Thanks for the comments Em & M – Smashball is played with two wooden bats (a bit bigger than table tennis bats) with a ball like a squash ball. I’m not sure if there are actual rules but we were basically trying to knock it backwards and forwards to each other as many times as possible. Good hey?!
So, here’s what we’ve been up to…
Day 77 – San Francisco
Ben & Madeline set off to Starbucks first thing to do some work. Dave and I walked to some sports shops and office shops to try and get a fleece for Dave and some filofax stationery for me. Dave decided against a fleece even though we did find some lovely ones that were really reasonably priced.
Filofax isn’t a brand that the US recognise – we certainly couldn’t find anything suitable so I’ll just have to wait until we’re home.
The sun was shining and it was seriously warm. We bought a Starbucks and sat on a bench enjoying the weather.
Finally deciding that we were hungry, we strolled through the city to Market & 3rd to meet Ben and Madeline for lunch.
Soup, sandwich and ice-cream later we left Ben to head back to Starbucks, Madeline to go home to do some work and for us to go and do some shopping. Plan was to buy a dress suitable for Ben & Madeline’s wedding that I could leave with them to save me having to carry one over in July. As seemed to be the theme for the day, I didn’t buy anything. So, we went back to Starbucks to collect Ben then walked back to the flat.
Ben & Madeline rustled up some dinner whilst we sat in front of The Bachelor to see who he would be sending home tonight. If I lived here I’d spend my whole time watching programmes like it!
M x
Day 78 – San Francisco
Today was our 2 year anniversary!
Ben was up early to go to Yoga before work. I think Madeline and I telling him the night before that he probably wouldn’t make it pushed him to go! It turns out he was the only one there for the start and only one other person turned up! It was at 6:30am…
Madeline had work so we saw her briefly before we left for the day. We got a MUNI down to Embarcadero then we did only our second run of the trip. Our plan had been to run regularly. I’m not sure what happened to that!
We made our way back to the flat via the Urban Market to buy yoghurt for breakfast then spent the rest of the morning writing emails, sorting out our Canada trip, showering and having breakfast.
We decided to go out for lunch to celebrate our anniversary so wandered back into the city and found a nice Japanese restaurant. The food was good but the tempura not the best.
Having had our fill, we walked down to the cinema where we watched ‘21’, the film about the students from MIT who take Vegas by storm by counting cards. Really good film (not sure if it’s out at home yet). Also saw a trailer for the ‘Sex And The City’ movie – very excited to see it!
Back to the flat via Urban Market to buy some pink champagne – decided it was time to celebrate Ben & Madeline’s engagement and our 2 year anniversary. Also found out when we got home that a research paper that Ben had written has been chosen to be included in a conference in Vienna so lots to celebrate.
We had planned to cook for B&M but decided on a take away instead – lovely Chinese.
A bit of TV whilst D finished off planning our Canada trip then we all headed to bed.
M x
Day 79 – San Francisco and beyond
We had a bit of a lie in today as nothing really planned. Madeline had to go to school so we said our goodbyes as we were due to leave at 3:00pm. Dave and I went for our second run – this time at the gym where B&M are members. It’s so much hotter running on a treadmill!
Back at the flat we had breakfast, packed, showered, reviewed our finances and spent a bit of time with Ben. He made us fried egg sandwiches for lunch (yum) before we had to say goodbye and get our taxi to the bus station.
We’ve had a lovely time with Ben & Madeline – thank you both so much for being great hosts and for organising the road trip. It’s been awesome.
We picked up our tickets for the Greyhound bus, checked our luggage then waited for the bus to arrive. Once on the bus, I set to finishing off ‘Atonement’ which I’ve finally managed to get round to reading properly. Not much really happening on the bus. We stopped at Sacramento where we changed buses and bought a sandwich for dinner. I managed to get us the ‘wheelchair’ seats so there was lots of leg room. 8 ½ hours of reading and I finished my book before we decided it was time to sleep.
A kindly gentleman was talking very loudly but finally stopped when told to by the bus driver. I slept. I think Dave did too for a bit.
M x
Day 80 – Canada border & Vancouver
We both woke up many times through the night. It was a bit cold and there were a number of stops where people got on and off. We finally woke properly at 7:00am.
A brief stop in Portland where we had some breakfast then back on to the bus for the journey to Seattle. I listened to the Podcasts that I’d downloaded to my iPod at Ben’s and Dave slept.
Arriving at Seattle, we changed buses and I popped to Starbucks to get us some sandwiches for lunch.
Back on the bus we had a little excitement as we arrived at the Canadian border! We got to get off the bus, have our luggage checked and our passport stamped then we had to get back on the bus again. So exciting!
Another hour or so and we finally arrived in Vancouver. 25 hours of travelling by bus with the strangest people. I was glad to be getting off the bus and into a taxi to take us to the hostel.
Checked in, showered to warm up and then off out for tapas. It was cold but not raining. I knew we should have stayed in sunnier climates!
The tapas was delicious at a place called Bin 941 and the local beer that we sampled was also pretty good.
Both feeling the affects of a poor night’s sleep on the bus, we headed back to the hostel and were both soon sound asleep.
M x
Day 81 – Vancouver
UP at 8:00am for a run along English Bay. It was raining and cold. Back at the hostel we had a yummy breakfast, showered then headed out for the day.
We had a walk up to the Pacific Center shopping mall where we did a bit of shopping then caught the Sky Train to Main Street on a ‘Vibram 5 Fingers’ search – the ‘Vibram 5 Fingers’ are trainers where each of the toes are separated, a bit like a glove.
We discovered that we were on the wrong Main Street but that there was another place close by. Arriving there we found that they had only a limited selection and not really what I was looking for. I bought some standard walking shoes instead that are water proof as my feet were soaked from the little walking we’d done that morning.
Stopped at an Indian restaurant for lunch where they had a special lunchtime deal with very good food.
We finally headed back to the hostel to drop our bags off then caught the ferry across to Granville Island. We booked onto the Granville Island Brewery tour, had a quick walk around the market then back to the brewery to be told all about how to make beer. We also got to sample some of the local brews which were quite good.Ferry back to the hostel where we both had a little cat nap before we went out for dinner. We had Japanese which wasn’t that great and I wasn’t really hungry.
Back to the hostel we read for a bit before falling asleep.
M x
Day 82 – Vancouver
Another run, breakfast, showers then out into a slightly less rainy but still cold day.
We walked down Howe Street to Canada Place where we wandered around the harbour area – we saw a sea plane coming into land which was pretty cool!
Stopped in for a Starbucks to warm us both up then on into Gas Town which was the centre of Vancouver until it was hit by fires, now a touristy area with a big steam powered clock.
We did a bit of window shopping and had lunch then waited for the steam clock to ‘steam’ at 1:15. I discovered that it was no longer powered by steam and the 1:15 performance wasn’t that great but at least we can say we’ve done it!
We walked out of the city to a bike hire place where we picked up bikes for a ride around the headland and Stanley Park. I was excited to see a black squirrel scampering along a tree’s branch but even more excited when we saw seals swimming around in the bay!We also saw ‘Harper’s Island’ being filmed but neither of us has heard of it!
After dropping the bikes off, we walked back to the hostel, had a bit of a snooze then went for dinner at a Greek restaurant that had been recommended. There was a massive queue outside but neither this nor the rain deterred us from waiting in line.The food was really good and reasonably priced. Dave was chatted up by the male waiter from Columbia who ‘Loves the English accent’!
True to recent form, we went back to the hostel, read for a bit and fell asleep.
M x
Day 83 – Vancouver
Walked to ‘Chapters’ first thing to buy some books – a 55 hour train journey coming up and I’ve finished all the books we have with us!
The heavens opened as we were inside so we decided we needed an indoor activity. Just across the road was the Art Gallery so we paid our entrance fee and spent a very pleasant morning walking round looking at the artwork and films that were on display.
Lunch at the gallery then more time spent looking at the photographic collections. We finally left around 4:30pm for the hostel then out for dinner – an Indian meal which was really good.
Back for… you guessed it, reading then bed.
M x
1 comment:
The weather sounds just like England, hope the tan doesn't fade before you return! Watched the football when we got home from the theatre last night, 4-3 to us so into the semi finals against Chelsea. (I think this is the correct information!) Shopping and a meal tonight then possibly a quick read and bed - does that sound like someone else's life??
Take care, have fun and enjoy your time in the US. xx
Post a Comment