo and Fred Sirieix, it was a well-planned season of a food and travel show. But, by taking a four-episode, 3-plus-hour season and whittling it down to 82 minutes (without ads), does the show still make sense?

GORDON RAMSAY’S AMERICAN ROAD TRIP : STREAM IT OR SKIP IT?

The Gist: Gordon Ramsay, whose shows seemingly fill up half of Fox’s primetime schedule, took his two best friends, Italian chef Gino D’Acampo and French maître d’hôtel Fred Siriex, in a souped-up RV on a road trip through the western United States and Tijuana.  Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip is the result.

Actually, as mentioned above, this is an edited-down version of the second season of the ITV series Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip , where the trio took the RV, nicknamed “Betty,” on the road from Tijuana to Las Vegas and Arizona, back to Los Angeles, up to San Francisco, and then back down and over to Texas. Along the way, the friends do different American things, like work on a dude ranch, race buggies on a track (where Gino somehow crashes into Betty, inexplicably parked near the track), go fishing, and try their hand at real Texas barbecue for a crowd or rodeo workers.

But, the special — edited in a way so that they start in Las Vegas, go to AZ, then LA, then SF,  then Mexico and Texas — also shows the years-long friendship between Ramsay, D’Acampo and Siriex. They make silly bets with each other; at Gordon’s LA mansion, Fred and Gino bet Gordon that the burger that Gordon’s mom likes better will have to dive into Gordon’s pool buck naked. They bust each others’ balls, as Gordon scares Gino with the stuffed deead animals adorning the cabin they stayed in after fishing.

They also discover the west via various cuisines, like when they race to make fortune cookies in San Fran’s Chinatown, or when they go to Snow’s BBQ in Texas to talk to pitmaster Tootsie Tomanetz .

What Specials Will It Remind You Of?: A goofier version of Ramsay’s other travel series, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted.

Performance Worth Watching: Gino D’Acampo readily admits he’s not the manliest alpha male around, but it’s fun watching him get scared in a helicopter over the Grand Canyon or duck into the gondola of a hot air balloon over Napa.

Memorable Dialogue: After Gino tries to wedge the RV down Lombard Street in SF, he tells Gordon he could have made it. “Just because you’re the king of the kitchen, doesn’t mean you’re the king of the street.”

Sex and Skin: Besides seeing these three middle-aged men skinny dipping in Texas, or Gino wearing assless chaps (appropriately blurred out for American network television), there’s nothing.

Our Take: The disjointedness of  Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip made me wonder if this wasn’t intended to be a special, and my suspicion was confirmed when I found that it was the second season of  Gordon, Gino’s and Fred’s Road Trip. That season was only four 45-50 minute episodes, but that also means that more than half of the trip was sliced out to accommodate the 85-minute (without commercials) running time for Fox. The rejiggering of the order, as well as the seeming incompleteness of the trip, makes the special tough to watch.

There’s also the fact that, like in  Uncharted , Ramsay uses his locales and the people in it more as a backdrop for his cooking and the shenanigans of him and his buddies than as a deep exploration of the people and culture of a region, and how it’s communicated through its food. Not that it’s a bad thing; not everyone needs to be the late Anthony Bourdain or, as Taste The Nation showed, Padma Lakshmi. But there are points during the special where they come off as Ugly Europeans, picking off the most stereotypical of American experiences but not digging any deeper.

Because of his experience in the States, Ramsay seems to be more interested in the deeper American culture than his buddies, no matter what they say about always wanting to be cowboys or some such. It’s a bit jarring, but a lot of that may be hyped up for the cameras.

What we liked the most about the special was the friendship between Gordon, Gino and Fred. Yes, it’s pretty immature at times, given the fact that all of these men are well into their 40s and 50s. But they also keep each other in check, and any program that shows Ramsay on a human level instead of a mouth yelling curses, which seems to be how Fox wants him to look, is a bonus. But there’s too much about this special that made us cringe.

Our Call: SKIP IT. If you can get hold of  Gordon, Gino & Fred’s Road Trip , watch that instead of the Frankensteined version of it.  Gordon Ramsay’s American Road Trip doesn’t say enough about Ramsay, his buddies or America to be worth your time.

Should you stream or skip #GordonsRoadTrip on @FOXTV ? #SIOSI — Decider (@decider) January 6, 2021

Joel Keller ( @joelkeller ) writes about food, entertainment, parenting and tech, but he doesn’t kid himself: he’s a TV junkie. His writing has appeared in the New York Times, Slate, Salon, RollingStone.com, VanityFair.com, Fast Company and elsewhere.

Stream  Gordon Ramsay's American Road Trip On Fox.com

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How to do the great American road trip: Arizona

In this exclusive series, simon veness and susan veness share diaries of their travels by rv as they take on the ultimate us adventure. for part seven, they roll through northern arizona on route 66, stopping off at the grand canyon and visiting monument valley’s tribal heartland, article bookmarked.

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“By the way, don’t let your dog out of the vehicle in Oatman,” advised the tourist information assistant at the Kingman visitor centre. “The wild burros will bite its head and rip its scalp off.”

Dog-eating donkeys were probably about the last hazard we could imagine on Route 66 , but we took the warning at face value as we set out on the original 1926 road from Kingman to Oatman, a section dubbed the Arizona Sidewinder for its 191 turns – and no guardrails – in one eight-mile stretch through the volcanic jumble of the Black mountains.

As it turned out, the advice was well judged. As the descendants of the pack-carrying animals of the miners from the 1915 gold rush, the burros of Oatman were free to wander and scavenge throughout this Wild West mining town, frequently nudging visitors for the hay-pellet treats sold in many shops. Apparently, to the donkey’s eye, a dog equated to a coyote that needed to be attacked on sight.

Our Ruthie was therefore happy to watch from the back seat as we went out to explore the ramshackle collection of original buildings and tourist traps that lined the only viable street, which featured the 1902 Oatman Hotel with its “haunted” saloon, and twice-daily cowboy shootouts.

We had arrived in Arizona determined to slow the pace of our first five months, which had seen us cover 6,403 miles in our RV. With seven months still to go, we were in danger of over-stressing both ourselves and our wonderful Winnebago, Indefatigable (or Fati for short), as well as our faithful tow car, Nippy.

• Read part one of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part two of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part three of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part four of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part five of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part six of Diaries from the Road here

Opting to split Arizona in two, we would tackle the northern half – for the Grand Canyon , Route 66 , Monument Valley and Meteor Crater – from an RV base in Kingman, and the lower half from Lake Havasu City, Mesa, Tucson and Willcox, for Lake Havasu, Phoenix, Sedona, Saguaro National Park and Chiricahua National Monument.

At Kingman, we discovered Blake Ranch RV Park and Horse Motel , a true original in mixing the ranch world of yesteryear with the modern road trippers of today, as well as the ideal base from which to launch forays in Nippy. We had already decided Fati was not suited to the high mountain sierras around the Grand Canyon and Monument Valley , and the rough road surface along I-40 backed up our decision.

Driving a 36-foot class-A motorhome along uneven roads is the equivalent to putting a house through an earthquake, and we’d soon learnt to detest highways that made the journey a gritted-teeth experience of excruciating proportions. I-40 quickly hit the top three in our “Hate List”.

Happily, it was much more manageable in Nippy, and it extended our touring range by several hundred miles. From Kingman, the Grand Canyon was a 173-mile drive and an easy day trip to take in the awe-inspiring views of its astonishing multi-layered, mile-deep profile, which extends for 277 miles and includes the dramatic Desert View Watchtower at its eastern edge.

It was another 160 miles to Monument Valley and required an overnight stay at the NavajoLand Hotel of Tuba City , which proved the ideal preparation for our journey into Navajo Nation, with its neighbouring museum and trading post, plus a chance to try Navajo frybread at next door’s Hogan Family Restaurant.

Monument Valley – or Tsé Bii’ Ndzisgaii , as it is known in the Navajo language – is very much the tribe’s heartland, a historic setting that became a native American park in 1958. Administered by a tribal council, it features an iconic landscape beloved of film-makers like John Ford and Sergio Leone, stretching for 92,000 acres of breathtaking red sandstone splendour.

It left us utterly bewitched by its sprawling collection of mesas, buttes, spires and arches, a ravishing panorama that positively glowed in the morning sun and evening twilight. The fact it is also sought out by Forrest Gump fans was another handy pop culture reference point, but the valley largely stands on its own merit, a red-hued colossus that is nature’s high art.

Suitably enriched, we headed to Winslow for another overnight stay before tackling our next landmark and discovered the utterly charming La Posada Hotel . The small high plains city is already immortalised in song by the Eagles’ 1972 classic Take It Easy, but its feature hotel was a treasure, too.

A lovingly restored 1930s Santa Fe Railway hotel, it has become a living period piece to grand hacienda style with all mod cons, like fine-dining restaurant The Turquoise Room, which served up delicious platefuls of contemporary southwest cuisine. It also had Khent Anantakai, a Navajo guitarist who played his brand of classical/ambient music for a small audience in the lounge each evening, to our total enchantment.

Next morning, we took the obligatory photos “standing on the corner of Winslow, Arizona,” which is an official town park and homage to sadly departed Eagle Glenn Frey, and headed to Meteor Crater and Barringer Space Museum to have our minds boggled by the sight of this massive 50,000-year-old indentation in the earth’s surface, 560 feet deep and roughly the size of 20 Wembleys. The visitor centre sits 150ft up on the lip of the crater, providing a grandstand view of the random power of the cosmos.

Returning to Kingman, we stopped off at the Route 66 town of Williams , another well-maintained period piece that sticks firmly to its 1926 roots and provides the gateway to the longest unbroken original stretch of the Mother Road, from nearby Ash Fork to Topock on the Colorado River, roughly 165 miles west, and including the wild switchback section from Kingman to Oatman and its dog-biting burros.

Reunited with Fati after our excursion in Nippy, we suffered another abysmal stretch of I-40 before branching south along state Route 95, soaking up more craggy desert vistas through the Mohave mountains, where our lofty cab viewpoint allowed us to enjoy the slow reveal of Lake Havasu between the 5,000ft peaks. We had calculated we could lay up for a few days and just enjoy the view, which, of course, included the 19th-century edifice of London Bridge, bought and transplanted wholesale in 1968 and now linking the mainland with the artificially created island at the south end of the emerald blue lake.

Here, the slick BeachComber Estates provided the perfect hideaway, a gracious mix of upscale mobile homes and RVs, complete with immaculate clubhouse boasting a pool, spa, laundry and bocce ball court. We happily crossed the bridge each day to explore the city and surrounding area, which included Cattail Cove State Park and Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge , where we encountered our first roadrunners, the bird of Wile E Coyote cartoon fame, and just as cute in real life (albeit no “meep meep” sounds).

With the temperature still pushing 39C in late October, we were also driven from our RV in search of cooler experiences, and hired a pontoon boat on the lake for a truly blissful few hours taking in the mountain-rimmed setting of this unusual city, where Ruthie was welcomed into the visitor center to cool down and finally found some grass under her paws in London Bridge Beach park after weeks of desert paths and gravel.

Outdoor dining at the eclectic Red Onion proved another pleasure – notably the Mexican-inspired huevos rancheros for breakfast – but the rest of Arizona was now calling, and we reluctantly departed the BeachComber for all points east.

Next: Arizona to New Mexico ...

How to do it

• Slow and steady are the key watchwords with an RV, from driving to setting up at a new camp. Top speed is usually 65mph when towing a car (and we typically sit around 60), while it can easily take an hour to set up and break down again at the end of each stay. Allowing plenty of time for each activity is vital
• Using a surge protector before you plug in to a park’s electric outlet is highly advisable, to avoid your onboard electrics suffering a damaging power surge. We use a Hughes Power Watchdog PWD50EPO

RV Factfile:

• Cruise America offers three RV rental centres in Arizona, including Mesa, which is convenient for Phoenix International Airport: www.cruiseamerica.com/rv-rental-locations/arizona
• To get off the beaten path in Monument Valley, you need to take a tour with a local Navajo guide: www.monumentvalleytribaltours.com . For Lake Havasu City accommodations, see www.golakehavasu.com

Read more: USA travel guide – everything you need to know before you go

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Sue Perkins experiences the modern phenomenon of #vanlife in the USA, as she campervans across California and Colorado to discover the highs and lows of life on the road. Sue Perkins experiences the modern phenomenon of #vanlife in the USA, as she campervans across California and Colorado to discover the highs and lows of life on the road. Sue Perkins experiences the modern phenomenon of #vanlife in the USA, as she campervans across California and Colorado to discover the highs and lows of life on the road.

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How to do the great American road trip: Nevada and Southern California

“You know the best thing about Nevada ? No mosquitoes!” The elderly assistant at the Mesquite Welcome Center was full of useful titbits as we exchanged experiences at this roadside rest stop.

His mosquito comment was offered after he learned we had driven all the way from Florida in our RV, a distance of 6,200 miles to date. Originally from the Sunshine State himself, he and his wife had settled in north-east Nevada and were thrilled at the lack of biting insects.

The absence of mosquitoes was definitely noticeable, but it wasn’t why we had taken I-15 south from Utah . This was our route to Nevada’s famous Sin City , but also a wealth of national parks and preserves.

It had started with a stunning landscape transformation through the challenging Virgin River Gorge across north-west Arizona . This 30-mile stretch of twisting, tortured highway featured a 1,500ft elevation drop and a series of switchbacks and bridges through limestone cliffs that loomed 1,000ft above our RV, Indefatigable (or Fati for short).

It was the most expensive highway ever built when completed in 1973, at a cost of $1.63 million per mile, after a 17-year construction process. Today it still provides a riveting 45-minute montage of geological wonders through the main gorge, emerging at the final bend into the dramatic Mojave Desert, complete with cactus, Joshua trees and tumbleweed.

• Read part one of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part two of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part three of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part four of Diaries from the Road here
• Read part five of Diaries from the Road here

Our minds were suitably boggled even before we reached Mesquite and its mosquito-less environment. We took a picnic lunch up to the Foothills Trailhead, affording a commanding view of the Virgin River Valley and convergence of three immense ecosystems – Utah’s Great Basin, the Colorado Plateau and the Mojave.

The classic desert panorama spread out to the southern horizon, a deceptively benign vista that was to be our constant companion for the next month. Utah had provided plenty of rugged, arid wilderness, but Nevada’s desert profile was on a different scale, an entire state composed of seemingly barren wasteland.

It’s easy to see why the Valley of Fire has been chosen by film crews looking for offworld backdrops

As we continued south on I-15, the impression of bleak emptiness was quickly dispelled, thanks to our commanding view from Fati ’s cab as, once again, our RV perspective proved invaluable.

Given the extra elevation, we could see definite signs of life amid the desolation. Different types of cactus afforded shelter and food to quail, lizards and jackrabbits, while the occasional coyote lurked with intent. There were also warnings to beware of rattlesnakes, scorpions and tarantulas, reminders of this other, more perilous, wildlife.

Anxious to avoid taking Fati into the city, we pulled into the Hitchin’ Post RV Park & Motel in North Las Vegas. It dated back to 1948 but there was nothing outmoded about its style or convenience, overlooking the famous Strip yet nicely insulated from the tourist frenzy. More importantly, it opened the door to the surrounding desert areas, where local accounts insisted the real treasure of Vegas could be found.

Sure enough, Valley of Fire State Park offered rich pickings, with 2,000-year-old petroglyphs left by the mysterious Anasazi people carved into the vivid red Aztec sandstone formations. The drive through the main valley – an official Nevada Scenic Byway – was utterly breathtaking; hiking the Elephant Rock Loop an exercise in close-quarters wonder.

It was easy to see why the valley had been chosen by a variety of film crews looking for offworld backdrops, notably for the planet Veridian III in 1994’s Star Trek: Generations and as Mars in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall .

The valley led on to Lake Mead National Recreation Area , a 1.5-million acre playground of hiking, biking and boating opportunities, all set amid a startling topography formed by billion-year-old volcanic upheavals that have been heavily eroded, leaving behind more alien planetscapes.

This image of Nevada as Hollywood’s sci-fi backyard was underlined further by Red Rock Canyon , where another compelling desertscape grabbed our attention with its jaw-dropping beauty. The 13-mile one-way drive provided multiple close-ups of more geological masterworks – scarlet sandstone and smooth grey Paleozoic limestone in contrasting bands, moulded into outlandish shapes and ravines.

For the next stage of our journey, we faced a conundrum. We wanted to see the sights of southern California, but the mileage looked prohibitive for Fati, especially with petrol at $6 a gallon in that state and an 80-gallon tank to fill. But we could manage much more in Nippy, our Ford Fiesta, so we set our sights on an RV camp in south-east Nevada from which we could reach Palm Springs, and all points in between, by car.

Don Laughlin’s Riverside Resort & RV Park was perfectly situated a 100-mile drive south of Vegas on US 95. This allowed a quick detour to the engineering marvel of the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge for a superb overview of the colossal Hoover Dam.

The town of Laughlin proved a curious offshoot of Vegas, a community built on casinos and split from neighbouring Bullhead City by the Colorado River, which provided a non-stop array of water activities, from jet-skis to fishing. Behind Bullhead, the desolate, shattered shapes of the Black Mountains loomed like the menace of Mordor. It made for a stunning setting and magnificent sunsets.

From Laughlin, we planned some California dreaming. We would head south-west through the Mohave National Preserve , continue to Joshua Tree National Park , then spend a few days in the desert enclave of Palm Springs, returning via the historic Route 66 town of Needles, a round-trip of 450 miles.

We hit the jackpot. The Mohave Preserve gave us a landscape as diverse as the Golden State itself, from surprising woodlands to rugged cliffs and steep canyons, sprinkled with immense cactus fields, the surreal “booming” sands of the Kelso Dunes and the occasional – and endangered – desert tortoise.

Joshua Tree wowed us with extensive stands of its namesake plant, which, as it turned out, is not a tree but a variety of yucca that grows up to 50ft tall and sprouts offshoots, or branches, that are unique to each ‘tree.’ Joshua Tree also boasts a dazzling array of cactus, notably the prickly pear and barrel cactus, plus the cuddly-looking – but outrageously sharp – teddybear cholla, each of which thrive at different elevations.

Palm Springs opened the door to man-made delights. It was Susan’s first visit since her early twenties, and the intervening 35 years had seen an expansion of epic proportions, especially in the growth of the valley’s iconic wind turbine farm, the oldest in the US.

Surrounded by mountains but with the San Gorgonio Pass acting like a wind tunnel, Palm Springs has been the poster child for wind energy since the early 1980s. Today it continues to be at the forefront of renewable energy technology, with fewer but more powerful turbines.

For three days, we marvelled not just at the high-tech features but at the superb displays of the Palm Springs Air Museum , the Hopi-inspired Cabot Pueblo Museum and poignant Desert Holocaust Memorial in Civic Center Park, as well as a host of picture-perfect golf courses.

For somewhere to stay, the boutique charms of The Inn at Palm Springs were ideal, a dog-friendly hideaway close to the main attractions but just outside the main drag. The inn has sharp, bright rooms, neat grounds and a cute, secluded pool deck that we totally failed to relax on.

In truth, we were far too busy enjoying this urbane destination. Having spent most of our first five months on the road in small-town environments, we took full advantage of this more sophisticated setting, including elegant patio cocktails and dinner at Trio , a hearty breakfast at Grand Central (where the waffles were divine) and the upbeat California vibe of Lulu’s Bistro .

We also couldn’t ignore the signature local beverage. Shields Date Garden , with its 17-acre date grove and botanical garden, has been serving its delicious secret-recipe date shakes since 1924. Their luscious creaminess proved a tastebud-tantalising highlight.

But, after all the food and frolics, it was time to return to Fati and head east for the first time in almost six months.

Next stop: Arizona...

How to do it

• In addition to a proper RV GPS (like our Garmin 890 ), a copy of the Mountain Directory West is essential to route planning, highlighting mountain roads and passes that are best avoided.
• A tyre pressure monitor system is another vital adjunct to long-distance RV driving. We have the Eez RV 518C , which alerts us to any critical issues with our tyres.

RV Factfile

• For the best places to stay in Palm Springs, www.visitgreaterpalmsprings.com .
• Check out Nevada’s amazing outdoor recreation options at https://travelnevada.com/ .
• For nationwide RV campground choice, see https://koa.com/ .

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State of the Yankees: Looking forward to Dodgers series and start of Gerrit Cole's return

Across their wildly successful West Coast trip, the Yankees reinforced the idea that “this team is different,’’ to borrow Aaron Judge’s line.

Sunday’s late comeback win against the Giants wrapped up a California road swing that saw the Yanks win seven of nine games – starting with an 8-0 blowout victory at San Diego.

The last stop was San Francisco, where the Yankees turned a two-run, ninth-inning deficit against hard-throwing Giants closer Camilo Duval into a 7-5 win, completing a three-game sweep.

Yankees' ace Gerrit Cole's 2024 debut on the horizon

Along the way, the Yankees lost valuable utility infielder Jon Berti to a calf strain, possibly until sometime in July, and they lost starter Clarke Schmidt to a lat injury – probably costing him two months.

But the Yankees got DJ LeMahieu back from the IL, and Gerrit Cole officially begins his minor league rehab assignment Tuesday at Class AA Somerset.

If he only needs two rehab starts, circle June 20 – the official first day of summer – as Cole’s potential return date, against the second-place Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.

If he requires a third rehab start, then circle June 25, against the Mets for Cole’s 2024 debut, at Citi Field.

Either way, it’s a grand entrance for the Yankees’ ace, coming back from a diagnosis of elbow nerve irritation that shook up Yankees spring training camp and spurred a lot of dark scenarios about their pennant chances.

Instead, the rotation has overall been a signature strength, led by Luis Gil’s ascension from Cole’s placeholder to AL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award candidate.

And the Yankees’ top-of-the-lineup trio has been a minefield for opposing pitching.

Yankees' relentless trio of Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto, Aaron Judge

Across the Yanks’ nine-game Western swing, Anthony Volpe, Juan Soto and Judge combined to bat .349 (37-for-106) with 27 runs scored, four doubles, five triples, 10 home runs, 14 walks and 26 RBI.

Individually, here’s how they fared:

Volpe: .316 (12-for-38), 10 runs, a double, three triples, 2 RBI, three walks.

Soto: .382 (13-for-34), eight runs, two doubles, two triples, four homers, 12 RBI, six walks.

Judge: .353 (12-for-34), nine runs, a double, six homers, 12 RBI, five walks.

This weekend the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers arrive to further electrify Yankee Stadium, featuring their vaunted top three of Mookie Betts, Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman.

Before that series, the Minnesota Twins arrive for three games beginning Tuesday night, and all the Yankees did was outscore them 14-1 in a three-game sweep last month at Target Field.

So, try and prevent the masses from looking ahead to Friday, when Masahiro Yamamoto might finally be on the mound at Yankee Stadium, months after the Yankees tried desperately to woo him here.

As it is, these Yankees have fashioned the AL’s best record (42-19) despite whiffing on Yamamoto and not signing the likes of starter Blake Snell or closer Josh Hader.

The trades for Soto and Alex Verdugo helped transform the lineup, and the Marcus Stroman signing worked to stabilize the rotation at a fraction of Snell’s cost, let alone Yamamoto’s.

An electric atmosphere when the Dodgers arrive

Adding to the what-might-have-been scenarios was Judge’s presence at San Francisco, belting three homers in the first two games, with so many friends and family (among tons of Yankees fans) from his native Northern California in attendance.

Judge was at least close to cashing in on his 62-homer season in free agency with the Giants, and perhaps the Padres, until Hal Steinbrenner personally intervened.

Snell exited Sunday’s game against the Yanks with left groin tightness, having previously missed time this year due to an adductor strain.

Soto’s first homer Sunday came off Snell. His second, a two-run shot, gave the Yanks a ninth inning lead off Doval.

Volpe was aboard, having tripled home the Yanks’ first run in the ninth. And that was made possible by Jose Trevino’s hustle, narrowly avoiding tapping into a double play after Gleyber Torres’ opening single.

That brand of play has marked these Yankees as different from recent past teams, including the 2022 Yankees who ran out to a 61-23 record, then played sub-.500 baseball from July on, and were ultimately swept out of postseason by the Houston Astros.

Seems a little different this time, with a club that has impressed manager Aaron Boone for its “singluar focus on the team and…what can we do to win that game’’ each day.

“The purpose they’re playing the game with, and for one another, you can feel that in here every day,’’ Boone told reporters Sunday.