Wow the final blog of North America and we were in San Diego!

We arrived from Vegas (fresh out the oven) to San Dego and rode to a hostel that was hot, sweaty and from what we heard, not the safest place in town. With only a short while before we were due to leave the U.S. we were running short of ideas. We walked up Balboa Park and ran into a rather enthusiastic Gay and Lesbian Festival at the ironically named Normal Heights area. We explored the sea front as well and sat to read our current series of Hawke books written by Ted Bell - thrilling reading i assure you.

Soon after arriving we discovered that after Wednesday the hostel was booked out for the upcoming festival of arts Comic-con, this left us wondering whether we would be arriving in L.A. earlier than first thought. Anyway Craig got on to Google and found the Kaleo Church in Linda Vista, for which we later planned to attend the morning service. We were greeted by Luke who, when he learned of our predicament, sprung to our aid and offered us lodgings after Wednesday. After a passionate sermon a hero sized Josh Boston turned around in his seat and spoke to us also offering help with finding some digs for the remainder of the week. Things got even better on that Sunday when Gil and Sean (both keen surfers) offered to drive us to the waves during the week! Uplifted by the generosity and kindness of the people we met at Church we soon realised we were in good (God's) hands.

Surfing take one was good with an early arrival into La Jolla saw some good waves. Unfortunately after two hours of surfing the chaifage became too intense for our Kaleo surfer gang and we headed back for a restful afternoon in the Balboa Park Gardens. Surfing take two was just as fun with similar size waves and some success catching the surf. Paul Wright entered the scene at this point (an actual descendant of the Wright brothers). The young Navy weapons defense trainee found he didn't much like the taste of salt water and got his own back on the beach, Navy style! The rest of the day was spent at the Science centre and later we met Luke, Kate, Spencer and Sarah at the Velodrome where a crowd gathered to watch the cyclists (or bicyclists) fight it out.

Mid-week we took a break from morning surfing to go to the USS Midway, an Aircraft Carrier Museum. It was jolly good fun walking the ship with our Navy mate Paul along for fun times. Craig and i got a simulator ride and shot down some jerries or at lest tried to before heading up to the flight deck for some dead game action.

More surfing occurred on the Thursday morning but the waves were huge! We spent a good 20 minutes trying to get beyond the break but were literally just battered again and again by the swell. Chaifage brought an end to surfing once again, much like rain does to a day at Wimbledon, and we retired to Petco Park next to the San Diego Padres stadium and relaxed in the sun, glorious. That night we attended Josh's missional community (cell group) and discussed the previous sermon and our church lives in England. To end the week we visited the famous San Diego Zoo with Jocilyn at our side before moving house to stay with the lovely John and Jess Collins. Saturday we visited Coronado and hung out with Mr. Wright again which was cool. That evening Eug held a poker tournament and Mr. "Texas" Spencer was rolling in the chips in preparation for his wedding (congratulations again by the way), the ultimate prize being Disney Tickets after all. Sunday saw another passion filled sermon by David F and a sort of pilgrimage to lunch at a wraps, salads and bowls place.

Our final afternoon in San Diego was spent shopping for the goods for Tahiti and hanging out with John. We later went to a BBQ and volleyball on Coronado beach where all the people we had met over the past week came together. Craig lead our volleyball team fuelled by enthusiasm to success in the Championship and s'mores were enjoyed. Abi even cut my hair on the beach in front of a fire and it still looks good! So what is there left to say but "Thanks Kaleo Church for making our final week in the US so great, God Bless!"

To bring you right up to date we are currently waiting to head to Tahiti. We visited the lovely Warren and Celia, Abi and Audra in Temecula and spent an afternoon taking in a collective deep breath before riding the bus to a very dodgey place in Los Angeles. Up the road at a MacDonalds a taxi driver and his drunken passenger worked hard to get us food from the drive-through that wouldn't server people on foot. After the drunken fellow hobbled over on crutches and gave our order the man at the kiosk gave in and we got our food. We were then told by the taxi driver "Like a father i am going to tell you to eat your food and get out of this area on the No. 60 as soon as possible.". So we got on our way and arrived at the nice Santa Monica Hostel in which i am now sat. So now we are off to Tahiti wahooooo!