Jen's Journal

I headed off early in the morning, (fuelled with the free pancakes provided by the hostel) and cruised through the SD harbour/tourist area. I somehow missed a turn and ended up somewhere. Being me and not liking to stop, ask for directions or backtrack, I continued in some direction figuring the border would eventually appear. No luck. I found every time I slowed or looked confused people would approach or stare, so being entirely non-socially inclined that morning I just did neither of the above, and with a look of intense concentration continued going in some direction.

I eventually decided I really didn't need to see the border, hopped a bus, (I actually did ask where the bus was going), and ended up at the trolley station out in Chula Vista. I was a 15 minute trolley ride from the border, but I rode the trolley north and returned to the Gaslamp Quarter somewhat defeated.

The rest of the day I pedaled around seeing Balboa Park, Little Italy, Point Loma, numerous unnamed tower buildings and the pier area.

The next morning I headed to the local bike shop and spent hours trying to wedge my bike into a travel box. The fellow in the shop eventually just felt sorry for me, (or wanted me to leave), and helped squeeze the beast into the 5'x3'x1' carrying case. To fly the bike almost cost as much as it had cost me to fly, (bike =$50, Jenn = $88 + taxes, total = $165USD).

I was greeted in Seattle by Lars, (the Subaru driver from Boston) and chauffeured to my high school buddy Graham's house. I spent the day in Seattle eating Swedish pancakes with WWII veterans, walking Pike's Market, eating Reuben sandwiches next to the recycle station, touring the library and drinking Seattle's pride - coffee.

From there Lars and I headed to San Juan Island and spent a stormy night car camping and staring across the straight at Victoria. We arrived in Victoria just in time to have lunch at Tim Hortons - not because I wanted it, it just seemed the Canadian thing to do. Now I am full, and must unpack, then repack my bags as I am heading off to the UK in 7 days :)

That concludes the whirlwind description of my last 4 days of the trip. For more information or a transcript of today's program please contact the author.