No car

Must be the Africa in me but, I was really relieved to drop that rental car off and be on foot. One less thing to keep up with. Certainly not new to the idea of walking being the main mode of transportation. You know Kahler and I talked a bit and now the mentality that the Kiwis (Reece and Chris) had in utilized public transportation is much better understood. Though, I can admit that the rail system here had me dumbfounded for a few minutes. Learned something important. Read everything, you will always be able to find your way. Traded some crack head my twenty for his ten and two fives. Mean to tell you that I unloaded those quick, pretty sure that it was counterfeit or marked or something.

Forgive me though, I am jumping ahead a bit. Let's rewind to where I left off. Headed for the meet and greet at the office with Beth and Brandy. The meeting and lunch went well. It is a relatively small department with five folks (as best I could tell). Brandy with two epidemiologists and two analysts. This is new to me, I have not been any where that separated those those jobs. In my mind that is what the epidemiologist does but, I am certainly not complaining. They showed me the office that would be mine. Pretty sweet with a big window and a small meeting table apart from the big corner desk with a new desktop and laptop.

They apparently had trouble before with the epidemiologists comfort/ability to present to the other county health departments. Makes perfect sense as I was really the only one doing the talking in the conference room where we ate. That bit should be a piece of cake though I will check that until I see if there is some really good reason, I suppose the other health departments could employ rabid zombies, I can't say that I have given a presentation to that undead lot before.

Wrapped up lunch and headed with Beth to Whiskeytown Lake Park. There is a beautiful lake and beaches all around. You can camp and climb and kyack and other stuff that I don't know about or can't think of. Then back to the house where we prepared a big flank steak, grilled veggies, and brown rice. It was really tasty though I wished that I could have used some smoked salt that she had to make a brine with lemon to help out the squash and zucchini, oh well.

Then ducked out to the River City Cafe or a cup of coffee and to read a bit. It is so pleasant in the evenings, I sat outside and get this, didn't sweat! That is a pretty big deal as it is impossible in Texas. I have been trying to process and synthesize some over-arching statement about me impressions of the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency however, I have yet to come up with anything accurate enough.I will continue pondering and let loose the results when they are ready.

The next morning I had planned to take it easy and cruise out of Redding early as I had heard that the traffic in Oakland and the Bay Area begins at 2:00. What hours do these people work? I didn't believe it.... then I stopped and traveled three miles in half an hour. Kill me. I didn't get out of Redding because Pam called from the Health Department and said that my fingerprints came back and I was cleared to go and get my physical and drug screening. I thanked my generous hostess and got on the road to the regional medical center where I kid you not, I was a premiere human specimen, all digits accounted for and on top of that I could count them all by myself!

I escaped the clinic with a splendid bill of health and hopped on I-5 for a piece. The drive, though long, was much more enjoyable in the daytime when I could see all of the Cali terrain, mountains, lakes, and other bits unique to this part of the country. The little rental got good mileage and I turned it in thirty minutes before it was due. The first plan was to have enough time to drop by my inn and leave my bags so I just had to carry myself through the transportation system. No luck there but, it was no real hiccup in the end, I packed light.

Made it to home for the night, enjoyed a shower and hit the streets to find some grub as I was famished. Found a Burger King, Subway, McDonalds, Starbucks and Popeyes's. Reminded myself that I was in a new and fun part of the world and I should find something that I can only get here. There After passing a few options, I landed at XOLO La Taqueria (they had me at taqueria) and enjoyed all the life out of a few tacos.

Not ready to go back to my room just yet, I continued to wander. There is a place right around the corner from the little Washington Inn called the Pacific Brewing Company. Settled down at the bar and watched a few minutes of the Portland v LA MLS game. Had Pacific Brew's Imperial Stout and Extra Pale Ale. Two very opposite ends of the spectrum, both great in their own respect. Met a fella who operates a company called Honeydrop. He just got a contract to shelve his products in Nor Cal While Foods stores. Interesting conversation with him about bees and Africa.

Got back to my room and after skyping a little, I hit the hay. Got up this morning knowing that I wanted to hit this little cafe called Tully's that I had seen last night. That is where I am now with a cup of tea (because I like to be unpredictable sometimes). It was an absolute zoo in here with the morning rush hitting around 9:00. I didn't envy the barista a bit, been there.

will be going back to my home away from home in a few minutes to plan out the rest of the day. Want to minimize how far I have to travel on foot with all my gear. Think I will visit the City Center area maybe and then head to the airport.

the architecture here is really neat. I have enjoyed walking around and just looking up at all the buildings. There are some really neat old structures here. On the way back from dinner last night I found a really cool looking old building that I am sure Chris could make look awesome with his camera. Wishing that I had a nice SLR even if it would make me that guy walking aimlessly snapping pictures of what is everyday life for everyone else. I can deal with that.

Have a fantastic day everyone. Here's to a safe and uneventful trip back to Texas. Brother, you are too cool for school coming to pick me up so late from the airport tonight. Stay classy planet earth