CAUTIOUS CARGO ↑ This way up ↑: To Canada...: Driving north through California. August 2014.

So we relaxed for three weeks in Matt's flat on top of Mount Soledad in very upmarket La Jolla, San Diego. Well, not legally entitled to work, I relaxed, Matt painted houses in the sweltering heat. To date, this has been the closest I have ever strayed towards housewifery. After three weeks, as we'd always planned to have one last roadtrip together - to Canada - to drop me off for my onward journey, we decided to do just that, visiting friends en route, both old friends of Matt's and friends we met together in South America.

First stop was Huntington Beach where we stayed with Matt's friend Ben, but not before stopping off for a surf at Trestles beach. A quick beer and Wolf of Wall Street on his plasma, which I kept finding myself referring to during the many conversations later that week. It was a good film!

On, to London-like San Francisco where we stayed at Matt's old fraternity house near Golden Gate park for a couple of days. We happened to be walking in Lincoln Park not far from Robin Williams' house the day before he died. San Francisco was grey and overcast, many Mexican and Asian shops and markets, bookshops...I liked it immensely, and felt more at home than any other place in USA.

We spent a few days in Mendocino with Phil, another friend of Matt's, where we hung at his place complete with a disused swimming pool, an old observatory and three dogs. One day Matt and I visited the mighty Redwoods, the highlight of the trip for me. Phil sent us away with six bottles of wine and two watermelons.