U.S.A. - Las Vegas, Nevada - October 1970

 Driving down the Strip.

 The first thing we did when we arrived in Las Vegas was to look for a Hamburger, in this Drug Store?  Ice Cream Parlor? or was it a just a Hamburger Joint?  :-)  Anyway... there were lots of Poker Machines in this place.  I put 10c in this machine and I won $1.   I still have that $  

 David on the other hand wasn't going to waste his 10c on these machines he was heading for the Pontoon Tables where he lost $30!! 

 Here he is... doing his dough!

 We set up camp in a camping ground on 'The Strip' then took off to one of the Casino's where they had this fantastic offer of 'Minsky's Burlesque' Plus all you can eat and drink for $1.95.  We had no idea what to expect so trouped along with the plan to walk out if it wasn't any good.

We entered the Restaurant expecting to be served a Hamburger or something but no.........  we had the choice of a fabulous array of seafood, meats, salads, vegetables and sweets.  We ate like starving back packers do until we were ushered into the theatre and asked what we would like to drink, we thought they would be a long time coming... but no straight away our drinks arrived... times two.  So there we were, four innocent Aussies, sitting at this table with two drinks each.  I ordered Tab (the precursor to Diet Coke).

The 'topless' show was terrific, we'd seen nothing like it before but we really enjoyed it and before we'd finished our drinks another two each arrived!!!  Mine by this time had been laced with rum or something so I couldn't drink anymore but the others enjoyed theirs.

When the show was over a different set of doors opened to let us out and... guess what!  They opened into the Gaming Room.    We walked straight out and stumbled back to our camp site... but this sticks in our memory of being the best deal we'd ever enjoyed, never to be forgotten.

 Off to see Hoover Dam.

 Wow!  Very impressive.

The Nevada side, Power House.

U.S.A. - Salt Lake City, Utah - October 1970

 Mormon Temple Square.

 Visitors Centre.

 Guide talks at the Sea Gull Monument, he is a 'Member in Good Standing'  which means he pays a tithe.

 Mormon Tabernacle.  A pin dropped at 300 feet near the organ, is perfectly audible at the rear.  the roof is spherical in section, oval in plan.

 Mormon Temple, we weren't allowed in here, you had to be a member in 'Good Standing'.

 Utah's Capitol.

 The Capitol from Google maps.

 Our 'Camp' site in the Nevada Desert after an all night drive from Nephi,  south of Salt Lake City.

Approaching Las Vegas.

U.S.A. - Wyoming - Idaho - October 1970

 Jackson, Wyoming - I think we took this photo because of the Wort Hotel.

 No longer the Wort Hotel today from Google.

 Our campsite for the night, right beside the Snake River - It snowed the next morning.

 Very pretty spot today from Google Maps.

 A bit of snow on the ground on Highway 89.

 

Our first sight of wild Buffalo.

 Idaho sign on Highway 89, no longer there today according to Google Maps below.

 Modern sign on the Wyoming - Idaho border today.

Entering Paris, Idaho.  Population 746

This signs says - Geneva 4, Montpelier 47 and Salt Lake 170.

 Near the Utah border on Highway 89, North Pacific Railway.

Yellowstone National Park to Paris, Idaho.

Postcards sent by us - Montana. USA - 25.9.1970

American Black Bear and Cubs.
Cubs of both black and brown color are not uncommon in one little.  Adult bear averages 250 lbs.  T hey climb trees readily and are friendly.

Yellowstone National Park.

To:-  The Rodd's, Crescent Road, Newport. N.S.W. 2106. Australia

We saw two lovely bears today, they came up and looked in the windows.  We also saw old faithful sprout, it was very beautiful.  We've seen lots of hot springs but boy the weather is cold.

Love D & P.J.

Postcards sent by us - Yellowstone, - 23.9.1970

Old Faithful Geyser.  Yellowstone National Park.
Most celebrated geyser in the world.  Discovered and named in 1870, it erupts 150 feet high at intervals averaging about 63 minutes.

To:- The Griffiths, Dominion Circuit, Deakin. A.C.T. Australia.

We saw him spout at 1:20pm today.  Dave says there are better ones in N.Z.

We saw two bears today, they stood up and looked in the windows and we threw them a few cookies and took lots of photos.

Love D & P.J.

U.S.A. - Yellowstone Park, Wyoming. September 1970

Very friendly Grizzly Bears in Yellowstone Park.

 I was horrified to read in our notes that we fed them 'cookies'... they couldn't have been good for them could they!

... but look at those eyes... how could you refuse  :-)

 Mammoth Springs, North end of Yellowstone.

 Norm and Sandy getting some classic footage - writes David!

Gibson Falls, Yellowstone.

 Waiting for 'Old Faithful' to erupt.

 Starting...

... coming up...

... there he blows!

From Virgina City to Yellowstone Park.

Postcards sent by us - Virginia City, Montana. USA - 22.9.1970

Wells Fargo Express Office.
In 1863, Virginia City, Montana.
22nd September 1970

To:- Miss J. Griffiths, Dominion Circuit, Deakin. A.C.T. 2600

Dear Julia,

     They have fascinating Museums here, all about the old days.  We have our booking, see you on November 13th.

     Love, Dave & Pennie

U.S.A. - Nevada City, Montana - September 1970

Check out Nevada City, only 1 mile downstream from Virginia City  Nevada City.

 Montana.

 The Old Amusement Arcade in Nevada City with Nickelodeons, Jukeboxes and a Wurlitzer.

 Railway rolling stock collection in Nevada City, Montana.

 Shaft-drive 3 cylinder Steam Loco, build by Lima, 1917.

Postcards sent by us - Boot Hill, Montana. USA - 22.9.1970

Boot Hill, Historic Virginia City, Montana.
Five of the 'Road Agents' hanged, Clubfoot George Land, Hayes Lyons, Jack Gallagher, Boone Helm and Frank Parish, were buried in Virginia City's old cemetery now known as Boot Hill.

To:-  Mr N.A.Rodd, Crescent Road, Newport. N.S.W. 2106. Australia

Virginia City, 22nd September 1970.

See Nick, Boot Hill really does exist!

Love Dave and Pennie XX