Over the mountains into the desert...

I left Escondido late on Tuesday morning and as I cycled eastbound I saw the time ticking and the sun almost on the horizon. I still had another 20 miles to go, so started to stick my thumb out on the road every time a truck drove by. Soon after I got picked up by Joane who took me into Borrego Springs, a little cozy town that sits right in the middle of Anza Borrego Desert State Park. Joane took me to her friend Dana's place who offered me the guest room, that night I was cozy and comfortable indoors. Thank you.

desert flowers

The next morning, I was up and about and hit the road by 9hr. Had a wonderful 30 mile ride with the wind on my back thus making for great average speed of 17m/27km per hour...

Riding through the State Park video

When I reached HWY 86 at the bottom of the valley, was when I started to fear for my life. It was a busy HWY with decent shoulder lane but now the wind that was once on my back, was now swiftly pushing me off the road and to maintain myself on it I had to work very hard tilting myself toward the traffic... imagine that for a minute... now just add the big 18 wheeler trucks zooming past me at great speeds. With in a split second I had to counter balance the vacuum suction pulling me into the road...
There were no service roads to be found and I cycled about half an hour with a few close calls.

Perfect spot for your RV...

I'm glad I have a responsible side that decided to hitch a ride. Shortly there after I got picked up by these Canadian, Al & Beulah. Had a friendly conversation and they decided to drop me off at the Flying Disc Ranch.

Anza Borrego Desert

thanks for reading... stay tuned...

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hiding in Escondido...

Riding into Escondido

This weekend I spent in Escondido. I cycled there from San Diego. and had a great ride. I'm really glad that this weekend I got to go to the San Diego Wild Animal Park and on Sunday I got to do laundry and organize all my thing gear...

Look closely at this savanah... there are rinos and girafes on the fields

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Bienvenido a Tijuana...

Playas de Tijuana

WOW... what a contrast it was when crossing the border from the US into Tijuana, Mexico. The air, the heat, the noise, the smells, the colours, the faces and bodily expressions, I felt that this is more of along the lines of context that I grew up with as a child in Brazil...

Playing "cross to the other side" and seeing

if the border patrol comes to catch me!

Even though the Canadian in me might feel out of my confort zone, It is overpowered by a sence of familiarity and survival. A Lust for Life if you will... I can think of oher instances that I felt this similar emotion, and right of the bad most of them happened in the devoloping world (sorry for the lack of politicaly correct terms :-)

Watch Cameras with hyper sensitive mics that can hear normal spoken

voice from a great distance :-)

In short, my two days in Mexico sparked a flavour that I had forgotten, and I feel more inclined to head to the other side in the near future... stay tuned for further thoughts of this matter...

Sunset in playas de Tijuana

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Never say no to a friendship!

In Balboa Park

This week in San Diego has been filled with empowering moments of friendships. I had decided to come down here simply to see what I could find out on the southernmost city of California. I had very few contacts besides my couchsurfing host, Melissa.

Jenny, me, Antonio e Paekan


Corrin and Marie


Joanie and I

I also was looking forward to meeting a childhood friend that I had not seen in 18 years, Paekan. Through him I got involved in a intro workshop about the Gerson Therapy. It is a powerful, natural treatment that boosts your body's own immune system to heal cancer, arthritis, heart disease, allergies, and many other degenerative diseases. Please look at their site for further information. I volunteered to ba able to experience part of the weekends material, with in this short time met many important contacts, made new and straightened old friendships.

Sunset in San Diego

On Wednesday I will be headed to Tijuana, Mexico to visit with a friend I met on the Gerson workshop and will be back in the US by Friday. A quick flash by visit to the neighbors of the south. It should be a good stay by the beach in Playas de Tijuana.

Stay Tuned...

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LA to San Diego

Riding up the Topanga Canyon

Wow So I spend 5 days in LA. Four of which was at Woodland Hills. I did some bike riding around there but not to much to see besides fast moving cars and shopping centres. My hosts were Pasha and Peter a brother of my mom's friends husband... Great connection as I also had stayed at his sister's home in Tallahassee, FL two years ago. I also got the pleasure to meet Pasha's good friend Cindy. Thanks guys

Peter's Garden

Riding between Santa Monica and Woodland Hills was a nice ride. Going north through Topanga Canyon Road was a lot of steep hills till to summit. Probably around 3 hours. The other way is around these mountains on Sepulveda Blvd, though a bit longer ride, it is well worth it cause there are basically no hills. One night I went to a yoga party in Santa Monica, and rode back this way at 1 in the morning to Woodland Hills. What a ride that was, 2 hours of pure adrenaline arriving at home around 3am.

Thomas on his bike

On the last day I decide to pack things up and go to Santa Monica to get a head start in the morning I ventured into trying to fond a place to stay by talking with people... I meet Thomas while riding on the Beach Bike Trails what a friendly friend! I also met Rob at the beach and later at his house I met his wife Gisele. Thanks for you generosity, I had a great time with y'all.

Beach Bike Trail

The Following morning I got on the road southbound, actually the bike trail on the beach. what a wonderful ride that was. After a long day 62m/100km I decided to take a bus into San Clemente As it was getting really close to sunset and I had another 20 or so miles left. On the bus I meet Alura who helped me out alot by giving me a ride to the state park so I could camp. Thanks Justin and Alura.

Justin and Alura


View from my tent at dusk

Day two I biked through Camp Pendenton, a Marines base, and reached Oceanside, where after having lunch I met Cruiser Bob. I lively man that had cycled around the world twice on his bike and now day rides around on his electrically assisted bike... We spend about 1 hour chatting and biking together...

The rest of the ride was pretty straight forward once Sam a friendly stranger, gave my a cycling map of San Diego...

Beach north of San Diego

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