Pleasanton Market Day – 13 August

Every Saturday (year round) a farmers market is held in Pleasanton. Fresh produce is sold and on the odd occasion, you get to meet a girl who rides a Harley. I’m not the greatest fan of markets, but it was nice to enjoy the vibe. And I saw some weird looking vegetables. Naturally after walking around for a while, you get thirsty. So while looking for an open seat, I happened to see a girl with a while Harley. I assumed she was riding with her boyfriend, but it turned out it was hers! I couldn’t let an opportunity slip by, so I sweet-talked myself into getting a photo of me on the bike :)

A cordoned off street for the market – Heirloom tomato’s – This melon should be in a movie, as the bad guy.

Nice Harley – Weird things happen here :)

Drive through SF – 12 August

It was weekend, so Eugene and Julie had time to show us around SF. Our plan was to lunch in Tiburon, but why not see some sights along the way. We visited Lombard st. and Pier 39 before taking a stroll along Golden Gate bridge. I even got to drive along some of the notoriously steep SF streets.

Lunch in Tiburon was great. You just had to keep an eye out for the seagulls that would swoop down and steal food. Sometimes while people were still sitting at their tables. We ended off the day with some live music in the park.

 
Before we left for SF, we packed out our chairs on the grass. This is how people save their places. Yes, no-one there and nothing “disappears.” – View of downtown SF from the Oakland bridge – Pier 39

Typical SF street – Pier 39 – Shops close to Pier 39

The view from Lombard st. – Looking up at Lombard st, through the sunroof – Golden Gate bridge

Stanford and my mom arrives – 11 August

As I mentioned, the Therons’ are family friends and my mom has been the one who has done the most effort in keeping our two families in touch. She decided to join me in S.F. Before I picked her up from the airport, I went past Stanford. Here are some of the photos.

Arrival in California – 3 August

For about 6 years our family spent our summers in Sedgefield with the Theron family. They became like family and we have kept contact over the years after their emigration to the U.S.A. Conrad and Eugene now both live in the greater San Francisco area. We have spoken many times about me visiting them.

Conrad came to pick me up at the airport, with his family (Jackie, Adriaan & Ben). We were off to their farm (or ranch), north of S.F, close to Point Arena. But first we had to stop at Golden Gate bridge. It was great to chill out en enjoy a braai with good friends.

 
Golden Gate bridge with the usual fog – The lone sailor – and his story

No South African get-together is complete without a braai, with Ben, Conrad & Adriaan – Jacking & Conrad

Shoreline close to Point Arena – Lunch in Elk, at Queenie’s – Mackie on the farm

Goodbye Canada – 3 August

And so my time in Canada has come to an end. I have to thank April for make such a great effort in showing me so much of her country. I look forward to a return visit, but this time in skiing season :)

The art gallery – “The Golf ball” – Field where April did bird banding.

Cycling on Vancouver Island – 26 July

April is pro-cycling. This is probably because B.C. is well suited to cycling. There is great infrastructure with bike lanes and buses providing bike racks. Even motorists are careful when cyclists are around (not something you will regularly find in South Africa). She suggested that I do a cycling trip during the time that she did a pre-planned hiked (I guess you can compare it to the Otter hike in Tsitsikamma, South Africa). She lent me her bike with special luggage and off I went.

  View Larger Map
The map of where I went. It doesn’t show the TCT I rode to Lake Cowichan.

My visit to Victoria actually starts a while before I left for Vancouver Island. A school friend noticed on good old Facebook that I was in Canada and invited me to visit her and her family in Victoria. So that would be my first stop.

 

 

   On the ferry to Swartz Bay.

On the way to Victoria I met two fellow cyclists (Jo and Karin). Will all my luggage they just had to ask what my story was. Now I know how Lucas Priklopil must’ve felt on a daily basis. Its nice to have a topic to get the conversation started off on.

 
Driving past wildlife (they are that tame) – Victoria harbour – Victoria harbour with Fairmont Empress hotel in the background

Famous art of Emily Carr – Parliamentary Buildings – Well groomed foliage – Elizma (school friend).

Victoria is very different from Vancouver. I found it more European i.t.o. layout and architecture. I ended up staying much longer at Elizma en Jan, as I had such a good time. They even put on a braai (similar to a barbeque) the night I arrived. Seeing them is definitely a highlight of my cycle trip. However, I knew I had to leave or I would spend all my time there. So I started heading North.

My campsite next to some random field (next to a “First nation” family) where a pow-wow would be held the next day. Didn’t feel too welcome so pushed on the next day. – Map of Southern Vancouver Island – Kinsol Trestle. I met “the Retreads” on the ferry to Mill bay and they invited me to cycle with them to the Trestle. Highlight #2. – The TCT converts old railways to trails. The idea is to be able to travel by the TCT across Canada from coast-to-coast.

The Retreads – Me along the TCT – Another Trestle on the way to Lake Cowichan

 
Camp at Lake Cowichan – On the way to Duncan

Chemainus is decorated with murals, celebrating its history. Here are a few

Wild seniors here :) – Random – Me in Nanaimo

After 6 days on Vancouver Island, I’m awaiting the ferry to take me back to the mainland.