TIME FRAME: Fri, Aug 30th, 2002, 12:00pm EDT - Mon, Sept 2nd, 2002, 3:30pm PDT
BASE CAMP: Greyhound bus from Montréal, Québec, Canada thru to San Francisco, California, USA
PLACES SEEN/VISITED: (CANADA - Toronto), (USA - Buffalo, Cleveland, Chicago, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, Salt Lake City, Reno, Sacramento, San Francisco, San Jose)
On the left, that's a view of Chicago and the Sears Tower as we approach it from the freeway. And of course, the right photo shows my excitement-filled arrival in Des Moines, Iowa.
On the left, an Iowa sunset. Photographed in Grinnell, Iowa. And on the right, that's Isabell, a cool woman I met on the bus ride between Omaha and Cheyenne. She just finished her Master of Biology at a university in Germany.
THE BUS. And on the right, Isabell and I making nuisances of ourselves trying to survive THE BUS.
That's Chris on the left side, a friendly dude who chatted with me from Omaha to Salt Lake City. He wants to be a Navy Seal someday. You should stop eating the nachos, man!
And there, on the right, the sign for Sacramento signals my impending arrival at my final destination...
Could I have asked for a sweeter way to travel the final leg of my journey to San Jose? That's my Aunt Trish in her baby - the Saab.
TIME FRAME: Wed, Sept 4th, 2002, 4:30pm PDT - Sat, Sept 7th, 2002, 2:30pm PDT
BASE CAMP: Vallejo, California, USA
PLACES SEEN/VISITED: (CALIFORNIA - Vallejo, Berkeley, Fort Cronkhite, Sausalito & Marin County)
Crazy Colin with his weapons of choice. Bread, butter, and a knife. Compare this guy to McGyver. Remember him?
That's THE CAT. Colin launched him at least once daily like a grenade across the room into a bean bag. This crazy feline always ran straight for his food bowl afterwards. It never failed.
Odwalla? Beer? The story with Odwalla is that several years ago some California kid got sick from the E.coli virus by drinking this stuff. As for the Natural Ice, that's a favorite of mine. A whole BUNCH of us got sick drinking that stuff on Spring Break. Know what I mean? :)
The chill spa in Colin's apartment complex. What a great place to unwind and have a beer...
The first photo is a shot of Mt. Tamalpais (an Indian name), which is in Marin County. Part of a State Park of the same name, it's a great peak to hike, go for a romantic drive in the evening, or see an incredible view of the Pacific Ocean. The second photo shows the Marin Headlands, another protected area with beautiful foliage... apparently due to the immense blankets of moisturizing fog that cover the area year-round.
The Golden Gate Bridge from two different spots in Marin County. They just jacked up the toll to cross it to US$5!
ryanrowe trying to surf.
Don't laugh. I've got the entire Pacific coast to practice until I hit the REAL waves in Costa Rica.
Katie was a welcome sight in Sausalito, after I got out of the frigid water at Fort Cronkhite. The water was 50-55 degrees Fahrenheit, so seeing a cutie like her brought some of the life back to my toes. ;)
On the left, a view of a CMA party from inside the house. This was a wild party that Colin invited me to. Some of his college buddies threw the bash. The California Maritime Academy is part of California State University. They're a school of engineering and marine transportation. Anyways, you can see what the party did to one of its participants. This guy is LOADED. That's beer on his shirt, by the way. He missed the tube for the bong...
That photo on the left shows the beer bong. Click on it to get a closer look. They constructed it from tubing and hosing, and you can fit a LOT of beer in there. They've got valves attached to it. The idea is to drink as much as you can until you can't take it anymore and then switch the valve so you can stop. The photo on the right shows the supply.
Inevitably, the cops showed up. After all, well over a 100 people, 3 kegs, an illegal bonfire, and a broken-down skateboarding halfpipe in the backyard. Oh yeah, the fire guys did their appearance as well. There was a lot of underage drinking going on. Remember, the legal age is 21... we're not in Canada anymore...
Ah well, Mihai... see those Quebec plates? To get to his new job in the Bay, he drove cross-country with his Asuna Sunfire. He showed up with his own supply of alcohol so it didn't really matter if the police sent everybody on their way.
We had one last beer and said our goodbyes to everybody... That's Samantha, from South Padre, Texas in the right photo. Nice girl.
There's Colin's buddy Matt with his "girlfriend"? Who knows? She didn't show up with him as far as I know! :) On the right, we've got Joe. Looks like some dude off a TV show, doesn't he? You tell me.
This is Dana. She gave us her boyfriend's permission to take this photo, even though her boyfriend wasn't anywhere around.
The after-party party at Colin's place. Really two separate locations. One in the hot tub, one in the apartment. Playing Jenga when you're drunk is funny stuff. You've got to build a tower of blocks as high as you can using the blocks from lower levels of the tower.
Dr. Jekyll turns into Mr. Hyde if you supply him with an ample dose of soft yellow light and a can of Natural Ice. Watch out!
TIME FRAME: Sat, Sept 7th, 2002, 2:30pm PDT - Sun, Sept 8th, 2002, 5am PDT
BASE CAMP: Alameda (Oakland), California, USA
PLACES SEEN/VISITED: (CALIFORNIA - Alameda, Concord, Oakland, San Francisco)
On the left is a view from the top of the Crookedest Street in the World. You can see the entire eastern side of San Francisco from here... Really really nice view. Click the photo to get a better look. The second shot has my bud Bernie in the foreground with a view UP Lombard Street. That place is tourist central!
No... I didn't go to Alcatraz. Too expensive for a backpacker. I did take a photo of it to appease the masses... so look all you want!
Why are you pointing that thing at me? Let me enjoy my Japanese beer (Asahi... and good too!).
Our gracious host Charles, is featured on the left with Luke and his girlfriend Phoenix. Charles... thanks for having us there...! It was good to see you again.
On the right side, I'm scoping out a map to try and figure out to get to the ...um... strip club that is featured below.
What can I say? Absolutely luscious. You must visit this place if you go to San Francisco. Go before 2am and you'll save yourself 5 bones on the cover charge. It's on the corner of Kearny(ey?) and Broadway. Right on the strip.
Interesting example of architechture... A Mihai photo-op.
Ahhh... yes... the cab driver who couldn't read a speed limit. We had to go back to Charles' parking garage 'cause Mihai forgot his ID. When you come to America, DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!
The second shot is another photo-op that I would have missed had Mihai not recognized it. Doesn't it remind you of like, a scene out of Batman or something?? Y'know... Gotham City dude!
The four Canadian boys, eh?
TIME FRAME: Sun, Sept 8th, 2002, 5am PDT - Mon, Sept 9th, 2002, 1am PDT
BASE CAMP: Foster City, California, USA
PLACES SEEN/VISITED: (CALIFORNIA - Foster City, Half Moon Bay, Pacific Coast Highway #1, San Jose, San Mateo, Santa Cruz)
TIME FRAME: Mon, Sept 9th, 2002, 1am PDT - Tue, Sept 10th, 2002, 7:30am PDT
BASE CAMP: San Jose, California, USA
PLACES SEEN/VISITED: (CALIFORNIA - San Jose)
My cousins' daughters. The flamboyant one is Adriena, and the quieter one is Kyah. She ain't so quiet, though...
A photo of my aunt and uncle and cousins from my mother's side. That's my Uncle Steve, and Aunt Trish is sitting down. Their daughters are Tiffany on the left, and Kathy on the right. Four times I've been to visit California, and I've always stayed with Steve and Trish. They take awesome care of me... Thanks again!!!