The adventure begins...

Anne actually willingly joins the 21st Century . Welcome to America!!

I have finally decided that blogging is the best way to actually keep my own thoughts and notes; photos and updates for anyone who may get bored at work and want to see what fun and adventures I am getting up to. I also hope that I can develop links detailing what I am learning as I go. I feel at this point, that I should admit that after 3 weeks away from home and staying in dorms full of people using wifi on their own laptops; and then going to cafes where everyone is attatched to their electronic friends; then searching for internet cafes and being directed to either: a) the public libraries where, and I quote, "all of the homeless people go"; or b)city colleges where I could "register for a part time course and then gain access to the internet"; or randomly 'stumbling upon' the occassional dark room at the back of rather dodgy looking male dominated store (which filled me with grief), I decided I would invest in a mini laptop. Oh by the way, that rather loud "bang", was the sound of my budget being blown dramatically out of my rather overluxurious hotel room. Welcome to America! Home of Consumerism.

I feel I also need to warn you that this is a work in progress, and I am expecting that I will change and develop it as I go. At the very least I can say that I will be exploring the world of blogging and hopefully will keep a few people entertained. It would be great if you would like to add comments too. I am still in the first month of what is to be a very long journey.

Now in Portland, I spent last night with my great friend Jessie Burns and had the privalege of being a "Gaelic Storm virgin". What fun! Not only was I welcomed with open arms but I got to experience their particular type of performance magic that had people of all ages dancing at the front, and in the aisles, in either traditional 'Irish style', or the unique 'freestyle' that their level of musical passion induces.

Check them out @ http://gaelicstorm.musiccitynetworks.com/

The Grand 'Cycle Tour'.
So, for those of you unaware of this....., as a rather late addition to my plans, I decided that in intially removing the options of hiring or buying a cheap car (I didn't fancy this alone); or buying a motorbike, as I was attempting to keep my carbon footprint as low as possible: although in retrospect this may have been a better option; or joining the masses of newly released inmates on the greyhound bus (thanks, but no thanks); or taking the quite seriously impressive Amtrak train service (I love trains and these were seriously comfortable and had been my original transport of choice) - they actually helped me 'bail' on 3 occassions and are very well kitted out for bikes. Yippee!!!!! OR HITCHING. Which I didn't even entertain alone, I decided to attempt to cycle the West Coast Route of the states; expedition style; and solo. Uh huh! Anytime now, my brain may kick in.

The route actually starts in Alaska and ends in San Diego, and had I not already booked flights for later on in the year and set myself the target of reaching Mexico for 'Las dias del mortes', I may well have just spent 9 months cycling down from Alaska and taking my time along the way to explore the Pacific coast; national parks and mountains along this amazing part of the North American continent. I have now left Alaska and Canada for another year, as without going into the boring details of the collapse in the British economy and the although fairly platonic and mutual, nevertheless rather complicated, break-up with my ex-partner. The heartless result from my perspective: I set off later than planned and with less time than planned and unfortunately also with less money. Anyway......

I think I have already earmarked this trip for the next 6 week holiday I get, infact to be honest I have been told about some outreach teaching work with Inuit communities in Alaska and feel I should probably follow this up as I think it would be amazing, and challenging, so right up my street. I also managed to live part of the route through a number of people I met.

Firstly, a Japanese couple who had just reached Vancouver having completed the Northern section of the route (actually the lady was resting in the youth hostel and her boyfriend had carried on). She said it had been great, but couldn't imagine doing it alone as it was tough and her boyfriend had carried all of the water. Initially my thoughts, in my 'never say never' way initially went: "no worries, I have a water purifier". Then, as I began to think about darkness and wilderness and animal sounds and no mobile signal and wierdos in trucks on the roads, and well, all of those things that at home I shook off as unreal 'monsters' discussed to stop people doing things, well, to be honest they all seemed a little bit real now, on the verge of doing it. Her look said it all. She was ready to stop and rest and have a few creature comforts. We shared a nice dinner together and hot chocolate and enjoyed the Canadian stars and live music for the last night of the Hostel season in the unheated and rather antiquated ex japanese airbase that was the 'Jerico Beach hostel'. She set off to meet him the next day. I remained. I had no bike :-(. Hi Hiroko!!

The next day I met a German couple who too had completed that Northern section and were full of smiles and love and energy and enthusiasm and really were a good advert for life on the road. The guy gave me his helmet and told me where they'd just left their bikes for sale. I headed to the store, but their bikes had gone. Boooo! I did however discover the coolest coffee bar and met a really nice guy whose father was a maths lecturer at the University

Stage 1: Vancouver, Canada - a rather shaky start.

So, after a few days of jet lag during which the furthest place I got was a wind surfing centre on the beach (5 mins away), I actually ventured downtown in search of my dream bike. 6 days later...., having explored ALL of the bike shops in Vancouver, and asked soooooooooooooooooo many questions I was beginning to annoy even myself; and gathered almost too much information on stock, prices and product details: to the point I could actually write a guide book entitled: "Bike shops in Vancouver" (and just might soon- watch out bloggers!!), I actually left Vancouver without one....(and before anyone else says it.. yes, that is so me!), even though I had just located the perfect one (it only needed the seat changing and a pedometer put on it)... The 2 wheeled HMS Anne was blue and silver and had my name written all over it. Well....."LIVERPOOL". I just couldn't decide if it was too cheesy, even for me... and you all know how much I love cheese :-).

To be honest, I was planning on buying it the next day.... but had to move downtown to the 'rainbow quarters' to get to immigration. Why? Well, Canada is such an amazing country they are tightly controlling who they let in and the nice people at immigration made be give a leaving date. It had taken me a few days to recover from that near rejection (literally), they seriously weren't going to let me in without an outward flight. The mention of "Fiddy's friend" outside did nothing to help matters unfortunately. It appears vicars and bikers have a bad name amongst the Canadians, and to be honest, well.... it was a nightmare and I missed my lift meaning my first introduction to Vancouver was a group of apparent moody teenagers running immigration; and a Bengali taxi driver trying to rip me off.

I guess it could have been worse. I have since heard that 1 month earlier they shot someone at Vancouver airport - their reasoning: "he didn't make any sense". 'He' was apparently a schitzophrenic with English as a second language. Wow!! ... and I thought the UK had a tough immigration policy! The words out of the immigration officers mouth eventually, after keeping me waiting for almost two hours were: "We don't normally let people like you in, but you are making complete sense". Errr....... can you believe that? I guess that's a first!

That aside, I did as usual, underestimate the time required to find the right bike and get on the road. Trying to figure out how a new country works and find the right bike for me, was challenging to say the least. It wasn't that I didn't think Canada was a completely different country: geography and biology had taught me that much; but I at least expected us to speak the same language. I can't believe how wrong I was, nor how much anti British (or at least crown) sentiment their was. Still, I did have fun exploring on a borrowed bike and got used to navigating roads riding on the right rather than the left. What a gorgeous city Vancouver is, I want to move there! Infact, one of the guys at the hostel tried to convince me I could/ should stay; and I was tempted particularly when invited to stay by a female artist who lived alone with views of a lake and mountains and well... I seriously want to go back there. It is a magnificent place.

As a personal note, I also learnt that most of my lateness seems to be caused by being distracted by meeting exiting and interesting people. Whilst at the Hostel at Jerrico Beach, in addition to the aforementioned, I met the youth Brazilian football squad - hence photo. (I was tempted to hitch a lift as they were keen to have an English Teacher on their side and promised to teach me to dance properly). I guess that would've given me just about enough time to prepare for the Carnival in Feb. I was also offered a free haircut at their sponsors salon; apparently he had just had Janet Jackson fly in that morning. Lamely I didn't feel up to wandering around downtown getting lost trying to find a salon that day, so didn't go. What an idiot! I have however now gladly reconciled this, rather annoying feature, with myself and am accepting that this is infact what travel is about (I still regret not having my hair completely redone though. I need a radical change).

Still, I did get to ride around the city and practice trail riding and process what I would need my bike to do and got some bike gear. 'Sports Junkies' is the place to be and you could build yourself a great touring bike in two weeks with a bit of luck. I also discovered 'Craigs list' where you can buy anything, including a date(!). Yet, no bike for me. Everyone I asked said if they could find it, they'd buy it. Helpful. I guess that must in some way mean I'm on the right lines. The bags in the end came from 'Bike Doctor'.

Seattle Finally, at last, I did find what seems like the right bike in Seattle, and had fun testing and trialing and playing with and exploring it. It was smooth and comfortable and powerful and stable. My kinda bike.. so I bought it, even though it was almost twice what I intended to spend. Lake Washington is amazing and an architects dream. The houses and the creativity expressed through them and the lifestyle that was apparent through the additions: jetties, boats; biplane stops; artist studios; over-water deckking with full on all weaer bbq areas etc etc.. Huskies are the dog of choice here it appears and the name of the football team (or maybe the baseball team). So, having accepted that. I actually arrived. A football team chosen, I finally felt at home. How scouse! I'm not sure who the 'Shankly' figure was, but the accompanying husky won me over :-). Portland My last night at the Hostel in Portland has been marked by the most celebratory Thai curry feast (it blew mine out of the water - not difficult after my sticky rice gu). My biggest thanks go to Dow Cobb for making my last night so special, and to all the beautiful and wonderful people working and staying at the Hostel who were so accomodating, supportive and encouraging. Thankyou!! I felt that my soul has been strengthened and my nutrician boosted and I am ready for the challenges ahead. Tomorrow I actually leave for the coast route in proper. I have met someone else crazy enough to be attempting this route at this time of year (Hoorah!) a lady, called Amber. We seem to have covered all the bases between us and have even developed motivational songs for the 3 mile journey up to 2500m (our hardest climb). Hopefully I will be able to keep adding little updates; but the likely outcome is that it will be San Francisco before I stop for a few days. Until then, biggest smiles and warmest hugs x