San Francisco. Staying in the heart of San Francisco, we spent 4 days and nights soaking in the best of what this famous California city had to offer.  Iconic Golden Gate Bridge stands guard to Alcatraz Island, the gardens of Golden Gate Park, Union Square, China Town, the Avenues.  Following the cable cars down to Union Square we spent a day in a chapter of Joseph’s former life as a San Francisco businessman.  Proud of his career and accomplishments, retiring at 39, this trip was also a ‘trip down memory lane’.  We enjoyed the sunny day and free music in Union Square, a tasty lunch, then visited his former office 1 block away.  One of the world’s top gemologists after being director of Sotheby’s in Hollywood, Joseph continued to rub elbows in San Francisco with many of the world’s rich and famous kings, queens, and movie stars.  After all, not everyone can buy a diamond for $5 million.  Going downstairs we stopped into Harry Winston’s, Jeweler to the Kings.   Reminiscing about his time back in the day, before I knew it I had a 15.5-million-dollar necklace around my neck.  The best of the best.  Gems add beauty to the world.  Mother Nature gives us these gifts to enjoy.  Joseph would have bought it for me but he (choke, choke) forgot his credit card at home. We walked up the steep hills to Chinatown and enjoyed a spicy Chinese dinner.  Yep, that necklace wouldn’t have fit into our nomadic lifestyle; good thing we didn’t buy it!

We spent a fun day touring with Mike, our financial advisor and the next day had a joyful surprise that our son Kevin, wife Laura, and dear little Leo, were passing through San Francisco on their way back to Hawaii.  We met up and enjoyed the day driving by Golden Gate, stopping at Cliff House, the beach, lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf, and finally sharing in little Leo’s excitement at the San Fran Zoo.  He saw for the first time all the animals he had read about in his books.  Excitement was high. Take a Walk on the Wild Side!!

Taking the coast HWY # 1 from San Francisco north, through Marin County to Stinson Beach and on to Sausalito; we officially started our North American Victory Tour.  Not having seen most of our friends for near 20 years, it was time.  We were celebrating victory that we were still alive and the friends we were visiting were still alive!  Seize the moment! You just never know what is around the corner.

We spent all day meandering up the windy, spectacular coast to Mendocino.  Following Geri’s directions (our friend formally from Hawaii) down the wooded lane, past the field of horses and through the maroon gate we reached her little piece of heaven in the hills above Mendocino.  The cool night allowed for a welcome and wonderful fire in her fireplace, one of the best gifts she could have given to these tropical woosies.  The next day we explored the area including the impressive Botanical Gardens, we hiked the coast and the Russian Gorge, perused a local Artisan’s Fair and the Health Food Store in an old church.   Being gardeners at heart enjoyed the peace and serenity of her little cottage garden.

Wishing we could stay longer in each place, we remembered we had a ticket to Italy waiting for us, 3800 miles away on the other side of this massive continent, and so the show must go on.

We took a beautiful drive through N. California and stopped to soak up the unbelievable strength and energy of the Redwoods.  The Avenue of the Giants leaves one speechless.  Continuing north, we passed mountains with great swaths of burned trees scaring their landscapes.  Passing through thick smoke we stopped for dinner in a classic little ‘redneck’ town and choked down quite possibly the worst chow Mein in history.  A big contrast to Chinatown.  

We truly weren’t used to the great distances between San Francisco and the Canadian border.  Wires had been crossed and we couldn’t stay at our friends in Ashland, across the Oregon state line, as thought.  Out came our laptop and we booked a motel along the highway with Booking.com. Driving and arriving late it was nice to have a place waiting to lay our weary heads.

We all need to remember to remain flexible when traveling.  Having organized this adventure while in bed for 4 months, with a broken leg in Bali, we had an outrageous 77 page itinerary.  Planned to the best of my knowledge I realize after 17 continuous years on the road, life will always ‘throw a monkey wrench in the works’ just to see if we are on our toes.

Welcome to the mainland USA!  We should have been suspicious when we drove into a place called Relax Inn!  Sometimes shit happens.  Awakened to a commotion outside our window we peaked out the curtain to see a scene like the 6pm news.

“This is the Ashland Police.  Unit 6, come out with your hands up. We are armed and coming in.  Come out with your hands up.”  Eight cops, 3 high powered rifles, aimed at the unit 3 doors down, our rental car in the line of fire. After 5 tense minutes, with us quite entertained, they dragged 2 bedraggled tattooed people out of the room and stuffed them into the cars.  Glad our room was clean and comfortable. After 4.5 years driving around Africa, with plenty of machine guns and AK 47s around we were unfazed and continued with our yoga.

We spent a wonderful morning with Lynn (another friend formally from Hawaii).  Ashland Oregon lays claim to the annual Shakespearean Festival and is a progressive University town.  What fun to reminisce and catch up. As it says above, “As long as the relationship lives in the heart, true friends never part.”

Crater Lake is one of those majestic places on earth, crystal clear blue lake surrounded by steep rock faces.  This was a refreshing stop on the way to Kathy and April’s home Crooked Creek Ranch has added 4,000 homes and offers wide open spaces fringed with stunning snow covered mountain.  We wander the world meeting people, hundreds and thousands of people.  Meeting an ex-wife whom Joseph hadn’t seen in 47 years could have been a challenge.  Turns out we were met with welcoming arms by Kathy and her daughter April at their lovely home and once again spent a couple days catching up and looking over the ranch.  That’s a lot of catching up to do!

With a spectacular mountain in distance as a beacon, we drove through the thick forest and up almost to the summit Mt Hood.  We passed through the mist and enjoyed a sunny late afternoon hike around Timberline Lodge.

Spending the night in Portland, home of magnificent health food stores and progressive free spirited people, we drove across the bridge and through Vancouver Washington, Joseph’s birthplace 69 years ago.  Passing by the family home, the ‘Dairy Queen’ on the corner and the wide views of the Columbia River below he had thoughts of days gone past racing through his mind.  Life marches on.

We picked a Thai Restaurant on the map and phoned Joseph’s sister Susan to meet us for a fun, lively lunch together. “Life is short. Grudges are a waste of your happiness. Laugh when you can, apologize when you should and let go of things you can’t change. Love deeply and forgive quickly. Take chances. Give everything and have no regrets. Life’s too short to be unhappy.”  They now talk on the phone monthly.

After doing a few loops de loops getting back on the main freeway,  I- 5, we experienced the rush hour traffic entering Seattle.  We were a long way from a motor scooter jam on Bali or water buffalo road block at Lake Toba! Luckily everyone was heading home – in the opposite lane.

Maneuvering in downtown Seattle, with the help of our ever vigilant guardian angels, everything went smooth as silk, amidst one way streets and me holding the map upside down.  “We should have turned there!!”  We went 2 blocks beyond and ended up at the only little entrance to the 9th floor rental car return.  We walked out only to get a ride in a taxi with an Ethiopian driver.  “Salaam”. You!  We talked, laughed and reminisced about our 3 months in Ethiopia and how we loved the country and people.  When we got out he said “Free of charge”.  We said, “Amesegnalaw”, “Thank you” and gave him a smile and a tip. 

The ride from the Port of Seattle to Bainbridge was spectacular to say the least. Joseph carried on a lively discussion with a retired doctor while the setting sun lit up the snow on Mt. Rainer like a beacon.  Met by our friends Judith and Roger (also formerly from Hawaii) who welcomed us into their lovely home and gentleman’s farm.  We went to a music concert in the park, toured historical Port Townsend, frequented the local health food stores (markets are one of our obsessions!) then returned home to cook a bubbling dish of vegan lasagna, something hard to do without an oven!!  We had an evening of lively discussions and were blessed with a visit by Lauren and son.  Lauren literally grew up with our son Kevin in Hawaii; one 6’5” and the other 6’7”.

Our last trip to the mainland US was to the Midwest – my birthplace, Wisconsin.  This time we flew across the breadth of the continent and landed in the waiting arms of Carol and Scott.  The coolness of the Pacific Northwest was replaced with the warmth and southern hospitality of our friends Carol and Scott (Carol formally of Hawaii) in New Berg North Carolina.  Friends for years we once again caught up with family, careers, and life in general.  We toured the historic town dating back to the early 1700’s, relaxed in the cool Atlantic breezes of the miles of white sand beaches.  We retraced the steps of Blackbeard the pirate in the coastal village Beaufort.  We were 2 days too early for the annual Pirate Days, when ships sail in and have mock battles; pirates and wenches flying in all directions.

Away we flew down to Sarasota Florida to see our friend Barb who we met in Lake Toba.  After trying her hand in Sumatra with her son and wife, she returned to recreate her life in Florida.  A brave woman with a large heart.  We enjoyed her town, did some last minute errands and saw the beaches on Santa Anna Island.   As with all our dear friends it was wonderful to share in their lives, share in their worlds for a few days. Tim Cahill wrote: “A journey is best measured in friends, rather than miles.”  Ours was a long, rich journey indeed.  Thank you dear ones.  You are always welcome in Asia or we’ll see you in another 20 years!  Definitely a successful heartwarming Victory Tour.

 And so it goes……………………………Next returning to Vancouver Island, B.C..   Until then Keep Laughing, Keep Living Life to the Fullest, and remember to call a dear friend today and reconnect.   We are glad you stopped by.   Keep fighting for our freedom of speech and freedom of choice over our bodies.  Take care!  Stay healthy!

Love, Light & Laughter, 

xo  Nancy & Joseph