Going back to Cali... Cali... Cali...

We are back in San Francisco! We left Mullin, Texas on Saturday, March 27th and in that time we have been through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Nevada and Southern California.

The high desert was breathtaking. We visited Arches National Park in Utah based on the advice of our first Wwoof host, Tom and I am very glad we did. If you ever want to fall in love with Utah, read "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey and go to Arches. He was a park ranger there in the '60s and has very specific views on preservation.

The Mormon State is epically beautiful. Red rock mesas, sandstone fins, and towering hoodoos everywhere. It looks something like Mars might if it had junipers and pinyon pines.

Next we hit the Grand Canyon. It is truly the grandest of canyons but unfortunately we were there during spring break and it felt more like a mall than one of the wonders of the world. It's really weird how being in America can make you feel like a consumer no matter who or where you are.

Jay and I have been reflecting a lot on the things we've done and learned on this trip. We're working on a list of things to do in/about all the cities and states we've been too. I'll be posting that soon.

We are so close to home now and have one more stop in Willits, California to visit a friend we made while in Mexico. We are both somewhat travel weary and can't wait to be welcomed back into Canada. I definitely think this trip has made us more proud of being from Canada. It is nice to have such a big, spacious place to call home.

Country to City

It's a hot, windy day here in Texas. It's hard to believe that it snowed two weeks ago! Well, we're wrapping up our month at -W Ranch this Friday and driving into the city (Austin) on Saturday to go to the farmer's market with our farm buddies. I'm excited to see all the produce and hopefully get some bargains!

I'm also excited to see our friend Tina, who will be in town for SXSW festivities. It's mostly coincidental that we'll be in Austin during one of the biggest music industry festivals in North America and we're gonna milk it for all it's worth. Free shows and food! Thank goodness for that because Austin is really expensive otherwise. We were there for a night this last weekend and it really reminds me of Calgary in so many ways.

I'm really excited for the next leg of our journey because I not only get to rendezvous with Tina in Austin but also with Sydney in New Orleans. I've wanted to visit New Orleans for a long time (possibly coinciding with reading "Interview With The Vampire"). I really have no idea what to expect. It feels good to be a "traveler" and not a "tourist". I think we end up seeing cities in a different way because we aren't always looking for the same landmarks that everyone else is and we are so cheap we can't afford to do most touristy things anyway.

I can't believe we've been gone for nearly four months! We've seen so much! And learned a lot. It's hard to even summarize the experience. I've barely been able to keep up with blogging because we're either on the road in between cities or we are working every day on one farm or another. I miss the routine of having a home and a job... but not enough to want to go back yet! Both ways of life definitely have their benefits.

I just had a conversation with Iris (a wwoofer from the Netherlands) about how weird America is. It is weird. As a Canadian, sometimes the differences between our cultures are hard to define but they are there. They say "pah-sta" and make fun of me for saying pasta!

-Janet

'Frisco Observations

After walking approximately 25 miles over the past two days, I feel like I have some ideas about the beautiful city of San Francisco. I also have very sore feet.

I've noticed a lot of Volkswagen Beetles. I've seen as many fixies as Vancouver, if not more. I've seen quite a few British bulldogs, American bulldogs, pitbulls, chowchows and many, many. chihuahuas. There are no alleys and not a lot of basements because all the garages and parking spaces are in front. Even two million dollar homes are small (unless you're up at the top of a hill). Not everything is on a hill but there are a lot of incredibly steep hills. It's very small and dense.

I love all the pastel Victorians with ornate bay windows. I had pretty much convinced myself that they were called bay windows because every house here has them and y'know, the bay and all. But I guess it's just a convienient way to maximize a view in small spaces and coincidentally some of the view here is of a bay.

Young people pretty much look the same. Hipsters and hippies. Almost everyone we've met is an artist but I guess that has something to do with the fact that our lovely ambassador Jess is an artist herself.

Today we'll take a bus, on accounta the sore feet, up to Fisherman's Wharf and North Beach. Tonight we'll head to Oakland to check it out and we'll probably dumpster dive in Berkeley tomorrow. On Tuesday we're taking an Alcatraz tour. And Wednesday we're outta here, on down the coast to Big Sur and eventually through the big sink to Escondido.

New Year's Eve! (or Once in a Blue Moon...)

Hey all,

This is Jay here. I know that Janet writes on this thing for the most part but I figured that I would take a turn informing y'all as to the progress of our meanderings.

Today we left the Chestnut Ridge after a month of chilling out and being farmers (more chilling than farming to be sure). It was a fond farewell as the time we had spent on that hill top was the shit. Tom fed us like crazy and treated us like family. I got to play with chainsaws and built a log table among the many more mundane, but still fun tasks of everyday property maintenance.

Christmas was rad as hell too. The sun was shining and the temperature hovered around fifteen degrees for most of the afternoon. We spent some time suntanning in the far orchard, reading and drinking beer. I bought Janet a giant chocolate bar, our only contribution to the consumerist shit show that is the holiday season.

Driving down from Tom's was a bit ridiculous. Nobody in this country uses turn signals. I figure Americans must a sixth sense that picks up the random movement of traffic on the nations freeways. I wish I had this skill as we were cut off at a rate of twice a mile over the last half hour before crossing the Golden Gate bridge. Elwood managed to emerge from the trial unscathed and we even caught a glimpse of Alcatraz as we descended into the city.

Now we are sitting in our friend Jess' living room in San Fransisco waiting for party time to arrive. It seems as though we will be going to a house party featuring a bouncing castle as well as free tacos and Pabst. I don't know how this event could get any better.

Take care my friends,

Jay

City of Roses

We spent most of yesterday cooped up inside a cafe due to the ceaseless rain. At least we found a nice little anarchist spot with free wireless and an "anti-Thanksgiving" Star Wars marathon. In hindsight, we should have sought a free turkey dinner a little harder but the late night dumpster run yielded a few holiday treats. Brussel sprouts! I love them.

Portland is a beautiful city with a unique spirit. So many locally owned shops and cafes, grassroots organizations and feelings of true community. Although this did work against us last night when we parked on a dark street to sleep and were greeted by a bearded man with a flashlight telling us to leave on account of the neighbourhood watch. We moved over a few blocks where some frat types were partying loudly and no one bothered us.

I think I am finally hitting my stride in terms of living in the van. My clean freak tendencies have to be suppressed a little but I still feel like it's really important to be observant and conscientious in such a small space. Watch what you put where and especially when all surfaces double as food prep areas.

Today we are after a public pool for showering. Hopefully we are not thwarted by the holiday... And because of the sunshine, we will ride bikes finally.

Next, Cannon Beach and the open sea. Dreamy...

-Janet