The World As Sandeep Knows It

After completing my house/cat sitting duties at Sunnyvale, I left a day later than I planned on April 29.

So, why am I doing this long journey? Well, it isn’t cheaper to drive. But, it is hopefully cheaper as a total cost of living for the days until my music school program at Boston begins.

A lot of planning went into preparing for this trip. To list some:

1. got immunization records from physician were needed by Berklee Music School,
2. shipped my baby…my Fender Strat to my friend at Harvard,
3. reduced the amount of stuff in my car into storage, as I didn’t want to carry all of that to Boston,
4. met and had a meal with most of my friends and colleagues each day that I was in the Bay Area,
5. did my taxes,
6. requested mortgage modification…let’s see,
7. negotiated with my tenant for rent renewal in September
8. got my car fixed up my car mechanic
9. and a lot lot more.

But now for the road trip …  see ‘z12. Bay Area to Vancouver’ photos.

April 29

I leave my friend’s place around 11 a.m. and head straight for storage.   I have not been able to find my super awesome, guitar effects processor.  Not sure with whom, or where I left it, before I went on the South America trip.  Anyways, it is noon, when I finally start to head out.  The car feels great

The first day, my target was Crater Lake National Park, in Oregon.   I made it to a town at the base of Crater Lake at 7 p.m.  Walked into a little motel to ask for directions.  Crater lake has 10 feet of snow on the ground and all the campsites are closed.  There is a state park called ‘Kimball State Park’.  (see photos).   I drive around a wooded area and arrive at the entrance.  There is absolutely no one there.  Not a soul.  Not a sound of traffic.  No civilization.  It is a dry camp.  No running water.  Luckily, I had a gallon of water I bought previously.  So, I set up camp, quickly.  It is getting dark.

It is dusk, by the time I start the camp stove.   I wear my brand new headlamp.   My old headlamp was confiscated by the police in Buenos Aires, when i went to watch a soccer match between Venezuela and Argentina.  The first match of the Argentinian team, coached by Diego Maradona himself.  Gosh, I haven’t written up my memories of the Buenos Aires visit.   Never mind.   Staying present ….Dry moong ki daal seems like a good, quick idea for nourishment.  Water, haldi, and lots of stirring to avoid any burn.  There aren’t any restaurants in the area anyway, and any grocery store is closed at this time.   I sit down on the picnic chair I brought with me.  I start laughing.  This is amazing.  Here i am in the woods all alone, and very comfortable with my outdoor experience to manage this.

The daal is taking its time.   So, I decide to put on my iPod, and then, turn off the light.  FEAR!  Oh man.  It is dark, I am all alone, and I never asked the motel lady if I should be concerned about bears in the area.   Headphones come off.  Headlamp comes back on.  I hear a branch fall somewhere, or I imagine it.  I keep looking around…no animal.  Still scared.  Calm down.   Just tough it through.  I calm down.  Ok, no need to go crazy.  So, I put my headphone back on…but only in one ear.   Occasionally, i still look around when I hear a sound.   It is getting biting cold.  I am breathing mist.  I just hop on the spot  a little bit to stay warm…inspite of 3 layers of clothing.

Food is ready.  Chow.  Warm food definitely warmed me up.   Leftovers for breakfast tomorrow.   I put all the food back in the trunk of the car….for fear of bears.  Get into the tent, and change.  It is really cold.  Into the sleeping bag.  Ok, warming up but my feet are cold.  Toss and turn.  It gets colder and colder.  Sleeping bag is great and very warm, but every time I breathe, I seem to draw in the cold air into the sleeping bag.   The feet never completely get warm.   My warm socks are in the car…too far away even a 1 minute walk.  The outside of the bag is freezing, whenever I bring my hand out to adjust something.

April 30

3 a.m.   i hear a noise outside the tent. I  lie perfectly still.  Looks like it is really the wind against the wall of the tent.  I want to move away from the wall that is pushing into my face a little.  But, moving means moving the sleeping mattress and sleeping bag, which means breaking the warm environment inside the bag.  Tolerate.  4 a.m. Sleep.  10 a.m. Wake.   No toileting here.  Will wait till i get to the park.  I wolf down the left over moong daal.  The campsite is actually really beautiful and there is a gorgeous pond with incredible colors.  see photos.

Head over to the small town, and buy a deli sandwich for a day hike in Crater Lake.

Walk around Crater Lake.  Mostly drive.  All trails are closed.  Snowshoeing alone is not advisable.  So, I take some photos, use their restroom facilities to tidy up etc, and head to Seattle.  I call up a friend whom I haven’t seen in  a long time, and he offers his home for staying over.   The drive to Seattle is a real push.   I reach there at 11 p.m. I have driven 957 miles in 2 days.  Not bad.   Tired.  Guilty for imposing on my friend and his wife, whom I have never met, at the late hour, on a weeknight.   Nice hosts.  They even give me their house key.  How awesome!  I catch up on sleep that I lost at the Kimball Park to the cold.

The next few days go in catching up with my boss from my previous company, going to a Sikh Vaisakhi festival with free delicious food, planning my onward journey into Canada with my hosts, and jamming with them.  Indeed, the husband plays the tabla and wife the guitar.  She even has a Fender Strat to boast.  How cool.  My buddy took me for shopping… I bought nylon rope and tarp for camping, and lonely planet from a second hand store. Also, bought a Hindi DVD movie – Veer Zara…I plan to watch it at one of camp grounds in the so-called boring prairies later.

May 3

I get up 4:00 a.m. to catch the ferry at 6:45 a.m. (boarding time) from  Anacortes, Washington to Sidney, British Columbia, Canada.  This is the first time I have ever driven a car onto a boat.  It was like driving into a parking lot.   As per my hosts, immigration lines are minimal and turnaround is pretty quick through this route.  Smart move.  The officer on Vancouver Island asks…where are you coming from? San francisco.  Where are you going?  Boston. I am cutting across Canada.  Officer – wow, that is some cut across. Yes, I laugh, sir, I want to sight see Canada.  Do you know anyone in Canada?  Yes, sir…someone in Medicine hat and another in Montreal.  Why are you going to Boston? Music school.  I point to my acoustic guitar in the car.  What is your profession? Software.  Officer – wait.  you are going to music school and your profession is software?  huh?   Yes, sir…I got laid off a few months, and I am going to music school.  Officer  – Are you planning to earn any money playing music in Canada?  No sir.  Have you been to Canada before?  Yes sir, last year for the Montreal Jazz Festival.  Officer – ok. have a safe trip.  Thank you, sir.

I drive to Victoria city.  Walk around different tourist sites – some fancy hotel with a $50 high tea in an ornate room (no thank you).  Awesome, calming city.  Well layed out.  The British did a good job of urban design, it seems.  Went to a cricket oriented bar, mentioned by Lonely Planet, remembering one of my college buds who might like to know. Then, off to Goldstream provincial Park for camping.  It is late.  There is a drizzle.  I set up the tent, and then I set up the tarp over the tent to manage any rain that falls sideways…my tent is very tall and meant for at least 3-4 people.  I used the trucker’s hitch successfully…(a knot I feared and then learnt at NOLS Patagonia Sea kayaking; it is so easy really).   Comfortable but not desirous of cooking…I go back to Victoria. All restaurants are closed.  It is nearly 10:30 p.m. Find a cheap pizza place.  Gobble 3 slices and coke.  Then, feel like watching a movie.  Find a movie theater nearby and watch the new X-Men – Wolverine Origins flick.  Got a good deal too…CN$8.50 only.  Then, back to the campsite.  Sleep. Cold, but not like Kimball Park in Oregon.  My sleeping bag is awesome.

May 4

Travel to Nanaimo Port from Victoria.  Take ferry from Discover bay to Horseshoe Bay, on the continent.   Plans to go to Whistler are dashed.  New Gondola (from one mountain peak to another, and without any tower in the middle)  for Winter Olympics is being renovated.   No point.  Head to Vancouver City.  Find a nice hostel.  Shower.  Then, go to a Asian noodle house, then to a coffee place, and then to a well-known music club called  The Railway Club.  It is a sing-along.  Good fun.  Don’t feel like socializing.  Drink beer, listen to music…sing along to a Sting song.  Head back to hostel. Shower.  Internet.  Call parents via Skype.  Sleep.

May 5
Big drive to Banff.  Diversion on road.   Detour to Jasper Ridge.  Cold and snow.  No camping.  Many trails are closed, but everything is beautiful. I stay in a hostel…

OK. I am fading.  Check out the photos.  Will continue tomorrow maybe.    Writing this from Banff.  Just returned 2 hours ago from a Wild Bill country bar.

This entry was posted on Saturday, May 9th, 2009 at 3:05 am and is filed under Canada Roadtrip. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.