BINGHAM CANYON COPPER MINE, UT, USA

Bingham Canyon mine is the largest man-made excavation on earth. We took a visit on Saturday.

This is what it looks like from above:
http://maps.google.com/?ll=40.525544,-112.135048&spn=0.115347,0.2314&t=k&om=1

We can see this place from our apartment. It's huge!
James.

Magician's Nephew

If you want to see Michelle in action, she's performing in the Magician's Nephew at the Academy of Performing Arts, SLC. She plays Aunt Lettie, and has really big hair in it. Oh, and she's really good.

Lava Hot Springs

Hi There,

Having an interesting time in Salt Lake City, that is ,when I am not hounded by Mormons, asked when I am going to have children or censored in public. Currently acting in a production of The Magician's Nephew ( the prequel to the The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe). My character is Aunt Letty (a very proper Victorian English lady) and have a brief appearance as one of the Royalty of Charn. I am loving this and could do it full-time if finances permitted it. It truly is a love job.

James and I went to Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Being landlocked, we are close to a few Western states that are all within a few hours drive away. Lava Hot Springs was sweet, but we couldn't bring ourselves to share the crowded springs with obese yanks. Idaho is where Utahns go to buy their lottery tickets as gambling is banned due to the LDS Church influence.

Not much news apart from that. Love Michelle

Pics from our trip to Wyoming

We drove 80 miles to the next state to buy full strength beer. In the meantime, we saw a heck of a lot of snow, as well as cowboys, complete with blue jeans and hats - indoors.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=15h6i4i5.emdd86d&x=0&y=7jl4sq

Here's also some pics from our wedding & random Utah scenery.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=15h6i4i5.j5ticxx&x=0&y=-lmq2zj

James.

g'day from salt lake city

Through some very strange twist of fate, we are now living in salt lake city. we're married (as of 1st October), we moved back to Sydney, then back to Vancouver, then back to Sydney before landing here. Long story.

Here's a pic of Michelle at a recent visit to the Dubbo Gaol. It's also a chance to see how this Picasa thing works with blogger.com. 

fayetteville AR- Monday27th October. University of Arkansas campus. The mission- to get a photo of Danny's name engraved in the side walk. The obstacle-police and heaps of security. We suspected the worst when we arrived for a day trip to the university. Police lines everywhere, Cops on every corner and roof top. And it turns out James' dad's name was right in the middle of it all. Upon querying one of the policeman it turns out Billy Bob Clinton was in town dedicating a statue. The worst part was he had parked his car over where we wanted to to go!!!!! Oh well. we got to see him anyways and got the photo we wanted.

Memphis TN- Home of the blues, Birthplace of Rock 'n'Roll... This is a music lovers mecca. Forget Seattle and Grunge. This is where it all started. with the blues originating in the nearby cotton fields and brought to the world by local musos such as Carl Perkins (he of the original Blue Suede Shoes )Johnny Cash and of course Elvis Presley. We started the tour by visiting nearby Beale St where WC Handy penned one of the first blues songs. This place buzzes. It has a seedy atmosphere but is rich in history. (Music and Civil Rights). Then on to Graceland-home of Elvis. Considering the decor was late 70's it was a very impressive museum and tribute to his achievements. Hey we even startred humming his music after we left. Then to Memphis Zoo, which was awesome. Checked out the memorial to Jeff Buckley (Sumatran Tigers exhibit). Apparently he spent hours in the butterfly exhibit (psycho) but this was closed for the season. We also found out where he died at the Wolf River.
We then toured Sun studio. This is where Elvis recorded his first song (My Happiness) and first hit- Its All Right. Although its only a two room museum, the studio is still as it was in the 1950's and has an eerie quality to it. U2 and REM have all recorded here as well. We were impressed.

Memphis is a must for anyone travelling to the south of the US. We had a ball. then back to Arkansas where we blew a tyre out in a construction zone. We got back on the road asap.

For the latter part of the trip we hung out with family. Had a Halloween in Fayetteville and left on the 1st November. Had a great time.Back in Vancouver which felt like going back home and left there on te 3rd November for Sydney .

Au Revoir le Canada de serons de retour.

Howdy y'all from North West Arkansas. Well it took 26 hours on a few Greyhound buses but we finally got here on Wednesday.From Grand Rapids we took the bus to Chicago. Greyhound bus stops are not glamourous and we witnessed a guy getting beaten up by security guards and then the cops came in for the final blows! Then we took a scenic cornfield tour through Iowa landing in Des Moines. Then southbound to Kansas City, Missouri. This place is huge. I was shocked at how big some of the regional town centres were. I was expecting little hick towns... We hit Kansas City at Midnight surrounded by crack heads, drunks and an Amish Family. They (the amish)were incredibly interesting. I felt almost rude staring at them but they wore hats inside...The children were patient (and unnaturally quiet) and everyone in the family bore a striking resemblance to each other (eg husband and wife)...nOt looking into that anymore.
Then an ungodly awakening at 4:30am in Joplin MO and finally a onto Fayetteville AR. Our final destination.We have checked out the local lakes (Fayetteville and Seqouia). We have hit the local pubs at Dickson Street(Ozark Brewing Pub) and Brewski's (78 types of beer on draft). I was pleased with the latter. Finally found Heineken Dark after 6 years of searching!! Being looked after really well by James' family.

Heading off to Memphis on Tuesday- home of Elvis, Beale Street and the Memphis Zoo (to check out the butterfly exhibit dedicated to Jeff Buckley).

Animal update- finally saw a skunk!

Will keep you posted. I love the accent here so I get distracted listening to people speak.
Lots of Love Michelle+James

Hi all from Grand Rapids, Michigan USA. Have been having a great time catching up with Jacqui and Pearce here in beautiful Western MIchigan. Last week went to the very picturesque Mackinac Island for the weekend. We are now certified "fudgies" ,the term given to tourists to the area due to the large amount of fudge purchased by such visitors. We are still trying to work our way through 1lb of fudge but can't make it past the sickly sweet pistachio fudge.

Have been having a relaxing week at Chateau Vander Meeden- 5 star accomodation and highly recommended to relatives who have yet to visiti Jacqui and Pearce. Their home is set in peaceful woods with regular animal visitors being deer, groundhogs, woodpeckers and squirrels. (new animals spotted).Last night we had a gourmet meal with a nice bottle of local St Julian's wine at the Chateau . We are being spoilt!

We are about to head off to Chicago to see a Black Hawks Ice Hockey game and also to check out the Caberet Metro (where I am told the Smashing Pumpkins played their first and last gigs).

After this we are heading to Arkansas to meet up with James' family. Looking forward to this as well.

Lots of Love

Michelle+ James

Howdy all, i'll try and keep this quick cause i dont have much time.

New wildlife sightings:
ORCA, also called the Killer Whale. We went on a Whale Watching tour last week and saw these (www.vancouverwhalewatch.com), they were awesome, although they didn't maul any seals unfortunately :( Our camera decided to die on us, so we bought some really nice postcards for our collection.
MINKE WHALE, also on the whale watching trip.
Lots of porpise up here too....

Took a trip to Vancouver Island for a few days. The $9 ferry (1 1/2 hours, worth it!!!!) was really nice through the Gulf Islands, Nanaimo was a lazy seaside town, and Victoria has a wierd obsession with the UK, but very photogenic!! Another must for visitors to Vancouver.

We are leaving Vancouver on Monday to do a tour of the relo's, and we'll also be cancelling our phone, soooooooooooo do NOT send us anything in the mail or try to call us. We can be contacted by email still (obviously), but that's it. We're moving out of Vancouver, i'll keep you all guessing where :)

Have a nice day!