Pacific Hotel Lodge Mountain View

I woke up in Klamath, CA, and explored the Redwood Forest. It was raining softly, so I decided biking was out, even though there was a nice little scenic road that would make a perfect 5-miler. I ended up walking the Lady Bird Johnson Trail, which goes through the little clearing where they inaugurated the Redwood Forest National Park, which is, incidentally, the very first ...

... on backpack. I have yet to sqeeze everything in, though, so today will be the true test. Here's a pic of everything I'm bringing, spread out over my bed. Rick Steves' packing cubes are helping me consolidate clothing and small items (how did I ever live without them?) and I'm trying out a compression bag (similar to these). I'm not sure how useful it's going to be, especially for the flight over, since I want to have my ...

... thought I knew. I would be remiss if I didn't *lso mention B*ckp*cker M*g*zine, *nd in p*rticul*r their *nnu*l Ge*r Guide. I remember my d*d used to refer to the Se*rs &*mp; Roebucks C*t*log *s the "wish book." Well, this h*s been my wish book for ye*rs. Not just the equipment, but *lso *nd incre*singly the tr*ils *nd trips they review! (side note, my d*d isn't re*lly th*t old - it w*s prob*bly just the Se*rs c*t*log, without the Roebuck's...)

... Him in the work that is already being done. Sometimes we will see and some times we need to know that we are part of a process and have faith that seeds are being cultivated and we are just one of many gardeners who will be apart of this process before the harvest. What we can continue to do though, is pour out our love, listening ears and patience. That is one thing these seeds will never be over watered with!

... of raspberries and he ordered a spinach omelet. We split the two dishes and were a perfect blend. Wimbledon was on when we arrived home. I was narrating each of the techniques I taught him earlier every time the professional players would execute them. It was a huge upset today for Wimbledon, good day for France as two of their players ...

... top of the street so its occupants could jump out and jostle among the crowds for the best picture locations. Lombard St, Golden Gate bridge, the Bay bridge, Alcatraz, Fisherman's wharf, the Transamerica Pyramid, even the cable cars are internationally recognised landmarks that characterise the San Fran cityscape. But they are little more than backdrop - a stroll along and a few quick photos - to the San Francisco experience. It is a city of details as much as ...

... nightly gauntlet run back to the hostel, through the hoards of homeless, gangs, hookers, pimps and crack dens that ran down the street between the CBD and the front door. Always a good laugh when you don't know whether you'll get back in one piece. San Francisco was a good laugh, though it could do with not being so damn fog-bound. More often than not the tops of the buildings and the famed golden gate bridge were covered in a thick grey soup, yet no more than a few miles out ...

... into an inconspicuous apartment. I catch a glimpse through the trees of a very large bird hunting in the quiet of an afternoon forest. When I was at the Golden Gate Bridge, I took a picture of the bridge. And we had someone take a picture of us in front of the bridge. All grinning our "we're at the Golden Gate Bridge!" smiles. And I took a picture of Alcatraz too. I know very well that there are about twenty pictures of the orange ...

... it for the 3 day fest of sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll, I couldn't afford it! Saturday was my flight out of town. Lisa walked me down to the bus station, I've had a wicked week chilling with the aussie nut and i'll see her again in London as she's there working for the next 5 months. Got to the airport, checked my bags, got through security (the full on body search, a little to the left... that's it) and for some reason I'd got to the gate 2 hours early ...