Texas Ya'll

Texas State History Museum

Houston greeted me with humidity. Joy. 

The activities of the few days included:

• A night in Austin, to explore University of Texas, check out the Texas State History museum, and basically get a feel for the city. Very much a culture driven by its student population - very cool. The museum gave me an appreciation for the struggles that individual states underwent in the lead up to the civil war and American revolution. 
• Catching up with all the lovely Hosking and Koss families (who I met through my dear friends the McRae's... "Hey Anna. Liz. Liz. Anna. That's you!! Knock knock. [Who's there?] ...Your pal Dave - and he's always gonna be there for you.")
• Boating from Clear Lake to Galveston Bay after a crazy southern storm, which cleared up to beautiful blue skies in the space of about an hour. Very beautiful.

The end. The NYC excitement was palpable by this point!

Nutty, the UT Campus Squirrel (just for you, Liz)

D-Town (Pt 2)

Tuesday, Lauren had to return to work and so Dave was left to his own devices and given the opportunity to explore downtown Denver on bike. The ride into the city was nice, but after underestimating the heat of the day, I arrived to downtown feeling pretty exhausted and sweating profusely. A Starbucks Lime Refresher (this post proudly brought to you by Starbucks) soon fixed me up, and then after an hour of exploring the city precinct I got incredibly lazy and decided to ride home for an afternoon nap.... (25 going on 50, once again - what of it?).

That night, Lauren took me to dinner to meet more of her friends for dinner and drinks... Patrick, Scott, Jason, Eric - all lovely. Scott was the first Colorado resident to appreciate South Park jokes to the extent I do - went down well. *Insert more laughs, margaritas and tacos here...*

Wednesday, Lauren and I went to a 7:15am hot yoga class. Just what you need to start the day. *Insert more sweat here* This was followed by a flat tyre on Lauren's car... Despite changing Gabi's tyre the night before flying out of Armidale last month (Gab - you have to tell people how manly I was... If you haven't already.), which clearly made me an expert, Lauren thought it best to let the Subaru guys do it. (probably best, yeah)

Lauren worked that afternoon... *Insert another Dave nap here* then when she was done we went for fro-yo (mmm), then I watched her play in her softball final, then it was on to a wine bar for drinks, followed by splitting a buffalo burger for dinner (again...mmm).

Now at Denver airport about to leave for Houston. Bracing myself for the ridiculous humidity, but looking forward to seeing the Hosking clan! Thanks Lulu and co for the hospitality this week in Denver - cant wait to return next time for some skiing... "If you French fry when you pizza you're GONNA HAVE A BAD TIME."

The end... Or is it?

Yeah. It is.

D-Town (Pt 1)

Flew into Denver airport just after 7pm on Saturday, and was greeted by an awesome sunset, and Lauren Almon's excited waving and smiling as she pulled up to pick me up. (for those unaware, Lauren worked closely with my team at UNE for 6 months while she was based out of Sydney - and this was the basis of forming an incredible friendship).

Once we were on the road, we were headed straight to a house party in the south of Denver which was pretty darn awesome. Got to meet Lauren's much talked about friend Laura (oh hey Laura), had a bunch of beers, pizza, tequila shots from an ice luge (hilarious) and dancing in a basement with a pretty awesome DJ. Colorado - you're darn fun, I have to say it.

Sunday morning, Lauren took me to the beautiful Almon home to have breakfast with her parents and older sister Natalie. After my fill of pastries, fruit salad, yoghurt and muesli, it was off to Boulder with Lauren and Nat for lunch and browsing of all the shops there.

Nat said goodbye as we left Boulder, and Lauren and I headed to Breckinridge where we were destined to spend a night, and then have a day of activities...

It was 20 minutes into this ride that I fell asleep... Roughly half an hour later, I awoke with a start when Lauren had to brake suddenly:

[Snorts] "What?! Good morning!! Are we in California yet???"
Lauren replied: "Dave since we're both exhausted I made the executive decision to return to Denver for the night." It was at this point that i wiped the post-sleep drool from my chin and looked up to see the Denver skyline looming ahead. Before heading back to her apartment, Lauren and I shared my first Chipotle experience ("They can't put that much rice in my burrito!!!?!?") while watching the sun set over Wash Park. Beautiful.

Monday morning, refreshed from an awesome night's sleep, Lauren and I set off (again) for Breckinridge for some hiking and alpine sliding. The weather was amazing, and we started the day with a one hour hike right through the heart of the Rockies. I've been spoiled with outstanding natural beauty on this trip!

The alpine slide at Breckinridge was a lot of fun - watch this for an indication - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_7SzIK4g0c. We tried for a second run, but unfortunately a massive thunderstorm loomed after lunch and so they closed the slide and bussed everyone back down the mountain.

Monday night, we caught up with Angela (another great friend and colleague I made through UNE) and her husband Matt. We shared the best mexican meal I've had since being in USA for this trip (seems to get more delicious each time I have it...). After having Lauren and Ange in Armidale so much last year and this year, it's nice to be able to reciprocate the effort and be over in Denver to see where they live.

More Denver photos and stories to come... but these are my thoughts over morning coffee! (Thanks Lauren for the computer use!!)

 

Vancouver

Kate and Phill put me on the Greyhound back to Vancouver on Friday morning (thanks for waking up early...). While the scenery during the 2-odd hour trip was beautiful... It didn't prove as appealing as the inside of my eyelids - and so, I caught some sleep!

Arrived into Vancouver before lunch to incredible blue skies and not a cloud to be seen. After a quick hotel check in I ventured on foot to find some lunch and then get a bit of retail therapy. Hollister in the downtown mall proved a good source for some new shorts and tees, and also of that nonchalant retail attitude mixed with loud top 40 music and ridiculously dim lighting to lull you into a sense of retreat from the usual glare of metro shopping malls. I shouldn't criticize it, because i'm a fan of their clothes... But still, I like to be aware of their ploys to extract money from people's bank accounts...
"Ooh, Hollister-branded Jake cologne... Now I too can smell like a sexy Californian 20-something." (it's okay, I resisted this purchase and stuck to my shorts and tees...)

In the afternoon I walked over to Stanley Park (largest metropolitan park in the world... Kate advised me on my arrival on Monday). The views were nice, and I resolved that Vancouver feels like a nice mix of Sydney and Perth. And that's all I have to say about that. (what? If you want to know more just look it up on Wikipedia)

My Friday night in the city coincided with the start of Vancouver's annual pride weekend. The atmosphere was fun and festive, but after some dinner and a quick walk along Davie Street, I tired of all the pink, lilac and sequins and made my way home at the ungodly hour of 9pm (still daylight here). "25 going on 50" as my mum would say - and darn proud of it.

Now it's Saturday, and I am sitting at Vancouver International Airport waiting for my flight to Denver... Which leaves in... 3 hours... (Now you get the "Ah-ha" moment as to why I spent a whole paragraph talking about Hollister).

I'm thirsty... I wonder if there's a Starbucks here...

Whistler!

Flew into Vancouver on Monday afternoon, and was greeted by Kate, Phill and their friend Annika. I ran up, dragging my suitcase, and gave Kate a massive hug (then Phill got one too because I was so amped). (for those of you playing at home... Kate and I went through school together, K-12, and it's been almost three years since I've seen her).

Kate pointed out a few key attractions of Vancouver city as we drove through it, and soon enough we were on our way up to their place at Whistler. My first lesson in the region was how to use the bins... which along with being bear-proof also happened to be Dave-proof (until Phill showed me what I was doing).

I caught them up on all the significant developments back home: RTA becoming the Roads and Maritime; and our political system reaching a state of unparalleled stability in Australia's history. Oh wait that last one isn't accurate. Still... Roads and Maritime?? What is with that.

Entertaining the ladies on the trip
to the peak.

All aboard...
Note: Photo idea courtesy of Kate.

On Tuesday, we set out to go up to the peak of Whistler Mountain. I had to share a ski lift with a canoodling couple, but by the time I realized this we were 10 meters above the ground and I couldn't get off. Luckily the couple was just Kate and Phill so the ride was tolerable. Just. The views from the peak were incredible. The mountains and landscape here are unlike anything we have in Australia. Once again, I'll save words and let the photos do the talking... 

Hiking down from the peak of
Whistler Mountain.

On Wednesday, after a nutritious breakfast (Kate is looking after me very well), followed by additional pancakes courtesy of Annika (so full), we set off on a bike riding adventure (commensurate with my skill level - amateur - thanks Kate). We did the bike loop to Creekside, which featured many awesome photo ops (this whole place is full of those, seriously). I just handed my camera to Kate and let her go snap happy - she's good at capturing funny moments.

Kate and I rode into town at lunchtime and had sushi in the Olympic park, where they were screening the London Games on massive screens. Then it was on to the nearby farmers market to pick up some fresh berries and bread. (Which Kate insisted on storing in my back pack so the bears would come to me first when they smelled the sweet, sweet berries)

On the way home I had a near-accident going down a steep gravel hill. Most who know me well will be aware of my lack of much coordination... so thankfully I managed to pull myself out of this little incident without any scratches or bruises. Win. Kate was laughing hysterically, and the O'Connor crew will appreciate that it was probably similar in hilarity to the famed "skateboard incident" in the backyard of 274 a few years back. Shame we didn't film it. I've missed my second chance to be a YouTube hit.

On Wednesday night, we went for a walk to a nearby lake, and I spotted my third bear of the trip (only this time fairly close up!). He was meandering along a deserted golf course, and was probably about 20 metres away. I tried to lure it closer with my signature 'dying giraffe sound', before Phill pointed out that seeing as bears and giraffes are native to two separate hemispheres, it would have no impact. Sigh. There goes my dream of having my own 'Man vs Wild' show.

Thursday is my designated "do nothing" day... and then Friday I am off to Vancouver for 24 hours of city sightseeing. Thank Kate, Phill, and co for the hospitality! You're awesome! 

Enjoying a Beavertail at Olympic Park.

Cycling around the lake.

Yoga, Biking and (More) Walking

Saturday was the day I decided to slow down and relax a bit, seeing as I'm on "holidays". I tagged along with Fran to her studio at Menlo Park to do a morning yoga class. I don't think I was prepared for just how amateur a yoga-doing-person (yogi?) I am - but nonetheless enjoyed the class and the physical challenge. More than once I just had to say to myself "Yeah, my legs don't bend that far. Time for a rest."

The rest of Saturday contained: Olympics, reading, dozing off in front of the TV, and Stephen's awesome BBQ'd chicken for dinner. 

As my last activity in San Fran, I set out today to do the bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge. This happened to coincide with the San Francisco Marathon, and a Giants game, which made for fun public transport adventures (lot of crazy people on those trams... just saying).

By 11:30 I was on my way along the shores of the bay, climbing the immense hills towards the base of the bridge. I'll save words here and just let the pictures speak for themselves. This was a phenomenal experience that I will never forget. Another tick off the bucket list, definitely. 

View approaching the bridge, on the city side.

Close up before entering
the bridge bike track.

Accomplished!

Token brooding, angled shot
from under one of the towers...
I'm such an artist.

The changes in weather were incredible. On the bridge it was windy, cold, misty, and then down in Sausalito it was sunny and beautiful. Such an incredible contrast between 5 odd kilometers! Special thanks to Stephen and Fran for the incredible hospitality, once again. Can't wait for the next visit! Off to Vancouver tomorrow... time to catch some zzzz's.

View of the city skyline on the ferry back from Sausalito.

View from shore on Sausalito
side of bridge.

San Fran Exploring #2

Covered a lot more ground in the city on Friday. Had a two-hour historical walking tour booked in the Castro area at 10:00am... to which I arrived at 10:15, sweaty and panting (this seems to be an evolving holiday theme). Luckily Kathy (tour guide) was still giving the rest of the group an overview, and was happy to welcome me.

Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy

A patch on the 'Names Project'
AIDS Memorial Quilt

The tour was good, overall, and Kathy was very informative... but having watched a number of docos on the history of the area, I didn't really feel I gained any information that I didn't already have. Oh well, live and learn. I managed to resist the urge to be "that guy" who butts in and tries to correct the tour guide, because I know how bloody annoying it is to have to put up with those people - in any context. Kathy's views differed from mine about how equality and diversity need to be incorporated into our society. She was all too happy to talk about the perpetuated stereotype of hedonism in gay culture (that frankly I don't identify with at all) and how this seemed to shape the 1970's (and then be a driving factor in the AIDS epidemic) - but when I tried to convey my views about true equality being about not needing to differentiate people based on their sexual preference, and also that it is just one part of a person (not the driving factor of their whole being), she seemed lost for words... "Oh yeah but we all need a place where we can congregate and where we all understand each other - that's important, ya know?" to which I replied: "But I have lots of friends who understand me, and this isn't based on their sexual preferences. [Awkward pause] Are we stopping for coffee anywhere soon?"

I try not to get too political about the whole thing, but I do enjoy conveying my views... (Simo - Am I right?) Moving on...

The tour wrapped just after 12. After a quick lunch, I made my way over many hills (the calves, they're still struggling) towards the Haight Ashbury district. It's so easy walking through San Francisco because all the houses are so beautiful and there's just so much to take in visually that you forget you've walked about 5km. There's also those moments where you realise how high up you are and get an awesome peek at the downtown skyline.

Where's Wally?! (Note that he's ditched the stripes for a more contemporary look)

At Haight, I walked up and down, perusing the wares of the local merchants and then, after about an hour, I felt that between Castro and the Haight I'd seen about all the hipsters I could handle for a single week, and decided to head to down town, via Alamo Park to revisit The Painted Ladies. Liz will recount me dragging her up and down some very steep streets, with no map, in 2006 to find these houses - and also the level of sheer excitement I had when finding them. This time, I knew exactly where I was going, but was no less excited. This park makes me so happy, and always reminds me of watching Full House* as a little kid, and wishing I lived in one of them (I can still say the same, 20 years on).

* Film / TV reference #2

"Everywhere you look (everywhere), there's a heart (there's a heart)..."

Stopped by City Hall on my way to down town, which was fairly impressive. Another tram ride later, I was walking towards the Transamerica Building - which I discovered, upon arrival, does not have an observation deck. "Bugger."

City Hall

Transamerica Building

I started making my way home, but made the mistake of going into an AT&T to enquire about a prepaid sim card for while I'm in America... "Yeah sir you can get the 4G Samsung for $149, or the HTC for $199. Now you're gonna wanna choose a prepaid plan that gives you what you need, so the $10 starter gives you 29c a minute, with 20c texts sending and receiving...international calls are gonna be $1.19 a minute, and texts 50c. But if you choose the $50 monthly saver you get unlimited calls, texts and data and either of these phones and lower international rates..." After an earful I retreated and told the lovely sales girl I would think about her options.

I won't.

Here's a little bonus for Simpsons fans, that made me chuckle as I was walking around the Haight...