So I successfully caught the bus from the Aquarium and I was on my way back to San Francisco, on the way I met a early lovely English couple from Cambridge who were very impressed that I was travelling on my own - yes, well done me I thought lol. I have to say there are times that I'm quite impressed I've lasted this long, especially when ill and when things are just not going your way quite a lot……. anyway moving onto things not going my way, we got stuck on the train for 4hrs whilst they carried out a line inspection and there was very little information provided about said delay or an estimate on when we might start moving again, ah, just reminded me of the dreaded London commute, which I will not be looking forward to getting back into….anyway I digress (happens a lot doesn't it!) Panic is now beginning to set in, I'd been told by the hostel the latest check in time is 2am, now at this point its not looking likely that I will make it in time, I thinking where the hell will I stay if I can't get into the hostel, not a nice prospect in the area of San Fran that I am staying in. Anyway a quick (and expensive - yeah still no US sim card!) call to the hostel and all was cool - thank god!!!! Eventually we pull into Oakland at 1am and catch the connecting bus to San Fran, I'm then dumped in market street at 2am to find the hostel on foot whilst avoiding the, how to put it, well, drunks and generally anyone that wants money off you or even your bags! Luckily I had a rough idea where it was and actually found it without too much faffing about AND I got a bottom bunk - result! And to bed it was for me…..I was absolutely knackered!
After a fab night sleep and lie in, I did miss the free breakfast though which was annoying, but hey ho, I set off to go and purchase a new jacket, which is very exciting (sorry this is going to sound quite sad…but) as it squashes down to pack a mac size! So, I will be hitting NYC in Dec which is going to be bloody freezing and I ran out of space in my rucksack unsurprisingly so the New Zealand winter coat had to go home with the olds. This very tiny thin black puffer jacket is the answer to all the problems and also doubles up as a going out jacket, again exciting for me as I haven't had a nice (not hiking type) jacket for the evenings out…..small things I know, but I'm really beginning to miss my wardrobe….ahhh and my nice bag :( I'll stop now!
Right, then Sindre arrived off of his bus tour, we met up for dinner in Foleys, the Irish bar across the road for a couple of pints and the most amazing cottage pie yum!! From here we went to join the tri-hostel pub crawl which as with all hostel pub crawls was quite a night out. First stop was the other hostel, so about 30 of us met up with the other 2 hostels worth of pub crawlers, after more hand stamps, id checks and a couple of beers in the hostel bar we were off. God knows what the bars were called or where we were, but the beer was cheap, so a couple of drinks later it was off to the next one, same routine here, then to mix it up we all ended up in a gay bar, now I hadn't even realised, it was only when someone told me I realised, little miss observant I was not. Having moved on from this one, the final destination was upon us and this is where I think it all went wrong, I say think, I know damn well this is what finished me off. Stella, and yes they were imperial pints and I had 2 of them and then found the dartboard. Dont panic there was no dart related incidents, I just thought I was Phil the Power Taylor, although my scores did not reflect said darts genius! The music was fab too, rolling stones, oasis and the DJ was actually spinning the vinyl!!! Haven't seen this in years, so much so I think I took a picture. Sindre and I then started the stagger back to our respective hostels, via the take away for 2 enormous and disgusting pizza slices each. Oh there were also a large group of really really drunk english girls causing havoc in the takeaway…..we avoided them by pretending to be German, which would have worked out okay but we were both a tiny bit drunk too and could only utter a couple of words which were massively overly exaggerated and repeated lots, nein and ja, oh and, ein bier bitte (the sentence I learnt courtesy of the german contingent on the Kiwi Bus - cheers guys, miss you!!!) Sindre and I then parted, I made it back fine. Poor Sindre was then set upon by the affections of the horribly drunk english girls, I did laugh, not sure he did, and unluckily for him they are staying at his hostel - good luck with that lol.
I wake up, I go straight back to bed, I wake up, nope still feeling horrific, back to sleep, I wake up a bit, nah not time to get up. Eventually I surfaced at 4pm. Now, yeah everyones going she's obviously really hungover, and I won't lie yes I was, but I've also now got a really nasty cold so am now feeling 100 times worse than I would have been. To be honest I am surprised I got up at all. But I did because I am hardcore, who am I kidding, I was hungry! So having miss the scheduled trip to Fishermans Wharf with Sindre we just went out for dinner instead. We trekked (the wrong and long way) to Little Italy to Original Joes, a buzzing Italian restaurant and had a really lovely last dinner, including ice cream in coffee - affagato, absolutely delicious - tomorrow Sindre continues on his tour and I make my way to portland in 2 days time. I will miss my favourite Norwegian, but at least I now have an excuse to visit Norway!
So, I'm back on my own again, and my cold has now come out with a vengeance, rough is not the word, this is definitely a 'phone in sick' cold…..if I was at home, it would be a case of staying in bed for a few days drinking ribena, but its my last time in San Fran so its time to man up and just get on with it! I catch the bus to the Golden Gate bridge, unfortunately without my skates, I had planned to skate the bridge - this is now rough I am feeling, and most of you know it takes a lot for me not to skate. I make it only half way across the bridge and have to start walking back as my energy levels are through the floor, feeling pretty weak and pathetic I go in search of hot chocolate and something sugary. I then start the long walk back, which probably wasn't the best idea, but worth it, the walk by the water was lovely, there were loads of sailing boats going round alcatraz, families picnicking, and the view of the bridge was great, it wasn't hidden by the clouds or fog this time (Sorry Dad, you can have some of my pictures :) ) I walked through the Fort Mason Recreation park and round to Fishermans Wharf. I was exhausted by this point and caught the F line back to market street and got off too early and then had a massive walk back the host. Along the way back me and everyone on my side of the pavement then had to negotiate getting past some women who was screaming at anyone and everything, it was not good, even the blokes were saying sod getting anywhere near her, so a bit of traffic dodging later and we were on the safe side of the street! Eventually I got back, and got stuck into my Martina Cole book. Bliss I thought, then cue the arrival of the French couple who had their entire rucksack packed full of noisy plastic bags - seriously!!
Having been woken up (and the rest of the dorm) by the annoying French duo, packing and unpacking those poxy plastic bags at midnight and then 7am!!!!!!! What is wrong with some people! It was finally time to get up, breakfast and packing were the first order of the day and then The Rock finally finished downloading…….after 2 days! So I was now set for my 15hr journey to Portland. I wasn't leaving till 8pm so still had a day, so I went via the cable car which was good fun again to Fishermans Wharf. I went straight to pier 39 to say hello and goodbye to the Sea Lions, not as many there this time as last time but they were all still fighting over the lack of space. I was then feeling rough again so I snuck into mum and dads old hotel lobby for a little sit down. Then it was time for dinner and then the journey back to pick up all my gear.
Carrying all my stuff is an effort at the best of times but when you are not well carrying 30kg is not fun and bloody hard work, but theres no one to help you so you dont really have much choice, I think the adrenalin kicked in (thank god) and off to the bus stop it was for the 15hr journey to Portland………