Tuesday, July 31, 2012

WHY IS RICE-A-RONI CALLED THE SAN FRANCISCO TREAT?

Evening from the hills of San Francisco.

Last night I slept somewhere in Oakland… I think.. Who knows.  All I know is that I woke up to police sirens at least 3 times.

Before returning my rental car to the San Francisco Airport, I made a pit stop to University of California-Berkeley.  It was time to give away the surf board I bought down in San Diego.  I figured I wouldn't have much trouble doing this on Cal's campus.  I wanted to give it to a child somewhere, but I thought that might not be a good idea.  Waiting at a park and asking a kid if they want a 29yr old man's surfboard… yeah, even Forrest Gump would know that's a bad idea.

Short story shorter, I met a great guy named Isaac who is at Berkeley studying Political Economics and gave him my board.  Isaac just did some worldly travels himself and studied Karate in China, I think.  How cool!  He is from Southern California and loves surfing.  I couldn't think of a better home for it.  I am sure he will put it to much better use than I was able to.  Good luck working on that degree man and have a blast with the board!  Some day for kicks, lets put your karate verse my thai boxing.  That would be rad!

I then made my way to downtown San Fran via train. The apartment on my back got significantly heavier/bulkier as I am now carrying my sleeping bag and tent.  It's all good.  I'm looking forward to the challenge!

I spent all day today walking around San Francisco! No buses, trains, trams, or cable cars.  I wanted to get a feel for this place on foot.  Holy hills!  I kept trying to maneuver my sight seeing so I'd only be walking down hills.   YEAH.. THAT DIDN'T WORK.  Walking the streets here is like an extreme sport.  One false move and you could fall to your death.  There was tons of fog.  It was hot.  It was cold. The ocean was rowdy.  The water was chilly. And there were tons of tourists.  I never knew San Francisco got tourists.  Then again, I don't know much about anything.

I am staying in a hostel just outside Chinatown.  Or it might be in Chinatown.  Either way, I had Subway for lunch and dinner.

Bed for me.  My dogs are barking.  I hope all is well.

Mark/Chops



ENJOY THE BOARD ISAAC!  I'LL TAKE YOU UP ON LUNCH THE NEXT TIME I'M IN THE AREA.  BE GOOD MAN.

DOESN'T DO JUSTICE TO THE MOUNTAIN OF A STREET I JUST CLIMBED.  I DID NOT SEE ANOTHER SOUL ON FOOT ON THIS ONE.  CLIMBING TO GET A VIEW OF THE CITY.

AFTER THE CLIMB, FOG HIDES THE WHOLE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE! LAME.

SO I TURNED AROUND AND SAW THE BAY BRIDGE

THE CURVIEST STREET IN THE WORLD.. WASN'T THAT IMPRESSED.

THIS IS EXACTLY THE IMAGE I HAD IN MY MIND OF WHAT SAN FRAN WOULD LIKE LIKE.  STEEP HILLS, CABLE CAR TRACKS, CHARMING ETC.  THAT'S ALCATRAZ DOWN BELOW!

SUN IS SETTING ON THE GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE

ADAM AND ALEX KHAW OPENED A RESTAURANT!  CONGRATS GUYS!

NOT A CHOCOLATE LOVER BUT THIS PLACE WAS PRETTY SWEET. 
CANADIAN BORDER PATROL WANTED TO SEND ME HERE.  I MIGHT GO ANYWAYS.  3 SQUARES A DAY?

THE FAMOUS PIER 39 SEA LIONS BASKING IN THE SORT OF SUN.  THIS PIER OVERLOOKS GOLDEN GATE BRIDGE AND ALCATRAZ.  PRETTY COOL.

STUPID IS AS STUPID DOES WAS A BLOG TITLE OF MINE LAST WEEK.  THOUGHT THIS WAS FITTING. WAITING FOR THE BUS WITH MY BOX A CHOCOLATES.

Monday, July 30, 2012

GREETINGS FROM LITHUANIA!

Hi!,

Just kidding.  I wish I was in Lithuania.  Just checking to see if anyone actually reads this stuff.

A lot has taken place since I last touched base.  I have logged some serious miles.  12 hours in the car today so tonight I made a picture book.  Trying to describe everything would lead to far more writing than anyone would ever want to read.  Enjoy the photos.  Sleeping somewhere in San Francisco.

PS. some may notice that I have had the same t-shirt on for 4 days in a row.  I can't say that I planned this, but hey, sometimes things just happen.  When I got to San Fran, I put that guy in the trunk and doned some fresh cotton.  Heaven.

Mark/Chops

WHALE WATCHING OFF A PIER IN SANTA BARBARA.  NO WHALES, BUT LOTS OF COUGARS.  SANTA BARBARA IS BREATHTAKING

TRIPOD ALMOST GOT RUN OVER. HEADING NORTH

SHOT A 78 WITH WOMEN'S RENTAL CLUBS AT SOME CLUB IN SAN LOUIS OBISBO. BOO YA!  PICTURE STINKS.  IT WAS STUNNING BEHIND ME.  THE CLUBS REMINDED ME OF HIGH HEELS.  I COULD USE THEM, BUT THEY WOULD NOT BE VERY COMFORTABLE.  NOT THAT I KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HIGH HEELS... I PLAYED WITH A GUY NAMED BARRY WHO WAS FROM BOSTON. HE MOVED NEXT TO THIS COURSE IN 1971 AND HASN'T LEFT.  

SO, EVERY CAMP SITE WITHIN 100 MILES OF SAN LOUIS OBISBO WAS FULL.  THIS IS OVERFLOW CAMPING.  WASN'T THERE AN EPISODE OF THE OFFICE WHERE MICHAEL SCOTT CAMPS IN A WALMART PARKING LOT PRETENDING TO BE BEAR GRYLLS??? WELL, YEAH, THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED HERE.  I'M ABOUT 40 YARDS FROM A 7/11.

THERE IS NO ONE PLACE KNOWN AS BIG SUR.  NO SIGNS SAYING YOU ARE THERE OR THAT YOU ARE LEAVING.  SO I WAS WONDERING HOW TO KNOW WHEN I GOT THERE... I WAS TOLD "YOU WILL KNOW WHEN YOU KNOW"... I KNEW.  THIS STRETCH OF THE COASTLINE WAS INCREDIBLE.  HENCE A MILLION PICTURES.

50 ELEPHANT SEALS HANGING OUT WITH ME WHILE I STOPPED FOR AN EARLY BREAKFAST!

OCEAN TO THE WEST.  THIS TO THE EAST FOR HUNDREDS OF MILES

FOG IS TRYING TO LIFT

THOUGHT I'D TRY MY LUCK AGAIN ON HIGHWAY 1. 
UNREAL
NOT MY SMARTEST DECISION.  THE WIND ALMOST ENDED MY LIFE

UNREAL

UNREAL

UNREAL

UNREAL

BEYOND UNREAL!

BEYOND UNREAL! CHECK OUT THE WATERFALL!

COULDN'T EVEN BELIEVE WHAT I WAS SEEING

UNREAL
UNREAL

UNREAL

JUST HIT 1,000 MILES OF CALIFORNIAN COAST IN THE RENTAL!

UNREAL

CHECK OUT MY NEW HOUSE

STUPID STUPID STUPID DECISION.  BUT FUN! CLIFF HANGING.

UNREAL

A FEMALE JUST YELLED "NICE HAIR WOOO!!" OUT THE WINDOW AS THE CAR DROVE BY.  NO BIG DEAL.

UNREAL

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY IT LOOKS LIKE I HAVE MAN BOOBS IN THIS PICTURE.  I'LL GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.  IT WAS COOL AND WINDY... TIME FOR ADDITIONAL PUSHUPS.

GOLFERS.. RECOGNIZE THIS?  18TH AT PEBBLE PEACH! NO BIG DEAL. DODGING SECURITY LIKE IT'S MY JOB.

18TH AGAIN.  SAT HERE FOR 2 HOURS TAKING IT ALL IN.  LOTS OF GOLF BALLS WENT INTO THE WATER.  $475 FOR A ROUND AT PEBBLE BEACH.  YIKES!

UNREAL

HOW DOES ONE GET ON THE OUTDOOR DINING PATIO AT PEBBLE BEACH?  JUST WALK IN, SHAKE THE GUYS HAND AT THE DOOR AND PAT HIS SHOULDER LIKE YOU KNOW HIM... HE IS CONFUSED BUT FEELS BAD THAT HE DOESN'T RECALL WHO YOU ARE SO HE LETS YOU BY.  THEN JUST KEEP WALKING, GET YOUR PICTURE,  AND MOVE ON.

YEAH, I JUST TRESPASSED ONTO THE COURSE.  I DON'T EVEN HAVE A CLUE WHAT HOLE I'M ON.  I KEPT THE CAR RUNNING.

FAMOUS 17 MILE DRIVE, PEBBLE BEACH, MONTEREY CALIFORNIA

WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS A GOLF COURSE?  I'M HERE TO SURF.  I JUST LEFT THE CLUBHOUSE WHERE I LINED UP INTERVIEWS TO CADDY AT PEBBLE BEACH, SPYGLASS, AND SPANISH BAY.  I KIND OF JUST WANTED TO SEE IF I COULD GET THE INTERVIEWS. I DID.  I WANTED TO TELL THEM MY NAME WAS DANNY NOONAN.  CADDY BUDDIES: ALL IN $85-$105 PER BAG.  THAT'S A LOT MORE MONEY THAN I AM CURRENTLY MAKING. HAAA.  NOT TOO BAD.  

THERE WERE NO LESS THAN 50 KITE SURFERS ON THIS TINY STRETCH OF BEACH APPROACHING SAN MATEO.  HOME OF TOM BRADY.  I THINK.

OH HELLO.  ANOTHER PICTURE WHILE DRIVING.  NOT SMART




The Future Is No Place To Place Your Better Days