Diary 31^st January & Images
from LA to San Francisco.

Wednesday 31^st January
On my arrival I went to the Hotel information board and after making a couple of phone calls I booked an hotel located a short distance from Los Angeles airport. I waited for 55 minutes for the shuttle bus that had been promised in 15. The Quality Inn Hotel was ok but with minimal facility. I went out at 2030 to find something to eat at the local Denny's, came back and checked my e-mail then went to sleep as I was really very knackered.

Thursday 1^st February
I awoke at 0430 and set about looking at where I should head next. I managed to get myself distracted and spent the next 2 hours editing photographs. At 0700 I got out of bed and prepared for the day ahead so that I could have an early start. With hindsight I should have planned my American itinerary while I was still in the UK. However, at 0900 I left the hotel to catch a 117 bus.

Firstly no one outside could tell me what the bus stop looked like and I could not find anything resembling a bus stop in the vicinity where I had been directed. I returned to the hotel to make further inquiries, was given further directions and a bus stop described in a way that enabled me to find it. After 20 minutes, during which time I had an interesting chat with a very dark haired, well built local lad, the bus arrived. He told me that in order to get to my destination I must change buses, and since he was travelling on the same bus he would show me where to get off. Fortunately the number 40 bus came fairly quickly but it then took a further 50 minutes to get downtown.

When I arrived at Union Station I made inquiries about my itinerary and eventually found someone to assist me. It was not part of her job but Regina Snow spent two hours giving me advice, information, the times of trains and the length of the journeys that I would need to make. The USA is a huge continent as everyone knows but unfortunately the railway lines tend to run out from Chicago to the west coast with nothing crossing between them to connect each to the other. As a result of my deliberations I needed to telephone my cousins in Chicago and New York but unfortunately the information was back at the hotel on my computer.

I took a shuttle back to the hotel at a cost of $20 to get the information and to see if I could contact them. Whilst talking to Regina I discovered that the Mardi Gras takes place in New Orleans from February 27th until March 6. Since it would be a shame to be so near and not to visit I called the airline and rescheduled my return flight to the UK for March 9th so that I could attend. There is no chance of booking accommodation in New Orleans in advance as everywhere appears to be fully booked already so I will go and take a chance on finding something when I arrive. As a result of this I will have to reorganise my 30 day train journeys as they cannot now start until February 6 if they are to cover my return to New York after Mardi Gras.

I made calls to both Abel, my cousin in New York who was very helpful as usual and Rudolpho's mother in law who knew nothing and could not even tell me when Rudolpho would be home nor even what time it was in Chicago. I guess she was unwell. With one thing and another I am truly pissed off.

In the end I decided to spend a further $20 and returned to the Union Station. I managed to find Regina who assisted me further for some time before she had to return to her proper duties. I purchased a ticket to go to San Francisco on Saturday, as unfortunately tomorrow there are no seats on the train. Being unable to complete my itinerary I just exchanged my voucher for my rail pass and will sort at the itinerary on the telephone from my hotel this evening. The bus journeys back took 1 3/4 hours as LA is a vast city. Back in my room I spent some time online trying to find hotels in San Francisco but I can find nothing affordable that is available.

Saturday 3^rd February.

At 0730 I called reception to ask them to prepare my bill and send a porter to collect my luggage. It was 0740 by the time I went downstairs to fix my bill; that took another ten minutes. Meanwhile the car to take me to the station had arrived. We left at 0755 and when I arrived at Union Station the driver asked me for $25.50. I explained that I had already agreed the fare of $20 the previous evening when I booked the car. He said the extra is for the waiting time. I pointed out that on Thursday afternoon I had booked the car for 1515. I telephoned at 1525 to check what progress was being made and was told that it would be only a few minutes. However it was 1535 when it finally arrived and I had paid the full fare even after waiting this time. The driver got on his radio to talk to his boss. I heard the voice on the phone tell him that them being late was different but that he did not have time to argue with me, therefore he should collect $20.50 and leave it at that.

The train left on time at 0930 and we travelled north in splendid comfort. It is a magnificent train very spacious and the carriages are two tiers so I had a splendid view as we travelled along the Pacific coast.	As there is no smoking allowed on the train when we stopped at Santa Barbara many of the passengers went out onto the platform for a smoke.	This is Jenny and Johnny who were having a great time during the journey.
This is a picture of Warren an ex-sailor who is travelling to Seattle. All along the west coast we enjoyed fabulous hot sunshine.	Long hoses are rolled out to refill the tanks with water. Continuing north along the west coast we passed the rolling breakers. I enjoyed the beautiful scenery. Lunch consisted of a superb Pacific Salmon Nicoise with salad and Champagne vinaigrette. I had a vodka and coke with this and coffee afterward.	There was a very pleasant and friendly diner sitting at my table. He told me he was a tram driver in San Francisco and gave me some advice on getting around the city when I arrive there. Here we are at 1430 in San Luis Obispo
During the journey I had spoken to the young Taiwanese chap who told me his name was Michael. When I detrained at Santa Barbara I was wandering about the platform having just taken pictures of the people and the train when he walked over, offered me his camera and asked if I would take photograph of him. Naturally I was happy to oblige but told him I would have to take one of him with my camera also. To this he agreed.	This is the picture he took of me with my camera.On the train we sat in the same carriage but not near enough to each other to have any conversation. However from time to time we would exchange few words in passing to the snack bar, the viewing car, or just walking to stretch our legs. It was a during these short exchanges that I learned Michael was from Miami and that he was on his way to stay with friends in San Francisco.	The massive wheels that support the rolling stock and ran so smoothly and quietly along the iron tracks. These nicotine replenishment breaks are a great way to stretch the legs and meet some people and really look around this huge machine.
Shaun sitsin the sunshine with Cecil, a clothes designer who is taking time off to travel around for a few months. The girl in the pink top is Jeannie and finally Jenny whom I'd taken a picture of earlier.	I first met Shaun whilst we were on the train. He was born in Germany but now resides in Southern California. Shaun suggested it would be a good idea to buy a bottle of red wine in the nearby shop. I took his advice and got one for $7.48 as they are $18 on the train.	The smoking a break although everyone went back into the train and I spent some time downloading the photographs from the camera to the laptop so that I could show them to the folks on the train.

When we detrained at Oakland I was the last person to board the bus that would take us into San Francisco. I put my laptop and my camera in the rack immediately over Michael's head when I saw him sitting alone. As he was sitting in the aisle seat as soon as I had finished stowing my luggage he stood up and indicated that I should take the window seat. I gladly did so. He was carrying a black leather satchel type leather bag. I expect they were some important documents, however he placed this between us on seat.

We chatted amiably about each other's journey for a while. Michael had come from Taiwan to Miami where he stayed for a few months. He'd then flown into Los Angeles and was now taking the Coast Starlight train to San Francisco. He was young and a stranger in a foreign land and as a result told me he was concerned. He explained he was going to stay with a friend but had been unable to contact him by telephone. He had never been here before and had nowhere else to stay.

I immediately pointed out that one of the disadvantages of being a single traveller was that one had to pay for a twin room at the same price as two people would pay. Consequently I would make sure that he was not stranded as I had booked a twin room and he was welcome to share it. I pointed out that as it was already paid for it would cost him nothing. He took my hand, gave me a warm friendly open smile and thanked me in the effusing way that I find Orientals often do.

We continued the journey dropping off various people at their respective hotels or drop of points. When it was my turn to alight the driver pulled up for me to get out at the Broadway, Michael pointed out that I had not taken my luggage from the overhead rack. As I did so he picked up his bag and when I recovered my laptop and camera he followed me out of the bus. The driver had begun to unload my two bags from the storage space beneath the side of the coach and by the time he had done so Michael was standing beside me. Not a word did I speak as he stood quietly there. The driver however looked at us wearing a surprised expression and said, "Oh! You are together." It was a statement rather than question although Michael chose to interpret it that way saying, "Yes." In a clear and definite tone. The driver gave us directions on how to get to the Green Tortoise on Broadway where I was going to stay.

Michael offered to assist me with my luggage so I gave him the heaviest bag to carry, which he was pleased to do. As he is about 5' 5" tall and of slender build I expect it was heavy for him. However he gallantly walked along smiling and joking about this and that. Apart from the leather case he only had a small canvas bag with wheels on one end and a handle on the other. He placed my bag on top of his wheeled bag to take the weight so I don't think he was truly overburdened. Unfortunately the address was much farther than the one block the driver had indicated and so we were both pretty well exhausted by the time the green neon light came into view.

Reception turned out to be up a flight of stairs, which helped us not at all. The pleasant young man there turned out to be Coleman, the gentleman I spoke to on the telephone last night I had said he was a Mr Coleman so now all was revealed. When asked if my friend had a passport I replied, "Yes." I asked Michael to show Coleman his passport. As he passed it across I discovered that it turned out to bear the name Haung Rong Shan. Coleman showed us to our room and he carried both my bags up the two flights stairs.

When he opened the door my face fell. This room is less than half the size of what I have been used to. There are no facilities in the room, and I mean none. In this small space 18 inches from the window and four feet from where I was standing opposite it at the door was a double bed.

Michael cast his eye over it, he settled in and seemed satisfied. He put his bags down and sat on the bed while I sorted out my baggage so that we could close the door. We chatted for a few minutes then he told me he must go and try to phone his friend again. After ascertaining that I would be here when he got back, he left.

I wondered along the corridor and found a toilet. this turned out to be equally disgusting. Look at the notice on the wall for the start off. I couldn't believe that they had this standard of facilities in American establishments after what I had been used to in almost a third world countries.

While he was gone I sorted out my clothing and selected some fresh attire. I was hoping that I would be sleeping with Michael tonight and discovering whether or not his interests would be of the flesh or solely of the mind. In this happy frame of mind I'd not forgotten that if he is able to contact his friend there is little likelihood of my making contact with his body. On his return some 15 minutes later he told me that he had been able to get an answer at last. His friend was coming to meet him up the street, in a bar farther along the Broadway. He thanked me for my kindness and I thanked him for his muscular strength and told him I wished 'twere more often I could find someone to carry my bag. With that final wave he walked out of my life and was gone. Alas I had tosleep alone.