Vancouver, it was comfort. Thanks to Julia's friend Emily, we had nothing to do. Arrived on Thursday evening she took us for a drink in a super bar and told us everything there was to do in the city. The tour of Stanley Park, beaches and trees (Red Wood) along the coast in the city, through the neighborhood "Main and Hastings," unfortunately known for its population of drug addicts as the city tries to maintain with life and free clinics, go shopping on Robston, the Champs Elysees of the city full of rich people and tourists. We leave her house with all these ideas, as clean as new after the shower, and with, not a card, but two city maps. Besides the advice of one of his friends on where to park our van for not having any trouble with the authorities. For the first time since the beginning of the trip, we felt almost at home, so much so we wondered if we would not remain, or rather if we do not return to live here. Three day trip ended that idea. The mountain and beach accessible by public transport common in vain to make the city a place like no other for nature lovers, the old cinema where we saw a beautiful film to have the stamp, Julia was beautiful take us to a party full of young It is this "little something" thing in Montreal that are not found here - Quebecers, perhaps? We leave the city in all cases without regret on Sunday at 25 am (unless I missed that Clement left the same day as us!) We take the road towards the United States, with only one fear: the move border, especially after the beginning of our adventure travel ....
ultimate snub of "fate", if any, my greatest fear since the beginning of the trip is yet to be (fortunately!) totally unfounded - for now. Despite two or three hours waiting in the car in full sun (what an idea, too cross the border just south of Vancouver on a Sunday in midsummer ...) to listen to an audio book to de-stress (superb invention), contrary to our expectations, once arrived at the customs, we pass the border ... 5mn. One question, "Where are you going," one answer "with a friend in Portland." He gives the address of Ron and Jayne, then it makes us our passports ... He does not ask us or where we live, or how long we will stay in the USA. And we hit the road as if nothing had happened! We will have several hours to realize: we are in the U.S., we can be at the wedding of Tom and Rachel on time, visit the Grand Canyon .... The adventure continues.
Above all, stop in Portland. On a night planned, we will finally three nights. What more than happy to see Ron and Jayne will witness our motivation to go back? They're staying home, we concoct dishes better than each other, take us to tour the city by car, we have Kim, one of their former students, who will go around the city by bike . The remaining time is spent gently subversive and highly political conversations around dinner infinite and so enjoyable. As for the town itself, Portland seems calm after Vancouver: less populated older. Also more intellectual. The largest U.S. bookstore, Powells, reminds me of Gibert Jeune in Paris or a Renault Bray huge also where they sell used books. It covers an entire block, one would almost need a map to not get lost! Still, people seem very polite and a bit racist it might be preferred in Seattle, but time has failed to to see something other than Pike Place, the extraordinary market that extends along the coast. Speaking of time, besides the road ends by calling us also in Portland. Already we must leave and leave our friends ... Not without a lot of advice on the route to take to the South: the 101 and the 1, direction San Francisco along the ocean throughout. Ron says it's "most beautiful road in the United States" after four days on the road, we in effect today gasped. The beauty of the landscapes, the surprises of the road ....
Right after "Strawberry Hill" where we saw some sea lions slumped on their rocks, symbols of scary some Americans without strength and motivation, we have our biggest surprise to date: an encounter. They called Chriss and Sarah. They had about 21 and 25. They were on the road when they took a ride in Florence, Oregon, where Ron and Jayne have lived for 23 years. United States, in most states it is illegal to hitchhike. Take self-stoppers as well. And yet we do not regret the past two days with them before leaving last night.
We thought "on the road" but with them we discovered our luck and our comfort. No van for them, no clothes either. No bicycles. Just their feet, a backpack each, a pot, a stove, a book about plants, essential oils to homemade treat and a sparkle in his eyes. He has no identity card and has not returned to her mother in Boston for several years. It is not "really" on the road but seems to have fallen in love with vagrancy who lives outside the system. Gradually, throughout the two days on the hill leading from Florence to Arcata - City Traveler, where we are right now - they tell us a little life. Their desire to live free. Their point of view - so similar to ours and that of Ron and Jayne! - On their fellow citizens who live in ignorance, opulence, obesity and physical comfort. Yesterday, when we stopped in the middle of the forest of redwoods millennia and as we prepare to eat under a canopy in a quiet and magical atmosphere at a cloud, Chriss talks about the "missing link". "Here," he said, people will buy the molds at the local market when they could pick up on the beach. They do not know what is in nature, they are completely disconnected. " And he and his beloved Sarah, who after all are just trying to live in nature as simply as possible, find themselves labeled by police as "threats". It is illegal to be homeless in the United States. And walking on the roadside with a backpack. If you want to walk, follow the marked trails in national parks which admission is charged. California, however, is more welcoming than Oregon in the area (Oregon and more welcoming than many states around the country!). Here, we can make a fire on the beach. This one takes pleasure in doing all four, and share our meal. They're apprenent things, they learn something. Them on the social system in the U.S., on what to see on the road, on plants and people. We in Europe and Canada, on French music and Quebec, and mussels too, because before us, themselves did not know they were edible ...
images of the coast, dunes, beach and trees that are larger than common sense in our spirit will remain associated with their smiles, their slow pace, in their excitement in finding a rare flower in their view innate life as it does so rarely seen that, especially in this part of the world.
This morning return to comfort, laundry, Internet cafe, shopping for food. Soon we arrive in San Francisco ....
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