Keith and Mike's Indy 500 Trip

[ajp]

Have enjoyed your prose Keith. I must do that Fantasmic viewing one day, sounds worthwhile. You Dad sounds like he has enjoyed his DL experience, well done.

[KeithS]

Well, it is all over. I'm sitting in the Qantas Club at LAX waiting for our flight. Had a fun last day in Disneyland, riding the railroad, small world, jungle cruise etc. Dad really enjoyed the last day and is now eating dinner in the club Will be home early on Saturday and will hopefully get some photos up here on the weekend sometime. Thanks for watching!

[churros]

Thanks for a great couple of weeks Keith. Sorry it is over so quick and I can't wait to see the photos.

[KeithS]

Good morning - we had an uneventful flight home on a Qantas A380 today, and Della was waiting for us to step off the plane and take us home.

Now I'm just in the process of unpacking and checking emails etc. I'll try and get some photos up and provide a bit more detail on the last few days. Needless to say we had a fun time in the US!

[churros]

How many fluffies did you bring back for Della?

[KeithS]

How many fluffies did you bring back for Della?

Only one!

Sorry about the delay posting photos - we had a bit of a medical emergency here which ended up with me calling 000 for an ambulance for Dad. He had breathing difficulties on Saturday night and we spent the entire night at Nepean Hospital. It seems his asthma played up in LA and he deteriorated after going to bed last night. We went to bed early but he woke me up at 9pm and I had to ring the ambos who took him away.

All is well now though as he has new medication and is back to normal.

I'll get some photos up in stages throughout the week.

[KeithS]

Did someone say they wanted to see photos?

Here we go!


On the plane prior to departure - cool, we get pre-taxi drinks!


Yay - we are on our way! 12.5 hours and we will be in Los Angeles...


...hang on a minute!!!! We are heading back to Brisbane after a person on board got sick...


Six hours late - we are on our way again - woohoo!


We've arrived and here I am at Griffith Park Observatory.


Fashion photo shoot we came across


Santa Monica Pier


Shops in Santa Monica


Off to see Pirates of the Caribbean at the El Capitan - that was great fun


Clowning around in the theatre while waiting for the movie


On to Pismo Beach - that's our hotel


The view from our balcony at Pismo Beach


Buzzard approves


Pismo Beach sunset

[mushu mama]

Great start to the visual tour Keith

Glad to hear your Dad is doing ok too... that would have been tough going anytime, but especially when you had only just arrived home

[KeithS]

More photos.

After travelling up the highway from Pismo Beach, we got to Half Moon Bay and visited Castle Airforce Base and San Francisco...


B36 Peacemaker bomber - they don't make planes like this anymore!


B47 Stratojet (foreground) and B52 Stratofortress (background) - part of America's nuclear deterrent from the 1950s onward.


The famous SR71 Blackbird strategic reconnaissance aircraft.


On the ferry from Salsalito to San Francisco - beautiful day!


Passing Alcatraz...


Approaching San Francisco!

Next - the Indy 500!

[churros]

LA is not the best fue respiratory problems. Glad he's in the mend!

Keep the photos coming

[KeithS]

Thanks for the comments - now on to Indianapolis!


Just off the bus - we are parked right beside the big water tower. We had arrived at Racing Mecca!


The entire Indiana Department of Homeland Security was on display - I felt safe with this fellow on guard


Walking towards to entrance - the stands are enormous!


The calm before the upcoming storm - we check out our seats to see what the view is like - pretty good actually!


Of course - what is America without some pomp and circumstance?


And being Memorial Day weekend - a show of US Air Force power!


The pace lap - cars lined up three abreast.


Getting ready for the start!


Scotsman, Dario Franchitti flies past


Aussie Will Power - he lost a wheel at the first pit stop, and his day went down hill from there!


Aussie Ryan Briscoe fared little better - he crashed into Townsend Bell right in front of me later in the race


Will Power wasn't the only car to lose a wheel...


Eventual winner, Dan Wheldon flashes past, while Danica Patrick comes out of the pit lane.


My Dad trying to keep cool in the heat


Near the end of the race - and JR Hildebrand takes the lead...


The last lap - and the crowd is on its feet


Hildebrand comes past for the last lap - he can't lose from here can he?


Errr - yes he can! He hit the wall on the very last turn - and comes towards us, in pieces...


...lots of pieces...


Hildebrand: Did I win?


Marshall: No you didn't, you lost the race and $2.5 million
Hildebrand: %$#&!!!!!!!!


But I had a fun day

Next - on to Disney!

[ajp]

Some great photos Keith, especially the race shots. Great photos in San Francisco as well, nice day. Glad your Dad is OK.

[KeithS]

Alright - with Indy over, it was time to get on the plane again for LAX and Disneyland!


Ahhh - there's a great sight - transport to our happy place!


Dad about to enter The Happiest Place on Earth!


A quick trip to the World of Disney Store - and they had giant Pook-a-Looz! I didn't buy any though...


Over in DCA, The Little Mermaid ride was getting a soft opening (and a large crowd!)


As the sun goes down, we prepare for World of Color


Oooh - colourful!


Ooooh, aaaahhhh (I loved it!)


Over in Disneyland - the new Soundsational Parade was playing - hit it Mickey!


The Genie from Aladdin was there (Aladdin had his own float)


Ariel's float


Donald and his pinata


The princesses get a float (naturally!)


Oooh - pretty...


Top shelf


Then Tiana has her own float


Go Louis!


And a Tinker Bell/Peter Pan float (not Fairies)


Tink


Mary Poppins and Bert ride cool three-wheeled carousel horses that rise and fall - they are followed by a large float which I didn't get a very good photo of


Then we were off for churros!


And a ride on Small World


"Hey Dad - let's go get our photos taken with the Princesses!"


"No..."


"...but I'll get a photo beside Walt and Mickey"


Then all too soon, it was time to fly home...


...and we are almost home

Thanks for joining me on my holiday! I've got thousands more photos, so let me know if you want to see anymore!

[Mel]

I'd love to see more - though maybe not of the car race

I've heard nothing but good reports of World of Colour, I can't wait to see it myself.

Love the "Can we get a pic with the princesses?" and "no" photos

[KeithS]

Love the "Can we get a pic with the princesses?" and "no" photos

The funny thing is - we were just sitting down outside of Princess Fantasy Faire after riding Small World, and I really did ask my Dad if he wanted to go, and he really did say "no" That gave me the inspiration to do those photos!

I'll get some more photos uploaded on the weekend.