Chrome Wheeled, Fuel-Injected and Steppin' Out Over the Line - walbs
After twenty odd years of planning, our Road Trip USA has finally kicked off. Twenty five states in six weeks, counterclockwise from San Francisco to Chicago. Getting our kicks on a music-fuelled...

"I'm Leaving On A Jet Plane..."
Melbourne, Australia
Depart Melbourne in a dust storm of biblical proportions driven by northerly winds - consequently have bumpy ride to Sydney.
written by  walbs on April 2, 2008 from Melbourne, Australia
from the travel blog: Chrome Wheeled, Fuel-Injected and Steppin' Out Over the Line

"...on Trans Love Airways"
Sydney, Australia
Setting the mood No.1 : African-American woman at Sydney boarding gate is doing her best Venus Williams impression disputing a line call - "I don't want seat G" she screams at the top of her voice. Straight back to Compton for you missy!
Quaint US custom No.1 : Asked not to congregate in numbers on the 'plane, particularly around the toilets. Poms wouldn't like not being able to queue.
Setting the mood No.2 : Watch "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" about embarking on "a drug fuelled odyssey to the real America". Duke gets caught in a dust storm similar to the one in Melbourne. Looking forward to trashing some hotel rooms.
Strange sight No.1 : Middle-aged woman wearing bilateral Cam walkers. Guaranteed to suffer "economy class syndrome".
Three hours out from Sydney : Realise that Corey Delaney is on my flight wearing his trademark sunglasses and one of those tuxedo T-shirts. Classy.
Courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security, I've now decided that I want to be "arrested or convicted for an offense (sic) or crime involving moral turpitude" as it sounds intriguing. And frankly Mr Bush, if I was alive between 1933 and 1945, do you really think I'd admit to partaking in "persecutions associated with Nazi Germany or its allies". You've got to hand it to the Americans for being up front. If you apply for a non-immigrant visa, they're happy to ask if you've ever been a prostitute, a pimp, a terrorist or if you're mad, expecting honest answers.
Four hours out from Sydney : Just spotted a female Corey Delaney (overweight, sporting an Oz flag T-shirt and wearing Corey's sunnies). Gotta love the ugly Australian.
Obnoxious older woman behind me with ridiculously large sunhat (which she manages to throw at everbody) keeps hitting me in the back of the head.
written by  walbs on April 2, 2008 from Sydney, Australia
from the travel blog: Chrome Wheeled, Fuel-Injected and Steppin' Out Over the Line

"If You're Going To San Francisco..."
San Francisco, United States
Interminable wait at Immigration before being fingerprinted like a common criminal - why didn't they read me my rights or offer me an attorney. Thankfully Mario Hernandez skipped the cavity search and waved me through with a cheery "welcome to the USA, have a nice day!" Hard to take him seriously when he's dressed like someone from Police Academy.
Taxi ride to the Hilton (via the Tenderloin where we saw a bunch of poor folks, none of whom appeared to be able to afford flowers for their hair). Bush's policies appear to be working well in SF. Driver was super-sized and sounded like the presenters on Mythbusters.
Clock says midday, but body thinks it's 0600 hours. Time for a sleep. Got to schmooze with other conference delegates this evening at City Hall.
written by  walbs on April 2, 2008 from San Francisco, United States
from the travel blog: Chrome Wheeled, Fuel-Injected and Steppin' Out Over the Line

"The Crown Jewel"
San Francisco, United States
Welcome reception at City Hall. Apparently there are no pigeons to poo on the city's "Crown Jewel" as they installed a hawk to scare them off.
Sycamore trees out the front are trimmed and ready to burst forth in the coming weeks.
More homeland security - metal detectors, guys in uniforms with shiny badges.
String quartet. Fancy food. Duomo. Not quite the same America I will see in the coming weeks.
Quaint US custom No.2 - like their driving habits, even the escalators are round the wrong way.
written by  walbs on April 2, 2008 from San Francisco, United States

"San Francisco Bay Blues"
San Francisco, United States
Boat trip to Tiburon on one of the Blue & Gold Fleet. Past "The Rock" and brief stop off at Angel Island to pick up some newly arrived immigrants.
written by  walbs on April 5, 2008 from San Francisco, United States

ICEM 2008
Conference kicks off. Melbourne is well represented. Trade display has a Taser stand - didn't realise that this was a piece of medical equipment. Would be useful for controlling any angry surgical registrars (or medical administrators). Conference coffee has a tendency to always be bad, but this is toxic - tastes like warm sump oil ("proudly brewed by Starbucks").
Out for dinner with a bunch (the only collective noun in the States) of Irish, Aussies and Scots. Taxi ride reminded me of the one in "Foul Play" - it's hard to believe you could attempt to drive that fast through the streets of SF. Dinner @ The Slanted Door in the restored Ferry Building (a Vietnamese fusion restaurant - why is everything a "fusion" in Frisco), with its tables of birch and cypress. My first encounter with the unisex toilet concept in the US. Mystery No.1 - why do US toilets have SO MUCH water in them? Haven't they heard of stage 3a water restrictions?
Kicked on to Martuni's, a piano bar featuring Joseph Magdalena (from Brooklyn) where we sang along to the songs of Barry Manilow, Billy Joel and The Pointer Sisters. I expected to see the remaining members of the Village People, but instead saw three of the ugliest "women" I've ever seen. I'd make a better looking man in in a dress and heels (sans beard of course).

Mad Cow Hollow
Friday night in Cow Hollow lapping up the scene @ Betelnut (Asian fusion - I'll be completely fused shut within a few days). Had to wait over an hour at the bar with a bunch of college girls and fratboys, but it was certainly worth it.

Mad Woman in "Ark Row" seeks Anger Management
Tiburon, United States
Accosted by crazed woman in "Ark Row" who orders us to walk on the opposite sidewalk for no apparent reason. "Can't you see we've got a professional photographer"...with a compact digital across the road (and behind us). Needed another chill pill (or a Prozac). Despite this welcome, Tiburon was delightful.
written by  walbs on April 5, 2008 from Tiburon, United States

Caffe Trieste, North Beach
Breakfast @ Caffe Trieste with David Carradine and his parrot (not his grasshopper).

North Beach & Washington Square

Bud Cab and Notary (and Marriage Official)
Very entertaining cab ride to South San Francisco ("The Industrial City") with Bud the Democrat who's not at all happy with Bush, Cheney or the American people. Got lost on the way to our car pickup as "I can't multi-task" (ie drive and talk politics). However, he is an Ordained Universal Life Church Minister and offers marriages within his cab!

"Do You Know The Way To San Jose?"
San Jose, United States
Trams just like at home, but FOUR carriages long.
Lunch @ P.F.Chang's China Bistro. Fortune cookie informed me that "Happiness will come to you".
written by  walbs on April 7, 2008 from San Jose, United States

"Under The Boardwalk"
Santa Cruz, United States
Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far).
Boardwalk, Giant Dipper, Charles Looff Carousel, blue sky.
written by  walbs on April 7, 2008 from Santa Cruz, United States

"Down in Monterey"
Monterey, United States
Famous for Cannery Row, John Steinbeck and the Monterey pop festival (and squirrels).
written by  walbs on April 7, 2008 from Monterey, United States

Sausalito
Sausalito, United States
Carb up for bridge climb at malt shop.
written by  walbs on April 5, 2008 from Sausalito, United States

Golden Gate Bridge
Two mile walk across the bridge at sunset. F-f-f-reeezing!

Russian Hill
Following our 90 minute trek across the bridge, we thoroughly deserved a slap up meal @ Antica Trattoria - unlike last night, we were immediately seated. Xan's stalker (the "gentleman bachelor" that sat next to him on the 'plane over from Sydney) is sitting on his own at a corner table and appears delighted to see him. Comes over and asks for his contact details, in order to make contact on our return to Australia.

Final Day of ICEM
Finally had a rewarding day at ICEM.
Dinner with Shyaman & Dom @ Straits before we farewell them on their trek to the Grand Canyon in a Hummer (8 Miles to the gallon). At least they'll be safe from the Iraqi insurgents on the road from Vegas to the Canyon.

Carmel Valley Coffee Roasting Co.
Carmel-by-the-Sea, United States
"Carmel Latte" in
Clint's town.
written by  walbs on April 8, 2008 from Carmel-by-the-Sea, United States

Big Sur
Carmel-by-the-Sea, United States
A remarkable ninety mile drive from Carmel to San Simeon, Big Sur really does "boggle the mind" as Jamie Jensen says in "Road Trip USA".
written by  walbs on April 8, 2008 from Carmel-by-the-Sea, United States

The Quintessential Kitsch American Experience
San Luis Obispo, United States
Choc shake and cherry pie at the Madonna Inn ("the best place to spend a vacation night in America").
written by  walbs on April 8, 2008 from San Luis Obispo, United States

Oprah
Santa Barbara, United States
Beautiful blue skies and wide beaches are the reason Oprah lives in SB.
written by  walbs on April 8, 2008 from Santa Barbara, United States

Breakfast @ the Coffee Cat
Santa Barbara, United States
Another one one of Xan's favourite haunts.
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Santa Barbara, United States

"Ventura Highway, in the sunshine..."
Ventura, United States
Tooling along the PCH hoping not to get pulled over by a black and white.
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Ventura, United States

Cher's Shack
Malibu, United States
Oh baby, drive away to Malibu
Go and part the sea, yeah, in Malibu
Oh baby, fly away, yeah, to Malibu
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Malibu, United States

Urth Caffe
Santa Monica, United States
Lunch with the beautiful people.
I've come to the conclusion that my sunglasses are not nearly big enough.
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Santa Monica, United States

"LA Is My Lady"
Los Angeles, United States
Dinner in the TMZ (Three Mile Zone) at Le Petit Four on the Sunset Strip. Unfortunately Paris, Britney and Lindsay were all no-shows - must all still be in jail or rehab.
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Los Angeles, United States

Xan's Los Angeles Residence
Los Angeles, United States
West Hollywood (WeHo)
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Los Angeles, United States

Venice Beach
Los Angeles, United States
Muscle Beach
written by  walbs on April 10, 2008 from Los Angeles, United States

Where The Streets Have Have Well Known Names
Sunset Boulevard, Wilshire Boulevard, Rodeo Drive, Hollywood Boulevard.
Due to my inability to upload any further photos to this blog, I have started a new one whose URL is : http://www.blogabond.com/TripView.aspx?tripID=2471