Flagstaff

Well, I did it! After 35 days of riding, I arrived in San Diego fit, tanned and a whole lot smellier than when I left Vancouver on the 10th of May. I spent 3 days in San Diego with family friends Stephen and Alise, who generously took me into their home, as well as expertly accomodating my vegetarianism. We ate well both in and out of the house, checking out a great local thai place and an amazing mexican hole-in-the-wall. Alise is an excellent cook as well, and she put together some dishes I never would have even thought of.
Wednesday, Stephen took the day off work and drove me all over the area, down to the Mount Palomar Observatory, the Anza Borrego Desert, and out to La Jolla to see the seal colony that's taken up residence on the beach. Thursday I was on my own, walking out to the San Diego Zoo. I wandered all over the place, but the highlights were definitely the bonobos and the polar bears. I lucked out, too, as I met someone out front of the zoo with extra coupons; so thank you, mysterious Hawaiian coupon-bearer, for getting me a deal on the entrance fee. After leaving the zoo, I walked out into Balboa park, the cultural and recreational centre of San Diego. I wish I had a week in the park to check out the museum of Man, Natural History, Space and Aviation, Science and Technology... The list goes on. The Japanese Tea Garden was peaceful though, and made a nice cap on the day.
Yesterday, I said goodbye to San Diego, Alise, and Stephen, and caught a Greyhound out to Flagstaff, Arizona. I've sent my bike home by UPS, so travel has gotten markedly easier. I'm staying out here at Grandma and step-grandpa Henry's trailer for the time being, and eventually I'll make my way home overland.
This will be it for the blog though, as Pedals With Purpose has come to a close for the time being! Thanks so much to everyone who have been following along, and to all those who have donated or pledged donation to Pamoja Tunaweza. We've all done our bit to make the world just that much friendlier!
-Nick