Santa Cruz, CA
Oct 4, 98
Gooden Daag vriends - that was Dutch (smile) -
The trip is not over and it is a great trip, so
don't get wrong ideas since you haven't heard anything for so
many weeks. I would have loved to write a newsletter every week,
but I just didn't have the necessary computer access. By now
less than three weeks remain and the biggest question is 'what
about those who don't wonna return?'
Stretching my memory
by having to go back so many weeks, I will miss some important
parts and also don't give all the wonderful people we stayed
with the proper and grateful response to their hospitality.
I am sorry for that.
Okay, back in Arcata
I had decided it's time to separate for a few days. The Kinders
(German slang expression of mine, translated it's 'childrens')
were ready for it and we didn't have to work through any difficulties,
so it wasn't running away, just educational. We figured that
we'd meet 170 MI later, with the Kinders going steadily 50 or
more per day, so we wouldn't run into each other. They could
split up during the day, but had to get together for the nights.
Princess Ude
Well, Ute and Anneken were so slow again that I saw 'em 15 MI
later in Eureka at a mall - we didn't communicate. But then
I didn't see anybody for 3 full days. Being on my own, I had
all the freedom I could wish for to plan my days, kinda dividing
them up between riding and reading, and was back to the old
days, kinda vagabonding and an easy time finding a camp spot
just for myself. The city park of Fortuna was just perfect the
first night and nobody bothered me in my well-sheltered spot
behind some trees.
The next day was
special through cycling the Avenue of the Giants, a large, protected
area of redwood trees. Camping was prohibited except at designated
campsites, but hey, my spot at the river was nicer, quieter
and didn't cost anything but a good eye to find it. The weather
had become so nice since 101 moved inland and I totally rejoiced
in sweat dropping down. The last night I stayed at the property
of the Catholic Church, the priest being a bit reluctant at
first when I knocked at his bathroom window at 10 PM - he didn't
hear the doorbell.
Getting in Ukiah,
I had passed the students somewhere on the last 20 MI. It was
hot, yeah, and I watched a movie while waiting for everyone
to arrive at our meeting point - it's always the (first) Safeway
supermarket, if there is one - at 6 PM. It was very nice seeing
them again, coming in alone or in couples. Everything had worked
out all right, they had stayed at campgrounds the first two
nights and privately the third - including showers, so I was
the only sweaty, smelling one. We told each other what had happened,
except one important detail, as I was to find out just a week
ago: Guido and Ude had hitched, just for the experience and
convenience, and knowing that I don't approve that, they figured
they just wouldn't tell me. By now we have established a 'code
of honor', meaning anybody who is hitching, using instant technology
(phone, fax and e-mail) to get in touch with family and friends
in Germany, getting stoned, drunk etc., is going to tell me
next time we meet.
I made it clear that
everybody has to agree individually to the code of honor and
that we can discuss it if there is disagreement, but there was
none. And that is definitely something that I will integrate
into the following trips from the beginning on. It is about
time that one's word becomes deeper connected to truth again
- and nobody has to be afraid of penalties; quite a difference
to most schools...
Guess what, nobody wanted to have a quiet Monday
the next day, so I had my turn unexpectedly. It needed a bit
of preparation since we were cycling to Santa Rosa and I hadn't
made contacts with the local Waldorf high school yet. But the
Kinders were willing to make the necessary phone calls. Getting
there I had my fastest and longest nonstop ride ever, doing
45 MI in just over 3 hours. None of the kids made that, so I
felt even better with the running joke about being 'old and
wrinkled' - that one went on 5 times per day until I explained
why it wasn't funny anymore through overuse; which Trabi used
in turn to crack as a good joke again...my kids, they're quite
something.
Well, especially
Guido, Trabi and David were very good making phone calls, but
it got complicated and my friend, the teacher, didn't seem to
have an understanding for a silent day. It is such a pity, everybody
talking about education and growing independence, but when it
comes to reality and a student is calling instead of the teacher,
then doors don't open as readily - and I listened to some calls,
they were conducted quite well, all in English of course.
El Daniel
Anyway, our 'rescue' - we made it clear that we
wouldn't have difficulties finding something on our own, but
wanted to visit the school and meet with peers - came in form
of a German who's been living in Santa Rosa for many years.
Uta, who is running a Waldorf kindergarten in her house, her
son Juri and a nice fellow called Fred who rents a room in the
house, were our kind hosts for two nights, sharing meals - one
night we did eat all the delicious cake Uta had prepared and
I had to explain lamely and ashamed that there is only one way
eating with us, that is 'eat when the food is ready' - bathrooms,
washing machine talks and Fred took most of the growing royalties
shooting pool; some of the royalties were so accustomed to the
American hospitality that they didn't even take money with them,
plainly expecting Fred to invite 'em.... Happily or not, he
did! Not knowing.
The students were really psyched about meeting
their peers at the school. The campus, first of all, is widespread,
the atmosphere more relaxed than in Germany - Ute forgetting
that she was on school property and lighting a cigarette - after
some initial shyness the visit turned out to be so long that
I was the first one to leave; somehow I am not very keen at
long intervals in classrooms, be it for teaching, visiting or
being taught.
The next day we split up again since Daniel, Carsten
and David wanted to take the longer ride along the coast, which
is most beautiful around Point Reyes. But since it was cool
there, 5 of us went straight towards San Francisco; having set
a meeting time and point near our hosts house in San Fran.
The ride turned out to be a rather difficult one
with hills surrounding 101 and it partially being closed for
cyclists. Trabi and I stayed together, 'saving' illegal cycling
on the highway for the most tricky part and made it to the day's
meeting point exactly at 7 PM. Well, Marin City turned out to
be this small - and as we were told often, dangerous - spot
between a ridge and 101 whose supermarket had closed a few months
earlier. So we checked the next one in Sausalito and started
waiting.
Just before 9 Guido
appeared in a car. He had 2 flat tires and somebody had giving
him a ride for the last couple MI - so he could fix his flats
with us as company. And he got the job done - plus eating a
sandwich - in less than two hours! So by 11 we finally took
off, not knowing what happened to the girls, but not worrying
either since we had the meeting point in San Fran the next day.
Our shelter that night was a churchyard in Sausalito, wooden
floor and table, very cozy, with the whole area having a total
Mediterranean feeling - check it out yourself.
After a good nights
sleep we wanted to thank the priest and were invited by a travel
guide who was renting the house. Melinda had been to Germany
and we had a very uplifting time enjoying her company and: coffee,
orange juice, scrambled eggs and toast with jelly; you may think
that's a regular breakfast, but eat granola 75 out of 90 mornings
and you start to discern.
The sun was out for our approach to 'the City'
- there're two in the States, San Fran on the west and NYC on
the east coast. So beautiful, the bay, the Golden Gate Bridge,
the skyline and hills of San Fran. In town we went to the bike
store whose owner, Andy, had taken care of Philine last trip.
Now Guido had, don't ask me how, messed up both his rims. So
he got his credit time for a couple minutes to get complete
wheels for a good price.
Meeting time arrived and the three boys were there.
Their ride had been fantastic, good weather and the best cliffs
and views so far. So they were stoked and said we missed out.
The girls seemed to be missing in action a little longer, but
just before we wanted to visit with the David family, they showed
up. They had arrived at the meeting point the night before at
about 11.30 and camped out on benches - in a park, as they thought.
Next morning they found out it was on the sidewalk, right behind
a bus stop, and people started to stumble over their stuff quite
early, so they had to get up at 7! But hey, once again things
had worked out just fine and our trust into each other and the
world had grown.
Anneken navigating
And I trust you understand that I have to stop
here and look for my friend Dean who probably didn't get my
message, doesn't know where we are and must be somewhere surfing....
Sending bubbles of Peace and Love and Happiness, hope to hear
from you soon,
Andi
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