CH-CH-CH-CHANGES

Things that have changed since 1995 visit

• Blogs instead of diaries.  Meaning the advent of WiFi and networks.  
• Used to have to find phone and have correct change to call Mum once a week.  Always a hassle. ( But mobiles still a hassle - bought £20 data sim from Three supposed to be best deal for States.  Got tiny signal in Vegas, then nothing.  Thank goodness everywhere has wifi, otherwise this wouldn't be happening.)
• Traffic increased massively in all National Parks.  Shuttle buses in Zion and Bryce are a brilliant way of getting around and very efficient with great drivers.
• Roof over our heads instead of a tent, but we miss the barbies and flagons of wine (Ernest & Julio Gallo).  Real bed instead of blow up!
• Bigger and brasher LV hotels. No coin slots. 
• Older bodies  - but still managing similar trails and still hot and tired in the heat.  Definitely get more dehydrated.
• Size of RVs - used to think people had huge vans, now they are just outrageous and expand both sides and often towed like an artic. Think some are bigger than our house!
• Digital cameras.  Used to take minimum number of expensive photos and even then we lost 7 of Escalante and Capitol Reef when film was developed, so had no record of those at all.
• Loads more tourists everywhere - particularly Germans and Japanese. Used to think the Japanese had all left home en masse and were in Europe. But now think only half are there, with rest in US and talking more loudly than Americans (I know, I know - who would have thought!).  Just as annoying here as in the Cotswolds with Jen and Rich recently.  Think I am becoming racist.
• Hardly any Brits here compared to years ago (same as Italy last year) and we will be on bread and water when we get back - huge difference in exchange rate - thank you Brexit.
• Trump

Things that haven't changed

• According to diary for 1995, the best ever milkshake was at Ruby's Inn at Bryce.   So had to test the theory when we saw the Diner was still there - they still are the world beaters!!!  Pure soft ice cream all the way, so a straw no good - walked off 240 calories that day - consumed 3000.
• 

• The canyons and vast scenery.  Millions of years old and amazing.
• Las Vegas madness in the middle of the desert - never fails to astound.
• Americans fascination with the English accent. But have some good chats on the trails.
• National Park campgrounds - still full by 9 am!
• Ridiculously huge food portions.  Still took a few days to remember to share meals!  Plus everything has added sweetness - bread, burger buns, sandwiches, cereals, salad dressing, drinks, etc.  No wonder they have an obesity problem.  So will we after a month.  Glad we self cater for a lot of the time.

And only half way through the trip - more piercing insights to come, if the muse is upon me.