How are you all? It's been a while since I wrote, so here's an update again. Last time I was still in Canada, but since then I have gone down the US coast and I am in Monterey, California now.
Crossing the border in the US was 'an experience' again! It lasted about an hour in which two US customs officer went through the whole car and even in the fuel tank. But they were friendlier than the Alaska ones, so that was ok. Then I continued to Spokane, didn't know it was that big of a city and I got there in the middle of rush hour. No hostel and to cold to camp, so I stayed in a motel.
My first destination was Mt. St. Helens, the volcano that blow 1/3 of the mountain in the 80's. The drive was a challenge, because Washington State had one of it's worst floods ever and I was driving right into it. I saw the signs road closed, but decided to continue in the hope I would get past somewhere. The landscape was beautiful and when I drove over the high White Pass it was snowing. After the White Pass the road was supposed to be closed... and it was. But a hour before I got there they opened a little road through the mountains and I could go around. This road had just been cleared of trees and sometimes there was only half a road left, the rest was washed away. But I arrived in Castle Rock okay, again a motel.
The next day the weather was so bad that I couldn't go to Mt. St. Helens, so I decided to go to Portland. Portland is very nice city and I spent the weekend there. Didn't really go to big attractions, but walked around to get a sense of the city. And I met some nice people in the hostel to talk to.
From Portland I drove to the ocean to Seaside. Planned to stay only one night, but liked the hostel so good that I stayed four. The weather was still pretty bad, except for one day when I went to see Cannon Beach and the forest. From Seaside I followed the Oregon coast and met a man on the beach who I talked to for a while and he gave me 200 dollars so I could buy the expensive California fuel! Next stop was the Redwood NP, where they have the tallest trees in the world, up to 370 ft or 125 meters. Very impressive to walk around under these giants.
Again following the coast, I went to Point Reyes, just above San Fransisco. Woke up in the morning and did a nice walk through the dunes and on the beach, nobody there. Then I drove into busy San Fransisco, what a change in a day!!
San Fransisco was really nice, one of the nicest cities I have ever been. Doesn't beat Melbourne though! I stayed in the Fort Mason hostel next to Fishermans's Wharf. First night I met Chris and Jerome and we went out for a beer with Jerome's Ford Mustang Cabrio, which was very good. Next day I went to Alcatraz with Chris and Maude. Most people know the history of the prison but Alcatraz is very important to the native Americans, because by occupying Alcatraz, they started their fight for more rights.
With Maude and Ute I went giving out Free Hugs on Fisherman's Warf. If you don't know what that is, go to
www.youtube.com and search for 'free hugs juan mann' and than just go do the same whereever you are. It makes people happy and you feel good yourself as well.
My last couple days in San Fransisco I stayed at Jeff's house in San Anselmo. I met Jeff in Alaska, he was traveling by motorbike. We went out for a couple drinks and I met some of his friends. Next day we (as in Jeff and me watching) worked on the car to do some maintenance.
Trip continued down the coast and I stayed at a beautiful spot on top of the cliffs on the ocean at Pigeon Point hostel, which is a lighthouse. Yesterday I drove down to Monterey and stoped on the way to watch the monarch butterflies and I drove the 17-mile drive by Carmel. Carmel is really to rich. The town feels very fake since everything is overly regulated. Mailboxes are not allowed, no neonsigns, no chains (which is actually a good thing!) and you are not allowed to wear high heels (you might sue the city if you trip), unless you have a special permit. So today I went to the best aquarium of the USA in Monterey and it was beautiful. They made living art of jellyfish and they have lots of sea-otters and even a white shark.
Americans have been really friendly so far. Most of them are very nicel people and do whatever they can to help you. The country is beautiful, both the coast and the forests are really nice. One of the things I don't like here is that everything is so regulated, there are so many rules for every small silly little thing.