Ridgecrest Hotels
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Home sw... well, home
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So that's that. After a 12 hour flight full of selectable movies on Virgin Atlantic, I walked once again onto U.S. soil and came quickly to a halt for the long line at Customs. The computers were down so after a lengthy wait finally made it to baggage, and another long wait later (how can the bag not already be here?) out onto the sidewalk to await my ride. I was met coincidentally by the same friend who had driven me down to L.A. and drove off (sorry this is the U.S. better have a car available). I was shocked by the gas prices- it is one thing to read about them and another to see $4.05 a gallon. Equally shocking was how crowded the 6-lane highway (that's one side only, 12 total, and its bigger in places) was and how traffic was still overwhelming. I guess when you design a city around cars, keep building more and bigger highways that don't really solve the problem, and neglect any meaningful effort towards public transportation, then all higher gas prices do is make everyone more poor while the traffic and pollution problems grow. Way to go L.A.
After a four and a half hour trip (usually two and a half) we made it back to fun-filled Ridgecrest. I was pretty exhausted and luckily my roommate had put beds in the other rooms so I crashed. Since then it has been very strange- after being gone for so long and doing so many different things I feel different, but here nothing has really changed. Luckily my computer still works- sloooowwwwlly- my car started after I charged the battery overnight and so far has kept starting, although slowly too- my bike wasn't stolen and works great. In fact I've been trying an experiment in not using my car unless absolutely necessary- and it isn't easy in a town designed in an area of basically unlimited space. But I'm getting plenty of exercise and saving gas money. As long as my bike isn't stolen. Watching tv one night I saw an ad for one of the local bars... to everyone who I've described this town too, you would really see what I meant if you saw this commercial. Imagine a slightly fuzzy picture, large people (usually weighing at least 200 pounds (90 kg) women included), in one scene a mostly empty dancefloor with two larger specimens grinding away, and guys yelling "Tommy T's!!" in guttural apelike voices at the camera, and you will only approach how bad the commerical is (only wish I could find it on the internet). And this is the way the bar is selling itself. I hate this town.
So to recap... I traveled by airline jet (including the A380 and 747), dinghy, catamaran, car, mountain bike, kiteboard, bus, sailboat, camper van, paraglider, autogiro, subway train, taxi, train, ferry, monorail, tuk-tuk, scooter, long-tail boat, rickshaw, water bus, traghetto, gondola, water ambulance, water taxi, and snowboard, but mostly my own two feet. I was gone for 229 days and spent $32,400.11 (approximately :) for an average of $141.49 a day. Holy crap. I only went to two places I had been before- okay three (Naples, Frankfurt, and London sort of). I met a ton of great people, and one or two I would rather forget- had great experiences, mostly good, almost all funny in some way, and a few bad- learned a ton, saw some amazing places, did things I had never done and always wanted to do, drove on the wrong side of the road, met my nephew, and didn't catch any diseases. I am tired of wearing the same clothes as the last 7 months. I am nearly broke, out of shape, and back in Ridgecrest. Would I do it again? You bet!
Many thanks to Airtreks, for my airline tickets and quick responses to changes and additions, usually frantically made at the last minute. John and Susan Fisher for an amazing start to my trip, making me laugh, being extremely accomodating and generous, and for stopping in New Caledonia. Most of the couch surfers who gave advice, hung out, let me stay, and showed me around. Caroline's family for welcoming me for the holidays and for being so nice. Caroline for teaching me French, flying halfway around the world, the many laughs, and so much more. Many many thanks to Franc. All of my friends and loved ones for e-mailing and keeping up with my travels and spending time reading my dribble. Just knowing somebody was reading this made all the internet cafe time worthwhile. And also a huge thanks to my grandfather, whose past generosity made affording this trip possible, and who I've missed for years. Time to figure out what I want to do when I grow up and go find a job doing it. Wish me luck....
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