Alright there folks, right I best be quick as I am utilising the free internet at the Apple store here in SanFran. So, as I mentioned in the last update, last saturday we rented a car and headed up the stunning Californian coast for what was for me the best 3 days I have had in America. We took the 5 lane highway 101 out of LA and the first stop just a couple of hours later was Santa Barbara. Its a very wealthy area around here and you can tell why as soon as you exit the highway. SB is a beautiful town located right on the beach. The main strip is lined with funky cafes and sheeque (?) shops and most of the buildings look more like huge villas. They are all built in a Spanish-Moorish style and are immaculately kept, you feel more like you are in South America than the North, surrounded by columbian drug mafia bosses houses!! The only downside was the severe lack of budget accomodation. After trying loads of places the four of us ended up in a tiny little double room so it was a cosy four in the bed job for the night!! That was the plan anyway but Jaime and I got relegated to the floor in the end!! The next morning we took a stroll along the Steam Wharf and the beach before piling up the wagon once more and hit the road again. I really liked SB and its defo a place you could come on holiday, mum, you would have loved it!! Next up was the cute little Pismo beach where I nervously took over the driving duties. Its so weird driving on the right but all the cars here are automatic so it was pretty easy in the end, just like driving a huge go-kart!! We stopped briefly in Morro Bay but it was full of tourists so cruised on to Cambria for a spot of lunch. Another small but nice little town and kinda out in the sticks so the old accent raised a few friendly eyebrows!! From here the single lane Highway 1 hugs the coast all the way so the views were absolutely amazing. The drive is rated as one of the best in the world and in most parts it gave the Great Ocean Road in south OZ a real run for its money. Other stops included the tiny village of Harmony with a population of just 18 people!! untold look out points for the perfect kodak moment, an elephant seal colony and then onto the amazing Big Sur area. Time was ticking on by now so we had to shoot up to the quaint town of Monterey where we stayed the night. After a quick look around Cannery Row we were back on the road and heading for Santa Cruz. Now, I was expecting great things from this famous surf/skate town but Ive gotta say it was a massive let down! We arrived mid monday morning and was like we had entered a ghost town. It was really run down and full of bums/crackheads and the two people we asked for directions apparently "didnt have the time for that!!" Nice and friendly then...not!! We didnt even bother getting out the car and instead drove up to the university which is huge and located right ontop of a hill so the views were brilliant from the top and it was more like driving through a national park than a uni campus!! From there we pottered up the coast again before reaching San Fran airport where we had to drop the car off. So it was a quality few days and great to get out of the cities and into the sticks. Another awesome 'road trip' completed!! So I am now in SF and have been since Monday. More on that in the next update. Better go as im starting to get suspicious looks from the staff. Hope alls well Dan