These days hitchhikers can give their thumbs a rest
Last week I caught a ride from my sister to Truckee. Being in Truckee would allow me to see my mom for the first time in three months, and also be in a good position to find a ride along I-80 to Elko, Nevada, where I would be getting a car from my uncle. I would never ask my family to drive me that far (320 miles) when there actually are other transportation options.
Greyhound: The Dirty-Dog
Greyhound passes through once a day, picking up in Truckee at 5:00PM and arriving in Elko at 12:50AM (assuming the unbelievable happened and there wasn't an issue on the "Dirty Dog"). The non-advanced purchase price is a steep fifty two dollars. Definitely not worth the money.The California Zephyr
Amtrak is also an option, as the California Zephyr line runs from the Bay Area to Chicago. It picks up at 2:38PM and gets to Elko at 9:44PM daily. The non-discounted price is an extremely steep eighty-one dollars! No way I'm paying that!
Of course, being a penny-pincher, and not having an income, I had been searching Craigslist's rideshare posts for anyone offering rides that would get me from Truckee to Elko. I originally found a ride on the Bay Area Craigslist that a man posted who was driving from the East Bay to Chicago. He said that he would pick me up and drop me off in Elko, and that he already had a woman and her dog going the entire distance with him. This was the only option I had, and at an agreed rate of twenty dollars, the price was right. Then one day while on the Sacramento Craigslist site I saw a post from a couple of people who were driving from Davis to Salt Lake City. Their schedule fit mine well and so I contacted them and arranged to get picked up at a gas station in Truckee.
The two people who picked me up in their grey Honda Civic were statistics PhD students from Taiwan. They were really friendly and we introduced ourselves before loading up and getting on the freeway. It was really funny because one of the first things they asked me when we got in the car was "What is the difference between toast and bake?"
"As a verb?" I asked as I smiled.
"Yes!"
I went on to explain clearly and slowly the differences and after that they asked, "Well then, what is roast?" I didn't know how to define that very well so I told them to look it up!
Another thing they mentioned was that, apparently, I enunciate very well on the phone. They went on to add that I was easier to understand on the phone than anyone they had ever talked to in America. I guess I am used to talking to people in/from foreign countries, however, I didn't know these people were foreigners when I called them. I have to admit that they definitely drove like they were from another country. There were many instances that I wanted to point things out to them along the drive, but decided not to so they would just pay attention to driving. We got to Elko in good time and I stayed with some family before taking my "new" car back to California.
1996 Audi A6 Quattro
For 2,200 dollars, a special family deal, I was able to get into my cousin's old car. The drive back to California took me around five hours including three stops. One of the nicest things is even with my long legs I fit very well in this car. I have test driven many cars I like but have never been satisfied with the leg room. This car, though, gives me ample space to stretch out, and it is an automatic transmission giving my legs lots of rest and comfort! Oh ya, the other side has some dents, but they are nothing to brag about so I won't be posting a picture.
To begin, dial-up internet is the pits! My blog entries, for a few days, will not be as carefully laid out because it is tedious enough just accessing Blogger's blog editor with these slow speeds. I have my browser not loading images, and am using the text only, cell phone version of Yahoo Mail. I really recommend the cell phone version of Yahoo Mail if you ever have to use dial-up, it caters to low speed connections very well! The address is http://m.yahoo.com, and your computer can access it!
Anyway, I am hoping to slowly keep my journal going in chronological order, and it seems that I still have stuff to talk about from December.
On the 2oth, I got to see my Dad, and his wonderful bride, Jane, for the first time since they married in Hawaii earlier in December. Between 2006 and 2008, my immediate family has added three unique, kind, and fun individuals by marriage. I am sure it is only a matter of time before the stork brings one of my sisters a delivery of some sort, but there's no need to rush ;)
The following day Miho and I drove to Truckee, and for the first time in my life, I had to put chains on a car. Snow was falling on Donner Pass just enough to force Caltrans to require chains, which was a real inconvenience to me. For those of you who don't know, putting chains is a cold, wet, dirty job. I somehow managed to mess up three times before getting the chains on and being able to continue up the interstate. I even had them on backwards at one point even though I was reading the instructions step-by-step! It was frustrating, but a good learning experience. To be honest, the instructions are not well written!
You don't need to see my face to know I wasn't smiling!
The fun in Truckee continued with a beautiful bike ride along the Truckee river from Squaw Valley to Tahoe city. Bicycles ride separately from the cars on the highway and can leisurely make their way along the beautiful, paved trail. We stopped on the way to, and returning from Tahoe city, to go swimming in the river. The weather was perfect and the ride was so much fun. We extended the ride another few miles by continuing all the way into Squaw Valley and to check out the sights there. We ordered a small smoothie and were given a large instead, so even our luck was good that day.
Squaw's Olympic flame still burns
On the trail
We shared a big sandwich and ate it by Lake Tahoe
Extending our ride into Squaw Valley
We spent another day on the beach on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe. The day was consumed with sun, beer, snacks, frisbee, and the nice water. We drove the entire perimeter of the lake with my mom who was to do a 150 mile bike race, which included this road, the following weekend. I am happy to report that she completed the entire race successfully!
Soon after that we had to get out of Truckee and I had to go to school. I was a camera-operator for the annual 3-day Earthdance festival in Mendocino County which was webcasted globally. I also found out that at a show that I filmed at Reggae Rising last year has been made into a DVD that will be on sale soon! I have already got a copy if you want to watch it. The artist is Anthony B!
After Earthdance, Miho and I went on a one-day camp-out at Mount Tamalpais. It was my first time there and I really appreciated its ability to be a quiet escape from the busy North-Bay.
Making breakfast
Doing homework up at a viewpoint
All the cats in Ukiah
Last Tuesday we watched the Giants get killed by the Rockies. One of the highlights of the night was talking the pushy scalper down to $25 for tickets that were $37 face value.
San Francisco's new bike trail, and ocean beach
Taking a rest on the bridge
We later hit the Mendocino coast for a splendid weekend by the sea. Miho got to go body-boarding for the first time in her life. She did quite well considering how big the waves were. I was impressed how she even got pounded by a wave, shooting her board straight up in the air as she spun under water like a mouse in a washing machine, coughed up some of the water she swallowed, then got back out for more! We took a waterproof camera out into the swells so be on the lookout for those shots!
Steve also took us out on his fishing boat. It was an adventure from the get-go because as soon as he started it up the check engine light turned on! This instilled a bit of paranoia in me considering I had no cell service. However, the awesome scenery soon had me distracted from any worries. In fact, as soon as we got going we saw some river otters, which, supposedly, is a rare sight.
Setting off under the Albion bridge
My sister, Elly married a great guy named Bret Morton on Saturday and I DJ'd the after-party. Elly looked great in her gown, and I had a lot of fun seeing old faces, and meeting Bret's side of the family. Congrat's to Tara and Ben on their marriage the prior weekend!
They both thought hard on how to style their hair
As I DJ'd, baby Iris was backed into on the dance-floor
Bret's parents' dog!
As I write this, Miho is on the way back to Japan to begin her last semester of college. I also just submitted all of my graduation forms so I am almost set for the end of my schooling in December. My classes this semester have been tolerable so far. My Japanese literature class is a challenge though. The professor of that class claims that the material that we cover here at SFSU is more difficult than Harvard, Stanford, and Berkeley's Japanese programs. Only a couple months to go!
Keep in touch everyone! Talk to you next time!
Amtrak is also an option, as the California Zephyr line runs from the Bay Area to Chicago. It picks up at 2:38PM and gets to Elko at 9:44PM daily. The non-discounted price is an extremely steep eighty-one dollars! No way I'm paying that!
