Thursday, August 30, 2012
Tomorrow I'll go back to USA!
As a final step in this trip, I've decided to spend one month in the house of some dear friends I met when I passed by Burlington, WA. Their names are Don and Pat. They hosted me and, in one of our many talks, I mentioned the work I'm doing in my computer and that I was planning on spending about a month concentrated in finishing up the first version. On the next day, Don and Pat offered me to stay in their house for that period to get my work done.
Don, Pat and I
Don, Pat and I
This was such an amazing gesture. I will of course rent the room. I can't just stay without giving anything back. Besides, I will help them with the work they do in the field growing vegetables. This should be fun as well!
This is my plan: ride back to the US tomorrow and camp somewhere in between Vancouver and Burlington, WA, and Saturday ride the last stretch.
I will stay with them during September. During this time I will be fully concentrated in working on my project, but will keep updating the blog as I have been doing lately. I will also post the final updates to the previous travel blog, www.usaonabicycle.com.
Hopefully tonight the hostel won't be too noisy and I'll be able to catch some sleep.
Cheers!!
-Eduardo
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The American Backpacker's Horror Hostel
Hi folks!
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
This is the owner, Vincent. He is a nice guy.
I'm still in Vancouver and plan on staying up to this Friday morning. I'm at the American Backpacker's Hostel as I mentioned in a previous post. This place is just such a terrible dump! Old everything, dirty everything. Also sad to see so man young people wasting their lives with drugs. Too much delusion in such a small place.
The room I'm staying at is located right next to the patio where people get together to do all kinds of drugs and brag about how doped they are. This morning I woke up with someone throwing up outside after getting close to a cocaine overdose. On the corridors hookers occasionally try to make some money. Not sure where though since all rooms have six bed or more and the place is always full. Yesterday there was a guy sleeping on the floor in our room, I don't think he was registered with the hostel. The bathroom hasn't been cleaned in the last 30 years for sure. Yesterday the police decided to go in to stop a fight that was happening in the corridor, right in front of my room. No one arrested despite the fact that crack and pot can be found on pretty much all pockets in that place. Well, it is located at the heart of Vancouver's downtown and costs $10 a night, so I can't complaint about the location or price.
People look me weird when they see me drinking my daily half gallon of chocolate soy milk. Yesterday one girl asked what I had inside the soy milk container. You should have seen the look on her face when I said it was soy milk! haha that was too funny.
But I have had good laughs reading the notes that are located all over the place. I took picture of some of them and I'm posting them here.
Look at these!
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
At the registration booth.
This is the owner, Vincent. He is a nice guy.
They had more funny ones on the bathroom:
And this was at the kitchen:
And I found this kind note in my bicycle today in the morning:
I must say this has been a quite valuable experience. After staying there I will absolutely never complain about anywhere, ever. haha
Cheers,
-Eduardo
Monday, August 27, 2012
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Getting to know Vancouver!
Hi folks!
Right now I'm at a Starbucks in Grandville Island, just about two miles south of Vancouver. I'll pedal back to town soon.
My first impression of Vancouver was good, but I have had mixed feelings about it so far. The city seems to have a very large and dense population of homeless people which makes going around with an expensive bicycle a little trickier. Other than that it's been great.
Entering British Columbia, Canada
Arriving in Vancouver, BC
Right now I'm at a hostel called American Backpacker's Hostel right in the downtown area. It's the worst place I have stayed in this entire trip, including the bad motels in Oklahoma. I'm not sure if this hostel is bad or all hostels are like this, but there I found a legion of drug addicts, drunk teenagers who scream all night long old and dirty everything, etc. I'm sharing the room with 6 more people, most of them like that as well. On the corridors that are girls hanging around smoking pot and dressed in such a way I can only assume they are prostitutes. I need to make some more pictures of this hostel and will post them soon.
I can't say this experience has been completely bad, it was in a way interesting to see this kind of environment. However, I'm eager to get out of there tomorrow.
I'm planning on catching a ferry to Victoria, and camp there for a few days. I'm still considering a few options for the next month or so, I'll give more details as soon as I decide what's next!
Bhajan and I. He guided me through a complicated trail leading to Vancouver.
A painting in one of Vancouver's streets.
The internet access here has been limited to wifi spots, and even then it is fairly slow so I couldn't upload the late videos. I will do so as soon as I catch a better Wi-Fi. :D
Alright, it's time for me to look for a laundry and get my clothes washed, then find a place to eat.
Cheers!!
Saturday, August 25, 2012
At the Alibi pub
With Andrew and Anya having a great time at the alibi pub. This are amazing folks!!
Arrived in Vancouver, Canada!!!
I MADE IT!!! \o/
I actually made it here yesterday but had no signal until now... Once i crossed the Canada border I had to turn international roaming on, and I don't have that in my plan. So while pin Canada I'll have to update the blog just thought Wii.
Right now I'm at a bar with some really nice folks I meet here. I stayed in their home last night, they are called Andrew and Anya.
Here is a picture I took yesterday when entering Vancouver.
I'll post much more tonight when i get to a wifi with my laptop. =)))
Friday, August 24, 2012
Today I'll cross the border!
I'm heading to the Canadian border now! The guy which was going to host me won't be able to do that, so I'm still looking for a place to stay. Maybe I'll stay at a hostel tonight.
I'm running short on battery so I won't be able to post to much today :/
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Arrived in Belingham, WA
Nice small town! I'm in the central business district now and will soon head to my host's house.
I'm gonna have to find another route
Can't proceed here. I'll try anyways... Hopefully the police won't stop me. :/
A transgenic dog or llama?
Haha what a wierd animal. This was right next to the"snail crossing" sign.
Weird sign
Am I the only one who feels like it would be a bad idea to be seatting on that picnic table?!
At the junction of Avon Allen Rd and Sam Bell Rd, Burlington, WA.
Storm on the horizon
I'm on my way to Bellingham, WA. I can see a major storm right where I'm supposed to pass... I think this will be a hard day... Hehe
Don, Pat and I
This morning Don prepared some pancakes which were really good, then it was time for me to pack. We took a few pictures together and then I started riding.
I had wonderful time at their house and wanted to register a special thank you for their amazing hospitality!!
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Arrived in Burlington, WA
I actually arrived a lot earlier today but just now had a chance to post. I'm at the house of a very nice couple, Don and Pat. They are incredible! After showering we had dinner and a great conversation.
I will stay one more day in their home and ride north on the next day.
Tomorrow I'll take the day to catch up on the late daily summaries and videos so you can expect a lot of updates. =)
I just realized i forgot to post this
Trsining Karate in Marc's dojo while in Seattle, August 18th!
Thanks Marc for taking me there!!
Having lunch in Arlington, WA
I'm now moving forward towards Burlington, WA. I have about 28 miles left, totaling 62 miles for today.
No horses!
First time I've seen a sign like this! Horses are usually welcome! Haha
In Snohomish, WA.
(Ooops, I forgot to add the picture before!)
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