Pre Tripping California Coasting

Why, Hello San Fransisco.

Its so nice to meet you on this warm, sunny day. When I got off the airplane, I hopped onto a train that took me to Union Station in downtown San Fran where I then wandered slowly to my hostel. I payed for 3 nights and I figured that would give me a good start to the trip. My flatmates were pretty rad. There was Becky from Canada who was maybe 90 pounds and loved to walk long distances. Then, there was Thea (who has her own card) from Seattle. Thea manages farmers markets in the Seattle area for 6 months out of the year then makes her way to some foreign county for the other 6 months of the year. Shes headed to India in 3 days. She took me to my first ever club.

So my San Fransisco plan was to walk to the embassy to acquire my Brazilian visa. Unfortunately, they changed their regulations only 2 days prior to my arrival and no longer accept walk-ins. The next available date open for appointment wasn't until November 18, 3 days after my departure date. Obviously that doesn't work for me. In a crazy lady frenzy with copious amount of help for Margo in Arizona, I call 20 different 3rd party visa companies to see if any of them can expedite a Brazilian visa for an Alaska within 7 days. (yes, i know... I'm cutting it close but that's how I roll)

First things first, I need a drink. I wander over to Puccini & Pinetti's (an Italian bar/restaurant) and make my evening home at the bar. Hello Happy Hour. $3 glasses of wine!?!?! I'll take 3 please! I smoosh and get some free drinks here and there. Then a British Airways Pilot buys me dinner. Then a couple hours later (yes, I've been at this bar for more than a couple hours) a 67 year young classy woman drinking white wine at the end of the bar tells me I'm too skinny and buys me more wine and another dinner. I didn't decline, I mean, come on, it's free! Janene pays the tab and drags me to another local dive bar with local music playing which completely reminded me of the Alaskan Bar and Hotel in Juneau and there she buys me a 7UP. Then takes me up and down and up and down this elevator that was on the outside of this super fancy hotel called the Sir Frances Drake Hotel 7 times! Before security kicked us out, we powder our noses in the all marble hotel restroom. She then walks me home and assures me she'll call me tomorrow for lunch.

Met a guy named Luke the next morning who approached me with this, " Girl, I want to take you out fo pizza." We walked to Starbucks, he bought me coffee then I split and he wondered why.

I left San Fran and headed north to Point Reyes which is the windiest place in north America and the 2nd foggiest and spent the night in the hostel up there. Explored the town and the beach which is a National Seashore. I saw 10 deer, a raccoon, tons of quail and a vulture on my drive in. A must see when in Cali. Met a homeless guy with a huge white beard and 2 guitars who told me about the food bank and about this town called Bolinas with no signs. The girl I met, Sarah, from the night before in the hostel and I decided to head down to this secret city and explore. Apparently there is free camping on the beach! The legend has it that for the past hundred years or more the locals of Bolinas came together and decided they didn't want their town to become another tourist stop beach town so they took every directional sign down that said Bolinas on it. So no one knows how to get there unless you already know how to get there. I accurately named it the sexy signless secret city. I HIGHLY recommend you hunt this town down if you're into creative artwork, giant peace signs, dirty hippys, surfing and free camping.

I get word that my friend Ry from Juneau is in Laguna Beach. I start heading that way and get there very late crashing on his grandma's beach condo couch (which is incredibly comfortable) after a solo dance dance party on the deck. Here, i got stung by 2 bees on the bottom of the foot which led me to meeting a girl who's getting married looking for beach glass on the beach as I'm screaming about the bee stings she gives me a cig, tells me to put the tobacco on the stink and it'll suck the sting out. Oddly enough, it worked. 3 days in Laguna was enough so I jump on a train and head to San Diego to stay with family.

Let me just say, I love San Diego. Lots happened here. I mean, lots.

Now, I'm in Long Beach. Charging my ipod and my camera because tomorrow is THE BIG DAY where I leave on a jet plane to Brazil.

This is the start of my adventure.

Stay tuned friends.