The Big Apple?

Team Jamaica

The Jamaica stop over was a really nice and welcome few days off, but the race start to NY wiped away any lingering thoughts of chilling with rum from our minds as we beat up windward to the east side of Cuba.

As we are not allowed within 12 nm of Cuba nor Haiti, that left us a very narrow passage between the two, from which the wind was blowing a decent 20 to 30 knots. Add a nice big 'ole swell and you have the perfect ingredients for some interesting sailing!

Unfortunately our actual start was rather poor. We were too far off the line when the gun went off, and as a result found ourselves at the back of the fleet. Some clever manouvering towards the first windward mark, and we managed to make up 4 places. However, a slight tactical faux pas saw us heading east and when the weather decided *not* to follow the forecast, we lost a lot of ground.

29 May 11 AM

Never ones to give up, we set about trimming and as we rounded Cuba we have been steadily ticking off places on the leader board. On the last sched we were 7th and making good grounds on the rest of the fleet, even though we've just hit a rather nasty wind hole. We have our code 1 kite up, and although it's slow progress, we *are* moving (and judging from the scheds faster than the others) through said hole, so hopefully we'll be flying at 12 knots again sooner than later.

The sun is still burning down on us, and although we are now no longer in the tropics, one could be forgiven to think we are eternally stuck in them. Perhaps that's the Bermuda Triangle at work!

Just a few days more and we'll get to NYC. And as we were stuck for a few hours in the lighter winds, we pondered just on why it's called the Big Apple. Without internet, this remains a mystery so we will now start making up stories. So far the best anyone can come up with is that "everyone can take a bite", which just isn't good enough... We have about 4 days to improve on that

PS. Thanks Ian for recommending (on Good Reads) the "Gone Away War"; very funny reading on off watches!

Driver License & Stuff

I am now the proud holder of a brand new Californian Driving License.

Its actually an interim driving licence, a piece of paper with my name on it that allows me to drive until the real one turns up in the post.

Why did I need a new license? (no - I've not been drunk driving!)

Annoyingly my Swedish/Brittish license was not recognised by the state of California so I had to first take the written exam, and then a 'behind the wheel test'.

Great.

Swedish License

Any fellow Swede reading this blog will remember just how much work goes into getting a driving license in Sweden. I still have nightmares about preparing for the written exam, remembering how to change a tyre and checking the oil, parallel parking, oh god the parrallel parking, reversing the car around street corners without hitting the curb, and not to mention the moose manoeuvre and slippery road course! But worst of all is the half an hour to 45 minute test drive with a moody inspector.

Californian License

Turns out that in California all you need to do is pass a really easy written test. If you somehow manage to fail it, you can simply go to the back of the queue and retake it. As soon as you have your written test in the bag (and you also hold a foreign driving license), you get a temporary license which allows you to drive in California for three months. The temporary license can be renewed, so I did, twice.

Behind the Wheel Test

Then eventually you have to take a 'behind the wheel test'. My test consisted of showing how the indicators work, how to turn on the lights of the car, being able to reverse the car in a straight line and driving around the block. In my case I had to drive twice around the block because the instructor forgot to tell me to turn back into the parking lot!

All they seem look for is whether you stop at stop signs and red lights, indicate before changing lanes or turning, check your blind spot before turning and don't hit any other traffic or pedestrians. They didn't even ask me to go on the motorway.

With so little preparations for the driving test there's no wonder there are so many bad and dangerous drivers on the road here in California. Its a little scary to think about but right now I'm also quite happy that I passed my test on my first attempt!

Touristing Around and Driving To Vegas

While Jelte is in Jamaica waiting for the next race to New York to start, Alfie and I have had a busy couple of weeks here in California.

Our Friend Sarah came to visit and it was great to see her and catch up on all gossip and show her around San Francisco.

We took the bus to the Marina district and climbed up Hyde street so Sarah could get one of the classic tourist snaps of the SF hills and the cable car transporting tourists up the steep hill. We also walked over to Haight Street and checked out the hippie area.

Haight Street

Lands End

We went for a hike in Lands End, followed the trail and found the longest set of stairs known to mankind leading to a cute little beach. Above the beach on a cliff was a labyrinth decorated with tea lights inside paper bags. We suspected someone had planned to sacrifice a virgin in the centre of the labyrinth, but later learned that its apparently just a piece of art.

Lands End Trail

We also checked out the Sutro baths before climbing a final couple of stairs to get to the Sutro's restaurant at the Cliffhouse. The Cliffhouse has a gorgeous view over the sea, and we were lucky enough to see pelicans flying past and grey whales looking for food all whilst enjoying the beautiful sunset and tasty food.

Lands End Beach

Labyrinth

Las Vegas

We drove for twelve hours to get to Las Vegas where Alfie and I had been invited to an awards ceremony. Alfie's blog had been nominated for a blog design award at the Blogpaws Pet blogging conference so of course we had to make an appearance. 

We arrived late in Vegas after a dramatic entrance to the city. The motor way was busy and lots of fancy sports cars were racing to get to Vegas for a Friday night of fun.

Out of nowhere, our car was hit from behind by some lunatic who must have been driving like a maniac. We were hit hard enough for our car to be pushed forward, but luckily nothing except the bumper of our car got damaged.

I got really worried as Alfie was in the boot, but he was okay and simply looked surprised by the sound waking him up. He is such a good dog.

The other driver didn't stop to exchange details and we shakily drove the rest of the distance to arrive at our hotel after midnight.

We didn't win the award, but we had lots of fun meeting the other bloggers and walking up the red carpet.

The Rainbow Basin Natural Area

On our way home we made a pitstop in the Rainbow Basin Natural Area. Its such an amazing place, with rock formations and canyons that change colour with the changing light conditions, and we were the only people there. We didn't find any fossils though - although Alfie did his best to sniff out some dinosaur bones!

The rainbow Basin Natural Area