| I knew it was time to go! Friday, March 15, 2002 . . . Santa Cruz,
California Day 3
Hello All!
For those who wondered why they never heard from me after the promise of updates on my
progress round-the-world, I can know admit the dirty secret . . . I hadn't left yet!
Although the plan HAD been to leave Oakland in July, 2001, and set off for about a year of
exploring the U.S. by bicycle, followed by the rest of the world, various delays got in
the way of that plan. For those who thought I would NEVER leave, you heard the August,
December, January, and February deadlines come and go . . .
Well, at long last, on Wednesday morning, March 13, I rolled out of Hayward, California
and across the Dumbarton Bridge to Palo Alto, and over Skyline Drive to Pigeon Point
Lighthouse. Let me publicly thank Nancy at this point, without whom this adventure
wouldn't be possible. I could not ask for a better or MORE PATIENT friend. After David and
I sold our house in November, I told Nancy I would stay with her about two or three weeks
while I made final preparations for the trip. She never once complained that my concept of
three weeks was . . . well, "flexible.
The first night out I stayed at the Youth Hostel at the light house, (after testing my
new bike light for night riding along the coast). Climbing up to skyline took me quite a
bit more time than I expected and, with the weight of all my gear, pushed my knees a bit
more also. So on Day 2 I rolled into Santa Cruz (an easy 30 mile ride), and surprised a
friend, Joyce, who lives here, who put me up for the night.
Dirty Secret #2: Originally, I had planned on biking EVERY MILE of the way . . . What
the heck, I decided as I kept finding higher and higher crests on Day 1 . . . what's a few
hundred miles between friends if I'm going several thousand . . . Joyce and I are throwing
my bike and gear in the back of her truck and driving down the coast to Morro Bay. At
which point, I might even actually CAMP for a night or two. So for those of you who
thought I might be roughing it . . . well, it looks like "cushy" is the order of
the day.
Next stop is Los Angeles, to visit my brothers, San Diego, to see some friends, a
flight to Albuquerque, New Mexico for a week long visit with David, and Aster/Kitty (my
dog/cat), with a return flight to San Diego on April 4.
Then the real fun begins. The plan is to ride down the Baja Peninsula, cross on the
ferry to Puerto Vallarta (where I have a reservation on May 5) to meet with Nancy, and
then look into a Spanish Intensive Language School, where you live with a Mexican family
and attend classes all day . . . at that point, then, I figure I'll be ready for all of
Mexico, Central, and South America.
But, as I said, that's just the plan . . . I've definitely learned one thing over the
last few months. . . just go with the flow.
So best wishes to all . . . Invitations to each of you to name your favorite spot
around the world to meet me, and if you have any "must not be missed"
recommendations, feel free to reply.
Jeffrey . . . 75 miles down, 59,925 to go! |
