So we arrived in San Diego without too much trauma...no strange people on the train, Helen was very impressed that I managed to keep it schtum and attracted no odditys! Arrived at our hostel in Downtown, bought some food from the supermarket to come back to a kitchen that was empty, no knifes, forks or plates...we ate like kings that night! Hit the shops the next day (I bought my favourite item in my backpack...wooly hat!) and Helen splurged on a gorgeous dress. ...

So... drama of the bicycles part 2!!!! After the nightmare of chaining the bikes to bannisters which had needed help from numerous people, we went to bed and woke up in the morning fully ready to return them. But oh no. Of course it was not going to be that easy - we had lost the key for the bike lock so my bike was still attached to the bannister with Katys lock and no way of getting it down! After much searching and unpacking of bags it finally occured to us ...

Arrived into San Francisco at night to be greeted by numerous homeless people pestering us as we were lost and loaded down with the huge backpacks. Flagged down a taxi (very tricky as had no hostel address or name!) and arrived at Pacific Tradewinds. Taxi driver was crazy! Kept complaining that he was falling asleep at the wheel, wanted some drugs and told Helen to use the internet when she asked him what was good to do in San Francisco-charming! Lugged the bags ...

So after the rather interesting train journey we arrived at our hostel which was really central to all the touristy areas of Hollywood, it was actually across from the Chinese Theatre where the oscars are filmed so it was fab but slightly grubby! The first day we got booked on a tour which took us closer to the Hollywood sign (cue lots of photo taking!) and then onto Beverley Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard and houses of major celebs...of which we only knew ...

We have sucessfully arrived in LA, after having our most interesting Amtrack train journey to date. Here is the thing about Americans, they are very very friendly, polar opposite to the behaviour of English people. Im not saying its a bad thing, it is extremely helpful to lost travellers like ourselves but it makes for a very exciting and at times exhausting train journey. We boarded the train at New Orleans after our night out and were feeling a little delicate,...